Foundation refers to the basis or groundwork—anything that something stands on and by which it is supported. The “foundation of the world” is a reference to God’s act of creation. When Scripture refers to something that has been true “from the foundation of the world,” it means “for all of human history” or “from the beginning of time.” But when Scripture refers to something that happened “before the foundation of the world,” the event under discussion occurred before anything was ever created—in eternity past.
In the sovereignty and omniscience of God, many things were determined and accomplished before or from the foundation of the world. God has planned out everything before it came into being. He makes it known before it even happens.
Isaiah 46:9-10 – I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.
God is the Author of Life. He has written down how everything on this Earth is going to be, before it even came into being. Before you were born, everything about you was spelled out. It is no coincidence you are the way you are and pursuing a particular goal.
So David said in Psalm 139:16 – Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Also in Jeremiah 1:5 – Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
God existed before the foundation of the world. He existed before time began because He created time.
Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Psalm 90:2 – Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Jesus Christ existed before the foundation of the world.
John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.
Micah 5:2 – But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Jesus Christ existed before the foundation of the world, and He was loved by the Father before the foundation of the world.
John 17:24 – Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Believers were predestined for salvation before the foundation. If there is anyone in Christ, know that it was predestined before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:3–5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.
