God's Ordination of the Universe's Existence and Purpose
God's Ordination of the Universe's Existence and Purpose
The concept of God's ordination of the universe's existence and purpose is rooted in biblical teachings and has been a subject of theological discussion across various Christian traditions. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's decrees are "his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition" [1].
The biblical basis for this concept is found in passages such as Ephesians 1:10, which speaks of God's plan to bring all things under Christ [2]. The creation account in Genesis also underscores God's intentional and purposeful creation of the universe, with Torrey's Topical Textbook highlighting that creation was "according to God's purpose" and "for God's pleasure" [3]. Hebrews 11:3 further emphasizes that the universe was formed at God's command [4].
Theological traditions have interpreted these biblical teachings in various ways. The Reformed tradition, as represented by Charles Hodge's Systematic Theology, emphasizes the doctrine of divine decrees, arguing that God's decrees are eternal, immutable, and efficacious, governing all events, including the salvation of humanity [5]. In contrast, the Catholic tradition, as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, focuses on the wisdom and goodness of God in creation, highlighting humanity's purpose to praise and glorify God [8].
The patristic tradition also contributes to this discussion. Athanasius of Alexandria's works emphasize the rationality and order of the universe as evidence of God's creation and purpose [6]. Similarly, the Anglican tradition, as reflected in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, articulates a doctrine of predestination that underscores God's eternal purpose in salvation [7].
Different traditions have varying views on the extent to which God's ordination includes human decisions and actions. Some, like the Reformed tradition, argue that God's decrees encompass all events, including human choices [5]. Others, like the Catholic tradition, while affirming God's sovereignty, also emphasize human freedom and responsibility [8].
The Jewish tradition, as represented in the Babylonian Talmud, also explores the concept of God's ordination, highlighting the significance of the created order and its relation to God's purposes for humanity [9].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Decrees of God — "The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in logical relations, and are therefore styled Decrees." The decree being the act of an infinite, absolute, eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign Person, compre”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 1:10 (BBE) — The ordering of the times when they are complete, so that all things might come to a head in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on the earth; in him, I say,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Creation — The formation of things which had no previous existence -- Ro 4:17; Heb 11:3. Effected By God. -- Ge 1:1; 2:4,5; Pr 26:10. By Christ. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. By the Holy Spirit. -- Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. By the command of God. -- Ps 33:9; Heb 11:3. In the beginning. -- Ge 1:1; Mt 24:21. In six normal days. -- Ex 20:11; 31:17. According to God's purpose. -- Ps 135:6. For God's pleasure. -- Pr 16:4; Re 4:11. For Christ. -- Col 1:16. By faith we believe, to be God's work -- Heb 11:3. Order of First day, making light and dividing it from darkness. -- Ge 1:3-5;”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 11:3 (BSB) — By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 1: 1. The Nature of the Divine Decrees 535 The Glory of God the Final Cause of his Decrees.—Decrees reducible to One Purpose.—The Decrees of God are Immutable.—They are Free.—They are certainly Efficacious.—They relate to all Events.—Free Acts are foreordained 543 § 2. Objections to the Doctrine of Divine Decrees 545 1. Foreordination inconsistent with Free Agency.—2. Foreordination of Sin inconsistent with Holiness.—3. The Doctrine of Decrees destroys all Motives to Exertion.—4. It is Fatalism 548 CHAPTER X. CREATION. § 1. Different Theories”
- CCEL (Patristic) “Athanasius of Alexandria, Select Works and Letters, section 87: §40. The rationality and order of the Universe proves that it is the work of the Reason or Word of God . Who then might this Maker be? for this is a point most necessary to make plain, lest, from ignorance with regard to him, a man should suppose the wrong maker, and fall once more into the same old godless error, but I think no one is really in doubt about it. For if our argument has proved that the gods of the poets are no gods, and has convicted of error those that deify creation, and in general has shewn that the idolatry of t”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Section 241: Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified f”
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, CHAPTER ONE (part 2): witness of others who teach him to seek God. You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is your power and your wisdom is without measure. and man, so small a part of your creation, wants to praise you: this man, though clothed with mortality and bearing the evidence of sin and the proof that you withstand the proud. Despite everything, man, though but a small a part of your creation, wants to praise you. You yourself encourage him to delight in your praise, for you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 62a.54:5: Abraham said before God: Master of the Universe, this works out well when the Temple is standing, but when the Temple is not standing, what will become of them? God said to him: I have already enacted for them the order of offerings. When they read them before Me, I will ascribe them credit as though they had sacrificed them before Me and I will pardon them for all their transgressions. Since the offerings ensure the continued existence of the Jewish people and the rest of the world, the act of Creation is read in their honor.”