Theological Term of the Week

natural knowledge (God’s)
The knowledge which God has by His very nature or essence: his knowledge of himself and what he could do, of every possible combination of causes and effects, of the truths of logic and mathematics; also called necessary knowledge (because given God’s nature, it could not have been different than what it is), or the knowledge of simple intelligence.

• From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof: 
  

  [The necessary knowledge of God] is the knowledge which God has of Himself and of all things possible, a knowledge resting on the consciousness of His omnipotence. It is called necessary knowledge because it is not determined by an action of the divine will. Is is also known as the knowledge of simple intelligence, in view of the fact that it is purely an act of divine intellect, without any concurrent action of the divine will.

Learn more:

1. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: Natural Knowledge
2. Paul Helm: Molinism 101
3. Theopedia: Molinism
4. Turretinfan: Middle Knowledge - Part 1

Related terms:

• omniscience
• Molinism
• free knowledge
• middle knowledge

Filed under God’s Nature and His Work

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Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.