What is Predestination?

Predestination is a theological doctrine that refers to the belief that God, in His sovereignty, has predetermined the eternal destiny of every individual. This includes who will be saved (often referred to as “the elect”) and who will be condemned. The doctrine of predestination is closely associated with the ideas of divine foreknowledge, election, and reprobation. It has been a central and often contentious doctrine within Christian theology, particularly within Reformed traditions.

Biblical Foundations

Scriptural Basis for Predestination

The concept of predestination is rooted in several key passages of Scripture, where the idea of God’s sovereign choice and foreknowledge is emphasized.

• Romans 8:29-30 (NIV):
  

  “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

  This passage is central to the doctrine of predestination, indicating that God’s foreknowledge and predestination are connected to the salvation and ultimate glorification of believers.

• Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV):
  

  “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

  Here, Paul emphasizes that God’s choice and predestination are rooted in His love and are part of His eternal plan for the redemption of humanity.

• John 6:44 (NIV):
  

  “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

  This verse highlights the belief that coming to faith in Christ is dependent on the sovereign initiative of God, a concept closely related to predestination.

Theological Interpretations

Predestination has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history, with significant differences between different theological traditions.

• Double Predestination: This is the belief that God has predestined some people to eternal life (election) and others to eternal damnation (reprobation). This view is most closely associated with Reformed theology, particularly with the teachings of John Calvin.
  • Romans 9:18 (NIV):
    

    “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.”

    This passage is often cited in support of double predestination, emphasizing God’s sovereign choice in both mercy and judgment.

• Single Predestination: Some Christian traditions, including certain branches of Lutheranism and Arminianism, affirm a form of predestination where God elects some to salvation but does not actively predestine others to damnation. Those who are not elect are passed over, and their condemnation is due to their own unbelief and sin.
  • 1 Timothy 2:3-4 (NIV):
    

    “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

    This verse is often cited by proponents of single predestination to emphasize God’s desire for all to be saved, which contrasts with the more deterministic implications of double predestination.

• Foreknowledge and Predestination: Some theologians, particularly within Arminianism, emphasize that predestination is based on God’s foreknowledge of those who will freely choose to believe in Christ. This view holds that God’s predestination is not arbitrary but is based on His knowledge of human decisions.
  • 1 Peter 1:1-2 (NIV):
    

    “To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood.”

    This passage is often used to support the idea that election is connected to God’s foreknowledge.

Historical Context and Key Leaders

Early Church and Augustine

The doctrine of predestination was discussed in the early Church, but it was not fully developed until the time of Augustine of Hippo.

• Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD): Augustine is often credited with developing the doctrine of predestination in response to the Pelagian controversy. Pelagius taught that humans had the free will to choose salvation without the need for divine grace. Augustine countered this by emphasizing the necessity of God’s grace and the idea that God predestines certain individuals to receive this grace.
  • Augustine’s View: Augustine taught that God’s grace is irresistible for the elect and that this grace is given based on God’s sovereign will, not human merit. He also held that God’s election was unchangeable and that those predestined to salvation would certainly be saved.
  • Augustine’s Influence: Augustine’s views on predestination became foundational for later Western Christian thought, particularly influencing the development of Reformed theology.

Medieval Theology

During the medieval period, the doctrine of predestination was further developed, though it was often a topic of debate.

• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD): Aquinas addressed predestination in his Summa Theologica. He agreed with Augustine on the necessity of divine grace but nuanced the doctrine by emphasizing God’s foreknowledge and the role of human cooperation with grace.
  • Aquinas’ View: Aquinas maintained that God predestines individuals to salvation based on His foreknowledge of their free response to grace. He held that while God’s grace is essential for salvation, human free will also plays a role in accepting or rejecting that grace.
  • Aquinas’ Influence: Aquinas’ balanced view of predestination, which emphasized both divine sovereignty and human responsibility, became influential in Catholic theology.

Reformation and John Calvin

The Protestant Reformation brought predestination to the forefront of theological discussion, particularly through the teachings of John Calvin.

• John Calvin (1509-1564 AD): Calvin is perhaps the most well-known proponent of the doctrine of predestination. In his Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin articulated a doctrine of double predestination, where God unconditionally elects some to salvation and others to damnation.
  • Calvin’s View: Calvin emphasized God’s absolute sovereignty and the idea that God’s will is the ultimate cause of everything that happens. He believed that God’s election is not based on any foreseen merit or action on the part of the individual but solely on God’s will.
  • Calvin’s Influence: Calvin’s doctrine of predestination became central to Reformed theology and has influenced various Protestant traditions, particularly those within the Calvinist tradition.
• Martin Luther (1483-1546 AD): While Luther also affirmed predestination, he did not develop the doctrine as extensively as Calvin. Luther emphasized the bondage of the will and the necessity of God’s grace for salvation but did not fully embrace the idea of double predestination.
  • Luther’s View: Luther saw predestination as a comforting doctrine for believers, assuring them of their salvation through God’s sovereign grace. However, he was more cautious about the implications of predestination for those not elected to salvation.
  • Luther’s Influence: Luther’s views on predestination influenced Lutheran theology, which tends to emphasize single predestination and the universal offer of grace.

Arminianism and Modern Developments

In response to Calvinism, Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609 AD) developed a different understanding of predestination that emphasized human free will and the conditional nature of election.

• Jacobus Arminius: Arminius rejected the Calvinist doctrine of unconditional election and instead argued that predestination is based on God’s foreknowledge of who would freely choose to believe in Christ.
  • Arminius’ View: Arminius taught that God’s election is conditional, depending on human response to grace. He emphasized that God’s grace is resistible, meaning that individuals can choose to accept or reject it.
  • Arminian Influence: Arminianism became a significant movement within Protestantism, particularly influencing Methodist and Wesleyan traditions, which emphasize free will and the universal offer of salvation.
• The Synod of Dort (1618-1619 AD): In response to Arminianism, the Synod of Dort affirmed the Calvinist doctrines of unconditional election and double predestination. The Canons of Dort, produced by the synod, became a key confessional document for Reformed churches.

Impacts on Christian Doctrine

Theological Significance

Predestination has profound implications for several key areas of Christian doctrine, including the nature of God, the role of human free will, and the understanding of salvation.

• Divine Sovereignty: The doctrine of predestination emphasizes the sovereignty of God in the salvation process, asserting that God’s will is the ultimate determining factor in who is saved.
  • Ephesians 1:11 (NIV):
    

    “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”

    This verse underscores the belief that God’s sovereign will is the foundation of His plan for salvation.

• Human Responsibility: Different views on predestination have different implications for human responsibility. Calvinist views tend to emphasize God’s initiative and the monergistic nature of salvation, while Arminian views emphasize synergism, where human cooperation with divine grace is essential.
  • Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV):
    

    “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

    This passage reflects the tension between divine action and human responsibility, a key issue in the debate over predestination.

• Assurance of Salvation: For those who hold to the doctrine of predestination, particularly within Calvinism, it can provide a strong sense of assurance, as believers trust that their salvation is secure because it is grounded in God’s unchangeable will.
  • John 10:28-29 (NIV):
    

    “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

    This assurance is a key aspect of the comfort that predestination offers to believers.

Relevance for Today’s Christian

Predestination remains a relevant and sometimes controversial doctrine in contemporary Christian thought. Understanding it can shape one’s view of God’s nature, the process of salvation, and the believer’s relationship with God.

• Trust in God’s Sovereignty: For many Christians, the doctrine of predestination encourages a deep trust in God’s sovereignty, knowing that He is in control of all things, including their eternal destiny.
  • Romans 8:28 (NIV):
    

    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

    This verse is often cited to reinforce the idea that God’s sovereign plan is ultimately for the good of those He has called.

• Evangelism and Mission: Different views on predestination can also influence approaches to evangelism and mission. Calvinists may see evangelism as the means by which God calls the elect, while Arminians emphasize the need to offer the Gospel to all, believing that all have the opportunity to respond.
  • Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV):
    

    “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

    The Great Commission underscores the importance of evangelism, regardless of one’s view on predestination.

• Living with Mystery: For many Christians, the doctrine of predestination involves a certain degree of mystery, recognizing that human understanding is limited and that God’s ways are higher than our ways.
  • Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV):
    

    “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'”

    This passage encourages humility and trust in God’s wisdom, even when grappling with difficult doctrines like predestination.

How This Reflects God’s Love and the Teachings of Jesus

The doctrine of predestination, when understood within the broader context of Christian theology, reflects the depth of God’s love and His desire for a relationship with His creation.

• God’s Initiative in Salvation: Predestination highlights that salvation is ultimately the work of God’s grace, not human effort, demonstrating God’s love in choosing to save sinners who are incapable of saving themselves.
  • Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV):
    

    “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

    This passage emphasizes that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, reflecting His love and mercy.

• Jesus’ Teachings on Election and Grace: Jesus often spoke of God’s initiative in calling and choosing His followers, emphasizing the grace that underlies the Christian life.
  • John 15:16 (NIV):
    

    “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

    Jesus’ words reflect the idea that God’s choice is rooted in His love and purpose for His followers.

In conclusion, predestination is a complex and theologically rich doctrine that has shaped Christian thought for centuries. While it raises challenging questions about divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and the nature of salvation, it also offers profound insights into the depth of God’s love and the assurance of His grace. For believers, predestination can be a source of comfort, encouraging trust in God’s sovereign will and His ultimate plan for redemption.