What does God’s Foreknowledge mean?
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge(prognosis
) of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23, KJV)
God’s foreknowledge is based on his own determinate counsel, definite plan.
The BDAG
Prognosis, “πρόγνωσις
predetermination, of God’s omniscient wisdom and intention (so
Alex. Aphr., Fat. 30 p. 200, 31 Br.; Proverbia Aesopi 131 P.;
Jdth 9:6;
Just.,
D. 92, 5 πρόγνωσιν ἔχων) w. βουλή
Ac 2:23. κατὰ πρόγνωσιν θεοῦ πατρός
destined by God the Father (
NRSV)
1 Pt 1:2 (
Just.,
D. 134, 4;
s. WArndt,
CTM 9, 1929, 41–43).—
DELG s.v. γιγνώσκω.
M-M. TW.”
Thayer
2.
Prognosis, “πρόγνωσις, forethought, prearrangement (see προβλέπω):
1 Peter 1:2;
Acts 2:23 (but cf. προγινώσκω, and see Meyer on Acts, the passage cited).
For whom he did
foreknow(proginosko), he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom 8:29, KJV)
God hath not cast away his people which he
foreknew(proginosko). Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, (Rom 11:2, KJV)
BDAG
Proginosko, “προγινώσκω
choose beforehand τινά
someone Ro 8:29. τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ
11:2”
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1Pet 1:2, KJV)
compare
who have been
chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance. (1Pe 1:2 NRSVue)
And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matt 7:23, KJV)
Did Jesus not previously know that they existed? Of course, He knew they existed, but they were not known in and by the love of Christ.
