Molinism is a theological system that seeks to reconcile God’s sovereignty and human free will. It is named after Luis de Molina (1535–1600), a Spanish Jesuit theologian who first put forth the ideas. At its core, Molinism holds that God’s omniscience includes middle knowledge (scientia media), an understanding of what free creatures would choose in any set of circumstances. With this knowledge, God is able to sovereignly direct humanity toward His desired ends while still allowing for genuine human freedom.
Here is a brief overview of some key aspects of Molinism:
God’s Knowledge
Molinists posit three types of divine knowledge:
- Natural Knowledge – God’s knowledge of all necessary truths, including His own nature and attributes.
- Middle Knowledge – God’s knowledge of what every possible free creature would choose in any set of circumstances.
- Free Knowledge – God’s knowledge of the actual world He decided to create.
It is the concept of middle knowledge that is most unique to Molinism. This eternal and exhaustive knowledge of counterfactuals is what enables God to plan redemption and carry out His will without violating human freedom.
Predestination
Molinists affirm that God predestines people and events, but hold that He bases His decrees on His middle knowledge rather than arbitrarily deciding. God uses His middle knowledge of what people would freely do in various circumstances to put them in situations where He knows they will make decisions aligned with His sovereign plan. So human choices are still free, even though God orchestrates circumstances knowing how people will respond.
Salvation
Molinists say salvation occurs through God’s grace and human free response. God uses His middle knowledge to provide sufficient grace to each person. Those He knows will accept the offered grace through faith are predestined for salvation, while those He knows will reject it are passed over. So while election is conditional on God’s foreknowledge of human choices, it is still ultimately grounded in God’s gracious provision.
Strengths of Molinism
Proponents argue Molinism has strengths that make it biblically cogent and philosophically plausible:
- It affirms human libertarian freedom and responsibility in harmony with God’s sovereignty.
- It explains how prophecy, foreknowledge, and predestination can coexist with free will.
- It provides an account of God’s providential guidance of creation.
- It helps reconcile passages that speak of conditional election with those on unconditional election.
Criticisms of Molinism
Molinism has received various criticisms from theologians over the years, including:
- Middle knowledge is not explicitly taught in Scripture.
- The grounding objection – what determines the truth value of counterfactuals of freedom prior to God’s creative decree?
- It may imply a passive rather than active divine sovereignty over creation.
- It depends heavily on the libertarian view of human free will, which some contest.
Key Biblical Texts
Some important biblical passages related to the Molinist perspective include:
- 1 Samuel 23:6-13 – God tells David of Saul’s plan to besiege Keilah and predicts what the people of Keilah would do if David stayed or left.
- Matthew 11:20-24 – Jesus rebukes various cities for not repenting though His miracles were done there, suggesting they could have responded differently.
- Acts 2:23 – Indicates God’s foreknowledge of Judas’ betrayal in decreeing Christ’s crucifixion.
- Romans 8:29 – Those God foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to Christ’s image.
- Ephesians 1:4-5 – God predestined believers in love according to His prior choice of them.
These and other passages show God’s detailed foreknowledge and use of that knowledge in predestining people within history while retaining human freedom and accountability.
Analysis of Key Molinist Principles
We will now analyze some of the key ideas of Molinism in more depth from a theological perspective:
Middle Knowledge
Middle knowledge is the linchpin of the Molinist system, but is it biblical? Nowhere does Scripture explicitly mention God having knowledge of hypothetical counterfactuals prior to His creative decree. However, some argue it is implicitly taught or compatible with biblical themes:
- The Bible affirms God’s exhaustive foreknowledge (Psalm 139:1-4, Isaiah 46:10). Middle knowledge may be part of this.
- God knows the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and the future (Isaiah 48:3-7). This could include counterfactuals.
- God predicted human behavior in various scenarios (1 Samuel 23:6-13, Matthew 11:20-24). This implies middle knowledge.
Overall, middle knowledge goes beyond clear biblical statements to logical deduction. It may be compatible with Scripture, but is not definitively taught. Some consider it a philosophical imposition on theology.
Election Based on Foreseen Faith
Molinists propose election is based on God’s foreknowledge of human faith. Key texts include:
- 1 Peter 1:1-2 – The elect were “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God.”
- Romans 8:29 – Those God foreknew, He predestined to salvation.
However, critics argue the biblical emphasis seems more on God’s sovereign choice rather than human foreseen faith (Romans 9:15-16, Ephesians 1:4-5). Views differ on how much weight God’s foreknowledge versus predestination carries in election.
Prevenient Grace
Molinism teaches God provides prevenient grace (grace that goes before) to enable people to freely choose salvation. Key texts include:
- Titus 2:11 – The grace of God brings salvation to all people.
- John 12:32 – Jesus draws all people to Himself.
- Revelation 22:17 – The Spirit and bride offer the water of life to all who thirst.
Critics say this conflicts with the Reformed emphasis on the total depravity of man apart from efficacious grace. But both sides can likely agree God initiates salvation by His grace in some sense.
Libertarian Free Will
Molinism assumes an incompatibilist view of free will – choices are free only if not deterministically caused by God or nature. Key texts include:
- Matthew 23:37 – Jesus laments Jerusalem’s unwillingness to be gathered under God’s wings.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 – God provides a way of escape from temptation.
- Revelation 22:17 – Whoever desires may take of the water of life.
However, others hold a compatibilist view more aligned with exhaustive sovereignty. There are good arguments on both sides regarding human freedom and responsibility.
Potential Dangers
Some potential theological dangers to avoid regarding Molinism include:
- Overemphasizing middle knowledge as an explanatory device.
- Making God’s sovereignty subordinate to human libertarian freedom.
- Reducing God’s election to mere passive foreknowledge.
- Denying God’s ultimate intentional guidance of all that comes to pass.
Molinism should be held with humility, recognizing the limits of definitive biblical support and human logic. It can provide helpful perspective but should not override clearer teachings of Scripture.
Conclusion
In summary, Molinism offers an intriguing middle perspective between the extremes of hard theological determinism and open theism. It labors to reconcile human freedom and responsibility with exhaustive divine sovereignty.
Molinism has strengths in providing a framework to understand biblical themes of election, foreknowledge, predestination and God’s guidance of creation. However, it is not definitively taught in Scripture. At best it may offer helpful philosophical concepts that are compatible with biblical truths.
There are also potential dangers if taken to unwarranted extremes. Overall, Molinism should be considered thoughtfully and critically in light of the whole counsel of God’s Word. Christians of various stripes can likely find common ground in glorifying God’s infinite knowledge, meticulous providence, and miraculous work of grace in redemption.