Did God know how it feels to be human?

[Tolkien13]

I have had a friend come to me and tell me that he believes one of the primary reasons of the Incarnation was for God to live human experience, and so to better empathise with us. My question is, then, being omniscient, did God know how it felt to be human BEFORE the Incarnation? If not, why not?

 

[brian_custer]

there is nothing that is known or can be known that God doesn’t know

the one thing God doesn’t “know” is time because all of the infinities are spread before Him like a tapestry

there is no past or future for God

all that is or ever will be before God is “now”

 

[GEddie]

Given that He created all human feelings, the answer would have to be yes??

ICXC NIKA

 

[odhiambo]

I have had a friend come to me and tell me that he believes one of the primary reasons of the Incarnation was for God to live human experience, and so to better empathise with us. My question is, then, being omniscient, did God know how it felt to be human BEFORE the Incarnation? If not, why not?

Your friend is wrong in his belief. One of God’s characteristics is that He is omniscient, meaning that He knows all that there is to know. There is NOTHING He does not know.

 

[kdfphd]

If you really want the answer to this question be sure to live a good life so you can ask God when you get to heaven!

 

[Bahman]

I have had a friend come to me and tell me that he believes one of the primary reasons of the Incarnation was for God to live human experience, and so to better empathise with us. My question is, then, being omniscient, did God know how it felt to be human BEFORE the Incarnation? If not, why not?

Timeless God cannot since any experience is an act.

 

[Contarini]

I have had a friend come to me and tell me that he believes one of the primary reasons of the Incarnation was for God to live human experience, and so to better empathise with us. My question is, then, being omniscient, did God know how it felt to be human BEFORE the Incarnation? If not, why not?

I would answer that since God is timeless, there is no “before the Incarnation” for God. The Incarnation changes how we relate to God, but it doesn’t change God.

Traditional theology would say, as many posters here have already said, that the Incarnation adds nothing to God’s experience. I am less sure about that. These are great mysteries. What we can say is that it was fitting for God to enter fully into his own creation in this way, especially given human sin but maybe for reasons that go beyond saving us from sin and death.

Edwin