Predestination vs Free Will | Foreknew Meaning | Is the Holy Spirit Predestined? | God and planning

The Early Church and the term Foreknew

Preserving Personal Accountability

For those wishing to present a case for free will and personal accountability, using the Early Church as the basis, it is quite easy because the Early Church fought a type of Predestination, known as Fatalism. We will be presenting some of this case from the early writers (within 150 years of Jesus death and resurrection), specifically discussing Romans 8:29-30 and the term Foreknew. We investigate how this term was understood and used by the Early Church.

We will show God does not act coercively

We will show the Early Church:

fought Predestination, preserving free will,
showed God does not force salvation on anyone,
showed it is not God's fault that people become wicked, He did not make them so.

We also look at:

How the term Foreknow was used in Early Writings, proving it was not Fatalistic in meaning.

The verse in contention

Below is the verse used by Calvinists, or those who believe in Predestination, to support the case that man has no genuine choice or free will in regard to salvation. Looking at the scripture at surface level it could be used to support their case, however we will see how the Early Church saw the scripture to prop-up the case for free will.

Romans 8:29-30 (NKJV) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified .

Let's Define Free Will and Predestination

What is Predestination?

Collins English Dictionary states predestination is "a. the act of God foreordaining every event from eternity, b. the doctrine or belief, esp associated with Calvin, that the final salvation of some of humankind is foreordained from eternity by God", and "a. God foreordained everything that would happen, b. God predestines certain souls to salvation and, esp. in Calvinism, others to damnation" (Collins 2023^*W0).

What is free will

Free will in Christianity is the idea that God has given man the ability to choose or reject Him, based upon a choice of our will. As Iranaeus [A.D. 120-202.] (an Early Church Father) states 1. This expression [of our Lord], “How often would I have gathered thy children together, and thou wouldest not,” (Mat 23:37) set forth the ancient law of human liberty, because God made man a free [agent] from the beginning, possessing his own power, even as he does his own soul, to obey the behests (ad utendum sententia) of God voluntarily, and not by compulsion of God. For there is no coercion with God, but a good will [towards us] is present with Him continually. And therefore does He give good counsel to all. And in man, as well as in angels, He has placed the power of choice (for angels are rational beings), so that those who had yielded obedience might justly possess what is good, given indeed by God, but preserved by themselves. On the other hand, they who have not obeyed shall, with justice, be not found in possession of the good, and shall receive condign punishment: for God did kindly bestow on them what was good; but they themselves did not diligently keep it, nor deem it something precious, but poured contempt upon His super-eminent goodness." (Rev. Rambaut W. H. 1867, Ch 122-End^*E0)

Justin Martyr and his usage of Foreknown, Foreknew

The following are quotes are taken from Justin Martyr [A.D. 110-165.] as found in the eBook of Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1 (Rev. Dods 1867^*E1). They show the meaning that was applied to the phrase.

Not made Wicked by God

We see the terms usage by Justin Martyr in the passages that follow, foreknow his text shows does not mean God made some wicked, he says that the wicked can seek repentance and find it. This is contry to the Calvanistic idea that "b. God predestines certain souls to salvation and, esp. in Calvinism, others to damnation" (Collins 2023^*W0). So predestination, or foreknowledge can not mean God assigns some to salvation and some to damnation.

Justin Martyr - Dialogue with Trypho

Chap. CXL. — In Christ All Are Free. The Jews Hope for Salvation in Vain Because They Are Sons of Abraham.

"...Furthermore, I have proved in what has preceded, that those who were foreknown to be unrighteous, whether men or angels, are not made wicked by God’s fault, but each man by his own fault is what he will appear to be..." (Rev. Dods 1867, Ch 122-End^*E1)

Chap. CXLI. — Free-Will in Men and Angels.

"...But if the word of God foretells that some angels and men shall be certainly punished, it did so because it foreknew that they would be unchangeably [wicked], but not because God had created them so. So that if they repent, all who wish for it can obtain mercy from God: and the Scripture foretells that they shall be blessed, saying, ‘Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin;’..." (Rev. Dods 1867, Ch 122-End^*E1)

Foreknown "were to believe in Him", and "to believe in Him"

Justin also uses the term Foreknown, with the phrase "foreknown to believe in him". There is a suggestion with the term "to believe", that God is looking forward to a time when He can see people will believe in Him; at the time before creation He knows there will be those who accept His ways.

Justin Martyr - Dialogue with Trypho

Chap. XLII. — The Bells on the Priest’s Robe Were a Figure of the Apostles.

"...all the other appointments of Moses I can demonstrate that they were types, and symbols, and declarations of those things which would happen to Christ, of those who it was foreknown were to believe in Him, and of those things which would also be done by Christ Himself..." (Rev. Dods 1867, Ch 36-52^*E2)

Chap. LXX. — So also the Mysteries of Mithras Are Distorted from the Prophecies of Daniel and Isaiah.

"...And this prophecy proves that we shall behold this very King with glory; and the very terms of the prophecy declare loudly, that the people foreknown to believe in Him were fore-known to pursue diligently the fear of the Lord..." (Rev. Dods 1867, Ch 67-83^*E3)

Justin Fights Fatalism and Supports Free Will

In the following passage Justin Martyr states that the church does not believe in a Fatalistic view of foreknowledge, that man has genuine free will. This idea is also supported by Iranaeus [A.D. 120-202.], who strongly supports free will not Fatalism, as shown below. In summary they say:

Men have genuine free will to accept or reject God and His commands
There is no coercion or compulsion with God, He gives us free will to voluntarily accept Him
Man has power to accept or Reject God, he is not powerless.

Justin Martyr - First Apology

Chap. XLIII — Responsibility Asserted

"But lest some suppose, from what has been said by us, that we say that whatever happens, happens by a fatal necessity, because it is foretold as known beforehand, this too we explain. We have learned from the prophets, and we hold it to be true, that punishments, and chastisements, and good rewards, are rendered according to the merit of each man’s actions. Since if it be not so, but all things happen by fate, neither is anything at all in our own power. For if it be fated that this man, e.g., be good, and this other evil, neither is the former meritorious nor the latter to be blamed. And again, unless the human race have the power of avoiding evil and choosing good by free choice, they are not accountable for their actions, of whatever kind they be. But that it is by free choice they both walk uprightly and stumble, we thus demonstrate. We see the same man making a transition to opposite things. Now, if it had been fated that he were to be either good or bad, he could never have been capable of both the opposites, nor of so many transitions. But not even would some be good and others bad, since we thus make fate the cause of evil, and exhibit her as acting in opposition to herself; or that which has been already stated would seem to be true, that neither virtue nor vice is anything, but that things are only reckoned good or evil by opinion; which, as the true word shows, is the greatest impiety and wickedness. But this we assert is inevitable fate, that they who choose the good have worthy rewards, and they who choose the opposite have their merited awards. For not like other things, as trees and quadrupeds, which cannot act by choice, did God make man: for neither would he be worthy of reward or praise did he not of himself choose the good, but were created for this end; nor, if he were evil, would he be worthy of punishment, not being evil of himself, but being able to be nothing else than what he was made." (Rev. Dods 1867, Ch 26-50^*E4)

Iranaeus - Against Heresies

Chap. XXXVII. — Men Are Possessed of Free Will, and Endowed with the Faculty of Making a Choice. It Is Not True, Therefore, That Some Are by Nature Good, and Others Bad.

"1. This expression [of our Lord], “How often would I have gathered thy children together, and thou wouldest not,” (Mat 23:37) set forth the ancient law of human liberty, because God made man a free [agent] from the beginning, possessing his own power, even as he does his own soul, to obey the behests (ad utendum sententia) of God voluntarily, and not by compulsion of God. For there is no coercion with God, but a good will [towards us] is present with Him continually. And therefore does He give good counsel to all. And in man, as well as in angels, He has placed the power of choice (for angels are rational beings), so that those who had yielded obedience might justly possess what is good, given indeed by God, but preserved by themselves. On the other hand, they who have not obeyed shall, with justice, be not found in possession of the good, and shall receive condign punishment: for God did kindly bestow on them what was good; but they themselves did not diligently keep it, nor deem it something precious, but poured contempt upon His super-eminent goodness. Rejecting therefore the good, and as it were spuing it out, they shall all deservedly incur the just judgment of God, which also the Apostle Paul testifies in his Epistle to the Romans, where he says, “But dost thou despise the riches of His goodness, and patience, and long-suffering, being ignorant that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But according to thy hardness and impenitent heart, thou treasurest to thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” “But glory and honour,” he says, “to every one that doeth good.” (Rom 2:4, Rom 2:5, Rom 2:7) God therefore has given that which is good, as the apostle tells us in this Epistle, and they who work it shall receive glory and honour, because they have done that which is good when they had it in their power not to do it; but those who do it not shall receive the just judgment of God, because they did not work good when they had it in their power so to do." (Rev. Rambaut W. H. 1867, Ch 35-37^*E0)

How should we interpret Romans 8:29-30

In light of the Early Church, there is 0% chance that Romans 8:29-30 should be read to mean "b. God predestines certain souls to salvation and, esp. in Calvinism, others to damnation" (Collins 2023^*W0). The Early Church supports the idea of free agency (free will) in salvation. They state there is no compulsion (forcing of will) with God, that God gives His good will to all people. As is supported by scriptures like "1Timothy 4:10 (NKJV) For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. " and "1 John 2:2 (NKJV) And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world".

Furthermore Romans 8:29-30 can be read to mean the ones foreknown to believe in Jesus. Meaning God knew at creation people would believe in Him, and He marked those ones out for salvation.

References

NKJV: The Holy Bible: New King James Version. (1982). Thomas Nelson.

*W0 - Collins 2023, Predestination definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary, Collins English Dictionary, accessed 15 April 2023, <https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/predestination>.

*E0 - Rev. Rambaut W. H. 1867, Against Heresies - Book 4 Ch 35-38 | Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, eSword, eBook, accessed 16 April 2023, <https://www.e-sword.net>.
*E1 - Rev. Dods 1867, Justin Martyr - Dialoque with Trypho Ch 122-End | Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, eSword, eBook, accessed 15 April 2023, <https://www.e-sword.net>.
*E2 - Rev. Dods 1867, Justin Martyr - Dialoque with Trypho Ch 36-52 | Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, eSword, eBook, accessed 15 April 2023, <https://www.e-sword.net>.
*E3 - Rev. Dods 1867, Justin Martyr - Dialoque with Trypho Ch 67-83 | Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, eSword, eBook, accessed 15 April 2023, <https://www.e-sword.net>.
*E4 - Rev. Dods 1867, Justin Martyr - First Apology - Ch 26-50 | Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, eSword, eBook, accessed 15 April 2023, <https://www.e-sword.net>.