All things Quote by Jonathan Edwards
“Whether God has decreed all things that ever come to pass or not, all that own the being of a God, own that He knows all things beforehand. Now, it is self-evident that if He knows all things beforehand, He either doth approve of them or doth not approve of them; that is, He either is willing they should be, or He is not willing they should be. But to will that they should be is to decree them.”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", 1741
Divine omniscience implies God either approves or disapproves each event, linking knowledge to will and decree.
In simple terms: If God knows everything, He must either allow or forbid it.
Key Takeaway
Recognize responsibility in belief about divine will.
Themes
theology
free will
determinism
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- ethical decisions
- theological study
- faith counseling
Key Concepts
predestination
moral responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you think knowing God's will changes moral choices?
- How does this view affect personal accountability?
A Different Perspective
Assumes human ability to discern divine approval, which may be ambiguous.
![“But it is doubtless true, and evident from [the] Scriptures, that the essence of all true religion lies in holy love; and that in this divine affection, and an habitual disposition to it, and that light which is the foundation of it, and those things which are the fruits of it, consists the whole…” quote by Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2fd/jonathan-edwards-770_affection_but-it-is-doubtless-true-and-evident-fro_82879.jpg)
