Is the Christian God Omniscient?

David777

David777

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The scriptural basis for Omniscience is rather weak. The obvious self-serving reason authorities and rulers would want people to believe such is possible is more about making people doubt that immorality, sins, and thoughts, they do in secret and in the dark is NOT hidden so they may doubt they can get away with evil.
  • Does the Christian god know all our human thoughts?
  • Does God actually bother to do so?
  • Or is God merely capable of doing so if choosing to?
  • Or is that possibly delegated to say Angels or others in Heaven he can refer to if necessary without having to endure a cesspool?
  • For what purpose might human thoughts be physically stored eternally? Especially those dead, and gone forever?
  • Why would it matter?
  • Maybe God if he exists, only generally senses our actions and rarely looks at mere thoughts.
  • Why would religious authorities want their followers to believe God could read all our thoughts?

AI Overview
The concept of God possessing omniscience (all-knowing) in Christianity, while inferred from biblical texts, was
developed and formalized over time within early Christian theology, rather than arising at a single specific point.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:

Scriptural Basis: The Bible contains passages suggesting God's vast knowledge, such as Job 12:13, which states, "With God are wisdom and strength; he has counsel and understanding." Additionally, the Apostle Paul's writings provide early theological reasoning about Jesus as the Christ and Son of God, according to Adventist Today. However, the Bible doesn't present a simplistic, explicitly defined view of God as omniscient in the modern philosophical sense.
Early Christian Councils: Early Church theologians, through discussions and debates, began to formalize doctrines like divine omniscience to create a coherent religious structure for Christianity and to elevate God above humanity.
Influence of Greek Philosophy: Early Christian thinkers were influenced by Greek philosophy, particularly Platonism and Neoplatonism, which contributed to the understanding of divine attributes like omniscience. The concept of "perfect being theology," as championed by St. Anselm, further solidified the idea that God is the greatest conceivable being and therefore possesses attributes like perfect knowledge.
Scholastic Theology and Beyond: Medieval theologians, notably Thomas Aquinas, further refined the concept of divine omniscience within scholastic theology, exploring its implications for issues like foreknowledge and free will. Aquinas, for example, asserted that God knows all things together and not successively, and that His knowledge doesn't change.

In essence, while the seeds of divine omniscience can be found in the Hebrew Bible and early Christian writings, the theological concept as understood today arose and developed through centuries of theological reflection and refinement, particularly within early Christian councils and philosophical traditions that influenced Christian thought.
 

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I respect everyone's right to believe things as they see fit... I wouldn't want to argue with anyone's POV.
On this subject, my views are very different.

When I read the Bible, from front to back, I read a myriad of verses that when taken together, very clearly communicate that the vastness of God's "knowing" is endless.

It's not an inferred thing or an idea that's transmitted to me by way of theologians and whatnot... it's emphatically and clearly communicated... by the writers, not the readers.

Aquinas was respectable for his great intellect and his prolific writings... but I can't say that I would agree on everything he ever said or wrote... I do agree with his view on God's knowledge.
 

Is the Christian God Omniscient?​


^This is the most ridiculous question I've ever seen asked!

And while we're on the subject, what exactly does 'Omniscient' mean anyways? :unsure:
 
Omniscience is not a direct, unambiguous teaching found everywhere in scripture. In fact, in some places, it appears God may limit His knowledge or express a kind of ignorance. For example, in Genesis 18:21, God asks, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” implying that He doesn’t automatically know or reveal all things.

The concept of God's omniscience in Christianity is layered and complex. It wasn’t as clear-cut in early scriptures as it might appear in later Christian tradition, and much of it has been influenced by philosophical ideas (like those of Greek philosophers) and the Church’s need to establish a coherent theology. The doctrinal push for omniscience likely served multiple functions: reinforcing divine power, assuring believers of God’s deep concern for them, and enforcing moral behavior.

For many Christians, the idea that God knows everything ... our struggles, our weaknesses, our thoughts ... brings comfort. It suggests that God understands us better than we understand ourselves, and that we are never alone in our struggles. God’s omniscience can, in this sense, be a deeply relational attribute.
 
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The simple statement in the scriptures sums it up. Ex 3:14...................I AM THAT I AM. Simple, straight forward. I AM GOD. You are a creation endowed with whatever knowledge your teacher gave you.....God. Nothing more , nothing less. You have as much understanding as God gave you. Do you recognize your limitations? I think not. You just can't comprehend an all knowing GOD.
 
Naturally said:
Omniscience is not a direct, unambiguous teaching found everywhere in scripture. In fact, in some places, it appears God may limit His knowledge or express a kind of ignorance. For example, in Genesis 18:21, God asks, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” implying that He doesn’t automatically know or reveal all things.

The concept of God's omniscience in Christianity is layered and complex. It wasn’t as clear-cut in early scriptures as it might appear in later Christian tradition, and much of it has been influenced by philosophical ideas (like those of Greek philosophers) and the Church’s need to establish a coherent theology. The doctrinal push for omniscience likely served multiple functions: reinforcing divine power, assuring believers of God’s deep concern for them, and enforcing moral behavior.

For many Christians, the idea that God knows everything ... our struggles, our weaknesses, our thoughts ... brings comfort. It suggests that God understands us better than we understand ourselves, and that we are never alone in our struggles. God’s omniscience can, in this sense, be a deeply relational attribute.
Click to expand...
Are you sure you have the right book and passage in the Bible? Mine reads something differently.
 
Depending upon whether or not the readers believe in God, they can determine if he is omniscient by what the dictionaries and the Bible have to say.

Omniscient definition per Merriam-Webster:
(1)"Having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight, (2) possessed of universal or complete knowledge."

Omniscient definition per Dictionary.com:
"Having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things."
______________________________________________________

Proverbs15:13:
"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good."

Psalm139:4:
"Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."

1 John 3:20:
"For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything."

Psalm147:4
"He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names."
 
911 said:
Are you sure you have the right book and passage in the Bible? Mine reads something differently.
Click to expand...
Good catch @911 !!! ... Genesis 18:17 ... and admittedly there may be other interpretations concerning the passage's meaning and inference. Also, sometimes, we have to look at the broader picture for understanding and quoting a single passage may be out of context. And of course, the KJV that I'm looking at does not use the original language, so there's a translation factor maybe.
 
I assume that God is omniscient, he created it all, but I don’t believe that he ever intended to micromanage us.

I believe that he gave us the basic knowledge and skills to make good choices and the free will to do as we please.

Santa Claus, on the other hand, does constantly check our thoughts and makes his decisions according to our actions/choices. 😉🤭😂
 
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David777 said:
The scriptural basis for Omniscience is rather weak. The obvious self-serving reason authorities and rulers would want people to believe such is possible is more about making people doubt that immorality, sins, and thoughts, they do in secret and in the dark is NOT hidden so they may doubt they can get away with evil.
  • Does the Christian god know all our human thoughts?
  • Does God actually bother to do so?
  • Or is God merely capable of doing so if choosing to?
  • Or is that possibly delegated to say Angels or others in Heaven he can refer to if necessary without having to endure a cesspool?
  • For what purpose might human thoughts be physically stored eternally? Especially those dead, and gone forever?
  • Why would it matter?
  • Maybe God if he exists, only generally senses our actions and rarely looks at mere thoughts.
  • Why would religious authorities want their followers to believe God could read all our thoughts?

AI Overview
The concept of God possessing omniscience (all-knowing) in Christianity, while inferred from biblical texts, was
developed and formalized over time within early Christian theology, rather than arising at a single specific point.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:

Scriptural Basis: The Bible contains passages suggesting God's vast knowledge, such as Job 12:13, which states, "With God are wisdom and strength; he has counsel and understanding." Additionally, the Apostle Paul's writings provide early theological reasoning about Jesus as the Christ and Son of God, according to Adventist Today. However, the Bible doesn't present a simplistic, explicitly defined view of God as omniscient in the modern philosophical sense.
Early Christian Councils: Early Church theologians, through discussions and debates, began to formalize doctrines like divine omniscience to create a coherent religious structure for Christianity and to elevate God above humanity.
Influence of Greek Philosophy: Early Christian thinkers were influenced by Greek philosophy, particularly Platonism and Neoplatonism, which contributed to the understanding of divine attributes like omniscience. The concept of "perfect being theology," as championed by St. Anselm, further solidified the idea that God is the greatest conceivable being and therefore possesses attributes like perfect knowledge.
Scholastic Theology and Beyond: Medieval theologians, notably Thomas Aquinas, further refined the concept of divine omniscience within scholastic theology, exploring its implications for issues like foreknowledge and free will. Aquinas, for example, asserted that God knows all things together and not successively, and that His knowledge doesn't change.

In essence, while the seeds of divine omniscience can be found in the Hebrew Bible and early Christian writings, the theological concept as understood today arose and developed through centuries of theological reflection and refinement, particularly within early Christian councils and philosophical traditions that influenced Christian thought.
Click to expand...
Does the Christian god know all our human thoughts?
Those with faith probably believe that it's possible.

To further the question does the Christian God not only know all of living humans thoughts but remember all those thoughts for the lifetime of all the projected world population of 8,231,613,070 (8.23 billion).


[Does God actually bother to do so?
Or is God merely capable of doing so if choosing to?]

If a person believes this then the answer would have to be yes.
Omniscient definition per Merriam-Webster:
(1)"Having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight, (2) possessed of universal or complete knowledge."


Or is that possibly delegated to say Angels or others in Heaven he can refer to if necessary without having to endure a cesspool?

What cesspool?
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 28
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Surely the plans wouldn't wind up creating a cesspool.

Why would religious authorities want their followers to believe God could read all our thoughts?

What better way to create fear? But as we can see daily that concept is fading. People are questioning why there is such misery when the Christian God promises
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 28
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
 
According to the Oxford Dictionary, omniness was named in 1602. There is still no proof that any god exhibits this ability. But we have a name for it, so it's possible to talk about it, even if it's only a word.
 
Omniscient, all knowing, I Am. The creator of the universe, The balance of nature is random or what? The balance of earth in the solar system. Our very being to think upon these things. We were created in the image of God. We have only to subdue that with the knowledge that He gave us the ability to challenge him. We do and are found wanting.
Look at David. " A man after Gods own heart" Why? because he knew who his creator was. He knew who he had sin against. It didn't negate the sins and the consequence, (bear that in mind with your own sins. They have consequence) God look at David and saw what he was looking for. A great man, a leader who acknowledged that without God he was nothing. We were created in Gods image with the ability to think like God, which we do.
But we are not God, we are his creation. Satan is allowed to continue because his only thought is that he just needs to prove God wrong one time. Hence he is not the Great I am. God allows this to go on simply to prove to us that I am the Great I AM and nothing that goes on does not happen unless I deem it so.
We have merely to accept that and find comfort in knowing he is there. Doubt what I say? Pray to God. Close your eyes, focus and pray to him. See what happens. Then try to explain it. You can't. Enough!
 

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