The Immanence and Transcendance of God - Reconciling or Contradicting?

Modified from Oswalt, Bible Among the Myths, p 65.

     A friend of mine posted this question in response to the previous blog, "How can God know what will happen before it happens?" "You're arguing for God's transcendence, yet also insisting God is immanent. I know theologians in the past have argued for both of these, yet most theologians now recognize the irreconcilable contradiction of these two. What's your defense?" This is an excellent question and I would like to explain my views concerning these two areas.

     Both transcendence and immanence describe God’s relationship to the universe. The relationship between transcendent God and the universe is that God created the universe and is separate in that He is not made of the material of the universe (Ps. 19). He is independent of creation (Grudem, pg 267). He is the cause of the universe.

     The transcendence of God stems from his omnipotence. God is infinite, whereas all creation is finite, thus God is separate from creation. Genesis 1-2, the beginning of the Bible, demonstrates the transcendence of God, because God created all that exists now within this finite realm. To truly understand the transcendence, a short detour to explain the opposite is in order.

     Transcendence defies the ancient beliefs, which consist of continuity. Continuity is deity, humanity, and nature coexisting within the same realm, much as modern day pantheism sees it. This idea teaches that all things exist because they are intrinsically a part of each other ("The Bible Among the Myths" by John Oswalt, ch. 2). This is seen in ancient myths, Egyptian, Canaanite, and Mesopotamian theogonies of 1000 - 4000 BC, which coincides with the backdrop of the Old Testament yet stand in stark contrast.

Modified from Oswalt, Bible Among the Myths, p. 48

      Transcendence within the Bible stands in stark contrast to the view of continuity within ANE religions. Within the idea of myth, cosmos and gods are linked; however, within the Old Testament's unique view, God is separate and prior to the cosmos. The Bible provides a unified set of rules, a high view of humanity as the crown of creation, monotheism at the core of scripture, images/idols are forbidden, and sexuality is denied as a part of worship. Humanity and nature coexist with each other; however, God is separate in that God is not a part what was created. Thus, God is within nature, but NOT of nature.

     Because God is within nature in the essence that He continues to act throughout history, but does not exist as a part of created nature, this is what is known as immanence. The relationship between God’s immanence and created nature is that God continues to move within nature while not being a physical part of the created nature. Genesis 1:2, stating the Spirit of God was moving across the waters, shows how God was personally involved within creation, but the Bible does not stop here. Hebrews 1:3 and Col. 1:17 both argue that God is the sustaining cause of the universe. If God were to completely remove Himself from creation, it would cease to exist. God’s personal involvement is the key focus behind immanence, in that God is not some distant deity (Deism), nor is God limited to the universe (pantheism).

     God’s immanence is further demonstrated through the many periods in time where God, via either anthropomorphism or the incarnation itself, has crossed the boundaries of the ethereal and has become physical, yet this does not limit God to the law that He becomes bound by creation. John 1 argues that God became flesh, and dwelt among us, thus God became immanent in the fullest sense, yet God was not born of two human parents, for the Holy Spirit was a part of the consummation removing the sin nature defying the laws of the universe.

     Miracles also attest to the immanence of God. Throughout history, God has enabled miracles to occur that defy physical laws bound by nature. Whether it is a miraculous healing, turning water into wine, the plagues of Egypt (which was a polemical attack against the deities of Egypt), or creation itself, God continues to work within nature while not being bound by nature. Thus, God is immanent, yet transcendent.