Because time and space are relative and at times (no pun intended) interrelated terms their definitions will be relative (i.e., relative to the frame of reference a person uses to define it ). For example, time is often defined relative to motion or flow. However, metaphysically and biblically this does not help us finite creatures grasp the fact that the infinite God we love is outside of time. Moreover, many students of the Word and even young students of philosophy will try to conceive of God as an “everlasting present.”
The problem with this conception is that it uses “time categories” and therefore implicitly puts God in time. Moreover it muddies the water as to what it means for God to be timeless (years ago my professor, a renown Christian philosopher, pointed this fact out to me by docking me a whole grade for my inconsistent thinking).
in my opinion, the best definition, though not perfect, was put forth by Augustine in which he defined time as “successive thoughts in a finite mind.” If one chews a little on this definition they will see some vital applications—both theologically and metaphysically.
JWJ
The problem with this conception is that it uses “time categories” and therefore implicitly puts God in time. Moreover it muddies the water as to what it means for God to be timeless (years ago my professor, a renown Christian philosopher, pointed this fact out to me by docking me a whole grade for my inconsistent thinking).
in my opinion, the best definition, though not perfect, was put forth by Augustine in which he defined time as “successive thoughts in a finite mind.” If one chews a little on this definition they will see some vital applications—both theologically and metaphysically.
JWJ