Foreknowledge In Romans
J. Lecture 10 –Romans
Word Count: 545
1. Describe the classic Calvinist, Arminian, and contemporary mediating perspectives on “foreknowledge” in Romans 8:29.
For the Calvinist, the concept of foreknowledge is often defined as “predestination” based on the OT use of the verb “to know”. But this is a mistranslation since in the OT, the verb “to know” is translated as “knowledge” and not as “foreknowledge”—as Romans 8:29 clearly reads.
For Arminians, this verb is taken straight forward as “simple knowledge in advance”, but this causes a problem in which salvation becomes an act of the human and not a divine action.
An intermediate view is needed here: possibly a Molinist perspective works out in the sense that God “knows” what humans would …show more content…
But here Paul is not doing away with proper process of law as can be seen in 13:1-7: governing authorities are the proper conduit to dispense justice. Taking these passages together, it is clear that the Christian should not be vindictive, but this should not be an occasion to promote evil if a governing authority can impart justice and punish criminals. Paul is also not precluding the need for civil disobedience against wicked governments.
5. How do we explain the proliferation of personal greetings in chapter 16 to a church Paul had never personally founded?
This can be explained given that Paul, as an avid traveler, was exposed to many early Christians such as Priscilla and Aquila—whom he greets in Romans 16. This couple was exiled from Rome after Claudius’ edict and met Paul in Corinth only to return to Rome by the time he writes. It is plausible that Paul met others in the same manner during his journeys or that he greets the rest to build bridges of trust, even if he hasn’t met them personally.
K. Lecture 11 –Philemon, Colossians and Ephesians
Word Count:
Word Count: 545
1. Describe the classic Calvinist, Arminian, and contemporary mediating perspectives on “foreknowledge” in Romans 8:29.
For the Calvinist, the concept of foreknowledge is often defined as “predestination” based on the OT use of the verb “to know”. But this is a mistranslation since in the OT, the verb “to know” is translated as “knowledge” and not as “foreknowledge”—as Romans 8:29 clearly reads.
For Arminians, this verb is taken straight forward as “simple knowledge in advance”, but this causes a problem in which salvation becomes an act of the human and not a divine action.
An intermediate view is needed here: possibly a Molinist perspective works out in the sense that God “knows” what humans would …show more content…
But here Paul is not doing away with proper process of law as can be seen in 13:1-7: governing authorities are the proper conduit to dispense justice. Taking these passages together, it is clear that the Christian should not be vindictive, but this should not be an occasion to promote evil if a governing authority can impart justice and punish criminals. Paul is also not precluding the need for civil disobedience against wicked governments.
5. How do we explain the proliferation of personal greetings in chapter 16 to a church Paul had never personally founded?
This can be explained given that Paul, as an avid traveler, was exposed to many early Christians such as Priscilla and Aquila—whom he greets in Romans 16. This couple was exiled from Rome after Claudius’ edict and met Paul in Corinth only to return to Rome by the time he writes. It is plausible that Paul met others in the same manner during his journeys or that he greets the rest to build bridges of trust, even if he hasn’t met them personally.
K. Lecture 11 –Philemon, Colossians and Ephesians
Word Count: