How Smart is God?

Who is the smartest person who ever lived? I mean, of course, apart from Jesus, whom I believe would win the medal hands down. It is an interesting question you'll have to admit. I guess there's really no way of knowing, and what would be the criteria by which to judge the candidates? I do think, however, that several folks would have to be figured into the discussion. Sir Isaac Newton invented calculus and showed us how ordered the universe really is. Albert Einstein changed the way we perceive the world with his theory of general relativity. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle formed the basis of modern reasoning, and helped lay the ground work for modern philosophy, though it would be a toss-up between him and Plato or Socrates. William Shakespeare should be included because his plays are the literary peak of mankind. Probably the number one smartest person in the mind of many would have to be Leonardo De Vinci. He was the renaissance man of the renaissance, and had he lived 500 years he would have never reached his full potential. This of course is a somewhat secularized list I know. To be thorough about it we would have to include geniuses in various disciplines, such as medicine, genetics, physics, biology, theology, the arts, politics, etc. And even after we have searched through every discipline, in every era, there still would likely be someone no one's ever heard of who had an off-the-chart IQ. So I guess we'll never know the answer to our question. Of course, there is one person who knows the smartest person who's ever lived, because there is one being who knows everything, and that is the all-knowing God.



The apostle Paul employs the phrase, "the depths of the riches," to express his wonder at the knowledge of God (Romans 11:33). The word "riches" carries the meaning of abundance. It is not uncommon for Paul to use the term "riches" to speak of some attribute of God (Romans 2:4; Ephesians 1:7; 3:16). It is in this way that the Apostle describes the knowledge of God. God's knowledge is absolute, full, and complete. The Greek word "oida" is most naturally used in speaking of God's knowledge. "Oida" refers to knowledge that is grasped directly, without an intermediary. That is, God doesn't need a counselor, teacher, or mentor. He knows because He knows. And His knowing is limitless; therefore the word omniscience is often used in speaking of this attribute. To say that God is omniscient is to say that He possesses perfect knowledge and that He has no need to be taught. In truth, God has never learned and cannot learn. What He knows, He has always known.



God knows Himself perfectly. He knows humanity perfectly. He knows the universe perfectly. Since He created everything He possesses a perfect working knowledge of everything. No matter the discipline, whether it is the sciences, history, the arts, medicine, whatever, He knows everything about everything. And His knowledge is always in His conscious mind. We have knowledge that has slipped into our subconscious, even to the point that we do not have instant or absolute recall. We know things as past and present. With God, however, His knowledge is always before His face, in His immdeiate consciousness. He knows totally, instantly, and effortlessly all truth.



This means that He knows everything about us. He knows our actions, our thoughts, and our motivations. Likewise He is aware of our afflictions and adversities, and whatever may befall us, He knows and cares. He knows our sin and will forgive us; He knows our troubles and will help us; He knows what we need before we do and stands ready to add His sufficient grace.