liability
Definition
Liability (Hebrew: onshaw — debt, obligation) is the legal concept determining who is accountable for damage or sin under divine law. In Stephen Jones’ corpus, liability is inextricably linked to ownership: whoever owns something is liable for what happens in it. Because God owns all things as Creator, He is ultimately liable for the outcome of creation — a point made central in Free Will Versus Ownership.
Jones applies the Torah liability laws of Ex. 21:33-34 (pit and ox), Ex. 22:5-6 (field and fire), and Lev. 25:23-24 (land ownership) to the Garden of Eden. God planted the tree, God did not cover it — He is liable as Owner:
“God’s liability laws are based on ownership, not on free will. The owner of the pit is liable, regardless of whether the ox ‘by its own free will’ fell in.” [Jones, Free Will Versus Ownership, ch. 2; Ex. 21:33-34]
The degree of liability is measured by knowledge and authority (Luke 12:47-48). God has maximal knowledge and sovereignty, therefore His liability is the greatest. He took that liability upon Himself by sending Christ to pay the redemption price for the whole world:
“He bought the whole world. In Rom. 5:18 it says: ‘Through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to ALL men.‘” [Jones, Free Will Versus Ownership, ch. 2; 1 John 2:2]
Uses per Author
Stephen Jones
Jones develops three Torah analogies for God’s liability in Creation’s Jubilee and applies them in b8:
- Ex. 21:33-34 — Pit and ox: the owner is liable, not the ox.
- Ex. 22:5-6 — Field and fire: the one who kindled the fire is liable, regardless of intent.
- Lev. 25:23-24 — Land ownership: God owns all land; man has only limited authority.
“The only way to absolve God of liability for Adam’s sin is to deny that He is the Creator. But that is impossible.” [Jones, Free Will Versus Ownership, ch. 2]
Jones refutes the Calvinist position that God is sovereign but chooses only a tiny remnant for salvation, leaving the rest to eternal torment. If God is liable for the whole creation, then He must save the whole creation:
“God’s judgment in the ‘lake of fire’ is to correct them, not to destroy them. It is to teach them the character of God, who is like ‘a consuming fire’ (Deut. 4:24).” [Jones, Free Will Versus Ownership, ch. 2; Heb. 12:29]
E.W. Bullinger
Bullinger emphasizes God’s absolute accountability as First Cause. Nothing happens outside His decreed will.
Cees and Anneke Noordzij
Noordzij emphasizes that judgment over man is always proportionate to his authority and knowledge (Luke 12:48). Man is liable on his level; God is liable on His.