What is God's Will?

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]There are two different wills of God in the Bible, and when we confuse them, we run the risk of getting into some bad theology. You see, most of the time when we think of God's will, we have just we think of one thing. But, in the Greek New Testament, there are actually two different words that are often translated or interpreted to mean God's will.

[00:00:16]I'm Julie Ann. I'm a professor of theology, a biblical languages scholar, and a minister in the local church, and I try my very best to make theology accessible to everybody. Now, what are these two words that are often translated as God's will? The first one is boule or boulomai, and this word has to do with intentional plans, purposed, uh determined plans, and it usually, in reference to God, is talking about his plan to rescue humanity, to give them salvation from their sins. We read this word in Acts 2:23 when it says that by God's um predetermined plan and his foreknowledge, Jesus was handed over to ungodly men to be hung on a cross and put to death. God planned to rescue humanity from their sins. His plans are unshakable and unstoppable. Nothing can stop God's plans when he puts them in place.

[00:01:01]Now, the other word that's often translated as God's will is the word thelema or thelo, and this word has more to do with um desire or wish or something that somebody wants.

[00:01:12]We read this word in 1 Timothy 2:4 when it says that God desires all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. God wants all people to be saved.

[00:01:21]But, the reality is not every person ends up getting saved. So, we have to realize that if God says he wants something and it doesn't come to pass, this is not the same as when he makes a plan and that plan comes to pass.

[00:01:33]There's a distinction between the boule, God's purpose plans that always happen, and God's desires, things that he wants.

[00:01:40]Now, when we get into this conversation, it opens up a whole lot of other things about what God allows versus what God loves, human suffering, agency, free will, all of those things. And these are really difficult topics. In fact, most Christians disagree on them because none of us fully to all of this. And the truth is we can't.

[00:01:58]You can't know everything there is to know about God because it would make you greater than God. So, we try our best and we learn more about him as we move this direction. As as we learn more he reveals things to us. We learn more about who he is, but it doesn't mean that we know everything. So, if you have a difference of opinion, I invite you to weigh in on the comments. I would love to hear what you guys have to say, but I just ask that you share a little bit about your background so that we can understand each other better. God bless you my friends.