The Nathan Jacobs Podcast To a Mother on the Loss of Her Children | A Theological Letter on Suffering
May 29, 2025
A heartfelt letter to a grieving mother grapples with profound themes of loss and suffering. The discussion highlights the distinction between God's antecedent and consequent will, questioning why evil exists. The podcast explores intriguing Eastern patristic doctrines, including synergy and divine energies, illustrating how human freedom shapes divine expression. It also delves into Christ's descent into Hades and the redemptive purpose of death, ultimately offering hope in the face of sorrow through the lens of divine pursuit.
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Antecedent Vs Consequent Divine Will
- The Eastern Fathers distinguish God's antecedent will (he wills all possible goods) from his consequent will (what he permits given conflicting goods).
- This explains how God can be wholly good while allowing evils that attach to goods he antecedently wills.
Good Conflicts Produce Permitted Evils
- Many goods God antecedently wills conflict, forcing a consequent choice that permits attached evils.
- Jacobs uses his family example to show some goods (David's existence) require accepting foregone goods or attendant evils (Noah's miscarriage).
Personal Story Of Loss And Consequence
- Nathan Jacobs recounts his family's miscarriage and naming the lost child Noah after a dream he had with his wife.
- He explains that Noah's miscarriage made possible the conception of their son David, showing a painful causal network of goods and losses.