What does "foreknowledge" mean?

Romans 8:28 is an incredible verse that brings with it an incredible promise. I will give you the NASB version but would suggest that you look at this verse in several other translations - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
This verse is structured in a way that this promise is conditional. When we read that God causes all things to work together for good then we must look to see if there are any conditions to this promise and there are two:
1. For those who love God
2. For those who have been called according to His purpose
If these two conditions are not true then this promise does not apply.

But there is something else that needs to be considered about this tremendous promise in Scripture. Since God is making this promise to believers then we need to determine what is the foundation or the pillars that are able to support such an incredible promise.
In order to best understand we must look at the next two verses that follow. They are like 5 dominoes or linking rings that can not be separated from one another. When the first one falls then it is sure and true that the remaining dominoes or links of the chain will happen. Therefore if we can understand domino number 1 then it will help in our understanding of the others.

There are many people that I know who are wrestling through this issue concerning the sovereignty of God in election. Please know that my goal is to point you to what the Scripture says about this subject.

I would like you to consider the word "foreknowledge" in Romans 8:29. This is the key I believe to a fuller understanding of the promise in Romans 8:28 and the links of the chain that the apostle Paul explains in Romans 8:29-30.

The verb "foreknew" occurs 5 times in the New Testament;
Acts 26:5 - since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.

Romans 8:29 – For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

Romans 11:2 - God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

1 Peter 1:20 - For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

2 Peter 3:17 - You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,


The noun "foreknowledge" occurs two times in the New Testament;
Acts 2:23 - this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

1 Peter 1:2 – according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Many New Testament Greek scholars defines foreknowledge as follows:
In Scripture "know" has a pregnant meaning, which goes beyond that of mere cognition. It is used in a sense practically synonymous with "love," to set upon, to know with peculiar interest, delight, affection, and action;
The word know can be imported for the word foreknow in not only 8:29 but in Romans 11:2 - God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

Bert's paraphrase in the following verses with the understanding of the word foreknowledge

Genesis 18:19 - "For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."
Bert paraphrase - "For I have set my favor, delighted in him...

Exodus 2:25 - God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.
Bert paraphrase - "...and God favored them."

Psalm 1:6 - For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
Bert paraphrase - "For the Lord delights in the way of the righteous..."

Psalm 144:3 - O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him?
Bert paraphrase - "O LORD, what is man that You set your affection on him..."

Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."
Bert paraphrase - "Before I formed you in the womb I delighted in you..."

Amos 3:2 - "You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities."
Bert paraphrase - "You only have I set my favor upon among all the families of the earth..."

Hoses 13:5 - I cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought.
Bert paraphrase - "I knew you in the wilderness..."

Matthew 7:23 - "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Bert paraphrase - "And then I will declare to them, I never set my affection upon you..."

1 Corinthians 8:3 - but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
Bert paraphrase - "but if anyone loves God, he is favored by Him."

Galatians 4:9 - But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
Bert paraphrase - "But now that you have come to have God's love or affection placed on you..."

2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."
Bert paraphrase - "...The Lord sets His favor on those who are His..."

In summary:
Therefore the word foreknowledge in these verses mean what God does and not just what God sees when He looks into the future.