CHAPTER EIGHT
THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5 (KJV)
Every serious student knows that the more you learn, the more you learn how much there is to learn. But even after a lifetime of diligent study, how much knowledge have we really accumulated compared to all there is to know about in the world? Answer: not much. To get a handle on how little we comprehend, let’s say there is a football stadium that seats 70,000 people, and we travel the globe, and then fill every last one of those seats with the greatest intellects who are alive today. What would the sum total of their impressive genius add up to? Answer: a single, solitary raindrop, compared to the vast ocean of God’s infinite knowledge. The psalmist declared, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Ps. 147:5, KJV). Theologians call this infinite knowledge “omniscience,” from the Latin omnis, meaning all, and scientia, meaning knowledge. Thus, we say God is all-knowing; God is literally a know-it-all, in the best possible sense.
The word “oops” has never been and never will be part of our Lord’s vocabulary. Mistakes, blunders or gaffes are well beyond the purview of an omniscient God, whose knowledge of the future is just as perfect and exhaustive as is his knowledge of the past and present—assuming that God is even bound by the constraints of time, which he isn’t. Due to the recent resurgence of attacks upon God’s knowledge, especially his foreknowledge, we must boldly assert that it is blasphemous to ascribe to God ignorance of the future. Some theologians, known as open theists, state that although God’s knowledge of what is knowable is perfect, God cannot know the unknowable. What is unknowable, according to this theology, is the future. That is open—thus the term “open theism.” The reason the future is open and unknowable, even to God, is due to the free will of man. Open theists assert that God can take a good educated guess at how people will behave, but he cannot be certain. This means the predictions of God related to the future are not absolute, but only possibilities.
In explaining God repenting that he made Saul king, openness advocate Greg Boyd appears to be trying to get God off the hook for making an unwise decision: “God made a wise decision because it had the greatest possibility of yielding the best results… Saul freely strayed from God’s plan, but this is not God’s fault, nor does it make God’s decision unwise.” If it doesn’t make God’s decision unwise, at the very least, it states God is ignorant of the future. This heretical teaching about God is refuted repeatedly throughout the Scriptures. The psalmist, said, “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether” (Ps. 139:4). We already mentioned Psalm 147:5: “his understanding is infinite” (KJV). According to John, “God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything” (1 Jn. 3:20). Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” (Jn. 21:17b). Thus, as C. S. Lewis said, “Everyone who believes in God at all believes that He knows what you and I are going to do tomorrow.”
God knows all things past, present and future, and he knows them perfectly, exhaustively and eternally. That is to say, God never learned about something later in life. God has no need to learn; indeed, he cannot learn, because he already knows everything, and he knew everything before there ever was a world. “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18, KJV). You cannot teach me that one plus one equals two, because I already know that. To God, everything is one plus one equals two.
God’s omniscience can be illustrated by looking at a few prophecies. A. W. Pink stated it well, “The perfect knowledge of God is exemplified and illustrated in every prophecy recorded in his Word…. Such prophecies could only have been given by one who knew the end from the beginning, and whose knowledge rested upon the unconditional certainty of the accomplishment of everything foretold.”
THE PROPHECIES OF GENESIS 15:13-16
The following prophecy was given to Abram from the LORD. Before looking at this prophecy, let me draw your attention to the broader context and then the immediate context. First, the broader context of Scripture states that false prophecies—those that failed to come to pass—indicted a false prophet, which mandated his rejection and execution (Deut. 18:15-22). One hundred percent accuracy is demanded. Thus, with this prophecy, as with all prophecies, God is, in a sense, placing his reputation and life on the line. Second, the immediate context of Genesis concerns the aging Abram and Sarai who have no children yet. Now we’ll look at the complex prophecy found in Genesis 15:13-16:
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
Reflect on just a small fraction of what God would have known in advance in order to make such sure predictions:
God knew that Abram and his elderly wife would have a child. Otherwise, there would be no offspring to be sojourners or anything else.
The LORD spoke of coming back to the land. Therefore, he knew about the descent into Egypt. But just think about all that entailed: Joseph being hated and sold by his brothers; Joseph being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife while he maintained his integrity; Joseph being in Pharaoh’s prison; Joseph later having a good relationship with Pharaoh, so that Joseph’s family would be welcomed to Egypt.
The LORD also knew that after the favorable treatment from the first Pharaoh, another Pharaoh would ascend to power who would not remember Joseph, and who would subject the Israelites to slavery and harsh affliction.
God knew the cruelty inflicted on his people would require him to judge the nation responsible for such ruthless treatment.
Also in plain view to God was the plundering that would occur just prior to Israel’s departure from Egypt.
Moreover, God knew that the days of Abram’s life were going to be long. Indeed, God already knows the number of days that will comprise all our lives (Ps. 139:16).
God knew in advance that Abram’s descendants would come back in the fourth generation, not the third or the fifth.
Finally, God saw that the sin of the Amorites would grow progressively worse over the next four hundred years or so, until God’s justice demanded that they be punished.
God would have to have known all this, and so much more, over this 400-plus year period to make such a precise prophecy. What God predicted was fulfilled to the letter because God knows the end from the beginning.
THE PROPHECIES OF CHRIST
Now let’s ponder just a sampling of the Old Testament prophecies made pertaining to Christ:
His birth place (Mic. 5:2)
His descent into Egypt (Hos. 11:1)
His priesthood in the order of Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4)
A prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:15)
His betrayal by a close friend (Ps. 41:9)
The betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:13)
The desertion by the disciples (Zech. 13:7)
An offering of gall and vinegar (Ps. 69:21)
Casting of lots for his garment (Ps. 22:18)
His death by crucifixion (Ps. 22:16)
His death with criminals (Isa. 53:12)
His grave with a rich man (Isa. 53:9)
His resurrection (Ps. 16:8-10)
His ascension to the Lord’s right hand (Ps. 110:1)
His everlasting reign over the nations (Dan. 7:13-14)
Peter Stoner calculated what the odds would be of any one person fulfilling just eight prophecies. He found the probability was one in 10 to the 17th power, or one in 100,000,000,000,000,000. In order to help us comprehend this staggering probability, Stoner illustrates:
“[Suppose] that we take 10 to the 17th silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom.”
If that isn’t amazing enough, Stoner also calculated the odds of any one person fulfilling forty-eight prophecies. The odds in that case were one in 10 to the 157th power. Now consider that Josh McDowell and other theologians state that the Old Testament contains over 300 references to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus. KNOWLEDGE OF THE POSSIBLE
Believe it or not, we can even take the knowledge of God a step further: God not only knows all things that are and will be, but God’s omniscience also extends into the realm of the “possible.” This refers to outcomes regarding certain people and events that didn’t actually happen, but would have, if other conditions had been present. For example, Jesus said,
“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. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you” (Matt. 11:21-24; see also 1 Sam. 23:11-13; 2 Kgs. 13:19).
How is Jesus able to make these statements about what Tyre and Sidon would have done under different circumstances? Because he has “contingent knowledge.” This means his knowledge is not limited to actual responses, but even reaches to every potential response based upon various contingencies. And in the mind of God there are no unforeseen contingencies. Finally, just so “contingent knowledge” isn’t misconstrued, we assert that while God knows all contingencies, he knows nothing contingently. An omniscient God is not dependent upon anyone or anything for his infinite knowledge.
PROOF THAT GOD IS GOD
What does all this prophetic knowledge and contingent knowledge prove? It proves that God is God, and there is no other. If a person were to ask God to prove his omniscience would he not simply direct them to his Word? In a sense, one does not need to ask God for proof of his omniscience, because it’s already been provided. The Bible is many things, but surely does it not stand as a time-tested testimony to God’s infinite knowledge?
God accepts prophecy as proof positive of one’s deity. In Isaiah 41:21, the LORD summons the idols in the land of Israel to appear in the courtroom, as it were, to defend themselves: “‘Set forth your case,’ says the LORD; ‘bring your proofs,’ says the King of Jacob.” What is the “case” that God is challenging the idols to make? And what “proofs” is he looking for? The LORD continues, “Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come” (v. 22). The “proofs” that God is asking of the idols is prophecy about the future. What will this prove? God says, “Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified” (v. 23). In God’s court of law, accurate prophecies about the future would be required evidence to demonstrate one’s deity. This is because foreknowledge belongs exclusively to God.
Of course, these mute idols can present no such proofs, but God does so again and again, and he tells us how this is to be interpreted: “I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them” (Isa. 42:8-9). “[R]emember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isa. 46:9-10). The idols fail to set forth their case, but the Almighty has made his case with convincing proofs, demonstrating beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is God, and there is none like him. However, as A. W. Tozer noted: “the embittered soul would not believe it … no matter how perfect and convincing the proofs I might bring.”
PROOF THAT CHRIST IS GOD
When we turn to the pages of the New Testament and look at the ministry of our Lord, we find the same convincing proofs of deity. At the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples, “I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I AM” (Jn. 13:18b-19, author’s translation). Jesus then indicated plainly that Judas would betray him (vv. 21-26). The KJV, like most translations, renders the last phrase of verse 19: “ye may believe that I am he.” The “he” is in italics in the KJV showing that it is not in the original Greek, but has been added for clarification. However, it should be translated literally, as is John 8:58: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” The Greek is identical. Jesus is saying very clearly: I’m telling you ahead of time, so that when Judas betrays me, you will believe that ‘I am’—God incarnate. Jesus’ prophetic foreknowledge would provide solid evidence of his divinity for the disciples. Once again, God has no problem providing his children with convincing proofs. In fact, it appears he enjoys doing so.
Another noteworthy prophecy took place when Jesus predicted Peter’s three-fold denial before the rooster would crow twice the next morning (Mk. 14:30).
The most dramatic prophecies of Christ concerned the events surrounding his passion. As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem with his disciples, he told them plainly that the Son of Man “will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise” (Lk. 18:32-33). Jesus knew when he would be crucified, where he would be crucified, by whom he would be delivered, to whom he would be delivered, and what treatment he would endure prior to his crucifixion. Finally, he knew about his resurrection on the third day. It’s the glory of God to “declare to us the things to come” (Isa. 41:22). And, obviously, we could list many other prophecies made by Jesus, like those related to the destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem, but time escapes us.
Many skeptics will rise in protest at this juncture, and bring forth vehement arguments against God’s omniscience. Many of them are foolish, such as the argument that God must not know everything, because he occasionally asks questions. For example, God called to Adam in the Garden, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9). Come on, now. This is like a parent asking their child, who failed to clean his room after a clear command was given, “What did I ask you to do?” Questions such as these aren’t due to a lack of knowledge; they’re presented to bring conviction, admission, and repentance.
On another occasion, God said in response to the reprehensible practice of child sacrifice by the Israelites that such an act “did not come into My mind” (Jer. 7:31; NASB). Are we tempted to assert that God could not have ever imagined that his people could have engaged in this vile sacrament that was part of the false religion surrounding Israel? Of course, God could have imagined it. Let’s not be ridiculous. Again, think of an analogous situation between parent and a child. After disgraceful behavior by a child, the parent says, “I never would have imagined in a million years that any child of mine could have been so rebellious.” The cynics are overly literal in an effort to discredit God.
While many of these arguments are foolish, and an obvious attempt to dismiss God, or even mock him and his Word, others merit a response. One such argument against God’s omniscience comes from Genesis 6:6: “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” (KJV). This “repenting” seems at first glance to be based on a lack of foreknowledge. Similarly, in 1 Samuel 15:11, the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments” (KJV).
To understand this “repenting” of God, we must see that while he does repent, he doesn’t repent like a man. How does a man repent? He repents when something doesn’t turn out like he thought it would. I repented over a Chrysler Cordoba I once bought, because a month after I purchased the car, the engine blew up. I never would have bought the car if I had known in advance that was going to happen. God doesn’t repent like that. At first, it may seem like the distinction between our repenting and God’s repenting involves hair-splitting, but the distinction is mandated by the text. John Piper addresses this vital distinction:
After God says in [1 Sam. 15:11], ‘I repent that I have made Saul king’ (KJV), Samuel says in verse 29, as if to clarify, ‘The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent’ (KJV). The point of this verse seems to be that, even though there is a sense in which God does repent (v. 11), there is another sense in which he does not repent (v. 29). The difference would naturally be that God’s repentance happens in spite of perfect foreknowledge, while most human repentance happens because we lack foreknowledge. God’s way of “repenting” is unique to God: ‘God is not a man that he should repent’ (the way a man repents in his ignorance of the future).
For God to say, ‘I feel sorrow that I made Saul king,’ is not the same as saying, ‘I would not make him king if I had it to do over.’ God is able to feel sorrow for an act in view of foreknown evil and pain, and yet go ahead and will to do it for wise reasons. And so later, when he looks back on the act, he can feel sorrow for the act that was leading to the sad conditions, such as Saul’s disobedience.
A statement that opponents like to point out to undermine Jesus’ omniscience, and thus his deity, is found in Matthew 24:36, where Jesus admits, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” I think the answer here is quite simple: Jesus is speaking in this setting as a human being. When Jesus walked on the face of this earth as the God-man he didn’t always exercise his divine nature. He did this, in part, so he could relate to us and set an example for us to follow. Jesus was led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit would reveal a time, like the time of his death, he knew the time. But, if the Holy Spirit didn’t reveal the time, like the day and the hour of his coming, then he didn’t know it. In Christ “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col. 2:9), but that doesn’t mean that Christ always exercised his divine nature. In fact, Paul states that the humiliation of Christ involved him voluntarily setting aside his “equality with God” (Phil. 2:6). Again, just so this isn’t misconstrued, Jesus never, at any moment, ceased to be less than truly God, but while on earth he lived in utter dependence upon the Holy Spirit, just as any other human being should.
If you’re an unbeliever, God’s omniscience means you’re in trouble. “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13). God knows every sinful deed you’ve ever committed. God knows every sinful word you’ve ever spoken. God knows every sinful thought you’ve ever entertained. God knows them all. There is no such thing as a “secret sin” to God. And the day is coming when God will expose your deeds, words, and thoughts, and judge them. Those outside of Christ should be terrified by God’s omniscience. And I would plead with you to repent: cry out for forgiveness; God is also merciful and gracious, as we’ll see later.
On the other hand, if you’re a Christian, God’s omniscience means comfort. Earlier we mentioned John 21:17, where Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” The context of this statement is significant. Jesus had just asked Peter for the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter knows that he failed his Lord, specifically by denying him three times. However, instead of wallowing in his failure, which would have been easy to do, Peter finds great comfort in the fact that although he has let his Lord down, in more ways than one, Jesus knows all things; therefore, Jesus knows that while Peter will botch things up from time to time, he nevertheless still genuinely loves his Lord and Savior.
For Christians, God’s omniscience also means total love and acceptance. I had a good friend in college who wanted to share one of his struggles with me. So we set up a time to meet, but it took him an hour to reveal his unique challenge. I kept assuring him during this hour as he hesitated to disclose his sin that I would be more than happy to help him. When he finally told me what it was, I realized why he was so reluctant to tell me. He was afraid that once I knew about his unusual struggle, I might look at him differently and not accept him. Many people are careful to keep certain sins concealed in the closet for fear of rejection. But God knows them all, and he still loves us and calls us his children. At first, God’s omniscience may frighten us. But in the end, we discover that it’s a wonderful source of comfort and joy.
God omniscient, God all-wise,
With thy ever-searching eyes,
Look within me, view my heart;
Keep me pure in ev’ry part.
Refrain:
God of love, God of light,
Guide my trusting soul aright;
God of wisdom, God of pow’r,
Be thou with me ev’ry hour.
God almighty, God of pow’r,
Be thou near me ev’ry hour;
Grace and glory to me give,
In thy might within me live.
God unchanging, God so dear,
God afar, and yet so near,
In thy majesty so fair,
Thou art present ev’rywhere.
God of holiness divine,
Let thy glory in me shine;
Like thine image let me be,
Pure as heaven’s crystal sea.
God eternal, God most high,
God of truth, who cannot lie,
Round about me cast thy charms,
Underneath me be thine arms.
Daniel Otis Teasley
Copyright 2025, By Every Word Foundation