If God knows the future, why would He create someone who will ultimately reject Him?
This is one of the deepest questions in Christian theology, and one that was asked by a 15-year-old Orthodox Christian. In this episode, Nathan Jacobs reads one of his favorite theological letters, exploring how the Eastern Church Fathers—especially St. John of Damascus—approach God's foreknowledge, human freedom, divine goodness, and the mystery of damnation.
Rather than offering a simplistic answer, this discussion challenges many common assumptions about God's knowledge of the future and reveals a profoundly hopeful vision of God's unwavering love for every person He creates.
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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:48 A Letter to Agatha
02:39 The Common Assumption About Damnation
04:20 The Eastern Church Fathers' Answer
05:10 Why We Exist
07:03 God's Knowledge and Creation
08:51 Why God Doesn't "Choose the Saved"
09:27 Why Not Simply Avoid Creating the Damned?
11:04 God Always Chooses the Good
12:08 Outcomes vs. Goodness
14:44 King Saul and Divine Justice
16:26 The "Future Hitler" Thought Experiment
18:11 Free Will and God's Omnipotence
19:27 Can God Make a Square Circle?
21:55 Abraham and Isaac
24:20 Damnation Is the Creature's Choice
25:20 Christ's Victory Over Hades
27:18 A Prison Without Bars
29:01 Hope for Universal Salvation?
30:30 St. Sophrony's Final Reflection
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Relevant Links:
God's Omnipotence Explained: Can God Really Do Anything? https://youtu.be/qEYzy1Wbjcg
From Heretic to Orthodox: https://youtu.be/cWcVOvEu7dM
On Apokatastasis and Universal Salvation: https://open.substack.com/pub/nathanajacobs/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvation?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
All links:
The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs
Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
