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Writer's pictureEdward D. Andrews
Oct 111 min read

How Does Simple Foreknowledge Reconcile God’s Omniscience with Human Free Will?

Updated: 10 hours ago

The Nature of God’s Omniscience in Simple Foreknowledge


Simple Foreknowledge is a theological position that affirms God’s omniscience, particularly regarding His knowledge of future events, while also upholding the existence of genuine human free will. The idea of God knowing the future is clearly established in Scripture, such as in Isaiah 46:9-10, where Jehovah declares, “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done.” This foreknowledge includes every event, both natural and human, that will occur in the future.


God’s omniscience, according to Simple Foreknowledge, is complete and infallible, encompassing all future events without interfering with the freedom of human beings. As affirmed in Psalm 139:4, “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Jehovah, you know it altogether.” Here we see that God’s knowledge is exhaustive; it includes even the inner thoughts and words of individuals before they express them. This understanding of God’s all-encompassing knowledge forms the foundation of Simple Foreknowledge.



The Difference Between Knowledge and Causality


One of the central distinctions in Simple Foreknowledge is the difference between God’s foreknowledge of future events and the idea that such knowledge causes those events. Just because God knows what will happen does not mean He causes those events to happen in a deterministic sense. This distinction preserves human free will while maintaining the omniscience of God.


An important scriptural example that highlights this concept is found in Acts 2:23, where Peter, speaking of Jesus’ crucifixion, says, “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Here, Peter indicates that the event was foreknown by God and part of His plan, yet the human agents involved acted freely and were responsible for their choices. God’s foreknowledge of their actions did not necessitate or coerce their decisions.


This distinction is often illustrated using the analogy of a barometer. Imagine a perfect barometer that can infallibly predict the weather. The barometer does not cause the weather to occur; it merely reflects what will happen. In the same way, God’s foreknowledge accurately reflects future events, but it does not cause those events to unfold. The free will of human agents remains intact.



The Logical vs. Chronological Relationship Between Foreknowledge and Events


Simple Foreknowledge holds that future events are logically prior to God’s knowledge of them, meaning that God knows something will happen because it actually will happen, rather than the event happening because God knows it. This is a key point that distinguishes Simple Foreknowledge from theological determinism.


Take, for example, the case of Judas Iscariot. In John 13:18, Jesus quotes from Psalm 41:9 to indicate that Judas’ betrayal was foreknown: “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, yet Judas acted freely in making his choice. Judas was not forced by God to betray Christ simply because Jesus knew it would happen. Instead, God’s foreknowledge was based on Judas’ free decision, which was logically prior to God’s knowledge of it. Judas’ responsibility for his actions remains intact despite God’s prior knowledge.


Chronologically, God’s knowledge of all events exists from eternity, as God exists outside of time. However, logically speaking, God’s foreknowledge follows from the fact that the events will happen. This distinction is critical for maintaining the view that humans possess genuine free will, while God remains omniscient.



The Parade Analogy: Understanding God’s Timeless Knowledge


To further clarify the distinction between God’s knowledge and human free will, the parade analogy is often used. Imagine a parade, where each float represents an event in time. A person on the ground sees only one float at a time, as each one passes by. This is analogous to how humans experience time—moment by moment. In contrast, God is like an observer in a helicopter hovering above the entire parade route. From His vantage point, He sees the entire parade—the beginning, middle, and end—all at once.


This analogy helps illustrate how God, being outside of time, perceives the entirety of human history in a single, eternal moment. He knows what will happen, but His knowledge does not force the events to occur. The parade (representing the sequence of events) moves independently of the observer in the helicopter. Likewise, human decisions and actions unfold according to their own sequence and free will, while God knows them all simultaneously.


As expressed in Psalm 90:4, “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” God’s eternal perspective allows Him to see all of time at once, but His knowledge of events does not interfere with human freedom. This timeless knowledge helps us understand how God can be omniscient without being the direct cause of every event in the deterministic sense.



How Simple Foreknowledge Relates to Human Responsibility


A common objection to any form of divine foreknowledge is the concern that if God already knows what will happen, then humans cannot be held responsible for their actions. However, Simple Foreknowledge addresses this objection by emphasizing that God’s knowledge is dependent on the actions of free agents, not the other way around.


In Deuteronomy 30:19, Moses sets before the people of Israel a choice: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” This call to choose is genuine, and the people of Israel were truly free to choose life or death. The fact that God knew the outcome in advance did not eliminate their responsibility or their freedom in making the choice. Simple Foreknowledge affirms that people remain morally responsible for their actions because their choices are genuinely free, even though God already knows the outcome.


This view aligns with the broader biblical teaching on free will and responsibility, seen in Romans 14:12, which says, “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” God’s foreknowledge of our actions does not diminish our responsibility to act according to His will. We are accountable for our choices because they are freely made, despite God’s prior knowledge of them.



Potentiality and Free Will in Simple Foreknowledge


One of the strengths of Simple Foreknowledge is its ability to account for both actual and potential outcomes. God’s knowledge includes not only what will happen but also what could have happened under different circumstances. This understanding of God’s knowledge enhances the compatibility between divine omniscience and human freedom.


In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul writes, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” This verse implies that God knows not only the temptations individuals will face but also the possible ways they could respond. God’s knowledge includes potential responses to temptation, and He provides a way out. However, it remains up to the individual to choose whether or not to take that way out. This preserves human freedom and responsibility while affirming God’s exhaustive knowledge of all possibilities.


Similarly, Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:21 demonstrate God’s knowledge of potential outcomes: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” God knows not only what will happen but also what could have happened if circumstances were different. In this case, Tyre and Sidon did not experience the miracles that Chorazin and Bethsaida witnessed, but God knew how they would have responded if they had. This illustrates the depth of God’s knowledge, which encompasses all potentialities without infringing upon human free will.



Simple Foreknowledge and the Problem of Evil


One of the key challenges in Christian theology is reconciling the existence of evil with the omniscience and omnibenevolence of God. Simple Foreknowledge provides a framework for understanding how God can know of future evil actions without being the direct cause of them.


In Genesis 50:20, Joseph, speaking to his brothers who sold him into slavery, says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Here, we see that God foreknew the evil actions of Joseph’s brothers, but He did not cause them. Instead, He allowed their free actions to occur and brought about good from those actions. This aligns with the teaching of Simple Foreknowledge, where God’s foreknowledge does not necessitate causation.


Simple Foreknowledge helps us understand that evil actions occur as a result of human free will, not because God causes them. God, in His infinite wisdom, can use even the evil choices of individuals to bring about His ultimate purposes, as seen in Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”


This perspective on the problem of evil preserves the goodness and sovereignty of God while maintaining that human beings are responsible for their evil actions. God’s foreknowledge of these actions does not diminish human responsibility or imply that God causes evil to occur.



The Role of Simple Foreknowledge in Predestination and Salvation


Simple Foreknowledge offers a nuanced approach to the doctrine of predestination. Rather than holding that God predetermines every detail of the future, including who will be saved and who will not, Simple Foreknowledge asserts that God knows in advance who will freely choose to accept His offer of salvation.


In Romans 8:29-30, Paul writes, “For those whom he foreknew he also decided beforehand [Or foreordained] to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers; and those whom he decided beforehand [Or foreordained] he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” The term “foreknew” here does not imply that God forced these individuals to make particular choices. Instead, it means that God, in His omniscience, knew in advance who would freely respond to His grace.


God’s foreknowledge of who will be saved is not deterministic in nature. He does not compel anyone to accept His grace, but He knows who will do so of their own free will. This view preserves human responsibility in responding to the gospel while affirming that God’s foreknowledge includes all future choices.


2 Peter 3:9 reinforces this understanding: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” God’s desire is for all to be saved, yet He knows who will freely choose to repent and accept His offer of salvation.

By affirming that God’s knowledge of future events does not compel or force those events to happen, Simple Foreknowledge maintains the balance between divine sovereignty and human freedom, particularly in matters of salvation.



Simple Foreknowledge in Christian Apologetics


Simple Foreknowledge offers a strong foundation for defending Christian beliefs in the face of challenges concerning free will, divine omniscience, and human responsibility. It provides a robust framework for addressing objections related to predestination, the problem of evil, and human accountability.


In apologetic discussions, one common challenge is reconciling God’s knowledge of future events with the existence of free will. Simple Foreknowledge allows believers to affirm that God knows the future without undermining human freedom. This is crucial in conversations with skeptics who argue that divine foreknowledge must necessarily entail determinism.


The analogy of the parade and the barometer, as discussed earlier, serves as useful tools in apologetics. These illustrations help clarify how God can know future events without being the cause of those events. They show that God’s foreknowledge is based on the free choices of individuals, not on His coercion or determination of those choices.


By offering a coherent explanation of how God’s omniscience coexists with human free will, Simple Foreknowledge provides a solid theological and philosophical basis for addressing common objections raised by skeptics and critics.



Illustration of Simple Foreknowledge: The Parade Analogy


Again, the parade analogy is an effective way to illustrate the concept of Simple Foreknowledge. Imagine God as the observer in a helicopter hovering above a long parade. From this vantage point, God can see the parade's beginning, middle, and end simultaneously. Each float, representing an event in time, is visible to Him all at once. In contrast, humans on the ground can only see the part of the parade passing directly in front of them at that moment.


  • God's Perspective: From the helicopter, God sees the entire parade route. He knows which float is coming next and what each float will do because He can see the whole picture. His knowledge of these events (like floats) doesn't cause them to happen; He simply observes them as they unfold according to their own sequence.

  • Human Perspective: People on the ground experience the parade one moment at a time. They see each float as it arrives and passes by, unaware of what is coming next until it is within view. This illustrates how humans perceive time—limited to the present, with past events recalled and future events unknown.


Key Aspects of the Parade Analogy


  1. Foreknowledge Without Causation: Just as the observer in the helicopter does not control or cause the floats to appear, God's foreknowledge of future events does not determine or cause those events to occur. He knows them because they will happen, not the other way around.

  2. Simultaneity of Knowledge: God's ability to see the entire parade at once illustrates His timeless nature. He experiences all of time simultaneously, unlike humans who experience time sequentially.

  3. Free Will Integrity: Each float in the parade moves according to its own plan and design. Similarly, human decisions and actions unfold according to free will. God's foreseeing these actions does not negate the freedom of the agents involved.

  4. Logical vs. Chronological Order: In the analogy, the observer's knowledge of the parade is logically dependent on the parade's actual occurrence. Chronologically, the observer sees the whole parade at once, but logically, they know what happens because it actually happens.


This analogy helps conceptualize how God's foreknowledge operates within the framework of Simple Foreknowledge, upholding divine omniscience while respecting human freedom. It illustrates that God's comprehensive understanding of past, present, and future events does not interfere with the free will of individuals, maintaining the integrity of their choices and actions.



About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).


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