Well, I would like to have a discussion on this topic. We don't have to debate, but challenging one's view is almost unavoidable in this forum. I find it healthy to debate, because we learn! What if this doctrine of divine decree is something you need in your life? What if you are going through circumstances where you are in a place of great uncertainty and questioning God's benevolence over you? This doctrine is precious for troubled hearts and minds, who feel that everything is done out of chance and that God is absent in it all.
The Greek word prognosis does not carry such limited meaning according to the dictionaries I have (Strong's, NASEC, Thayer's). It simply means "pro" (before) "gnosis" (knowledge), or foreknowledge; which would include, but is not limited to, His intimate knowledge of individuals.
I agree,
gnósis is not limited to intimate knowledge of an individual. However, the origin of this shortened, cognate word
prognosis is
pro-ginóskó (before + know), and former use is always used in Scripture in reference to people, not their actions or any events. Likewise, when
ginóskó is used in reference to individuals, it is intimate and personal.
"But if anyone loves God, he is
known by God." - 1 Corinthians 8:3
"When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but
knew her not until she had given birth to a son." - Matthew 1:24-25
Here,
ginóskó, when connected to a person or being, is used as something intimate between the two. However, this same word is used for
knowledge of facts too in other places.
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be
known." - Matthew 10:26
"Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him
known." - Matthew 12:15-16
So, you must consider the context of when these words are used. It does not always mean this or that. Every time "foreknowledge" is used, it is always in reference to the person. This is why I limit that particular meaning, because there has been no other use of it throughout the pages of Scriptures.
Besides that, it doesn't make a consistent argument that God must look into the future, into future events, to determine something that will already happen without his intervention. It is quite confusing. Why would he need to decree anything, if it is based on something that will occur regardless? It follows that words like decree, election and predetermination are meaningless. They don't have any real meaning, if God is subject to what will happen.
This also leads to other problems that question the attributes of God, including his immutability (unchanging nature). Does God changed by outside influence? If he must look into future events to determine something, the answer would be 'yes.' He would be a creature like us, influenced by a greater force.
However, if you stand with this statement that God knows all things, because he ordained all things, there's complete consistency. What will happen, will happen, because God ordained that it would happen. His knowledge is perfect in the future, because he wrote out the future before it would occur. He remains unchanged, even when the events take place.