PREDESTINATION
I. Biblical references
A. Direct references -
1. Greek word proorizo.
a. pro = before, prior, previous
b. horizo = to limit, fix a boundary; from horas = boundary.
Get English word "horizon"
2. Usages in New Testament
Acts 4:28 - "whatever Thy hand and purpose predestined to occur"
Rom. 8:29 -"He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son"
Rom. 8:30 - "whom He predestined, He also called..."
I Cor. 2:7 - "a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined
before the ages"
Eph. 1:5 -"He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus
Christ
Eph. 1:11 - "having been predestined according to His purpose"
B. Related words
1. Foreknowledge - Gk. proginosko
Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29; Rom. 11:2; I Pet. 1:2,20
2. Election, Choosing - Gk. eklegomai, eklektos
Lk. 23:35; Eph. 1:4; Col. 3:12; I Pet. 1:2; 2:4,6,9; Rev. 17:14
3. Calling - Gk. kaleo
Rom. 8:28,30; I Cor. 1:9; Gal. 1:6; Eph. 4:1; II Thess. 2:14
4. Appointment, Placement - Gk. tithemi
I Thess. 5:9; Heb. 1:2; I Pet. 2:8
5. Will of God - Gk. thelema
Gal. 1:4; Eph. 1:5,9,11
6. Counsel of God - Gk. boule
Acts 2:23; 4:28; Eph. 1:11
7. Purpose of God - Gk. prothesis
Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:11; 3:11
8. Administration of God - Gk. oikonomia
Eph. 1:10; 3:2; Col. 1:25
9. Reign of God - Gk. basileuo, basileia
Mk. 1:15; I Cor. 6:9,10; Rev. 19:6
II. Perspective of relationship between God and man
A. God is absolute, supreme, Almighty, omnipotent, sovereign.
B. Man is a choosing creature, responsible for his choices.
C. How can God act without impinging on man's choices?
D. How can man choose without impinging on God's action?
III. Historical survey of theological understanding of "predestination"
A. Early church fathers (Justin Martyr, Tertullion, Clement of Alex., Origen)
emphasized man's freedom of choice alongside of God's determinative
activity.
B. Pelagius (360-420) over-emphasized human potential and ability
C. Augustine (354-430) reacted against Pelagianism with strong doctrine of
predestination, election and efficient grace.
D. Councils of Arles (473) and Orange (529) tried to find balance again.
E. Aquinas (1225-1274) emphasized God's determinations again.
F. Duns Scotus (1265-1308) re-emphasized will of man.
G. Reformers, Luther and Calvin (16th cent.), developed more systematic
emphasis on divine predetermination
H. Arminius (1560-1609) rejected strict Calvinistic presentation.
I. Karl Barth (20th cent.) sought balance by emphasizing Christocentric
understanding of election and predestination.
IV. Attempting to find balance between theological extremes.
God's determinations Man's response, responsibility
Determinism, fatalism Humanism
God determines all things Man's choices determine all
Irrelevancy of man's choices Irrelevancy of God
Man is automaton, puppet God is myth or figure-head
Augustinianism, Calvinism Pelagianism, Arminianism
passivism performance, "works"
Christocentric predestination
The Pre-horizon of God is Jesus Christ (II Cor. 2:7; Col. 2:2)
The Chosen One of God is Jesus Christ, and all "in Him" (Lk. 23:35)
The Calling of God is unto fellowship with Jesus Christ (I Cor. 1:9)
The Appointment of God is Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:2)
The Will of God is Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:9)
The Counsel of God pertains to Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:11)
The Purpose of God is in Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:11)
The Administration of God is Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:10)
The Reign of God is by the Lord, Jesus Christ (Mk. 1:15; Col. 1:13)
God has determined to restore all men who will receive Jesus Christ
by faith unto functional humanity, and by their continued receptivity
to the ontological dynamic of the life of the risen Lord Jesus, express
the glory of God.
V. Conclusions
A. Biblical predestination is not a strict, mechanical or logical determinism
that fails to take into account human freedom of choice and responsibility.
B. Our finite human thinking must keep a balance and tension between
divine determination and human responsibility.
C. H.A. Ironside - "Nowhere are we told in Scripture that God predestinated
one man to be saved and another to be lost...God has predestinated you to
be fully conformed to the image of His Son."
D. Ray C. Stedman - "It (predestination) simply tells us that God has selected
beforehand the goal toward which He is going to move everyone who
believes in Christ. That goal is conformity to the character of Christ."
