Job 1:7
This item has been selected by Peter Kirby as a "Featured Con Piece". The status of the claims made here, however, is up for debate.
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And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (ASV)
Pro
How is it that an omniscient God would not know the origin of Satan? The question makes no sense. God would certainly know the whereabouts of Satan. Moreover, Satan is presumed to be present everywhere at all times. How is it that ANY being that is always everywhere can explain where he has been or where he is going? The logic escapes me.
Con
The concept of an "omnimax God" isn't really Biblical: while there are passages that can be interpreted as claims of omnipotence (such as Jeremiah 32:27, at no point does the Bible say that God is omniscient, omnipotent, and/or omnibenevolent. If God's not omniscent, the verse becomes clearly sensible.
But even at that, it must be remembered that this particular passage is not necessarily proof that God is not omniscient:
- 1: Hebrew grammar also employs rhetorical questions, where the purpose of a question is not to gain information, but to make a statement.
- 2: Literarily, this is not God attempting to gain information, but a means to introduce haSatan to the reader.
Rhetorical question or plot device? It makes an interesting discussion for the literary minded, but also makes the claim of errancy rather moot.
Neutral
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