Predestination

In the beginning....

Definitions:

Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined and Explained Predestine

Predestine

Greek expression: prohorizō

Pronunciation: praw ohr EE dzoh

Strong’s Number: 4309

KEY VERSES

Romans 8:29–30; Acts 4:28; Ephesians 1:5, 11

To predestine means “to mark out beforehand,” and “to establish one’s boundary, or one’s limits, beforehand.” Our English word “horizon” is a derivative of this Greek word, prohorizō. The Christian’s ultimate “destiny” or “horizon” has been fixed by God from all eternity: to be made like His Son.

2. To define, decree, determine, appoint or settle beforehand. Merriam Webster

Predestination:

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 4309. προορίζω

προορίζω prŏŏrizō, prŏ-or-id´-zo; from 4253 and 3724; to limit in advance, i.e. (fig.) predetermine:—determine before, ordain, predestinate.

1. Act of predestinating; state of being predestined. MW

2. Doctrine that God in consequence of His foreknowledge of all events infallible guides those who are destined for SALVATION! MW

Predestinate:

1. Destined, fated or determined beforehand. MW

Scriptures:

Romans 8:28–30 NASB 2020

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Key words:

vs. 29

foreknew = proginosko - to know beforehand

predestined = proorizo - to limit in advance

conformed = symmorphos - jointly formed

(from syn - denoting union

morphe - from the base of)

image = eikon - a likeness; to resemble

vs. 30:

predestined = proorizo - to limit in advance

called = kaleo - to call or bid

justified = dikaioo - render just

glorified = doxazo - render glorious

Looking at verse 28:

What are we called/invited to?

His purpose!

Verse 29-30:

What did God foreknow and predestine us to?

To be formed in His image/likeness, resemble His Son

To be called, justified, and glorified

New American Standard Bible Ephesians 1:3-14

Ephesians 1:3–14 NASB 2020

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

chose = eklegomai - to select

foundation = katabole - a deposition - a throwing or laying down

world = kosmos - the base; orderly arrangement

holy = hagios - sacred

without blame = amomos - unblemished

love = agape - love

vs. 5

predestined = poorizo - limit in advance/determine

adoption as sons = huiothesia - placing as a son/daughter

Jesus Christ = Iesous Christos

good pleasure = eudokia - satisfaction, delight

will = thelema - a determination

vs. 6

praise = epainos - laudation

accepted = charitoo - to grace (indue with special honor, be highly favoured)

Beloved = agapao - from agan to love

vs. 7

redemption = apolytrosis - ransom in full

blood = haima - literally blood

forgiveness = aphesis - freedom; pardon

sins = paraptoma - a slide-slip

riches = ploutos - wealth

grace = graciousness

vs. 8

made to abound = perisseuo - to superabound

wisdom = sophia - wisdom

prudence = phronesis - mental action or activity

vs. 9

made known = gnorizo - to make known

mystery = mysterion

will = thelema - a determination

good pleasure = eudokia - satisfaction

purposed = protithemai - to place before

vs. 10

dispensation = oikonomia - administration

fullness = pleroma - repletion or completion

times = kairos - uncertain affinity, an occasion

gather = anakephalaiomai - to sum up

heaven = ouranos - the sky

earth = ge - soil; or the solid part or the whole terrene globe

vs. 11

inheritance = kleroo - to allot

predestined = to limit in advance

purpose = prothesis - a setting forth

works = energeo - to be active, efficient

counsel = boule - volition

vs. 12

trusted = proelpizo - to hope in advance of other confirmation

Christ

vs. 13

gospel = euaggelion - a good message

salvation = soteria - rescue or safety

believed =pisteuo - to have faith

sealed = sphragizo - to stamp

Holy Spirit = pneuma - a current of air

promise = epaggelia - an announcement

vs. 14

guarantee = arrhabon - a pledge

inheritance = kleronomia - heirship

redemption = apolytrosis - ransom in full

possession = acquistion

Questions:

vs. 4

When did God choose us?

At foundation of the world

For what did He choose us?

To be sacred and unblemished before Him in agape!!

vs. 5

What are we predestined to?

Adoption as sons/daughters

By whom?

Jesus Christ

vs. 5 & 6a

According to what?

His will and grace

vs. 6

We are accepted in what/whom?

The Beloved - love

vs. 7

What do we have in Christ?

Redemption, forgiveness of sins

According to what?

Riches of His grace!

vs. 8

What did cause to abound toward us?

Wisdom and prudence (mental activity)

vs. 9

What did he make known to us?

The mystery of his will.

According to what?

His good pleasure

vs. 10

Why? What is the mystery?

That in the fullness of time He will gather together all in Christ - those in heaven and on earth - in HIM.

vs. 11

In Him what have we obtained?

Inheritance

What is that inheritance?

Adoption as His child, to live according to the purpose and counsel of His will.

vs. 12

For who?

We who first trusted in Christ!

Why?

To be the praise of His glory.

vs. 13

When did we trust Him?

After we heard the word of truth.

What is the “word of truth?

The gospel of our salvation.

What are sealed with?

The Holy Spirit!

vs. 14

What is the Holy Spirit guaranteeing?

Our inheritance of redemption in Christ - His possession!

One more section of scripture we will look at is:

1 Peter 2:9–10 NASB 2020

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

vs. 9

chosen = eklektos - to select

generation = genos - kin

royal = basileios - kingly

priesthood = hierateuma - priestly fraternity

holy = hagios - sacred

nation = ethnos - a race

special = peripoiesis - acquisition

people = laos - a people

proclaim = exaggello - to show forth,

praises = arete - manliness (valor) i.e. excellence, virtue

called = kaleo - to call

darkness = skotos - shadiness

marvelous = thaumastos - wondered at

light = phos from phao - luminousness

vs. 10

God = theos - a deity, a supreme Divinity

mercy = eleeo - to be compassionate

Questions:

Who are we according to these verses?

A chosen generation

A royal priesthood

His own special people

What is our role?

To proclaim the praises of HIM!

What has He done for us?

Called us out of darkness, made us HIS people, and showed us mercy!

Other verses to consider:

1 Peter 1:2–5 NASB 2020

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jeremiah 1:5 NASB 2020

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Psalm 139 “For the music director. A Psalm of David. Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far away. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, Lord, You know it all. You have encircled me behind and in front, And placed Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot comprehend it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take up the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. For You c…”

After looking at these verses what do you believe you are predestined for?

Did this change your outlook on what predestination really means from what we see in scripture?

I like this summary:

Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined and Explained Predestine

To predestine means “to mark out beforehand,” and “to establish one’s boundary, or one’s limits, beforehand.” Our English word “horizon” is a derivative of this Greek word, prohorizō. The Christian’s ultimate “destiny” or “horizon” has been fixed by God from all eternity: to be made like His Son.

The impetus of God’s eternal purpose came from His heart’s desire to have many sons and daughters made like His only Son. In love, He predestined many people to be His honored children—not by their own merits, but by virtue of being in the Son (Eph. 1:4–5). Notice how often in Ephesians 1 Paul speaks of the believer’s position “in Him.” Outside of Jesus the Son, no one could be a son or daughter of God and no one could be pleasing to the Father. These many children owe all their divine privileges to Jesus, as children graced in Him (Eph. 1:6).

Paul provides the best explanation on “predestination” in Romans 8:28–30, quoted as follows:

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Note how the words “predestined,” “called,” “justified,” and especially “glorified” in Romans 8:29 and 30 are in the past tense. That is because God, from His eternal perspective, sees this process as having been completed already. From God’s perspective, believers have already been glorified because He sees them like Jesus. But still, in the reality of time, believers must undergo the process of being conformed to Christ’s image. God is bringing all things together for good in our lives, we are called according to His purpose, and His goal is to conform each believer to the image of His beloved Son. What a destiny!