Relationship Between Human Free Will and Predestination
The relationship between human free will and predestination is a longstanding and complex theological debate within Christianity. At its core, the discussion revolves around how God's sovereignty in salvation relates to human decision-making and responsibility.
The Debate's Framework
The disagreement centers on interpreting biblical passages that speak to God's predestination and human free will. Predestination is understood as God's eternal plan or purpose of salvation, governing all events related to it [1]. The concept is rooted in scriptures such as Ephesians 1:5, which states that believers were "predestinated to be adopted as his children through Jesus Christ" [2].
Position 1: Reformed/Calvinistic View
One major position, represented by Reformed theologians like Calvin and Charles Hodge, emphasizes God's sovereignty in predestination. According to this view, God's predestination is unconditional and certain, yet it does not impose necessity on human actions. Calvin's commentary on Genesis highlights God's sovereignty in election, while Hodge's Systematic Theology discusses the nature of predestination and its relation to human will [6, 7]. This perspective is grounded in passages like Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:11, which are seen as affirming God's sovereign choice in salvation.
Position 2: Arminian/Wesleyan View
In contrast, the Arminian or Wesleyan tradition, represented by theologians associated with Methodism, stresses the role of human free will in responding to God's offer of salvation. This view posits that predestination is conditional upon God's foreknowledge of human faith or unbelief. Adam Clarke's commentary on Luke reflects this perspective, emphasizing human responsibility and the possibility of falling from grace [5]. Scriptural support is drawn from passages like Deuteronomy 30:19, which presents a choice between life and death, and Isaiah 1:19-20, indicating that human willingness affects outcomes.
Position 3: Eastern Orthodox and Patristic View
The Eastern Orthodox tradition, along with some Patristic interpretations, approaches the issue by focusing on the synergy between God's will and human freedom. John Chrysostom's writings, as referenced in the CCEL/NPNF, touch on the balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility without necessarily framing it as a stark either-or [4]. This perspective often emphasizes the mystery of how God's providence and human freedom interrelate.
Shared Ground
Despite their differences, all these positions agree on the importance of both God's sovereignty and human responsibility. They also concur that the Bible teaches both concepts, even if they diverge on how to reconcile them. The Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran document, articulates a nuanced view that affirms both the necessity of God's grace and the responsibility of human will, though it leans towards emphasizing the limitations of human free will in matters of salvation [3].
Why Traditions Diverge
The divergence among traditions stems from differing hermeneutical commitments, historical contexts, and prior doctrinal premises. The Reformed tradition tends to emphasize the sovereignty of God as expressed in predestination passages, while the Arminian/Wesleyan view prioritizes the role of human decision in biblical exhortations and warnings. The Eastern Orthodox and Patristic perspectives often seek to maintain a balance between these aspects, focusing on the mystery of their interaction.
The complexity of this debate reflects the depth and richness of Christian theological reflection on the nature of salvation and God's interaction with humanity. As such, the discussion continues to be a vital part of Christian theology, with each tradition contributing its insights into the intricate relationship between human free will and predestination.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 1:5 (Geneva1599) — Who hath predestinate vs, to be adopted through Iesus Christ in him selfe, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), Article XVIII. Of Free Will.: Article XVIII. Of Free Will.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:11 1:11 1:26 1:26 1:26 1:27 1:27 1:27 1:31 1:31 2:2 2:7 2:17 2:17 2:18 2:23 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:5 3:16 3:24 4 4:9 4:14 6:2 6:3 6:4 6:9 6:12 7:7 8:21 12:1 12:4 12:16 13:10 13:10-11 14:14 14:21-23 15:16 16:5 16:6 17:8 18:11 18:12 18:14 18:21 19:13 19:14 19:24 21:10 21:12 21:12 22:7-8 22:16 22:18 22:18 24:1-67 24:22 24:65 25:21 25:21 26:4 27:46 28:1 28:13 31:42 31:45 32:48 35:18 37:9-10 37:20 39:1 39:6 40:4 40:7 40:8 40:14-15 40:22 41 41:16 42:36 43:14 43:30 45:5 48:15-16 49:9 64:28 Exodus 2:11 2”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 8:22: Let us go over, etc. - See on Mat 8:24 (note), etc., and Mar 4:36-41 (note).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 28.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:1-6 1:1-31 1:2 1:28 1:29-30 2:1 2:1-25 2:15 2:19 3:1 3:1-24 3:7 3:16 4:1 4:1-26 4:7 5:1 5:1-32 6:1 6:1-22 6:11-16 7:1-24 7:11 8:1-22 9:1 9:1 9:1-29 9:2 9:24 10 10:1 10:1 10:1-32 10:21 11:1 11:1 11:1-32 11:28 12:1 12:1 12:1 12:1-20 12:4 12:4 12:6 13:1 13:1-20 14:1-24 15:1-21 15:7 16:1-16 16:2 16:8 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1-27 18:1 18:1 18:1-33 18:19 19:1-38 20:1 20:1 20:1-18 21:1-34 21:15 22:1-24 22:18 23:1-20 24:31 25:1 25:13-16 35:7 48:1 Exodus 6:3 12:40 Leviticus 7:18 17:4 18:25 Numbers 6:2”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TESTIMONIES. (part 36): the liberty of believing or of not believing is placed in free choice. In Deuteronomy: "Lo, I have set before thy face life and death, good and evil. Choose for thyself life, that thou mayest live."(4) Also in Isaiah: "And if ye be willing, and hear me, ye shall eat the good of the land. But if ye be unwilling, and will not hear me, the sword shall consume you. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these things."(5) Also in the Gospel according to Luke: "The kingdom of God is within you."(6) 53. That he secrets of God ca”