What do you mean by Necessary/Free knowledge of God?

[Child_Of_Wisdom]

I need help in trying to conceive of God's necessary knowledge and God's free knowledge. Is it necessary to posit God has any conceptual knowledge?

This is what I am currently thinking.

God's knowledge of the actual world within the category of his 'necessary knowledge' is in the form of his desire or inclination to create the actual world but this category does not include any distinct concept of the actual world. So in effect God is only aware of himself and his desires to create this world before he actually decides to create this world.

God's free knowledge is identical to the actual world so God's free knowledge is the actual world itself. God's free knowledge coincides with his will to create the world. God's will is an emanation of his desire to create. God's will to create flows necessarily from his desire to create. His will to create is deliberate and rational because his reason to create is in harmony with his desire.

God knows all things in a timeless eternal way and all things are fully determined by God.


Can anyone help me refine my understanding by telling me what they don't understand, what you need me to elaborate on, or revealing errors in my thinking?

[RBerman]

You're on shaky ground when trying to categorize God's thoughts beyond, "God knows all things in a timeless eternal way and all things are fully determined by God." Which philosophers have informed your thinking on these matters?

[Child_Of_Wisdom]

Do you not categorise God's knowledge? As far as God being timeless an eternal and determining all things I am most influenced by Calvinist philosophers such as Van Til, Berkeley. However I am not following anyone. I am just trying to do some heavy lifting for my own understanding and I hope I can be joined by others.

[RBerman]

Do you not categorise God's knowledge?

Not heretofore, no.

[rhutchin]

I need help in trying to conceive of God's necessary knowledge and God's free knowledge. Is it necessary to posit God has any conceptual knowledge?

This is what I am currently thinking.

God's knowledge of the actual world within the category of his 'necessary knowledge' is in the form of his desire or inclination to create the actual world but this category does not include any distinct concept of the actual world. So in effect God is only aware of himself and his desires to create this world before he actually decides to create this world.

God's free knowledge is identical to the actual world so God's free knowledge is the actual world itself. God's free knowledge coincides with his will to create the world. God's will is an emanation of his desire to create. God's will to create flows necessarily from his desire to create. His will to create is deliberate and rational because his reason to create is in harmony with his desire.

God knows all things in a timeless eternal way and all things are fully determined by God.


Can anyone help me refine my understanding by telling me what they don't understand, what you need me to elaborate on, or revealing errors in my thinking?

Where do you get the idea that God's knowledge can be divided into "necessary" and "free" knowledge and where did you dig up the definitions that you give? I don't see the distinction you think can be made.