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Let’s Get Controversial Up In Here…Predestination
By jason | June 20, 2008
Previous Post: Divine Election
Why stop with Divine Election when we can continue on in the controversy by throwing in Predestination.
I often hear something like, “predestination is never taught in the Bible so why should we discuss it.” In that moment I’m not sure exactly how to respond since it does get used in the Bible. In fact, Paul uses this language in Ephesians 1.5 and 11.
Again, here is Hoehner’s understanding. What do you think?
- First off Hoehner points out that in the OT and NT the focus of predestination is more on the what than the who. This means, here the focus is more on believers being predestined to adoption than it is about believers being predestined. To add some technical features for the 3 nerds who read this: when people are the object there is always another accusative following.
- Secondly, Hoehner will contend this demonstrates that “one’s destiny is determined beforehand.” The how (or specifics of mechanics) of this is not described by Paul.
- The question remains, how does “predestined” relate to “chose?” Here we have 4 views: (hold onto your hats we’re gonna get technical)
- Temporal: the participle (predestined) is antecedent, logically, of the verb (chose).
- Contemporaneous: the participle provides the manner in which he chose us - “in that he predestined us, he chose us.”
- Means: how he chose us - “he chose us by predestining us.”
- Causal: giving the reason for the choosing - “because of having predestined us, he chose us.”
Hoehner prefers 4 over 3 even though he says it’s hard to decide (general rule: authors tend to list their preference at the end. You see this in an edited book, and in lists like this. That’s a freebie for ya.)
In my estimation the decision between these four doesn’t change the overall meaning and intent very much. I’m undecided which I think is the case, but again, the decision won’t change the overall thrust and understanding of their relationship.
The point is clearly this: the choosing and the predestining are tied together, somehow they relate.
Alrighty, whatchu you think? What say ye?
Topics: The Scriptures, Theology |
June 21st, 2008 at 10:07 pm
You should throw in eternal security while you’re at it…