Romans 8:29
J.C. Thibodaux
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:29
Neither synergism nor monergism can find doctrinal support from the strict denotative reading of the text. If we were to read it as everyone whom God knows about is predestined to be saved, that would be Universalism, because God is omniscient and knows everything about everyone. An argument often used by Calvinists is that since God is indicated to foreknow only the elect in this passage, then to say that it means 'foreknow' instead of 'forelove' is to make God non-omniscient (as He only foreknows about believers, not unbelievers). Synergists, on the other hand, understand this passage to mean that they whom God foreknows will receive His word are predestined to be conformed to His Son's image. Monergists may counter that this detail is not explicitly stated, but of course, neither is the word 'forelove.' Thus, both sides must impose a context upon the passage, synergism a more detailed meaning of 'foreknow' than is stated, and monergists a different meaning for the word than is usually associated with it. Either way, it is difficult to garner which meaning is correct just from this passage.
Copyright © 2007, InDeathorLife.org
The information on this page may not be reproduced or republished on another website, webpage or other printed media without express permission from the author of this site. Other material(s) referenced on this site are the property of their respective authors or copyright holders, and where applicable are used by permission.
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." -Galileo Galilei