The Meaning of 'foreknew' in Romans 8:29

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.“ Romans 8:29,30

Broadly speaking there have been two general views as to the meaning and use of the word “foreknew” in Romans 8:29. One class of commentators (the Arminians) maintain that Paul is saying that God predestined to salvation those whom He foreknew would respond to His offer of grace (i.e., those whom He saw would of their own free will repent of their sins and believe the gospel). Godet, in commenting on Romans 8:29, asks the question: “In what respect did

God thus foreknow them?” and answers that they were “foreknown as sure to fulfill the conditions of salvation, viz. faith; so: foreknown as His by faith.” ¹ The word “foreknew” is thus understood by Arminians to mean that God knew beforehand which sinners would believe, etc., and on the basis of this knowledge He predestined them unto salvation.

The other class of commentators (the Calvinists) reject the above view on two grounds. First, because the Arminians’ interpretation is not in keeping with the meaning of Paul’s language and second, because it is out of harmony with the system of doctrine taught in the rest of the Scriptures. Calvinists contend that the passage teaches that God set His heart upon (i.e., foreknew) certain individuals; these He predestined or marked out to be saved. Notice that the text does not say that God knew SOMETHING ABOUT particular individuals (that they would do this or that), but it states that God knew the individuals THEMSELVES – those whom He knew He predestined to be made like Christ. The word “foreknew” as used here is thus understood to be equivalent to “foreloved” – those who were the objects of God’s love, He marked out for salvation.

The questions raised by the two opposing interpretations are these: Did God look down through time and see that certain individuals would believe and thus predestine them unto salvation on the basis of this foreseen faith? Or did God set His heart on certain individuals and because of His love for them predestine that they should be called and given faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit and thus be saved? In other words, is the individual’s faith the cause or the result of God’s predestination?

God has always possessed perfect knowledge of all creatures and of all events. There has never been a time when anything pas, present, or future was not fully known to Him. But it is not His knowledge of future events (of what people would do, etc.) which is referred to in Romans 8:29,30, for Paul clearly states that those whom He foreknew He predestined, He called, He justified, etc. Since all men are not predestined, called, and justified, it follows that all men were not foreknown by God in the sense spoken of in verse 29.

It is for this reason that the Arminians are forced to add some qualifying notion. They read into the passage some idea not contained in the language itself such as those whom He foreknew would believe etc., He predestined, called and justified. But according to the Biblical usage of the words “know,” “knew,” and “foreknew” there is not the least need to make such an addition, and since it is unnecessary, it is improper. When the Bible speaks of God knowing particular individuals, it often means that He has special regard for them, that they are the objects of His affection and concern. For example in Amos 3:2, God, speaking to Israel says, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” The Lord know about all the families of the earth, but He knew Israel in a special way. They were His chosen people whom He had set His heart upon. See Deuteronomy 7:7,8; 10:15. Because Israel was His

in a special sense He chastised them, cf. Hebrews 12:5,6. God, speaking to Jeremiah, said, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,” (Jeremiah 1:5). The meaning here is not that God knew about Jeremiah but that He had a special regard for the prophet before He formed him in his mother’s womb. Jesus also used the word “knew” in the sense of personal, intimate awareness. “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers’ “ (Matt. 7:22,23). Our Lord cannot be understood here as saying, I knew nothing about you, for it is quite evident that He knew all too much about them – their evil character and evil works; hence, His meaning must be, I never knew you intimately nor personally, I never regarded you as the objects of my favor or love. Paul uses the word in the same way in I Corinthians 8:3, “But if one loves God, one is known by him,” and also II Timothy 2:19, “the Lord knows those who are His.” The Lord knows about all men but He only knows those “who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28) – those who are His!

Murray’s argument in favor of this meaning of “foreknew” is very good. “It should be observed that the text says ‘whom He foreknew’; whom is the object of the verb and there is no qualifying addition. This, of itself, shows that, unless there is some other compelling reason, the expression ‘whom he foreknew’ contains within itself the differentiation which is presupposed. If the apostle had in mind some ‘qualifying adjunct’ it would have been simple to supply it. Since he adds none we are forced to inquire if the actual terms he uses can express the differentiation implied. The usage of Scripture provides an affirmative answer. Although the term ‘foreknew’ is used seldom in the New Testament, it is altogether indefensible to ignore the meaning so frequently given to the word ‘know’ in the usage of Scripture; ‘foreknow’ merely adds the thought of ‘beforehand’ to the word ‘know’. Many times in Scripture ‘know’ has a pregnant meaning which goes beyond that of mere cognition. It is used in a sense practically synonymous with ‘love’, to set regard upon, to know with peculiar interest, delight, affection, and action (cf. Gen 18:19; Exod. 2:25; Psalm 1:6; 144:3; Jer. 1:5; Amos 3:2;

Hosea 13:5; Matt 7:23; I Cor. 8:3; Gal. 4:9; II Tim. 2:19; I John 3:1). There is no reason why this import of the word ‘know’ should not be applied to ‘foreknow’ in this passage, as also in 11:2 where it also occurs in the same kind of construction and where the thought of election is patently present (cf. 11:5,6). When this import is appreciated, then there is no reason for adding any qualifying notion and ‘whom He foreknew’ is seen to contain within itself the differentiating element required. It means ‘whom he set regard upon’ or ‘whom he knew from eternity with distinguishing affection and delight’ and is virtually equivalent to ‘whom he foreloved’. This interpretation, furthermore, is in agreement with the efficient and determining action which is so conspicuous in every other link of the chain – it is God who predestinates, it is God who calls, it is God who justifies, and it is He who glorifies. Foresight of faith would be out of accord with the determinative action which is predicated of God in these other instances and would constitute a weakening of the total emphasis at the point where we should least expect it….It is not the foresight of difference but the foreknowledge that makes difference to exist, not a foresight that recognizes existence but the foreknowledge that determines existence. It is a sovereign distinguishing love.” ²

Hodge observes that “as to know is often to approve and love, it may express the idea of peculiar affection in this case; or it may mean to select or determine upon….The usage of the word is favourable to either modification of this general idea of preferring. ‘The people which he foreknew,’ i.e., loved or selected, Rom. 11:2; ‘Who verily was foreordained (Gr. foreknown), i.e., fixed upon, chosen before the foundation of the world.’ I Peter 1:20; II Tim. 2:19; John 10:14,15; see also Acts 2:23; I Peter

1:2. The idea, therefore, obviously is, that those whom God peculiarly loved, and by thus loving, distinguished or selected from the rest of mankind; or to express both ideas in one word, those whom he elected he predestined, etc.” ³

Although God knew about all men before the world began, He did not know all men in the sense that the Bible sometimes uses the word “know,” i.e., with intimate personal awareness and love. It is in this latter sense that God foreknew those whom He predestined, called, and justified, as outlinsed in Romans 8:29,30!

As was pointed out above, it is unnecessary and therefore indefensible to add any qualifying notion such as faith to the verb foreknew in Romans 8:29. The Arminians make this addition, not because the language requires it, but because their theological system requires it – they do it to escape the doctrines of unconditional predestination and election. They read the notion of foreseen faith into the verse and then appeal to it in an effort to prove that predestination was based on foreseen events. Thus particular individuals are said to be saved, not because God willed that they should be saved (for He willed the salvation of everyone) but because they themselves willed to be saved. Hence salvation is make to depend ultimately on the individual’s will, not on the sovereign will of Almighty God – faith is understood to be man’s gift to God, not God’s gift to man.

Haldane, comparing Scripture with Scripture, clearly shows that the foreknowledge mentioned in Romans 8:29 cannot have reference to the foreseen faith, good works, or the sinner’s response to God’s call. “Faith cannot be the cause of foreknowledge, because foreknowledge is before predestination, and faith is the effect of predestination. ‘As many as were ordained to eternal life believed,’ Acts 13:48. Neither can it be meant of the foreknowledge of good works, because these are the effects of predestination. ‘We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works; which God hath before ordained (or before prepared) that we should walk in them;’ Eph. 2:10. Neither can it be meant of foreknowledge of our concurrence with the external call, because our effectual calling depends not upon that concurrence, but upon God’s purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Tim. 1:9. By this foreknowledge, then, is meant, as has been observed, the love of God towards those whom he predestinates to be saved through Jesus Christ. All the called of God are foreknown by Him, - that is, they are the objects of His eternal love, and their calling comes from this free love. ‘I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn thee,’ Jer. 31:3.” ⁴

Murray, in rejecting the view that “foreknew” in Romans 8:29 refers to the foresight of faith, is certainly correct in stating that “It needs to be emphasized that the rejection of this interpretation is not dictated by a predestinarian interest. Even if it were granted that ‘foreknew’ means foresight of faith, the biblical doctrine of sovereign election is not thereby eliminated or disproven. For it is certainly true that God foresees faith; he foresees all that comes to pass. The question would then simply be: whence proceeds this faith which God foresees? And the only biblical answer is that the faith which God foresees is the faith he himself creates (cf. John 3:3-8; 6:44;45,65; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:29; II Pet. 1:2). Hence his eternal foresight

of faith is preconditioned by his decree to generate this faith in those whom he foresees as believing, and we are thrown back upon the differentiation which proceeds from God’s own eternal and sovereign election to faith and its consequents. The interest, therefore, is simply one of interpretation as it should be applied to this passage. On exegetical grounds we shall have to reject the view that ‘foreknew’ refers to the foresight of faith.” ⁵

¹ Frederic Godet, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, p 325. Italics are his.

² John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans, Vol. I, pp. 316-318. Italics are his.

³ Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, pp. 283, 284. Italics are his.

"I was stating that since objects can travel backwards through time, God would necessarily have to exist in the past as well as the future."
This is still rank speculation. You really have no idea just what it means for God to follow the existance of the particle as it travels back into the past.

1. A particle/object that can travel backward in time IS at that location and at that time.
2. God has created the universe so the physical laws make that time/location possible.....in other words, it is a fair description of the physical reality which God has created.
3. If that particle exists at that time/location, then Almighty God has power over it.
4. That power over it COULD include the power to be in the same location OR in a location wherein He could exercise oversight of that time/location.

Those all seem valid to me.

Additionally, it is NOT an unfair application of the biblical truth that "God inhabits eternity."

1. A particle/object that can travel backward in time IS at that location and at that time.

2. God has created the universe so the physical laws make that time/location possible.....in other words, it is a fair description of the physical reality which God has created.

3. If that particle exists at that time/location, then Almighty God has power over it.

4. That power over it COULD include the power to be in the same location OR in a location wherein He could exercise oversight of that time/location.

Those all seem valid to me.

Additionally, it is NOT an unfair application of the biblical truth that "God inhabits eternity."

If God "inhabits eternity" he is outside of time. What does it mean to be outside of time? Therefore, the issue succinctly: Does it mean the ability to time travel - past, present, future. And, if so, I must reconsider some of my assumptions about scripture.

Steve a wise woman that post on FR once told me she was doing dishes one day , she held up a plate before her eyes (flat as would be on a table) and she heard God tell her that is how he sees time.

That seems correct to me..not that he is "traveling through it" but he is viewing the totality of it.

Now if that is true..then it is all an accomplished fact ...and like that dish was created before it was held up for view.

Please be cautious Steve this is sounding VERY cultic ..and Satan would love to have you ..

Logic!

I have been trying, over and over again, to get it across to you, Cvengr and PFKEY, that any doctrinal exposition which is illogical is by default, untrue! God is logical, to an extent that we cannot even fathom. He is utterly Rational, utterly Logical, and utterly Consistent. Logic, Rationality, and Consistency are intertwined and interwoven into all that God is, does, and says. The so-called dichotomy between "spiritual" and "rational" is a false dichotomy. To say, or even hint that since something is "spiritual" it cannot be understood is a cover for all sorts of evil propogated under the name of Christ.

The reason unregenerate man cannot understand the things of God is not because they are "spiritual", as though that meant devoid of rationality, the reason unregenerate men do not understand the things of God is because they are BLINDED to them. The things of God are spiritually discerned, and unregenerate man's spirit is unresponsive and deadened by sin. It is blind to God. That is why, before unregenerate man can respond to God, he must first be regenerated. As OP pointed out, this is paramount. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE THAT CANNOT BE REFUTED. It is utterly rational that it be so. It is utterly logical that it be so. It is utterly consistent with the revealed Logic of God that it be so.

OP is absolutely correct in stating that Arminianism denies this basic truth. All of the wrangling, argument, and discussion of Arminianism vs Calvinism can be distilled down to this basic point. And until that point is conceded, no Arminian will ever be able to progress in their walk with Christ in any meaningful way, into the deeper things of God. Why? Because Arminians deny that God is absolute Sovereign. They may say He is, and may even vigorously argue for that Sovereignty, but deep down, they do not believe it, for if they did, they would be forced to abandon their twisted view of redemption, because the inconsistency would weigh on their spirits and grow heavier and heavier until they finally yield to the Holy Spirit's insistence that they abandon such nonsense. Most choose to resist the Holy Spirit at that point, and He is content to leave them playing in the Kiddie Pool.

Not that those in the Kiddie Pool are unsaved, they are just immature. Maturity in Christ involves letting go of man-made doctrines and doctrines of devils, and being taught by the Holy Spirit. The "happy-clappy" "bless me" feel-good pablum that is foisted on most Christians in churches across America is just that: pablum. And not even nutritious (for the spirit) pablum at that! That Arminian pablum that most Christians subsist on is akin to a starvation diet of wormy bread and stagnant water. That is why I believe there will be a great falling away, when it truly will cost something (namely your life and your possesions) to name the Name of Christ. We haven't seen that yet. But it's coming.

This has always been my favorite verse about God and time and foreknowledge.

Isaiah 46: 8 "Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. 12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. 13 I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.

I already laid this out for Marlowe two years ago:

All of the following Scriptures ARE TRUE --
***Romans 3: 10-12, 23 -- As it is written, There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
***Romans 7: 18 -- For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
***Romans 8: 5 - 8 -- For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
***1 Corinthians 2: 14 -- But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

You probably ned to add some space ships and some hidden mysteries to get through

Instead of just blasting an idea before you've studied it biblically...

You presume too much.

Are we reading the same posts from Marlowe?

HE'S the one who's invoking Hawkins and black holes to explain God's eternal substance.

And as much as you seem to want to make this into a deep discussion that's eluded all mankind until this very moment, it remains, IMHO, an idiotic diversion; a simplistic word game; a child's pursuit of logic; and most especially, an Arminian's desperate attempt to sidle around God's sovereignty and give himself the final word.

And finally, (attempting to call a spade a spade) I believe that God has graciously answered my questions and given me the luxury of acceptance.

Obviously, He is still playing around with your peace of mind. I pray He settles you into a solid understanding ASAP. Because statements like "God can make decisions! Awesome thought!" is truly unworthy of your God-given, obvious intellect.

But if it's Scripture you want, this satisfies me:

Acts 13:48 -- When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (note the belief follows the appointment, time-line wise)

John 10: 25-26 -- Jesus answered them: I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.

1 Corinthians 2:14 -- But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

2 Corinthians 4:3 -- And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

And from Saint Augustine: "He promised not from the power of our will but from His own predestination. For He promised what He Himself would do, not what men would do. Because, although men do those good things which pertain to God's worship, He Himself makes them to do what He has commanded; it is not they that cause Him to do what He has promised...Who, I say, can hear these words with attention and intelligence, and can venture to have any doubt concerning a truth so dear as this which we are defending?"

In summation, (because I know you don't like long posts) I believe your sincere questions stem from the fact that you are a pastor and have been given by God the righteous task of instructing believers in the Word of God. This is no easy job. And I imagine a pastor's first offering to his flock is "Pray." And as a pastor and an Army man, you expect tangible results from these efforts.

But as Augustine wrote, it is God who makes men do the good things He has commanded them to do, which includes prayer.

Our prayers do not alter anything except our own hearts. Through prayer men learn to understand God's will, not change God's will.

Acceptance and devotion are what God expects of us, not the bartering of His holy mercy.

The fact that you struggle with sophomoric physics and miss this comfort is your loss. Read Augustine, Calvin, Knox, Romans, John, Mark, and leave Gene Roddenberry and Carl Sagan to the devil. In any universe and in any double-stranded, time-warped black hole of eternal existence, they are most likely damned.

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THE MEANING OF “FOREKNEW” IN ROMANS 8:29