If Jesus was divine, why didn't he know all things on Earth?

[BenSinner]

Jesus is fully divine and fully human. The two aren’t separate from each other.

If that’s the case, why wouldn’t that mean that when Jesus’ human nature was unaware of something, his divine mercy would also be unaware? (they are inseparable)

 

[Start]

Just because they are inseparable doesn’t mean that He can’t know things through His divine nature.

 

[Hodos]

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery…Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiations for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2: 14-15, 17-18

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who through he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8

Hope these verses help.

 

[BenSinner]

From the sound of it, it seems like the only way we know that Jesus was divine as well as human is because Jesus told us he was divine.

Since Jesus didn’t know everything as a human here on Earth, can we trust that is true when he says that, since there would be a chance he would be unaware of something?

 

[Lee1]

‘From the sound of it, it seems like the only way we know that Jesus was divine as well as human is because Jesus told us he was divine.’

John 20:27
Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

He died, was resurrected and ascended to heaven.

What is it you think He didn’t know?

 

[Roguish]

If Jesus was divine, why didn’t he know all things on Earth?

Your question assumes that divinity entails knowledge-of-everything-all-the-time. But who says that it does? Jesus didn’t say that he “knew all things on Earth”. What would be the point anyway, of “knowing” a billion gazillion little things?

If you’re thinking of the “omniscience” attributed to God, it is attributed to God the Father, not to God incarnate. They aren’t the same, as I’ve argued many times on CAF. They’re consubstantial (as per the Creed), not identical, and omniscience is not a property of God the Son.

 

[sonofbarry]

Disappointed.
I’ve read many times, here on CA, that Jesus had divine knowledge, even as a child, even (yes, believe it or not) as a baby.
If Jesus did have advanced, divine knowledge, that just makes him even more remote and inaccessible as a role model.

 

[sonofbarry]

Why do you use the expression “his divine mercy”? Why not simply “his divine consciousness” (or knowledge, sentience, etc)? Mercy is a much different concept from knowledge or consciousness.

 

[rfournier103]

Why are we assuming that Jesus DIDN’T know something? What was it He didn’t know?

 

[on_the_hill]

Exactly. Just because he didn’t tell everyone everything doesn’t mean he didn’t (doesn’t) know everything.

I know a whole lot more than my kids do, but I certainly don’t tell them everything I know.

 

[Gorgias]

Jesus is fully divine and fully human. The two aren’t separate from each other.

If that’s the case, why wouldn’t that mean that when Jesus’ human nature was unaware of something, his divine mercy would also be unaware? (they are inseparable)

Hodos’ citation from Scripture gives you the answer you are looking for:

though [Jesus] was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death

The fancy theological term for it is found in the Greek of this passage: “kenosis”, or ‘emptying’. The Church teaches that Jesus humbled Himself and did not take advantage of his divine prerogatives; rather, He allowed Himself to experience humanity in all things (except personal sin).

By this ‘emptying’, then, Jesus shared in the limitations of humanity. This “lack of knowing everything” isn’t even the greatest thing He gave up: He even accepted a human death. If, then, you can concede that Jesus accepted death (which isn’t part of the divine nature), why is it difficult to concede that He accepted all of our human limitations?

 

[BenSinner]

My concern is all of the teachings we follow, including those of God the Father’s omniscience and the Trinity, are things taught by Jesus here on Earth.

In other words, we are being taught by a human who has admitted to not knowing everything.

 

[OneSheep]

Disappointed.
I’ve read many times, here on CA, that Jesus had divine knowledge, even as a child, even (yes, believe it or not) as a baby.
If Jesus did have advanced, divine knowledge, that just makes him even more remote and inaccessible as a role model.

Why are we assuming that Jesus DIDN’T know something? What was it He didn’t know?

Luke 2:52 New International Version (NIV)​

52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

We don’t know what He didn’t know, but we do know that He grew in wisdom, like all humans. We can definitely relate to Him. And never forget the words “My God, My God, Why have you abandoned me?” Abandonment is a very human feeling.

 

[OneSheep]

My concern is all of the teachings we follow, including those of God the Father’s omniscience and the Trinity, are things taught by Jesus here on Earth.

In other words, we are being taught by a human who has admitted to not knowing everything.

Actually, Jesus never made an explicitly “trinitarian” statement, did He? So in reality we are being taught by the Spirit, who inspires interpretation and the unfolding of revelation. Jesus revealed to us what we needed to know.

 

[lilypadrees]

The only thing Jesus doesn’t know, by His own admission, is when Heaven and Earth shall pass away. Only the Father knows that. (Mark 13:31-32; Matthew 24:35-36)

 

[BenSinner]

why is it difficult to concede that He accepted all of our human limitations?

Because he claimed to be The Way, The Life, and the Truth…yet he didn’t possess all truth. It sounds like he is just an extremely intelligent person, but not Truth itself

So why should one trust his word over someone like Buddha or Krishna who do claim to be all-knowing?

 

[fisherman_carl]

Jesus is fully divine and fully human. The two aren’t separate from each other.

It depends what you mean by separate. His divine nature is distinct and separate from his human nature. They are not mixed together. His divine nature and his human nature remain intact and distinct from one another, yet are “bridged” together through the hypostatic union.

So Jesus has a divine mind and a human mind. The human mind is subject to limitations of its nature. While the divine is of the divine nature. His human mind was limited, but elevated by his divine nature. Thus, his divine intellect could inform his human intellect. For example, Jesus knew the hearts of those who he spoke with. This is something no man could know. Yet Jesus did. Also, the religious leaders in the Temple marveled at how this boy Jesus knew so much without having studied. So, while his human intellect was limited according to the human nature it had access to the divine nature. So there isn’t really anything that Jesus could not potentially know. Even the “day and the hour” when the end would come he would have known in his divine nature, but it wasn’t given to man to know this, so that is why he said what he did.

 

[TK421]

Jesus is fully divine and fully human. The two aren’t separate from each other.

If that’s the case, why wouldn’t that mean that when Jesus’ human nature was unaware of something, his divine mercy would also be unaware? (they are inseparable)

He partook in mankind’s condition, which means that as a human being he had to acquire knowledge through the limitations of a human brain instead of having the awesome intuition of the angels or the perfect understanding of God.

This is an unfathomable mystery.

 

[BenSinner]

If he fully became human though, how was he able to know the thoughts of others, know how to raise the dead, walk on water, transfigure himself, etc with a normal human mind and body?

Did the divine and the human work together, did the divine ‘hide’ during Jesus’ Earthly life, or was there a situation where human Jesus could turn divine when the situation called for it?

 

[Gorgias]

Because he claimed to be The Way, The Life, and the Truth…yet he didn’t possess all truth.

No… He does possess all truth. However, He sets aside that divine prerogative in the timeframe of His human ministry in order “to be like us in all things.”

It sounds like he is just an extremely intelligent person, but not Truth itself

He is both “an extremely intelligent person” and “Truth itself”.

So why should one trust his word over someone like Buddha or Krishna who do claim to be all-knowing?

Did they die, resurrect from the dead, and be experienced in the flesh by humans after their resurrection? Were they predicted (by God) to His people in prophecy… and then fulfill that prophecy?