If God knows the future, why would He create someone who will ultimately reject Him?

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's​ foreknowledge, human freedom, divine goodness, and the mystery of damnation.

Rather than offering a simplistic answer, this discussion challenges many common assumptions​ about God's knowledge of the future and reveals a​ profoundly hopeful vision of God's unwavering love for every person He creates.

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Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:48 A Letter to Agatha

02:39 The Common Assumption About Damnation

04:20 The Eastern Church Fathers' Answer

05:10 Why We Exist

07:03 God's Knowledge and Creation

08:51 Why God Doesn't "Choose the Saved"

09:27 Why Not Simply Avoid Creating the Damned?

11:04 God Always Chooses the Good

12:08 Outcomes vs. Goodness

14:44 King Saul and Divine Justice

16:26 The "Future Hitler" Thought Experiment

18:11 Free Will and God's Omnipotence

19:27 Can God Make a Square Circle?

21:55 Abraham and Isaac

24:20 Damnation Is the Creature's Choice

25:20 Christ's Victory Over Hades

27:18 A Prison Without Bars

29:01 Hope for Universal Salvation?

30:30 St. Sophrony's Final Reflection

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Relevant Links:

God's Omnipotence Explained: Can God Really Do Anything? https://youtu.be/qEYzy1Wbjcg ​

From Heretic to Orthodox: https://youtu.be/cWcVOvEu7dM​

On Apokatastasis and Universal Salvation: https://open.substack.com/pub/nathanajacobs/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvation?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

All links:

The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

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Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

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Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast