Divine Foreknowledge (choice, experience, God)

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

Does the Bible make this claim for him? If so, I can't think of where.

Good point! Psalm 139 seems to argue omniscience, but I was surprised that I could find nothing more explicit. I need to give this some more thought ...

[Scuba Pete]

So much of what we ascribe God to be is based on assumptions or what was simply handed down from our parents. It's always best to discard such assumptions if you really want to find the truth.

[may]

True, God can foresee certain events, but in many cases, he has chosen not to use his foreknowledge. Because God is almighty, he is free to exercise his abilities as he wishes, not according to the wishes of imperfect humans.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

So much of what we ascribe God to be is based on assumptions or what was simply handed down from our parents. It's always best to discard such assumptions if you really want to find the truth.

A wise, if not paternalistic and irrelevant, piece of advice.

This is highly displeasing to God: "I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to graven things." (16) For it must be known that the dignity of God consists in His omniscience, since the name of God (Deus) is from "seeing"; and this is one of the signs of divinity: "Show the things that are to come hereafter and we shall know that ye are gods." (17) "All things are naked and open to His eyes." (18) But this dignity of God is denied Him by practitioners of divination, and of them it is said: "Should not the people seek of their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?" (19)

16. Isa. 42:8
17. Isa. 41:23
18. Heb. 4:13
19. Isa. 8:19

- God's Greatest Gifts by St. Thomas Aquinas

That God is omniscient or possesses the most perfect knowledge of all things, follows from His infinite perfection. In the first place He knows and comprehends Himself fully and adequately, and in the next place He knows all created objects and comprehends their finite and contingent mode of being. Hence He knows them individually or singularly in their finite multiplicity, knows everything possible as well as actual; knows what is bad as well as what is good. Everything, in a word, which to our finite minds signifies perfection and completeness of knowledge may be predicated of Divine omniscience, and it is further to be observed that it is on Himself alone that God depends for His knowledge.

- Catholic Encyclopaedia

The divine omniscience is most important for the religious life. The very essence of religion as communion with God depends on His all-comprehensive cognizance of the life of man at every moment.

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - OMNISCIENCE

As for what was "simply handed down from our parents", my parents worked long and hard to get the Encyclopaedia Britannica Jr., the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the Britannica Great Books of the Western World series into my hands.

[Scuba Pete]

Isaiah 8:19 When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Nothing here about God foretelling the future.

Isaiah 41:21 "Present your case," says the LORD. "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob's King. 22"Bring in [ your idols] to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, 23 tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear. 24 But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; he who chooses you is detestable.

Here he debunks the myths that other "gods" can foretell the future.

Isaiah 42:8. "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."

Closer, but not quite. Prophecy is not the same as knowing the ENTIRE outcome of our all of our lives. Saying X will happen does not imply that he knows EVERYTHING that will happen.

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Again close, but still does not imply clairvoyance.

Of course the other references are little more than traditions of men. Not important if you are discarding all "assumptions" about what the Bible teaches us about God.

Now God has a plan... he knows when Jesus is coming back. But I see no evidence in the scriptures that he claims to know everything about future events.

I am still open to you proving me wrong. But right now it looks more like a teaching of man rather than a teaching of God.

[Scuba Pete]

my parents worked long and hard

For that they should be praised! But I don't accept my parent's beliefs as my own. My mom thought I looked great in red pants. Four years in a row she would give me a pair for my birthday, for Christmas or for both. Imagine her surprise when I went to college and she found half a dozen pair of red pants with the tags still on! I love my mom, but I have my own faith.

[Rex]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

For that they should be praised! But I don't accept my parent's beliefs as my own. My mom thought I looked great in red pants. Four years in a row she would give me a pair for my birthday, for Christmas or for both. Imagine her surprise when I went to college and she found half a dozen pair of red pants with the tags still on! I love my mom, but I have my own faith.

I'd pay to see that picture..

[Scuba Pete]

I've done enough to humiliate myself without help from Ma.