Predestination in the Bible
Bill Fortenberry
There is much confusion in the Christian community on the topic of predestination. Explanations of this concept run the full gamut from claims that nothing is predestined to claims that everything is predestined. For some, it is a very sensitive topic which shores up the whole structure of their worldview, and for others, the idea of predestination is merely an intriguing mental exercise. Unfortunately, the broad range of philosophies and passions associated with the topic of predestination has caused many Christians to conclude that mankind is simply incapable of fully comprehending the subject. In reality, however, the answer to the question of predestination is clearly explained in the Scriptures, and we need only to study what God has said on the topic in order to understand it.
The word "predestinate" occurs in only four verses in the Bible, and the Greek word " προορίζω" from which it is translated appears in two others. Those six verse are: Acts 4:28, Romans 8:29, Romans 8:30, I Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:5 and Ephesians 1:11. Now, let's see exactly what is stated to be predestinated in these verses.
In Acts 4:28, we find that Christ's sacrifice for our sins was predetermined by the counsel of God. This is consistent with teachings found in other places in the Scriptures. The crucifixion accounts are replete with statements like "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying," (Matthew 21:4) and in Revelation 13:8, we read that Christ was "slain from the foundation of the world." We could go into great detail in discussing the timelessness of Christ’s sacrifice, but for the purpose of this study, it is sufficient to note that nearly every Christian agrees that the death of Christ for our sins was determined long before His birth.
The next two verses, Romans 8:29-30, have the same subject matter and can be examined together. The predestination referred to in these verses is simply the predestination of Christians to be conformed to the image of Christ. Once again, we can see that this doctrine is taught throughout the Scriptures, for "we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (I John 3:2) We also see in I Corinthians 15 that all Christians will one day be changed from corruptible to incorruptible. This doctrine is also consistent with the teachings of the vast majority of Christians. Nearly all of us agree that we will one day be freed from our bodies of sin and death and be fully conformed to the image of Christ.
I Corinthians 2:7 tells us that before God had even formed the world, He determined to make His wisdom available to His children. How wonderful to know that every Christian who seeks wisdom can find it, (Proverbs 8) and that if we find ourselves lacking in wisdom, we need only to "ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally." (James 1:5) Let me point out once again that this is a point of doctrine that nearly every Christian agrees on. We all agree that we can turn to God for wisdom and direction in our lives.
In Ephesians 1:5, we find another biblical doctrine that is commonly accepted among Christians. There we read that God has predertermined that all Christians are to be not just His servants, but rather His beloved children. This doctrine is taught in many places in the Scriptures, but one of the clearest presentations of it is to be found in John 1:11-12 which states that "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" This adoption into the family of God is not something that we have to ask for in addition to our salvation from death and hell, nor is it an additional request that we must make. It is but one of the many gifts that God has predetermined to give to everyone that calls upon Him to be saved. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." (I John 3:1)
Ephesians 1:11-12 simply tells us that God preordained that those who first trusted in Christ "should be to the praise of his glory." In other words, God preordained that in the original Christians "first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." (I Timothy 1:16) We are commanded to follow this pattern that God established for us in the lives of the first Christians in that we are to "account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you." (II Peter 3:14) We are also told that the church of Thessalonica followed this pattern of suffering for the glory of God in that we read, "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews ... ye are our glory and joy." (I Thessalonians 2:14-20) The first Christians understood that God's glory would be revealed in their suffering, weakness and infirmity, and we also teach the value of personal sacrifice in pointing others to Christ.
These six verses fully exhaust the occurrences of the word "predestination" in the Bible. There are many additional verses that are used to support one or the other of the dozens of claims that Christians make regarding this topic, but these passages are the only ones in the Bible that specifically mention predestination, and they are remarkably simple passages to understand. All we have to do is ignore philosophies of men and let the passages speak for themselves.
The word "predestinate" occurs in only four verses in the Bible, and the Greek word " προορίζω" from which it is translated appears in two others. Those six verse are: Acts 4:28, Romans 8:29, Romans 8:30, I Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:5 and Ephesians 1:11. Now, let's see exactly what is stated to be predestinated in these verses.
In Acts 4:28, we find that Christ's sacrifice for our sins was predetermined by the counsel of God. This is consistent with teachings found in other places in the Scriptures. The crucifixion accounts are replete with statements like "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying," (Matthew 21:4) and in Revelation 13:8, we read that Christ was "slain from the foundation of the world." We could go into great detail in discussing the timelessness of Christ’s sacrifice, but for the purpose of this study, it is sufficient to note that nearly every Christian agrees that the death of Christ for our sins was determined long before His birth.
The next two verses, Romans 8:29-30, have the same subject matter and can be examined together. The predestination referred to in these verses is simply the predestination of Christians to be conformed to the image of Christ. Once again, we can see that this doctrine is taught throughout the Scriptures, for "we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (I John 3:2) We also see in I Corinthians 15 that all Christians will one day be changed from corruptible to incorruptible. This doctrine is also consistent with the teachings of the vast majority of Christians. Nearly all of us agree that we will one day be freed from our bodies of sin and death and be fully conformed to the image of Christ.
I Corinthians 2:7 tells us that before God had even formed the world, He determined to make His wisdom available to His children. How wonderful to know that every Christian who seeks wisdom can find it, (Proverbs 8) and that if we find ourselves lacking in wisdom, we need only to "ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally." (James 1:5) Let me point out once again that this is a point of doctrine that nearly every Christian agrees on. We all agree that we can turn to God for wisdom and direction in our lives.
In Ephesians 1:5, we find another biblical doctrine that is commonly accepted among Christians. There we read that God has predertermined that all Christians are to be not just His servants, but rather His beloved children. This doctrine is taught in many places in the Scriptures, but one of the clearest presentations of it is to be found in John 1:11-12 which states that "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" This adoption into the family of God is not something that we have to ask for in addition to our salvation from death and hell, nor is it an additional request that we must make. It is but one of the many gifts that God has predetermined to give to everyone that calls upon Him to be saved. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." (I John 3:1)
Ephesians 1:11-12 simply tells us that God preordained that those who first trusted in Christ "should be to the praise of his glory." In other words, God preordained that in the original Christians "first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." (I Timothy 1:16) We are commanded to follow this pattern that God established for us in the lives of the first Christians in that we are to "account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you." (II Peter 3:14) We are also told that the church of Thessalonica followed this pattern of suffering for the glory of God in that we read, "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews ... ye are our glory and joy." (I Thessalonians 2:14-20) The first Christians understood that God's glory would be revealed in their suffering, weakness and infirmity, and we also teach the value of personal sacrifice in pointing others to Christ.
These six verses fully exhaust the occurrences of the word "predestination" in the Bible. There are many additional verses that are used to support one or the other of the dozens of claims that Christians make regarding this topic, but these passages are the only ones in the Bible that specifically mention predestination, and they are remarkably simple passages to understand. All we have to do is ignore philosophies of men and let the passages speak for themselves.