33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Verses 33 to 36 give a climax to chapters 9 to 11. These chapters argued for the defense of God’s character (a theodicy). Having set forth God as just, righteous, and sovereign, Paul now exulted in the praise of His glory.
We find two exclamations in verse 33 beginning with the words “oh” and “how.” One exclamation was not enough to portray God’s purpose for creation, which is His own glory.
33 Oh,
“Oh” is a term of strong emotional exclamation. Paul now allowed himself to contemplate the grandeur of God’s purpose resulting from chapters 9 to 11. He stood in awe of how God works and who He is.
the depth of the riches
“Depth” here expresses inexhaustible resources from God. Both God’s “wisdom” and “knowledge” have infinite resource.
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
The riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge manifest His complete, comprehensive, and sovereign ultimate plan. Not only is He omniscient in that plan, but He executes it with wisdom. Whatever wisdom and knowledge man might have, it does not compare to the infinite extent of God’s. Our wisdom is only a passing glance of what God is about.
“Wisdom” is the correct use of knowledge; it has the ability to choose the best possible plan for creation. “Knowledge” is God’s awareness of all facts in the universe. Wisdom directs things to a correct goal, whereas knowledge knows about the goal; wisdom can put knowledge to the best possible use. God did this with salvation by grace (vv. 5-6).
God’s “knowledge” is perfect. Knowledge is God’s comprehensive and immediate awareness of all facts past, present, and future. He is omniscient. God has never learned anything because He has always known everything. Nothing escapes Him and nothing surprises Him. It is impossible for God to learn anything because He has always known everything. God does not know in degrees; He knows all things immediately, perfectly, and equally.
“Knowledge” in this context refers to the vast sweep of God’s purpose in creation. His “wisdom” shows how He applied His comprehensive knowledge to His acts within creation. God could not have perfect wisdom without omniscience. It is possible for a person to have a significant amount of knowledge and not have wisdom. Wisdom knows what to do with knowledge. Wisdom is God’s ability to establish a proper purpose and end for creation.
In addition, God devises perfect means from a flawless and proper perspective to form His end. He keeps everything in context in order to perfectly work out His purpose for creation. Knowledge, then, involves the entire sweep of creation, all its circumstances, all the reasons why God has done what He did.
PRINCIPLE:
God is knowable but not exhaustively.
APPLICATION:
God’s wisdom and knowledge are awe-inspiring. In God’s wisdom He has the ability to select the best means for attaining the highest goal. He does everything with the highest efficiency and consideration.
In His knowledge He makes this plan with full cognizance of every detail that could ever exist, both actual and probable. There was nothing in how people would choose or in the events and contingencies of creation that He did not consider in His purpose.
No unbeliever can grasp this kind of wisdom and knowledge without God revealing Himself:
1 Co 1:20-21, 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
How to explain God understanding and knowing that where there was Light, there is also dark
and that Adam and Eve were not equipped to understand the effect of their free will in disobeying the father
and that his Creation would result in Lost Souls; the Ultimate Loss???
Allie, thanks for your post.
God is not a space-time being, therefore, He is not a physical being but a spiritual being. God transcends physical light and darkness. The transcendent God of Christianity is a foundational doctrine. He is also immanent in the sense of present as well.
Your question about Adam and Eve is the long-standing question of the problem of evil in the world. You may want to go to a brief study I did on how God’s will and mankind’s will interchange here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/concursus/gods-decree-and-free-will/
God had the option to create automatons without free will or choice, but He did not do that because of His desire for fellowship with them, requiring free will. Note this article by Dr. Norm Geisler:
A nonfree world is not morally better than a free world. A nonfree world is a nonmoral world, since free will is necessary for morality. A nonmoral world cannot be morally better than a moral world. Since a nonfree world is not a moral world, there is no moral basis for comparison. This too is a category mistake.
A free world where no one sins or even a free world where everyone sins and then gets saved is conceivable but it may not be achievable. As long as everyone is really free, it is always possible that someone will refuse to do the good. Of course, God could force everyone to do good, but then they would not be free. Forced freedom is not freedom at all. Since God is love, he cannot force himself on anyone against their will. Forced love is not love; it is rape. And God is not a divine rapist. Love must work persuasively but not coercively. Hence, in every conceivable free world someone would choose to do evil, so a perfect evil-free world may not be possible.
A world where sin never materializes is conceivable but it may not be the most desirable morally. If evil is not permitted, then it can not be defeated. Like automobiles, a tested world is better than an untested one. Or, to put it another way, no boxer can beat an opponent without getting into the ring. God may have permitted evil in order to defeat it. If evil is not allowed, then the higher virtues cannot be attained. No pain, no gain. Tribulation works patience. There is no way to experience the joy of forgiveness without allowing the fall into sin. So, a world where evil is not defeated and the higher goods attained would not be the best world achievable. Therefore, while a world where sin does not occur is theoretically conceivable, it would be morally inferior.1 Geisler, N. L. (1999). Evil, Problem Of. In Baker encyclopedia of Christian apologetics (p. 224). Baker Books.