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Ephesians 1 and Predestination! A refutation of Calvinism!
Posted : 6 Oct, 2009 10:16 AM
Hi Everyone,
One of the many mistakes made by Calvinists is how they overlook the grammar of certain passages. In the case of Ephesians 1, a passage that deals with the issue of "Predestination", when we pay close attention to the personal pronouns we discover something that does not support the Calvinistic view of Predestination. What we find is that it is the nation of Israel that was "predestined", not Gentiles. Notice in verse 3-12 Paul's exclusive use of "First Person Plural pronouns". This is significant and if you do not comprehend the grammar you will misinterpret this passage and it's proper application like Calvinists do.
Ephesians 1:
1 � Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 � Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed.... US... with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose... US... in Him before the foundation of the world, that... WE... should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
5 HAVING PREDESTINED US to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made ....US.... accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him ...WE ...have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He made to abound toward... US ...in all wisdom and prudence,
9 having made known to... US.... the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth��in Him.
11 In Him also.... WE... have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
12 THAT... WE... WHO FIRST TRUSTED IN CHRIST should be to the praise of His glory.
Now notice the change in the FIRST personal plural pronouns from we and us to SECOND person plural pronouns of "YOU" and "YOUR". This shows us that in the previous verses Paul was including himself among a group of people that were not Gentiles. There is a separation between these two groups. Verses 3-12 indicate that Paul is referring to the nation of Israel. Then below Paul addresses another group. The Gentiles.
13 In Him... YOU ALSO TRUSTED, after ...YOU ...heard the word of truth, the gospel of ...YOUR... salvation; in whom also, having believed, ....YOU ...were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
15 � Therefore I also, after I heard of ...YOUR... faith in the Lord Jesus and ....YOUR.. love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for... YOU, making mention of YOU in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of... YOUR.... understanding being enlightened; that ...YOU... may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. NKJV
The simple conclusion is that this passage in no way supports Calvinism but actually proves them to be in serious error. It is the Nation of Israel that was "Predestined" not Gentiles.
For a thorough scholarly exegesis of this passage go here: http://www.pfrs.org/calvinism/eph1_3.html
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth,
he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest.
Blessings!
In Christ,
Walter
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