50 Facts About Predestination

What is Predestination?

Predestination is a complex and often debated doctrine in theology. It revolves around the idea that all events, including the fate of individual souls, are willed by God. Let's explore some key facts about this intriguing concept.

1. Definition of Predestination
   Predestination is the belief that all events, especially the fate of souls, are determined by God's will.

2. Historical Origins
   The concept traces back to early Christian theology, particularly in the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo.

3. St. Augustine's Influence
   Augustine believed humans are inherently flawed due to Original Sin, necessitating salvation through God's grace.

4. Augustinian Doctrine
   Augustine taught that God chooses to save some individuals while passing over others, based on His foreknowledge of human choices.

Double Predestination and Its Controversies

The idea of double predestination, where God predestines some to heaven and others to hell, has sparked significant debate.

5. Double Predestination
   Gottschalk of Orbais, a ninth-century monk, argued for double predestination, where God predestines some people to hell as well as to heaven.

6. Gottschalk's Condemnation
   Gottschalk's views were condemned by several synods, yet his ideas remained influential in theological debates.

7. John Scotus Eriugena's Refutation
   Irish theologian John Scotus Eriugena refuted Gottschalk's views, equating God's predestination with His foreknowledge of people's choices.

Theological Perspectives on Predestination

Different theologians have offered various interpretations of predestination, each adding layers to the doctrine.

8. Thomas Aquinas' Teaching
   In the thirteenth century, Thomas Aquinas taught that God predestines certain people to the beatific vision based solely on His own goodness.

9. Aquinas on Human Freedom
   Aquinas believed people are free in their choices, fully causing their own sin, and are solely responsible for it.

10. Aquinas on God's Will
    Aquinas held that God directly wills the good, indirectly wills evil consequences of good things, and only permits evil.

11. William of Ockham's View
    In the thirteenth century, William of Ockham taught that God does not cause human choices and equated predestination with divine foreknowledge.

12. Ockham's Critique
    Ockham's view suggests predestination is not about causing human actions but rather about God's knowledge of future events.

Predestination in the Reformed Tradition

The Reformed tradition, particularly through John Calvin, has placed a strong emphasis on predestination.

13. Reformed Tradition
    The Reformed tradition, especially John Calvin, emphasized predestination as a central tenet of Christian theology.

14. Calvin's Institutes
    Calvin's Institutes extensively discuss predestination, highlighting God's sovereign choice to save the elect and condemn the reprobate.

15. Calvin's Citing Augustine
    Calvin often cited Augustine, stating that God could turn the will of evil men to good because He is almighty but chooses otherwise.

16. Calvin's Distinction
    Calvin made a distinction between God's power and His will, stating that God's power is not inordinate but rather the power He should rightly be given.

Election and Reprobation

Predestination involves two key components: election and reprobation.

17. Election and Reprobation
    Predestination involves two parts: election (choosing to save some) and reprobation (choosing not to save others).

18. Election as Positive Predestination
    Election is positive predestination, where God sovereignly and graciously chooses to save individual sinners.

19. Reprobation as Negative Predestination
    Reprobation is negative predestination, where God sovereignly and justly chooses to pass over nonelect sinners and punish them.

20. Vessels of Mercy and Wrath
    Predestination involves God preparing vessels of mercy for glory and vessels of wrath for destruction (Romans 9:22-23).

The Role of Foreknowledge and Free Will

The relationship between God's foreknowledge and human free will is a central issue in the debate over predestination.

21. God's Foreknowledge
    Predestination is often based on God's foreknowledge of human choices, raising questions about the nature of free will.

22. Free Will and Predestination
    The paradox of free will and predestination suggests that God's omniscience seems incompatible with human free will, leading to debates about determinism.

23. Determinism in Predestination
    Predestination can be regarded as a form of religious determinism, where all events are willed by God.

24. Theological Determinism
    Theological determinism posits that God's will is the sole cause of all events, including human actions and decisions.

Augustinian Interpretation and Grace

Augustine's interpretation of predestination emphasizes God's grace and sovereign choice in salvation.

25. Augustinian Interpretation
    Augustine's interpretation emphasizes that predestination is not about predetermining every detail but rather about God's sovereign choice in salvation.

26. Grace and Election
    According to Augustine, those who accept God's grace are chosen for salvation, though it is more accurate to say they are destined for salvation by their own choice.

27. Elect and Non-Elect
    The elect are those who have accepted God's offer of grace, while the non-elect reject this offer, leading to their condemnation.

Assurance and Humility in Predestination

Predestination should lead to assurance of salvation and humility among believers.

28. Effectual Calling
    Those who are effectually called by God bear the evidence of their election in their heart and life, leading to a certainty about their eternal salvation.

29. Certainty of Election
    The certainty of election comes from attending to the Word of God and yielding obedience to it, as seen in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14.

30. Assurance of Salvation
    Election brings greater assurance to believers, stimulating them to pursue holiness with greater zeal, as seen in Colossians 3:12.

31. Humility and Praise
    Predestination should result in humility, praise, and comfort, rather than sinful pride, divisiveness, and anxiety.

Teaching and Understanding Predestination

Pastors and theologians must handle the teaching of predestination with care to avoid misunderstandings.

32. Teaching Predestination
    Pastors are called to teach the whole counsel of God, including predestination, which is a major doctrine in Scripture (Acts 20:17; Jude 3; 2 Timothy 2:1-2).

33. Handling Predestination
    The teaching of predestination must be handled with special prudence and care to avoid causing harm to Christ's sheep (Ephesians 1:4-6).

34. Objections to Teaching Predestination
    Some objections include the fear that it may lead to a lack of assurance of salvation or that believers may not pursue obedience to God's commandments.

35. Correct Understanding of Predestination
    Those who rightly understand biblical predestination would never use it as an excuse to refuse God’s promise of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone.

God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

Predestination highlights the balance between God's sovereignty and human responsibility.

36. God's Sovereignty
    God's sovereignty is central to the doctrine of predestination, emphasizing His control over all events, including human salvation.

37. God’s Omniscience
    God’s omniscience is often cited as the basis for predestination, suggesting that He knows all future events and has predetermined them.

38. God’s Grace
    Predestination is often linked with God’s grace, which is unmerited and offered to all humanity through Jesus Christ.

39. Human Responsibility
    Despite predestination, humans are still responsible for their actions and choices, as emphasized by Thomas Aquinas.

40. Permitted Evil
    Aquinas taught that God permits evil but does not will it to be done or not to be done, highlighting a nuanced view of divine intervention.

Foreknowledge and Predestination

The interplay between foreknowledge and predestination is a key aspect of the doctrine.

41. Foreknowledge and Predestination
    Foreknowledge is often equated with predestination, suggesting that God’s knowledge of future events predetermines their outcome.

42. Calvin’s View on Foreknowledge
    Calvin believed that God’s foreknowledge is not just about knowing future events but also about His sovereign control over them.

43. Augustine’s View on Foreknowledge
    Augustine saw foreknowledge as part of God’s sovereignty, where He knows all future choices and predetermines their outcome.

The Free Will Debate

The debate over free will and predestination continues to be a central issue in theology.

44. Free Will Debate
    The debate over free will and predestination continues, with some arguing that humans have complete control over their choices while others see God’s sovereignty as the primary factor.

Philosophical and Scriptural Basis

Predestination has significant philosophical implications and is rooted in various Scriptural passages.

45. Philosophical Implications
    Predestination has significant philosophical implications, particularly regarding the nature of causality and the role of divine intervention in human affairs.

46. Scriptural Basis
    The doctrine of predestination is based on various Scriptural passages, including Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:4-5.

47. Ephesians 1:4-5
    Ephesians 1:4-5 states that God chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world, highlighting the concept of election.

48. Romans 8:29-30
    Romans 8:29-30 speaks of those whom God foreknew and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, emphasizing the role of foreknowledge in predestination.

49. John 6:37-39
    John 6:37-39 states that all those given to Jesus by the Father will come to Him, suggesting a divine selection process.

50. Ongoing Debate
    The debate over predestination continues, with theologians and philosophers offering various interpretations and critiques of this complex doctrine.

The Ongoing Debate on Predestination

Predestination has sparked debates for centuries, blending theology, philosophy, and human nature. From St. Augustine's early teachings to John Calvin's detailed doctrines, the idea that God predetermines our fate challenges our understanding of free will. Augustine and Calvin both emphasized God's sovereignty and grace, yet their interpretations differ. Thomas Aquinas and William of Ockham added layers, discussing human responsibility and divine foreknowledge.

Scriptural passages like Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:4-5 provide a foundation, but interpretations vary widely. The tension between divine control and human choice remains unresolved, fueling ongoing discussions. Whether viewed as comforting or controversial, predestination continues to shape Christian thought, urging believers to ponder the mysteries of faith and salvation. This doctrine, complex and multifaceted, will likely remain a topic of fascination and debate for years to come.