Molinism, named after the 16th-century Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina, is a philosophical framework that aims to harmonize God’s sovereignty with human free will. At its core, Molinism asserts that God exercises complete sovereignty while allowing individuals genuine libertarian freedom. One of its key objectives is to counter theological determinism, the idea that God’s decrees solely determine salvation or damnation, leaving no room for meaningful personal choice. Prominent contemporary advocates of Molinism include William Lane Craig and Alvin Plantinga.
A defining feature of Molinism is its assertion that God possesses middle knowledge (scientia media). According to Molinism, God’s knowledge unfolds across three logical moments, which should be understood not as sequential in time but as logical distinctions. In this framework, one moment does not precede another chronologically but is instead logically prior. Molinists classify these three moments of divine knowledge as natural knowledge, middle knowledge, and free knowledge.
Natural Knowledge
Let’s first look at the assertion of God’s Natural Knowledge. This is God’s knowledge of all necessary and all possible truths: all things which “can be.” In this “moment” God knows every possible combination of causes and effects. He also knows all the truths of logic and all moral truths. This knowledge is independent of God’s will, a point few if any theologians would dispute.
But one area of contention is the idea of “possible” but not “actual” truths. Are “truths” that are not actual, but only possible, really “necessary”? And if God knows all possible combinations of all causes and effects, while KNOWING the future of actual truths, therefore God also knows which possibilities won’t be, thus, rendering those possibilities mute, because they wont be? If God is timeless and omniscient outside of time then only necessary truths are those that are actualized in time until the end of time.
Middle Knowledge
Next let us consider God’s Middle Knowledge. This is God’s knowledge of what a free creature would do in any given circumstance. This knowledge consists of what philosophers call counterfactuals of creaturely freedom. These are facts about what any creature with a free will would freely do in any circumstance in which it could be placed. This knowledge, like natural knowledge, is independent of God’s will.
But there are points of contention here too. God knowing what a creature would or could do, but does not do, is mute as well. This flies in the face or righteous agency accountability. How can God justly use what we never actually did or ever would do and hold it to our account? We are accountable for our sin, because, we DO sin and we ARE sinners. But, for us to be judged as a rapist because of something we would have done or could have done but didn’t, justice? Lastly, the notion that this sort of “knowledge” is independent of God’s Will asserts that there are things in God’s own creation, created by him, outside of time from eternity past, not part of God’s divine eternal will? With this we must assume God is NOT actually completely sovereign, just 66% sovereign. Which also becomes a problem with the natural of God’s perfection since he isn’t actually perfect in will.
Creative command
Then there is God’s Creative command. This is the “moment” where God actually takes action in space time. Between His knowledge of all that is or could be, and all that actually comes to be, is God’s purposeful intervention and creation.
But how can his command and interventions be perfect if he is still subject to the sovereign independence of that which is created? For example, if God knows that if a creature could do A, B, or C, yet already knows that the creature will do C, and then takes action and wills for creature to head down the road of C; what if that creature, in their independent free will suddenly choose to do B, what does that mean for God’s command of intervention to do C? Is God’s knowledge of C and command and intervention mute since the creature of its own will chose B instead?
More specifically, if Judas decided NOT to betray Jesus, wouldn’t that throw a wrench in God’s divine plan and foretold will? Even if it was only a possibility for Judas to not betray Jesus, yet, through God’s authoritative interventions still compelled the betrayal, wouldn’t that make all the infinite possibilities unnecessary and mute? Let say Judas did choose one of those possibilities to not betray Jesus, does God have to rewrite and rethink his plan for salvation and find someone else to do what Judas as supposed to do in one of his many possible choices?
Moreover, let’s consider divine prophecies of foretelling specific events in the future. Is it possible for those independent agents to possibly choose to not fulfill what was prophesied? If the answer is yes, then we must consider all the possible times that DID occur in space time; did God have to go back to the drawling board and command a backup plan to fall in line with the prophesied so that the foretold prophesy still comes to pass still? Does God need back up plans to his will?
Divine Coercion
Molinism strives to avoid the idea that God coerces his creation for his will to be done in it. Are human choices influenced or coerced by God? This is a major issue when we look at God’s written revelations about himself and his creation.
Holy Scripture, God’s Word
Well, since we are to test EVERYTHING, especially ideas and concepts of men, we need to seek the ultimate authority in all reality: God’s Word.
Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
Casting lots was a method used to make decisions. The last part of this verse is problematic for Molinism. “Every”, literally means every sort of decision, which, logically would include every possible, necessary, and actual decision. Then, the second element is “is from” which points directly and specifically to the source of very possible, necessary, and actual decision: the Lord. The notion of ultimate decision making does not include the creation, only the creator; even when it comes to casting lots.
Matthew 10:29
Are two sparrows not sold for an assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
It is clear here that not even sparrows act or do anything apart from God the Father’s will for them. Granted, birds and humans are different in their agency and relationship with God, but this clearly shows that God is completely sovereign over that element of creation. But, there is still more in Holy Scripture about God’s will over even the human element of his creation.
Ephesians 1:11
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,
This is a tough pill to swallow for Molinists and their natural desire to cling to some sort of independence and self-sovereignty from the Almighty Creator of the Universe.
God chose. God predestined according to HIS plan. Everything, all things, not one thing lacking, will conform to HIS will. Again, no mention of any sort of independence and self-sovereignty that won’t conform or wasn’t predestined, or for the purpose other than God’s Will.
Let’s go back to the notion of anti-coercion and the fear of being influenced by a perfect, righteous, just, and holy God. He states “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” Either everything will confirm to God’s Will or this passage is untrue and Paul lied. How does God compel “everything” to “conformity”? By divine intervention, influence, coercion, and a predestined sort of domino effect which thrusts everything to confirm to his will.
Exodus 7:3
But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.
This is direct and actual divine coercion in the heart and ultimately the mind of a human being, Pharaoh. Could have Pharaoh rejected this hardening? If so, that would have made God a liar or incorrect to Moses. This verse highlights exactly what Ephesians 1:11 is talking about.
God knew the exact Pharaoh that would be impacted for his divine will to manifest, from eternity. Then, in our space time God’s will manifests and actualizes, though it was pre planned and already known to occur by God.
AND if God is righteous and just to do this to Pharaoh, he must then also be righteous and just to do it to all other aspects of his creation; God cannot sin or do anything less than right, good, holy, and just. That would include this influence and coercion over Pharaoh’s free will.
What about all the free wills of all the first born children of Egypt during the last plague? God just completely steam rolled their free will sovereignty for his own will to be done. Which, as Almighty Creator, he can rightly do as he pleases with that which he created.
Another issue Holy Scripture poses against the general concept of Molinism is found in Romans 6:17–18:
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
We free willed human agents are slaves to sin. Then, something has to happen; God has to do something with no hint of a free will choice, “having been set free” we then become “slaves to righteousness.” In this chain of events, we are at all times under divine guidance, direction, and control in regards to salvation (not what color shirt you choose to wear to church).
Let’s look at several more examples in Holy Scripture that establishes that God’s Will is sovereign and coercive of the limited free will of man.
Genesis 38:9-10
9 Now Onan knew that the child would not be his; so when he had relations with his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground so that he would not give a child to his brother. 10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He took his life also.
Did God not know Onan was going to do that? Of course he knew. God also knew what he would do in space time already. Onan’s choice and action was not a shock or surprise to God. God’s perfect justice required the action in space time. Onan’s will was to not to give a child to his brother, but God’s will superseded that and ended any option for a future free will choices. God literally took away his free will along with his life in this world.
Malachi 1:2-3
2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was Esau not Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and given his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.”
Did Esau freely choose what happened to his wealth and inheritance? Nope, God did.
Let’s look at more revelations from God about his influence over human free will decisions
Proverbs 20:24, 21:1
A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord;
How then can a person understand his way?
The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He pleases.
Let’s break this down, “man’s steps.” We chose to “step.” We make decisions that take us in various directions that gives us various experiences, knowledge, and insights into life, truth, and reality. But then we run into this:
“are ordained by the Lord”
Those “steps” we chose to make, were “ordained by the Lord.”
Then, we read that God even influences and coerces the hearts of people to turn it “wherever HE pleases“
The only thing we freely choose to do is sin in various ways, methods, times, habits, we even invent new idols. And we know this IS Freedom of our Will because: “No one is to say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” (James 1:13). After all, we have a sinful nature and are slaves to sin, unless freed from the slavery of our sins so that we can become slaves to righteousness.
Proper Hermeneutics
When we read passages such as 2 Timothy 2:24–25 that appears to illude to independent human sovereign will apart from God, we must remember that the writers were speaking from a human perspective in space time as well. Just like we must consider historical contexts, literary contexts, and cultural contexts, we must also apply what is explicitly revealed in other parts of scripture as well to properly understand the less explicit.
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
Did Paul know exactly all the people God will grant repentance too? No, of course not. And because he, Paul, doesn’t know, he has HOPE in God. Thus, he hopes FOR GOD TO GRANT their repentance. But also notice, it is GOD who GRANTS and not out of their free will choice to desire repentance.
This is a template for how we should understand the sovereignty of God and our evangelistic pursuits. We KNOW God is sovereign (given all the divine revelations mentioned above) but we DON’T KNOW exactly WHO God has willed to come to faith and whom God has chosen to grant repentance to; so we HOPE. It is this HOPE that enables us to teach, avoid being quarrelsome, patiently enduring evil, and gently correcting people about the truths of God; hoping they are elected, called, and are granted repentance and given the gift of faith: leading to knowledge of the truth.
Two final applicable truths:
1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
and
Matthew 16:24-25
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
You aren’t your own. God has purchases your life and soul (1 Corinthians 6:20) from eternity back through the knowledge of the sacrifice of the Son of God on the cross, for your sins, from eternity past. As God has planned and willed, eventually we confirm to HIS will, not ours, and deny ourselves for HIS will to be done.
Notice that those who freely choose to try to “save his life” all on their own will lose it. Also notice those who lose their life for God’s glory, will FIND it. These concepts are problematic for the notion that God’s creation to make free will choices outside of God’s Will while they are slaves to either sin or righteousness.
Yes, free will exists, not FAR from the extent that Molinists want to claim. Human Free Will is limited to the scope of God’s divine decrease from eternity past.
Check out The Limitations of Human Free Will
Final Thought about Molinism
Molinism is a humanistic effort to appease people who hate the fact that God is actually sovereign over all his creation. It tickles our natural desire to feel like we have some form of sovereign control in a world we didn’t create. It is completely dependent on human understanding and fails to address the explicit divine revelations in Holy Scripture in order to feel more acceptable to carnal minds. It prioritizes human thoughts and understandings over explicit divine revelations and attempts to re-interpret the explicit texts to fit an invented, extra biblical concept.
Verses that need to be applied to Molinism:
- Proverbs 16:33; 20:24, 21:1
- Matthew 10:29
- Ephesians 1:11
- Exodus 7:3
- Romans 6:17–18
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
- Matthew 16:24-25
Let us know what you think!