(You could say I have foreknowledge about the topic, and now you do too.)
To get a head start on a topic on which there has been a lot of preconception-based rather than Truth-Based discussion, study how the Scripture uses the term/concept.
I've included the relevant verses below so even a baby believer with no study skills can get a grip on the Truth. At no extra charge are Thayer's Lexicon definitions for "predestination" and "foreknowledge". There is no equivalent Hebrew word for either term, but one can infer the concept from God's promise/determination to bless or curse His covenant people, send the Messiah, regather Israel, or fulfill any prophecy.
To study the concept in Scripture , all you have to do is note:
1) to what the passages (in context, which might be the entire chapter) say someone is predestined;
2) who/whom/what is predestined.
After you've finished your review: Note which passages deal with forgiveness of sins; then look up Sovereignty in a concordance or Bible Software search engine.
These are simply the definitions from Thayer's Greek Lexicon found by clicking on the Strong's numbers in a program like The Online Bible or Biblos, with a listing of every place where the word is used in the NT (found by entering Strong's number into the program's search bar). For more on how to do a word-study, see the DailyTruthbase sidebar on How to Be a Sleuth for the Truth and Study the Bible like Sherlock Olmes (under Introduction to the 7PASSAGES).
4309 προοριζω proorizo pro-or-id’-zo from 4253* and 3724**; TDNT-5:456,728; v
AV-predestinate 4, determine before 1, ordain 1; 6 (Used six times in KJV)
1) to predetermine, decide beforehand
2) in the NT of God decreeing from eternity
3) to foreordain, appoint beforehand
*4253 προ pro pro a primary preposition; TDNT-6:683,935; prep
AV-before 44, above 2, above … ago 1, or ever 1; 48
- before
**3724 οριζω horizo hor-id’-zo from 3725***; TDNT-5:452,728; v
AV-determine 2, ordain 2, as it was determined + 2596 + 3588 1, declare 1, limit 1, determine 1; 8 (The eight uses are listed below after the usages of #4309)
1) to define
1a) to mark out the boundaries or limits (of any place or thing) 1b to determine, appoint
1b1) that which has been determined, acc. to appointment, decree
1b2) to ordain, determine, appoint
***3725 οριον horion hor’-ee-on from a derivative of an apparently primary horos (a bound or limit); ; n n AV-coast 10, border 1; 11
- boundaries 1a) for a region, district, land, territory
#4309 Predestinate Verses
Ac 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before <4309> to be done.
Ro 8:29 For whom he did foreknow****, he also did predestinate <4309> to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (The context of Rm 8:1-28 can't be forgotten, nor can the following or Rm 8-11, esp Chap 11, where Paul concludes the section. ****Foreknowledge is also helpful for understanding the issue, so the definition and uses of the word follow the next section.)
Ro 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate <4309>, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained <4309> before the world unto our glory:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated <4309> us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated <4309> according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
#3724 Determine (the last half of predetermine/destinate) Verses
Lu 22:22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined <3724>: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
Ac 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate <3724> counsel and foreknowledge**** of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (****see below)
Ac 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained <3724> of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Ac 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined <3724> to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Ac 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined <3724> the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Ac 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained <3724>; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Ro 1:4 And declared <3724> to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth <3724> a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
****4267 Foreknowledge προγινοσκω proginosko prog-in-oce’-ko from 4253 and 1097; TDNT-1:715,119; v
AV-foreknow 2, foreordain 1, know 1, know before 1; 5
1) to have knowledge before hand
2) to foreknow
2a) of those whom God elected to salvation
3) to predestinate
“This word is a compound of “pro” #4253 as above, and the basic word “to know” #1097 “ginosko”, used over 200 times to simple mean “know or perceive”, yielding the meaning “to know before/ahead of time”. For example, I know ahead of time = have planned, that I will teach on this topic next week. The last reference in 2Pt 3:17 indicates that believers or any readers of Peter's epistle have this knowledge as well. To add more to the word is an interpretative decision, which may or may not be warranted.” -bc
Foreknowledge Verses
Ac 26:5 Which knew <4267> me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Ro 8:29 For whom he did foreknow <4267>, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Ro 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew <4267>. Don't you know (Wot ye not) what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained <4267> before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before <4267>, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Since you've gotten this far, you get a special bonus. If there is some passage on this topic that prevents you from sleeping at night, and you don't want to wait until I get to it next summer in the Blog, ask about it in the comments section on next Sunday's post, after you've listened to the sermon on it (which might not be posted for a couple of days afterwards). I'll clarify as needed so you can sleep soundly. If you attend Big Apple Chapel, just send me an email, or ask about it in the Q&A during the sermon. Membership has its privileges. :)
Since you've gotten this far, you get a special bonus. If there is some passage on this topic that prevents you from sleeping at night, and you don't want to wait until I get to it next summer in the Blog, ask about it in the comments section on next Sunday's post, after you've listened to the sermon on it (which might not be posted for a couple of days afterwards). I'll clarify as needed so you can sleep soundly. If you attend Big Apple Chapel, just send me an email, or ask about it in the Q&A during the sermon. Membership has its privileges. :)
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