Does Foreknowledge Explain Election?
by
Rev. Roger Smalling, D.Min
All Christians hold to a doctrine of election. The term election occurs frequently in the New Testament, referring to GodŐs choice of some for salvation. Election is a biblical word. The notion of God choosing some for salvation and not others is seen throughout the Bible. No serious student of Scripture denies it. Debate occurs, however, over what may be the basis of GodŐs choice.
Two views
The first view holds that election has no basis whatsoever in man. It is a mystery, hidden in GodŐs sovereign will. Though God is not arbitrary in his decrees, nevertheless the decree of election is a righteous one, since no one deserves salvation anyway.
This view is frequently referred to as reformed, because it was prominent during the Reformation period. It is held today by churches who identity their theology as Reformed.
The second view sees divine foreknowledge as the basis for election. God peers into the future and sees who will accept Christ, then elects those.
This view is usually referred to as Arminian, after the 16th century Dutch pastor, Arminius who formed the doctrine toward the end of the Reformation period.
Foreknowledge determined the coming
of Christ, not merely foresaw it
The meaning of foreknowledge, when used of divine decisions, refers to appointed. It is similar to foreordained in connection with election. It is the person who is foreknown, or appointed to salvation, not some quality in that person.
Him, being delivered by the
determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, ... Acts 2:23 [1]
Here, determined purpose and foreknowledge are linked by a Greek grammatical form called the Granville-Sharp Rule. This makes the two nouns synonymous. It is used for emphasis, like saying right and good or evil and bad. The word determined here is formed of the same verb from which predestination is derived.
Peter declares the coming of Christ was both arranged and appointed by God.
He indeed was
foreordained before the foundation of the world... 1Peter 1:20
The word foreordained here is PROGINOSKO - foreknow. In the case of Christ, GodŐs foreknowledge was more than merely predictive. It would be absurd to say the Father merely foreknew the coming of Christ. Jesus was appointed to the office of Christ. All circumstances relating to His coming were arranged in advance. History was made for Christ, not Christ for history.
For truly against Your holy
Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the
Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your
hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Acts 4:27-28
The same pattern applies to the election of each believer. Those who oppose this principle tend to use 1Peter 1:2.
Elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the FatherÉ
Foreknowledge in verse 3 and foreordained in verse 20 are the same Greek word, and mean the same. In verse 20, it refers to Jesus himself in his appointment as Redeemer. In verse 2, it refers again to an appointment, in this case of believers appointed to obedience.
Notice Peter says for obedience, not because of obedience. He wishes all to understand that God appointed the elect for obedience just as he appointed Jesus as Redeemer. The intent is to emphasize our security in Christ. Any other interpretation fails to explain the use of the same word in the context, and would create an absurdity with regard to Christ.
Foreknowledge means foreordained with
regard to Israel, because God chose to overlook IsraelŐs persistent rebellion
God has not cast away His
people whom He foreknew. Romans 11:2
What was it that God foreknew about the Jews? That they would respond favorably to Him through their free will? Hardly! Notice the context:
But to Israel he says: All
day long I have stretched out My Hands to a disobedient and contrary people.
Romans 10:21
If the foreknowledge view were correct, then God should have rejected the Jews as candidates for election. Foreseen obedience had no play in GodŐs election of Israel.
Lexicon evidence
Foreknowledge: The Greek terms are PROGINOSKO (verb, to know or ordain before hand) and PROGINOSIS (noun, foreknowledge or foreordination). It is common in any language for words to have two or more meanings, usually a primary meaning and then a secondary one.
Such is the case with PROGINOSIS. The primary meaning is foreknowledge, the secondary, foreordination. How do we distinguish the difference? It is foreordained when divine appointments and activity are in view, as in the above verses. This holds true also with regard to GodŐs decree of election.
Gingrich's Shorter
Lexicon: PROGINOSKO: Know beforehand or choose beforehand.
Newman's Greek-English
Dictionary: PROGINOSKO: Know already;
choose from the beginning, choose beforehand.
Louw & Nida: PROGINOSKO:
Know beforehand or chose beforehand.
There exists no good
quality in man to foresee.
The foreknowledge view normally asserts that
God foresees one of several qualities in man that attracts His grace.
Was it faith He foresaw? No. Faith itself is a work of grace, based on election.
And as many as had been
appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:47
those who had believed
through grace; Acts 18:27
Jesus Christ himself is the source of our faith.
And the grace of our Lord was
exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 1Tim. 1:14
Was it perhaps our sanctification that God foresaw? It depends on who does the sanctifying. According to Jude 1, God the Father does it.
To those who are called,
sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.
Circular reasoning would come into play if sanctification brought about our election. What about a willing heart? Paul explicitly denies this possibility.
So then it is not of him who
wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Romans 9:16.
Could some goodness or righteousness in man be the quality God foresaw? Paul goes to great lengths in Romans 3 to extinguish such a notion.
There is none who does good, no,
not one. There is none righteous, no, not one; V.10 There is none who does
good, no, not one. V.12
Was it because God foresaw some would seek him and others not?
There is none who
understands; There is none who seeks after God. Ro.3:11
Ironically, the doctrine that makes us think God is acting unfairly, is the correct one. Paul underlines this in Romans 9:19-20.
But who are you, Oh man, to
talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, Why did you
make me like this?
If Paul felt foreknowledge were a factor, why didnŐt he say so instead of concluding it is none of manŐs business to ask the question?
Foreknowledge as described by the Arminian does not have this element of seeming injustice that Paul predicted would be a struggle in our thinking.
The Arminian
view of foreknowledge distorts the biblical meaning of election
Election means chosen of God, not chosen of self
And unless the Lord had
shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elects sake, whom He
chose, He shortened the days. Mark 13:20
Éknowing, beloved brethren,
your election by God. 1Thessalonians 1:4
Therefore, as the elect of
God, holy and beloved, Colossians 3:12
Éaccording to the faith of GodŐs
elect... Titus 1:1
The foreknowledge view ignores scriptural texts on election that Apostles gave to prove GodŐs sovereign choice.
Examples:
The 7000 who did not bow the knee to Baal
But what does the divine
response say to him? I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not
bowed the knee to Baal. Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant
according to the election of grace. Romans 11: 4-5
Notice God did not merely find 7000. He reserved them. It was He who was in charge of their decision, not they themselves. Paul uses this incident to describe election by grace.
Jacob and Esau
Éfor the children not
yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God
according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls. Romans
9:11
Foreknowledge assumes people have an innate ability to accept Christ and submit to GodŐs law. The Bible denies this.
ManŐs will is bound in sin and cannot submit to God without His grace intervening.
There is none who
understands; There is none who seeks after God. Romans 3:11
Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can
be. Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of
God who shows mercy. Romans 8:7
Coming to Christ is a gift of the
Father
John 6:37 All that the Father
gives Me will come to Me,... John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless
the Father who sent Me draws him; John 17:9
I pray for them. I do not
pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
Faith is a gift from God, not something generated by the believers own will
...as God has dealt to each
one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3
For to you it has been
granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for
His sake, Philippians 1:29
Élooking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faithÉ Hebrews 12:2
Repentance is a gift, not something
man is able to initiate without grace
Then God has also granted to
the Gentiles repentance to life. Acts 11:18
Éif God perhaps will grant
them repentance, so that they may know the truth,... 2Timothy 2:25
Foreknowledge renders the term ŇpredestinationÓ
meaningless
It makes it passive rather than the active verb that it is. Predestination is the Greek word PROORIZO. PRO means before and ORIZO means to establish boundaries. Thus it means to establish boundaries beforehand.
God set up the circumstances surrounding our lives to ensure the fulfillment of our foreordination as the Elect. If God merely foresaw who would accept Him, why would He set up boundaries beforehand?
This proves the choice was His, not ours. Foreordain refers to our appointment as His elect, whereas predestinate refers to the outworking of GodŐs electing decree. Note the passive tense in these verses.
Éhaving predestined us to
adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of
His will, Ephesians 1:5
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. Romans 8:29
Romans 8:29 merits special comment. The term foreknew here carries the meaning foreordain because of the context.
In verse 28 Paul has just explained all things work together for good to those who love God, and who have been called according to his purpose.
What are the grounds for believing this? God has already done His appointing and preparing before the world began, to ensure the accomplishment of our salvation. That's why we can believe everything works together for our good.
The Lexicon Louw & Nida translates this verse as: Those whom he had chosen beforehand, he had
already decided should become like his Son.
Rom. 8:29.
Foreknowledge assumes God is
unwilling or unable to encroach on the limits of manŐs will
To the contrary:
Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4:28-35
As a result of this Babylonian kingŐs pride, God removed his
sanity for seven years; his reason, free will and all. Did God ask permission
to do this? Nebuchadnezzar learned, ...He
does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of
the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, What have You done?
The Antichrist and the Ten Nations
For God has put it into their
hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to
the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. Rev.17:17
The Egyptians
And I indeed will harden the
hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over
Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. Exodus 14:17
The kings of the Earth
The kingŐs heart is in the
hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Proverbs 21:1
Foreknowledge puts the ultimate
choice on man rather than God, which the scriptures categorically deny
So then it is not of him who
wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Romans 9:16
You did not choose Me, but I
chose you and appointed you... John 15:16
Foreknowledge implies GodŐs control
is merely passive rather than active
My counsel shall stand, And I
will do all My pleasure, Isaiah 46:10
...according to the working
by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:21
...upholding all things by
the word of His power. Hebrews 1:3
Foreknowledge assumes faith precedes
election
This is an error. We believe because we are His sheep. It is not our faith that makes us sheep.
But you do not believe, because
you are not of My sheepÉ John 10:26
Appointing those for eternal life comes
before faith, not vice verse
And as many as had been
appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48
The promise of salvation is available
only to those the Lord calls
For the promise is to you and
to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will
call. Acts 2:39
Jesus reveals the Father to whom He
wills
...and no one knows the Son
except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one
to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Matthew 12:27
See John 5:21, 6:37, 44, 45,
65; 17:6, 9, 11, 20.
Conclusion
The term foreknowledge supports the doctrine of sovereign election, rather than explains it away. When used regarding divine activity, especially in connection with election, it refers to the appointment of a person rather than the result of a divine attraction to a positive quality in the person. The Bible teaches election by the sovereign grace of God, without regard to any foreseen condition in man.
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