Reference: Predestination
Easton
This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Ac 4:28; Ro 8:29-30; 1Co 2:7; Eph 1:5,11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events.
This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guide, we must accept this doctrine with all its mysteriousness, and settle all our questionings in the humble, devout acknowledgment, "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight."
For the teaching of Scripture on this subject let the following passages be examined in addition to those referred to above; Ge 21:12; Ex 9:16; 33:19; De 10:15; 32:8; Jos 11:20; 1Sa 12:22; 2Ch 6:6; Ps 33:12; 65:4; 78:68; 135:4; Isa 41:1-10; Jer 1:5; Mr 13:20; Lu 22:22; Joh 6:37; 15:16; 17:2,6,9; Ac 2:28; 3:18; 4:28; 13:48; 17:26; Ro 9:11,18,21; 11:5; Eph 3:11; 1Th 1:4; 2Th 2:13; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 1:2; 1Pe 1:2. (See Decrees of God; Election of Grace.)
Hodge has well remarked that, "rightly understood, this doctrine (1) exalts the majesty and absolute sovereignty of God, while it illustrates the riches of his free grace and his just displeasure with sin. (2.) It enforces upon us the essential truth that salvation is entirely of grace. That no one can either complain if passed over, or boast himself if saved. (3.) It brings the inquirer to absolute self-despair and the cordial embrace of the free offer of Christ. (4.) In the case of the believer who has the witness in himself, this doctrine at once deepens his humility and elevates his confidence to the full assurance of hope" (Outlines).
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Then the LORD said unto Abraham, "Let it not be grievous unto thee, because of the lad and of thy bondmaid: But in all that Sara hath said unto thee, hear her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Yet in very deed for this cause have I stirred thee up, for to show my power in thee, and to declare my name throughout all the world.
And he said, "I will make all my good go before thee, and I will be called in this name Jehovah before thee, and will show mercy to whom I show mercy, and will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
only the LORD had a lust unto thy fathers to love them, and therefore chose you their seed after them of all nations, as it is come to pass this day.
When the most highest gave the nations an inheritance, and divided the sons of Adam, he put the borders of the nations fast by the multitude of the children of Israel.
for it came of the LORD to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle: even to destroy them utterly, that they should have no mercy, but to bring them to naught. As the LORD commanded Moses.
Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD Jehovah; and blessed are the folk whom he hath chosen to be his inheritance.
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and receivest unto thee; he shall dwell in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
but chose the tribe of Judah, even the hill of Zion which he loved.
For why? The LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his own possession.
Be still, ye Islands, and hearken unto me. Be strong ye people; Come hither, and show your cause: we will go to the law together. Who raiseth up the just from the rising of the Sun, and calleth him to go forth? Who casteth down the people, and subdueth the kings before him: that he may throw them all to the ground with his sword, and scatter them like stubble with his bow? read more. He followeth upon them, and goeth safely himself, and cometh in no foot path with his feet. Who hath made, created, and called the generations from the beginning? Even I the LORD, which am the first, and with the last. The Isles saw and did fear, and ye ends of the earth were abashed, drew nigh, and came hither. Every man exhorted his neighbour, and brother, and bad him be strong. The Smith comforted the molder, and the Ironsmith the hammer man, saying, 'It shall be good, that we fasten this cast work,' and then they fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. And thou Israel, my servant; Jacob, my elect seed of Abraham my beloved, whom I led from the ends of the earth by the hand: For I called thee from far, and said unto thee 'Thou shalt be my servant,' I have chosen thee, and will not cast thee away. Be not afraid, for I will be with thee. Look not behind thee, for I will be thy God, to strengthen thee, help thee, and to keep thee with this righthand of mine.
"Before I fashioned thee in thy mother's womb, I did know thee: And before thou wast born, I sanctified thee and ordained thee, to be a Prophet unto the people."
And except that the Lord had should shorten those days, no man should be saved. But for the elects' sake, which he hath chosen, he hath shortened those days.
And the son of man goeth as it is appointed: But woe be to that man by whom he is betrayed."
All that the father giveth me, shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, cast I not away.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that ye go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit remain, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the father in my name he should give it you.
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
"I have declared thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy sayings.
I pray for them, and I pray not for the world: but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine,
Thou hast showed me the ways of life; and shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.'
But those things which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, how that Christ should suffer, he hath thus wise fulfilled it.
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
The gentiles heard, and were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and believed even as many as were ordained unto eternal life.
and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth; and hath assigned before: how long time, and also the ends of their inhabitation.
For those which he knew before, he also ordained before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten son among many brethren. Moreover, which he appointed before, them he also called; and which he called, them also he justified; which he justified, them he also glorified.
yer the children were born, when they had neither done good neither bad - that the purpose of God, which is by election, might stand - it was said unto her, not by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller,
So hath he mercy on whom he will. And whom he will, he maketh hard hearted.
Hath not the potter power over the clay, even of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Even so at this time is there a remnant left through the election of grace.
And ordained us before unto himself that we should be chosen before, through Jesus Christ, to be heirs unto himself according to the pleasure of his will,
in whom we are made heirs, and were thereto predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the purpose of his own will:
and steadfast in the faith, as ye have learned: and therein be plenteous in giving thanks.
which is after godliness upon the hope of eternal life; which life God, that cannot lie, hath promised before the world began:
and such as cleaveth unto the true word of doctrine, that he may be able to exhort with wholesome learning, and to improve them that say against it.
Fausets
(See ELECTION.) Ac 2:23; 4:28, "whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done" (proorisen). God has "predestinated" believers "unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace." "He hath chosen us in Christ" out of the rest of the world, "predestinated" us to all things that secure the inheritance for us (Eph 1:4-5,11). "Predestination" refers to God's decree, embodied in God's "election" of us out of the mass; His grand end. in it being "the praise of the glory of His grace" (Eph 1:6,12,14). It is by virtue of our union to Christ, "foreordained before the foundation of the world" (1Pe 1:20), that we are "predestinated" (2Ti 1:9).
Believers are viewed by God before the world's foundation as "IN CHRIST" with whom the Father makes the covenant (Re 13:8; 17:8; Eph 3:11), "according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." In 2Th 2:13 the Greek for "chosen" (heilato) means rather "taken for Himself"; He adopted them in His eternal purpose; "in (Greek) sanctification of (i.e. by) the Spirit" (by consecration to perfect holiness in Christ once for all, next by imparting it to them ever more and more). There was no doubt or contingency with God from the first. All was foreordained. God's glory and the believer's salvation are secured unchangeably. All pride on man's part is excluded; all is of God's unmerited grace. Yet the will of man is, in the sense of preserving our reponsibility, free. God alone knows how the two harmonize, His predestination and our freedom; it is enough for us they are both distinctly revealed.
At the same time fatalism is excluded, for God who predestinated believers to salvation as the end predestinated them to be conformed to the image of His Son as the means. We must make as sure of the means as of the end. Not to have the Spirit of Christ is to be none of His. Yet God's predestination is not founded on the believer's character, but the believer's character results from God's predestination (2Th 2:13; Ro 8:9,28-30). God the Father gives us salvation by gratuitous election; the Son earns it by His blood-shedding; the Holy Spirit applies the Son's merits to the soul by the gospel word (Calvin): Ga 1:4,15; 1Pe 1:2; the element IN (Greek) which we are elected is "sanctification of (consecration once for all by) the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (the end aimed at by God as regards us).
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him have ye taken by the hands of unrighteous persons, after he was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, and have crucified and slain him whom God hath raised up:
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
But ye are not given to the flesh; But to the spirit: If so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. If there be any man that hath not the spirit of Christ, the same is none of his.
For we know well that all things work for the best unto them that love God, which also are called of purpose. For those which he knew before, he also ordained before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten son among many brethren. read more. Moreover, which he appointed before, them he also called; and which he called, them also he justified; which he justified, them he also glorified.
which gave himself for our sins, to deliver us from this present evil world, through the will of God our father,
But when it pleased God, which separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love. And ordained us before unto himself that we should be chosen before, through Jesus Christ, to be heirs unto himself according to the pleasure of his will, read more. to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherewith he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
in whom we are made heirs, and were thereto predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the purpose of his own will: that we should be unto the praise of his glory, which before believed in Christ.
which is the earnest of our inheritance, to redeem the possession purchased, and that unto the laud of his glory.
But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, for because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctifying of the spirit; And through believing the truth:
But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, for because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctifying of the spirit; And through believing the truth:
which saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our deeds, but according to his own purpose and grace, which grace was given us through Christ Jesus before the world was,
which was ordained before the world was made: but was declared in the last times for your sakes.
and all that dwell upon the earth worshipped him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb, which was killed from the beginning of the world.
The beast that thou seest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and shall go into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder - whose names are not written in the book of life from he beginning of the world - when they behold the beast that was, and is not.
Hastings
The English word 'predestinate' in the AV is, in the few cases in which it occurs (Ro 8:29,36; Eph 1:5,11), exchanged in the RV for 'foreordain,' a return to the usage of the older Versions. The Gr. word (proorizo) conveys the simple idea of defining or determining beforehand (thus, in addition to above, in Ac 4:29; 1Co 2:7). The change in rendering brings the word into closer relation with a number of others expressing the same, or related, meanings, as 'foreknow' (in pregnant sense, Ac 2:23; Ro 8:29; 11:2; 1Pe 1:2,20), 'determine' (Ac 17:26), 'appoint' (1Pe 2:8), 'purpose' (Eph 1:9), in the case of believers, 'choose' or 'elect' (Eph 1:4 etc.). In the OT the idea is expressed by the various words denoting to purpose, determine, choose (e.g. Isa 14:24-27; 46:10-11), with the ahundance of phrases extolling the sovereignty and immutability of God's counsel in all the spheres of His operation (see below; so in NT). The best clue to the Scripture conception will he found in tracing it as it appears in these different spheres of the Divine action.
1. In its most general aspect, foreordination is coextensive with the sphere of God's universal providence, is, in fact, but another name for the eternal plan, design, purpose, counsel of God, which executes itself in providence. The election of believers, to which 'predestination' is sometimes narrowed, is hut a specific case of the 'purpose' of Him 'who worketh all things after the counsel of his will' (Eph 1:11). It is in this wider regard, accordingly, that foreordination must be studied first. It cannot be reasonably doubted that all Scripture
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seeing that Abraham shall be a great and a mighty people, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do after right and conscience, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that he hath promised him."
So now it was not ye that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me father unto Pharaoh and lord over all his house, and ruler in all the land of Egypt.
Ye thought evil unto me: but God turned it unto good to bring to pass, as it is this day, even to save much people alive.
But I have said unto you that ye shall enjoy their land, and that I will give it unto you to possess it: even a land that floweth with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other nations:
Be holy unto me, for I the LORD am holy and have severed you from other nations: that ye should be mine.
But my counsel is, that all Israel be gathered unto thee, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand of the sea in number, and that thou go to battle in thine own person. And we will come upon him in one place or other, where we shalt find him, and we will pitch a field against him, even as thick as the dew falleth on the ground. And there shall not one of them be left, neither he nor any of all that are with him.
and said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I turn thither again. The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; now blessed be the name of the LORD."
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous, for it becometh well the just to be thankful.
"Be still then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the Heathen, I will be exalted upon earth." The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
As for our God, he is in heaven; he doth whatsoever it pleaseth him.
Whatsoever the LORD pleaseth that doeth he in heaven and in earth; in the sea, and in all deep places.
A man deviseth a way in his heart; but it is the LORD that ordereth his goings.
The lots are cast into the lap, but their fall standeth in the LORD.
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like as are the rivers of water; he may turn it whithersoever he will.
The LORD of Hosts hath sworn an oath, saying: It shall come to pass as I have determined, and shall be fulfilled as I have devised.
The LORD of Hosts hath sworn an oath, saying: It shall come to pass as I have determined, and shall be fulfilled as I have devised. The Assyrians shall be destroyed in my land, and upon my mountains will I tread them under foot. Wherethrough his yoke shall come from you, and his burden shall be taken from your shoulders. read more. This device hath God taken through the whole world, and thus is his hand stretched out over all people. For if the LORD of Hosts determine a thing, who will disannul it? And if he stretch forth his hand, who will hold it in again?
For if the LORD of Hosts determine a thing, who will disannul it? And if he stretch forth his hand, who will hold it in again?
Yea, sayest thou, hast thou not heard what I have taken in hand, and brought to pass of old time? That same will I do now also: waste, destroy, and bring the strong cities into heaps of stones.
But now, the LORD that made thee O Jacob, and he that fashioned thee O Israel, sayeth thus, "Fear not, for I will defend thee. I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine own.
Namely, all those that be called after my name. For them have I created, fashioned, and made for mine honour.'"
It is I that created the light, and darkness. I make peace, and trouble: yea, even I the LORD do all these things.
In the beginning of a thing, I show the end thereof: and I tell before, things that are not yet come to pass. With one word is my device accomplished, and fulfilleth all my pleasure. I call a bird out of the East, and all that I take in hand, out of far countries, as soon as I command, I bring it hither: as soon as I think to devise a thing, I do it.
in comparison of whom, all they that dwell upon the earth are to be reputed as nothing. He handleth according to his will, among the powers of heaven and among the inhabiters of the earth - and there is none that may resist his hand, or say, 'What doest thou?'
Cry they out Alarum with the trumpet in the city, and the people not afraid? Cometh there any plague in a city without it be the LORD's doing?
Let thy kingdom come. Thy will be fulfilled, as well in earth, as it is in heaven.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And none of them doth light on the ground, without your father. And now are all the hairs of your heads numbered.
him have ye taken by the hands of unrighteous persons, after he was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, and have crucified and slain him whom God hath raised up:
Thou hast showed me the ways of life; and shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.'
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now Lord behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants with all confidence to speak thy word.
For it seemed good to the holy ghost and to us, to put no grievous thing to you more than these necessary things,
and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth; and hath assigned before: how long time, and also the ends of their inhabitation.
For those which he knew before, he also ordained before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten son among many brethren.
For those which he knew before, he also ordained before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten son among many brethren.
For those which he knew before, he also ordained before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten son among many brethren.
As it is written, "For thy sake are we killed all day long, and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain."
What shall we say then? Is there any unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, "I will show mercy to whom I show mercy: And will have compassion on whom I have compassion." read more. So lieth it not then in a man's will, or cunning, but in the mercy of God. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, "Even for this same purpose have I stirred thee up, to show my power on thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the world."
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, "Even for this same purpose have I stirred thee up, to show my power on thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the world." So hath he mercy on whom he will. And whom he will, he maketh hard hearted. read more. Thou wilt say then unto me, "Why then blameth he us yet? For who can resist his will?" But O man what art thou, which disputest with God? Shall the work say to the workman, "Why hast thou made me on this fashion?"
But O man what art thou, which disputest with God? Shall the work say to the workman, "Why hast thou made me on this fashion?" Hath not the potter power over the clay, even of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Hath not the potter power over the clay, even of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Even so, God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, suffered with long patience the vessels of wrath, ordained to damnation,
Even so, God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, suffered with long patience the vessels of wrath, ordained to damnation,
Even so, God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, suffered with long patience the vessels of wrath, ordained to damnation, that he might declare the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared unto glory:
God hath not cast away his people which he knew before. Either know ye not what the scripture saith by the mouth of Elijah, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
O the deepness of the abundant wisdom and knowledge of God: how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who was his counselor?
according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love.
according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love.
according as he had chosen us in him through love, before the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be saints, and without blame before him, through love. And ordained us before unto himself that we should be chosen before, through Jesus Christ, to be heirs unto himself according to the pleasure of his will,
And ordained us before unto himself that we should be chosen before, through Jesus Christ, to be heirs unto himself according to the pleasure of his will,
And hath opened unto us the mystery of his will according to his pleasure, and purposed
in whom we are made heirs, and were thereto predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the purpose of his own will:
in whom we are made heirs, and were thereto predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the purpose of his own will:
in whom we are made heirs, and were thereto predestinate according to the purpose of him which worketh all things after the purpose of his own will:
And you hath he quickened also, that were dead in trespass and sin: in the which, in time past, ye walked, according to the course of this world, and after the governor that ruleth in the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of unbelief, read more. among which we also had our conversation in time past, in the lusts of our flesh, and fulfilled the will of the flesh, and of the mind: and were naturally the children of wrath, even as well as others. But God, which is rich in mercy through his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead by sin, hath quickened us together in Christ - for by grace are ye saved - and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly things through Christ Jesus. For to show, in times to come, the exceeding riches of his grace, in kindness to us ward, in Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye made safe through faith, and that, not of yourselves: For it is the gift of God,
Husbands: love your wives, even as Christ loved the congregation, and gave himself for it, to sanctify it, and cleansed it in the fountain of water through the word, read more. to make it unto himself a glorious congregation without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blame.
and steadfast in the faith, as ye have learned: and therein be plenteous in giving thanks.
But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, for because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctifying of the spirit; And through believing the truth:
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the ordinances which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by our epistle.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that dwell here and there as strangers throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia;
and a stone to stumble at, and a rock to offend them which stumble at the word, and believe not that whereon they were set.
and from Jesus Christ which is a faithful witness, and first begotten of the dead: and Lord over the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and made us kings and priests unto God his father, be glory, and dominion for evermore amen.
"Thou art worthy, Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy will's sake they are, and were created."
and cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be ascribed to him that sitteth upon the seat of our God, and unto the lamb."
And I looked, and, lo, a lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty four thousand having his father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the sound of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder. And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. read more. And they sang as it were a new song, before the seat, and before the four beasts, and the elders and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. These are they, which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These follow the lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from men being the first fruits unto God and to the lamb, and in their mouths was found no guile. For they are without spot before the throne of God. And I saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven having an everlasting gospel, to preach unto them that sit and dwell on the earth, and to all nations, kindreds, and tongues, and people,
Watsons
PREDESTINATION, according to some, is a judgment, or decree of God, by which he has resolved, from all eternity, to save a certain number of persons, hence named elect. Others define it, a decree to give faith in Jesus Christ to a certain number of men, and to leave the rest to their own malice and hardness of heart. A third, more Scripturally, God's eternal purpose to save all that "truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel,"