What is the definition of 'free will' as explained in the Bible?
score:5
In "An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith" (ἔκδοσις ἀκριβὴς τῆς ὀρθοδόξου πίστεως), Book II, Ch. XXX (§44), John of Damascus wrote,
Χρὴ γινώσκειν, ὡς πάντα μὲν προγινώσκει ὁ θεός, οὐ πάντα δὲ προορίζει· προγινώσκει γὰρ καὶ τὰ ἐφ' ἡμῖν, οὐ προορίζει δὲ αὐτά· οὐ γὰρ θέλει τὴν κακίαν γενέσθαι οὐδὲ βιάζεται τὴν ἀρετήν. Ὥστε τῆς θείας προγνωστικῆς κελεύσεως ἔργον ἐστὶν ὁ προορισμός. Προορίζει δὲ τὰ οὐκ ἐφ' ἡμῖν κατὰ τὴν πρόγνωσιν αὐτοῦ· ἤδη γὰρ κατὰ τὴν πρόγνωσιν αὐτοῦ προέκρινε πάντα ὁ θεὸς κατὰ τὴν ἀγαθότητα καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ.
which I translated as,
It is necessary to understand, while God foreknows everything, yet He does not predetermine everything. For He even foreknows those things that are dependent on us, but He does not predetermine them. For He neither wills evil to occur nor forces virtue, so that predetermination is the work of the divine command of foreknowledge. On the other hand, God predetermines those things which are not dependent on us, according to His foreknowledge. For according to His foreknowledge, God has already forejudged all things according to His goodness and righteousness.
Upvote:5
The word "Freewill" doesn't exist in the Bible but the concept does exist. The Bible doesn't spell out the term "Freewill" clearly and hence doesn't provide any clear definition of what freewill is.
The Freewill theology has a long history, at least 2000 years ago, discussed by philosophers. Many Christian theologians have studied this and made many theories on it. One of the first being Augustine and many debates were held among theologians on the topic of Freewill.
There are many instances from the Bible to explain what freewill is. Let's see few examples.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV)
It is clear from this verse that anyone, who believes in Jesus Christ is promised an eternal life. This means that we are given freewill to accept or deny Jesus Christ.
Another example is Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit. God gave them orders not to eat the fruit and told them that they will die as a result, but when they were about to eat it, God did not stop them, though God was aware of it because He is omnipresent. God did not interfere in there choice making. God allowed them to choose death, even though God knew that it would result in the death of His one and only Son Jesus Christ.
More post
- 📝 Is there a Biblical ban on gambling?
- 📝 According to the RCC is it allowed to have more then one wife?
- 📝 What evidence is there that the Apostle Paul had been a member of the Sanhedrin?
- 📝 Has the matter of salvation - whether it is by works or by faith alone - ever been considered on any councils of the Catholic and Orthodox churches?
- 📝 In Canada, is it true that when Mormons first arrived (1887) they weren't allowed to settle within 50km of Lethbridge?
- 📝 How do Christians define knowledge and faith?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis against Sola Fide (salvation by faith alone, apart from works)?
- 📝 Forgiveness Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
- 📝 Do Calvinism and Arminianism cover all Christian doctrines?
- 📝 Why do Christians fall into sin despite Biblical promises to the contrary?
- 📝 Are the words in the Lord's Prayer "Hallowed BE Thy Name" or "Hallowed BY Thy Name"?
- 📝 What is meant by "faith and morals" with regards to papal infallibility?
- 📝 Why wasn't the Bible enough for the founding fathers of America?
- 📝 What does "communion of saints" mean in the Apostle's Creed?
- 📝 How do Jehovah's Witnesses explain Mark 1:1–3?
- 📝 Does Scientology claim to be Christian?
- 📝 What were the views of the Church Fathers on Jews and Judaism during the Patristic Era?
- 📝 Were/are there any other terms for "Christian" which don't mean simply "anointed one"?
- 📝 I am a free will baptist ordained minister, and I want to join a baptist church, do I need to be ordained again?
- 📝 Which eschatological belief does Catholicism profess? Deem heretical?
- 📝 Can we ask God to bless unsaved people so that they will be more open to the Gospel?
- 📝 When did the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) adopt the doctrine of the Trinity?
- 📝 Robber Councils in Eastern Orthodoxy
- 📝 How are passages vetted for inclusion in officially sanctioned liturgical readings?
- 📝 What is the Roman Catholic point of view regarding spies who commit suicide in order to avoid capture?
- 📝 Why do those who take Matthew 23:9 literally not emphasize 23:8 and 23:10 similarly?
- 📝 Doesn't the scriptures clearly state that buying and preparing spices mean that the messiah must have died on a Wednesday Pesach?
- 📝 Was Jesus a carpenter or a rabbi?
- 📝 What are the responses to the "Radical's Critics" argument concerning Genesis 1 and 2?
- 📝 What is an overview of Christian beliefs regarding which spiritual gifts are still available to the body of Christ and which ones have ceased?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What is the definition of 'free will' as explained in the Bible?
- 📝 What major translations of the Bible are in the Public Domain?
- 📝 What does the bible say about h*m*sexuality?
- 📝 What are the different names of God in the Bible and what do they mean?
- 📝 What are the biblical arguments that the Bible canon is closed?
- 📝 In what countries is it illegal to own a Bible (the most banned book in the world)?
- 📝 What does the bible say about interracial marriages?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about Capital Punishment?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about tithing?
- 📝 What were the Nephilim, and what role did they play in the Bible beyond just being mentioned?
- 📝 What important Mormon doctrines are taught in the book of Mormon that we couldn't find in the Bible already?
- 📝 In what order should the books of the (Protestant) Bible be read?
- 📝 What is the Bible basis for the idea of a temporary holding place?
- 📝 By what mechanism could the Bible be inerrant?
- 📝 Under what conditions does the Bible support divorce?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about Science?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about "bad" words?
- 📝 What evidence is there to support the position that the Bible is truly the Word of God to mankind?
- 📝 What does it mean to interpret the Bible literally?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about life before conception?
- 📝 What is the difference between a Bible College and a Seminary?
- 📝 What is the Bible and Christian view on Astrology?
- 📝 Does the Bible say anything about what demons *are*?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about God being a different type of being than man?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about sex before marriage / premarital sex?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about the appearance of angels?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about people with mental illness?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about vegetarian diets?
- 📝 What is the non-abstract definition of love according to the Bible?
- 📝 What does the Bible say about birth control?