TheosGuy

The Bible clearly indicates God’s knowledge of counterfactuals (i.e., the description of a consequent based upon an antecedent that does not occur). For example, the statement, If you do A(ntecedent) act, then C(onsequent) result will occur. Then, you decide to not perform A(ntecedent) act.

Some denote this as middle knowledge, others reject the name.

Many rejectors do so based upon Luis de Molina’s view that the counterfactual acts would be done with, what would be considered, libertarian free will. Others such as Bruce Ware, John Frame and Terrence Thiessen will use the name, but consider the freedom of the individual to be other than libertarian freedom, such as Freedom of Inclination (Bruce Ware). Nevertheless, the concept of God’s knowledge of counterfactuals is shown in the Bible. For example, the LORD often tells Israel that she lost blessings due to her disobedience, or that she would have been blessed if she had obeyed. These are counterfactuals. Following are a few other specific ones:

Exodus 13:17 NKJV – Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

1 Samuel 23:8-14 NKJV – Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” Then David said, “O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. “Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will deliver you.” So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition. And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.

Jeremiah 23:21-22 NKJV – “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings.”

Matthew 11:21-24 NKJV – “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. “But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

1 Corinthians 2:8 NKJV – which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

So, we should come away from this with at least two bits of information:

1. God not only knows counterfactuals, but declares them in Scripture
2. When we are discussing the issue with someone, we must ascertain whether they are including libertarian free will as part of the definition of middle knowledge.

Tags: Sovereignty, Ware

The following definition is given by Dr. Bruce Ware in the seminar he conducted at The Master’s Seminary on The Universal Reign of the Triune God.

God’s whole and undivided essence belongs equally, eternally, simultaneously, and fully to each of the three Persons of the Godhead, so that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each is fully God while each is his own personal expression, in role and activity, of the one eternal and undivided divine essence.

Tags: Ware

Dr. Bruce Ware postulates a position on the extent of the atonement which he calls Un/limited Atonement or Multiple Intentions View . Dr. Ware represents this as the Four Point Calvinist Position.

God’s intentions in the death of Christ are complex not simple, multiple not single:

1. Christ died for the purpose of securing the sure and certain salvation of his own, his elect (John 10:11, 15; Eph. 5:25).
2. Christ died for the purpose of paying the penalty for the sin of all people making it possible for all who believe to be saved (1 Tim 4:10; 1 John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:14-15).
3. Christ died for the purpose of securing the bone fide offer of salvation to all people everywhere (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; John 6:35, 40; Rom 10:13).
4. Christ died for the purpose of providing an additional basis for condemnation for those who hear and reject the gospel that has been genuinely offered to them (2 Pet 2:1; John 3:18b).
5. Christ died for the purpose of reconciling all things to the Father (Rom. 8:20-23; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Col. 1:19-20).

Tags: Salvation, Ware

God’s Greater Glory by Bruce A. Ware is one of my favorite theological books. Seemingly written as a response to Open Theism, I found it much more profound. I enjoyed very much the discussion on libertarian freedom versus freedom of inclination. In addition, the discussion of compatibilist middle knowledge versus libertarian middle knowledge was thought provoking.

I also enjoyed his discussion of spectrum texts (p. 69 ff) demonstrating God’s comprehensive sovereign control.

These are passages that indicate in sweeping language that God controls both sides of the spectrum of life’s occurrences, both those actions and events considered pleasant and good and those considered harmful and evil.

Here are some of the spectrum texts that Dr. Ware lists in the book.

“See now that I, even I, am he,
and there is no god besides me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand”
(Deut. 32:39).

“The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts” (1 Sam 2:6-7).

Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him (Eccles. 7:13-14).

“I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.” (Isa. 45:5-7).

Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? (Lam. 3:37-38).

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Psalm 33:8-11

for his [God’s] dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the Inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done’? (Dan. 4:34b-35).

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” (Acts 17:26).

Tags: Books, Free Will, Sovereignty, Ware