Views Held
The Simple Foreknowledge view agrees with Calvinism that God knows everything, including the future and the events that will occur. Simple Foreknowledge and Calvinists hold differ in the explanation of how God foreknows all. Unlike Calvinism the Simple Foreknowledge view believes that God’s foreknowledge is not the result of divine foreknowledge. God knows the future and what humans will do, simply because it is there for him to know. This knowledge does not, however, give God the ability to change anything that will occur. Simple Foreknowledge claims that God’s foreknowledge is subject to change based on man’s existence, meaning if a person does not exist there is nothing for God to foreknow. God knows what man will do, simply, …show more content…
God informs Abraham that he would become “the father of many nations” and would receive a vast land (Genesis 17:5-8 NIV). The completion of this prophecy depended on Abraham's free decision to trust and have faith in God. Many free decisions would lead to his descendants leaving egypt, because Moses freely chose to trust and obey God (Exodus 3:18-4:17 NIV). Nowhere in these passages indicate that God forced these decisions, in fact Moses and God argued for a bit before Moses freely chose to obey …show more content…
In Zechariah 12:10 (NIV) a prophecy about Christ says “when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him.” This is clearly a reference to Christ's crucifixion, but this was foretold centuries before crucifixion was invented as a form of execution. Various times throughout the gospels Jesus predicts the future free actions of the people around him. Matthew 26:34 (NIV) Jesus says that Peter will deny him three times, sure enough Luke 22:57-61 (NIV) speaks of Paul’s three denials of Jesus. Similarly Jesus foretells of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of the Son of Man (John 6:64; 70-71; 13:18-19 NIV). Nowhere in these passages is there evidence that God predestined these decisions to be made, he simply knew the free decisions of the people. God loves all and allows for free will decisions, because he loves so much. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) demonstrates God’s desire that all, not just the ordained, people have a relationship with him, stating, He “is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” This idea is repeated multiple times throughout scripture (1 Timothy 2:4; John 12:32; John 16:8
The Simple Foreknowledge view agrees with Calvinism that God knows everything, including the future and the events that will occur. Simple Foreknowledge and Calvinists hold differ in the explanation of how God foreknows all. Unlike Calvinism the Simple Foreknowledge view believes that God’s foreknowledge is not the result of divine foreknowledge. God knows the future and what humans will do, simply because it is there for him to know. This knowledge does not, however, give God the ability to change anything that will occur. Simple Foreknowledge claims that God’s foreknowledge is subject to change based on man’s existence, meaning if a person does not exist there is nothing for God to foreknow. God knows what man will do, simply, …show more content…
God informs Abraham that he would become “the father of many nations” and would receive a vast land (Genesis 17:5-8 NIV). The completion of this prophecy depended on Abraham's free decision to trust and have faith in God. Many free decisions would lead to his descendants leaving egypt, because Moses freely chose to trust and obey God (Exodus 3:18-4:17 NIV). Nowhere in these passages indicate that God forced these decisions, in fact Moses and God argued for a bit before Moses freely chose to obey …show more content…
In Zechariah 12:10 (NIV) a prophecy about Christ says “when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him.” This is clearly a reference to Christ's crucifixion, but this was foretold centuries before crucifixion was invented as a form of execution. Various times throughout the gospels Jesus predicts the future free actions of the people around him. Matthew 26:34 (NIV) Jesus says that Peter will deny him three times, sure enough Luke 22:57-61 (NIV) speaks of Paul’s three denials of Jesus. Similarly Jesus foretells of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of the Son of Man (John 6:64; 70-71; 13:18-19 NIV). Nowhere in these passages is there evidence that God predestined these decisions to be made, he simply knew the free decisions of the people. God loves all and allows for free will decisions, because he loves so much. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) demonstrates God’s desire that all, not just the ordained, people have a relationship with him, stating, He “is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” This idea is repeated multiple times throughout scripture (1 Timothy 2:4; John 12:32; John 16:8