Predestination G4309 and Summary

Does the term ‘predestination’ as used in the Bible (G4309) support the teaching of the ‘doctrine of predestination’, which is defined as ‘God has predestined some persons to eternal happiness and others to eternal punishment’? 

‘horizo’ (Strong’s G3724) meaning to define, to have boundaries, to determine or appoint.  Our English word ‘horizon’ comes from this.  This word is often translated as ‘determined’.

‘proorizo’ (Strong’s G4309) is a related word, meaning to limit in advance.  It’s this word that’s often translated ‘predestine’.

The Greek word ‘proorizo’ (Strong’s G4309), translated as ‘predestine’ is used six times (all as variations) in the New Testament. 

For consistency, I’ll use the ‘netbible’ translation for these verses:

…to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand (prowrizen) would happen. Acts 4:28

…because those whom he foreknew he also predestined (prowrizen) to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And those he predestined (prowrizen), he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.  Romans 8:29-30

Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before (prowrizen) the ages for our glory. 1 Cor 2:7

He did this by predestining (proorisav) us to adoption as his  sons  through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will – Eph 1:5

In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined (proorisyentev) according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will. Eph 1:11

While these verses definitely support the understanding that God knows ahead of time (outside of creation) who His children are, even before any of the actions of those children have demonstrated this within the physical reality, none of them support the picture of pre-judgment that the doctrine of predestination presents.  

A problem with selecting verses and forming doctrine from them is that all the other verses are then excluded.  God gave His word as a whole, not as unlinked parts.  You are likely to get a distorted view of God and life by taking only parts of what God is teaching.  Here are some verses that counter the doctrine of predestination (ESV):

Do I actually delight in the death of the wicked, declares the sovereign Lord? Do I not prefer that he turn from (repent) his wicked conduct and live?... For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn (repent), and live.  Ezekiel 18:23, 32

Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from (repent) his way and live; turn back (repent), turn back (repent) from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 33:11

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

…who desires all people to be saved and  to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim 2:4

The very fact that God has given His Law, along with blessings for obedience and punishment for disobedience, presupposes that man is able to obey it.  There is plenty of evidence that God is compassionate, forgiving, merciful, but also just and fair.  He won’t allow disobedience to go unpunished, and at the same time He is generous with blessing for obedience AND with complete forgiveness.  And there is plenty of evidence and teaching in the Bible that God expects man to exercise choice, and to choose well.  And that he will be held accountable for HIS choice.

God is clearly in control, and most certainly has the supreme authourity to do as He wills, in any way He wills. Yet He doesn’t present Himself as the doctrine of predestination teaches, even though He would have the right to. 

A very frequent way God presents Himself is as our Father.  If we’ve been given the physical world to teach us about spiritual things, then the picture of God as Father is demonstrated by the right relationship between a child and the child’s father. 

The father has a plan and purpose for his child, to discipline, teach and shape him into one like himself.  The father doesn’t choose between his children, assigning some to glory in the family, and assigning others to be disinherited and abandoned, purely on the basis of his own decision.  That’s just not done. 

No loving parent assumes their child is evil and incapable of making any good decisions.  On the contrary, a good parent loves, encourages, forgives, and disciplines (even when that is painful for the parent) their child, while aware of their limitations.    

Now if a child is rebellious or a danger to the family, that’s another story.  As an extreme, it certainly is possible for a righteous and loving parent to disinherit a child who is a menace to the rest of the family.  But this isn’t the rule.  And that situation wouldn’t be brought about by the pre-determined plan of the parent, but as a result of the actions of the child.

If we have such pictures granted to us of a right relationship between physical parent and child, how can we uphold any doctrine that absolutely defies this?  How can we read the description God Himself gives of a loving, compassionate, long-suffering, merciful parent, and then choose to believe something completely opposite, as taught by the doctrine of predestination? Especially something clearly unsubstantiated by God’s own teaching?

Why would we dare formulate and even uphold such a doctrine about God?  One that has no parallel in the physical (righteous) world, or in the words of God?