[Greek] πρόγνωσις (prognōsis), [Latin] prescientia: foreknowledge, forecast, prognostication, foretelling, prediction, knowing beforehand, human foresight, advance knowledge; Acts 2:23, 1Pet.1:2
Hippocrates Tree (on the Island of Kos): It is believed that Hippocrates taught his students under this tree.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means advance knowledge, predetermined knowledge, or knowing beforehand. In addition to occurring in many facets of life, this term takes on importance in the medical sciences with Hippocrates. Thucydides’ Histories 2.64.6 states, “Seeing then you forsee both what is honorable for the future and not dishonorable for the present procure both the one and the other by your courage now.” In ancient times any real knowledge was concealed from man. Homer’s Hymn to Demeter 256f states, “Ignorant humans, heedless unable to recognize in advance the difference between future good fortune and future band. In your heedlessness, you have made a big mistake, a mistake without remedy.”
Medical sciences: The ancient schools of medicine were split on how to deal with diseases: prognosis or diagnosis. There still existed a Greek taboo against human dissection, resulting in a very limited understanding of anatomy and physiology. The Hippocratic (or Koan) school of medicine focused on diagnosis, which predicted the likely and expected development of a disease, including symptoms, duration, and quality of life. The Koan school achieved greater success which allowed for a great development in treatment of disease and clinical care. The Knidian school of medicine focused on diagnosis. Therefore, this school achieved less success in its failure to distinguish when one disease caused many possible series of symptoms.
Old Testament: This term means advance knowledge, foreknowledge, and prophetic knowledge of God. Wisdom, an aspect of God, is personified as a female. She understands the turns of phases and solutions of riddles (Wis.8:8). She hastens to make herself in anticipation of men’s desires (Wis.6:13). All your ways are in readiness, and your judgment is made with foreknowledge (Jdt.9:6
Why Wisdom is personified as female?: People assumed wisdom belonged to the gods. Divine wisdom was then granted to kings, scribes, and heads of families. Finding wisdom was likened to finding a wife. Wisdom, like a wife, offers generosity, wealth, blessings, and righteousness from the Lord. As a means to make Wisdom relatable, Wisdom was personified as a female. In addition, the Hebrew word for wisdom, chokmoth, is generally a feminine noun. This notion of wisdom was perhaps indirectly influenced by the Hellenistic idea that Sophia was the Greek goddess of wisdom.
New Testament: This term, occurring only twice, means having knowledge beforehand and what is known beforehand (advance knowledge). In Acts Peter admonishes the Israelites for handing over, crucifying, and killing Jesus. Yet, God in His Providence and foreknowledge, permits this to happen. God raised His Son, allowing Jesus to redeem humanity. Peter again makes reference to God’s foreknowledge of Christ’s path.
Scripture:
“This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify Him.” Acts.2:23
God, in His Providence, had the foreknowledge that His Son would be crucified.
Conclusion:
Prognosis, prognosticate, prescience, prescient
I was not too surprised that this term was used commonly in non-medical situations. The gods often both revealed and concealed knowledge from man. It was interesting to discover that there was a taboo against human dissection. It was interesting to discover that Hippocrates is credited with being the first person to state that diseases were caused naturally, not because of the gods.
It was interesting to discover that Wisdom becomes personified as a female in the Old Testament culture. I would have never associated seeking Wisdom with seeking a wife. One has to wonder if Sophia, the Greek goddess of wisdom, had some influence Hellenistic influence in the Old Testament culture.
It is important to recognize that God the Father, in His Providence, knows and allows His Son to be put to death in order to redeem humanity. I think it is interesting to note that this notion is somewhat related to God’s will for each of us. God already knows our path. However, rather than being a puppet master, God gives each of us the freedom to figure out and eventually carry out His will.
And I would have never thought that I would be here having this blog!