Why Would God Create Someone He Knows Will Be Damned?

<p>If God knows the future, why would He create someone who will ultimately reject Him?</p><p><br></p><p>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&#39;s​ foreknowledge, human freedom, divine goodness, and the mystery of damnation.</p><p><br></p><p>Rather than offering a simplistic answer, this discussion challenges many common assumptions​ about God&#39;s knowledge of the future and reveals a​ profoundly hopeful vision of God&#39;s unwavering love for every person He creates.</p><p><br></p><p>======================================</p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>01:48 A Letter to Agatha</p><p>02:39 The Common Assumption About Damnation</p><p>04:20 The Eastern Church Fathers&#39; Answer</p><p>05:10 Why We Exist</p><p>07:03 God&#39;s Knowledge and Creation</p><p>08:51 Why God Doesn&#39;t &quot;Choose the Saved&quot;</p><p>09:27 Why Not Simply Avoid Creating the Damned?</p><p>11:04 God Always Chooses the Good</p><p>12:08 Outcomes vs. Goodness</p><p>14:44 King Saul and Divine Justice</p><p>16:26 The &quot;Future Hitler&quot; Thought Experiment</p><p>18:11 Free Will and God&#39;s Omnipotence</p><p>19:27 Can God Make a Square Circle?</p><p>21:55 Abraham and Isaac</p><p>24:20 Damnation Is the Creature&#39;s Choice</p><p>25:20 Christ&#39;s Victory Over Hades</p><p>27:18 A Prison Without Bars</p><p>29:01 Hope for Universal Salvation?</p><p>30:30 St. Sophrony&#39;s Final Reflection</p><p><br></p><p>======================================</p><p><br></p><p>Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&amp;A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: <a href="https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/" target="_blank">https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/</a></p><p>Support the East West Series: <a href="http://theeastwestseries.com/" target="_blank">http://theeastwestseries.com/</a></p><p>======================================</p><p>Relevant Links:</p><p>God&#39;s Omnipotence Explained: Can God Really Do Anything? <a href="https://youtu.be/qEYzy1Wbjcg" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/qEYzy1Wbjcg</a> ​</p><p>From Heretic to Orthodox: https://youtu.be/cWcVOvEu7dM​ </p><p>On Apokatastasis and Universal Salvation: <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/nathanajacobs/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvation?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web" target="_blank">https://open.substack.com/pub/nathanajacobs/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvation?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&amp;utm_medium=web</a></p><p><br></p><p>All links:</p><p>The Theological Letters (Substack): <a href="https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/" target="_blank">https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast</a></p><p>X: <a href="https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod" target="_blank">https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod</a></p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs</a></p><p>Academia: <a href="https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs" target="_blank">https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs</a></p><p><br></p><p>Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:</p><p>Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS" target="_blank">https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS</a></p><p>Apple Podcast: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast" target="_blank">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast</a></p>