Is God lonely?

[Xeno.of.athens]

It is believed that God exists in eternity and has always been, while creation had a starting point, unlike God. The question of whether God felt loneliness before creation existed, and if creation was an act to end such loneliness, is what this thread is about, was God lonely?

 

[AlexB23]

It is believed that God exists in eternity and has always been, while creation had a starting point, unlike God. The question of whether God felt loneliness before creation existed, and if creation was an act to end such loneliness, is what this thread is about, was God lonely?

Alright, let me plug this one into the AI.

Before the AI responds, here is my response:

As God lives beyond time, He witnesses both the past, present and future. Before God made the universe nearly 14 billion years ago (or ~6000 years ago for my Young-Earth Creationist brethren on this forum), God knew what His creation would be like, so He was not lonely in that regard. However, God had to make the universe in order to fulfill His view of the future, as God can not contradict the future.

 

[Clare73]

It is believed that God exists in eternity and has always been, while creation had a starting point, unlike God. The question of whether God felt loneliness before creation existed, and if creation was an act to end such loneliness, is what this thread is about, was God lonely?

Not with the Son and Holy Spirit always with him. . .it's a divine "love fest."

 

[AlexB23]

Not with the Son and Holy Spirit always with him. . .it's divine "love fest."

Amen to that. It is good that God the Father always had His son, and Holy Spirit around up there in Heaven. We are in a tiny sliver of history where God's Son became flesh for us to save us compared to the age of Creation. Pretty neat, isn't it? God has a lot of patience. Patience is something that I lack, but am praying about more.

 

[AlexB23]

Alright, @Xeno.of.athens , the AI is almost done with the response. It is being very slow today. When I screen mirror my computer to the TV and watch videos, it slows down the AI from 15-30 minute responses to over 2 hours.

 

[AlexB23]

It is believed that God exists in eternity and has always been, while creation had a starting point, unlike God. The question of whether God felt loneliness before creation existed, and if creation was an act to end such loneliness, is what this thread is about, was God lonely?

Here you go, brother. The AI even used St. Thomas Aquinas as a source, along with some info from Orthodoxy:

From the Christian perspective, it is important to note that discussing God's emotions or feelings in human terms can be misleading since God is beyond human understanding. However, we can consider this question from a philosophical and theological point of view. In apophatic theology (theology of the negation), which emphasizes God's unknowability, it is argued that God exists eternally as pure being without any need or limitation. This means that God does not experience loneliness in the human sense since He is complete and self-sufficient.

From a Biblical perspective, we can find hints about God's nature and relationship with creation in various passages. For instance, God is described as the 'Shepherd of Israel,' leading His people through their history (e.g., Psalm 23). This image suggests care, guidance, and companionship rather than loneliness or need for company.

It is also worth noting that according to some early Christian thinkers like Origen, creation was not a response to God's loneliness but an act of love and will to share the divine life with created beings (pre-existence of souls). However, this view does not find universal agreement among Christians.

Ultimately, understanding God's nature before creation is challenging due to our limited human comprehension. The Bible invites us to seek a deeper relationship with God and trust in His love and providence rather than focusing on attempting to understand God's emotional states or experiences.


Artificial intelligence shown below

 

[RandyPNW]

It is believed that God exists in eternity and has always been, while creation had a starting point, unlike God. The question of whether God felt loneliness before creation existed, and if creation was an act to end such loneliness, is what this thread is about, was God lonely?

Lonliness itself is a concept that God created to be applied in the context of creation. It is impossible for us to know what existed prior to creation. We simply know, God was.

 

[bling]

It is believed that God exists in eternity and has always been, while creation had a starting point, unlike God. The question of whether God felt loneliness before creation existed, and if creation was an act to end such loneliness, is what this thread is about, was God lonely?

That might be the reason for the eternal trinity.

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

It is believed that God exists in eternity and has always been, while creation had a starting point, unlike God. The question of whether God felt loneliness before creation existed, and if creation was an act to end such loneliness, is what this thread is about, was God lonely?

No. God is Father, Son, the Holy Spirit. The trinity shares a loving relationship for eternity, and always have.

God does not need anyone to love Him, unlike Allah who needs humanity.

 

[Bob Crowley]

I think God has a desire for friends, even if He has to make them first. The choice is theirs, but I believe He hopes some of His creatures will return His love.

Obviously there are those who will refuse, and even then "(He) takes no delight in the death of the wicked".

John 15:15 NIV " I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Ezekiel 33:11 NIV "Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’"

God may not need friends, but I think He wants friends.

 

[YESLORDIWILL]

Not with the Son and Holy Spirit always with him. . .it's a divine "love fest."

But they're all one

 

[Clare73]

But they're all one

One God. . .three distinct persons.

 

[Jonaitis]

It is believed that God exists in eternity and has always been, while creation had a starting point, unlike God. The question of whether God felt loneliness before creation existed, and if creation was an act to end such loneliness, is what this thread is about, was God lonely?

Well, literally speaking, God does not feel, because He is impassible. He is beyond human comprehension, and therefore, does not have nor experience human emotions. His actions throughout the Scriptures are anthropomorphic depictions due to human limitation to describe them. When His justice is displayed, He is seen as "angry," and when His mercy is displayed, He is seen as "compassionate."

Besides this point, God, in this analogous language, has always been alone but blissful. He is truth itself, and in comparison, we are nothing. Therefore, He is, in an absolute sense, alone and will always be alone, but blissful and content in Himself with or without creation.