“During the
Watergate hearings in the 1970s, one question kept coming up: ‘What did you
know, and when did you know it?’ If we ask this of God, the answer would be: ‘Everything,
and from eternity.’ This leads to another question: What is the relation
between foreordination and foreknowledge? This has direct bearing on the Reformed view of the absolute sovereignty of God.”
This chapter
is divided into six subsections.
The omniscience
of God. Two paragraphs. “The Bible repeatedly and expressly teaches the omniscience
of God. It may be defined as the perfection of God whereby He, in an entirely
unique manner, knows Himself and all things possible and actual in one eternal
and most simple act.”
Absolute
foreknowledge. Three paragraphs. Prescience and the foresight are synonyms for
foreknowledge. Foreknowledge can be causal or affectionate. God has eternal
foreknowledge.
Foreordination
and Foreknowledge. Four paragraphs. Discussing the logical sequence of foreordination
preceding foreknowledge. Mention is made of Dave Hunt’s misunderstanding of
this aspect of Calvinism.
Middle Knowledge. Five
paragraphs. Middle knowledge is one of two erroneous theories that seek to
evade the absolute foreknowledge and omniscience of God.
Open Theism. Seven
paragraphs. Theory says that God is in the process of growing in his being and
knowledge, therefore God does not have omniscience or perfect foreknowledge. Reformed
theology has been the strongest opponent of theological fad.
Conclusion. Calvinism
teaches full omniscience and foreknowledge.
