Bible Dictionaries
Foreknow, Foreknowledge

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

Search for…

Enter query below:

or

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Prev Entry
Foreign, Foreigner

Next Entry
Foreordain

Resource Toolbox

Print Article

Additional Links

Dictionaries
CARM Theological Dictionary
• Foreknow, Foreknowledge
Vines' Expository Dictionary
• Foreknow, Foreknowledge
Encyclopedias
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Foreknow; Foreknowledge

"to know before" (pro, "before," ginosko, "to know"), is used (a) of Divine knowledge, concerning (1) Christ, 1 Peter 1:20 , RV, "foreknown" (AV, "foreordained"); (2) Israel as God's earthly people, Romans 11:2; (3) believers, Romans 8:29; "the foreknowledge" of God is the basis of His foreordaining counsels; (b) of human knowledge, (1) of persons, Acts 26:5; (2) of facts, 2 Peter 3:17 .

"a foreknowledge" (akin to A.), is used only of Divine "foreknowledge," Acts 2:23; 1 Peter 1:2 . "Foreknowledge" is one aspect of omniscience; it is implied in God's warnings, promises and predictions. See Acts 15:18 . God's "foreknowledge" involves His electing grace, but this does not preclude human will. He "foreknows" the exercise of faith which brings salvation. The Apostle Paul stresses especially the actual purposes of God rather than the ground of the purposes, see, e.g., Galatians 1:16; Ephesians 1:5,11 . The Divine counsels will ever be unthwartable. Cp. FORESHEW.