God' (Col. 3:12); those called by the apostles of the Circumcision (1 Pet.

1:2; 2 John 1).  In contrast with the bulk of the nation of Israel at the

time, Paul speaks of the 'remnant' as 'the election' (Rom. 11:5,7).

We return now to the two references quoted earlier, and to 1 Peter 1:2

first.  It will be noted that election is there said to be 'according to the

foreknowledge of God the Father', a word that Peter repeats when he speaks of

human foreknowledge in 2 Peter 3:17.  A parallel passage in some way is that

in which the apostle Paul treats, not of election but of predestination

saying: 'Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate' (Rom. 8:29).  An

examination of the word 'foreknowledge' is therefore imperative.  How are we

to understand this word?  The word proginosko, to foreknow, occurs five times

in the New Testament, and the noun, prognosis, twice, making seven references

in all.  The passages are as follows:

'Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of

God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain' (Acts

'My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own

nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew me from the

beginning' (Acts 26:4,5).

'For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate' (Rom. 8:29).

'God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew' (Rom. 11:2).

'Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father' (1 Pet. 1:2).

'Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world' (1

Pet. 1:20).

'Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before' (2 Pet.

It will be observed that the usage subdivides this list into three

God.  It is used of God in connection with Christ and His

sacrifice for sin.

God.  It is used of God in connection with His people who are

called the elect, or the chosen.

Man.  It is used of man in the sense of knowing beforehand, or of

having previous information.

The grouping of these occurrences may be made more evident if set out as

A

Reference to Christ and His Sacrifice (Acts 2:23).

B

Reference to man and his previous knowledge of facts

(Acts 26:4,5).

C

Reference to the elect people of God (Rom. 8:29; 11:2; 1

Pet. 1:2).

A

Reference to Christ and His Sacrifice (1 Pet. 1:20).

B

Reference to man and his foreknowledge as a result of Scriptural

testimony (2 Pet. 3:17).