The doctrine of Predestination states that before the world began God predestined some for eternal salvation and others for eternal damnation.  Is this what the Bible teaches?  Let’s take a closer look. 

The argument for the doctrine of Predestination is as follows.

There are a handful of Scriptures which mention “predestined”, which the doctrine of Predestination uses to argue that God has predestined Christians to be saved from before the foundation of the world.

Rom 8:29  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Eph 1:3  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,
Eph 1:4  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,
Eph 1:5  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Eph 1:11  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,

There are also some verses in Romans 9, which the doctrine of Predestination uses to argue that God has predestined others for eternal damnation.

Rom 9:13 “JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED.”

Rom 9:18 He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

Rom 9:21 He makes one vessel for honor and another for dishonour.

But is this line of reasoning correct?  No.  It contradicts the plain statements that God wants all people to be saved.

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
1Ti 2:4  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

This being the case, what then do the Scriptures quoted by the doctrine of Predestination actually mean?

The word predestined is translated from the Greek word proorizo which means, determined before, or predetermined.  When the Scriptures say God has predestined us, it just means that God has a predetermined plan. 

The sacrificial death of Jesus was planned long ago.

Rev 13:8  All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The verses quoted at the start regarding what God has predestined are saying that before the foundation of the world God predetermined that many would be called and conformed to the image of His Son.  This is God’s plan of salvation for mankind.

But what about those verses in Romans 9 in which talks about God hating some people (such as Esau), hardening others (such as Pharaoh), and making some people for dishonour?

Firstly, it should be noted that the quote, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated” is from Malachi 1:1-2 which refers to the nations of Jacob and Esau rather than to the individuals Jacob and Esau.  Secondly, the translation “hated” is probably a bad one.  God loves all people.  The Greek word translated “hated” is miseo, which can mean love less.  Romans 9:13 just says that God rejected one nation in favour of another.

To say that God has rejected, hardened, or dishonoured some people now, should come as no surprise.  Vast swathes of mankind never even reach adulthood and, of those that do, most never get to hear the name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which they may be saved.

Act 4:10  let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Act 4:11  This is the ‘STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.’
Act 4:12  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

And for those relatively few who do get to hear the gospel message, it has been given in a way to obscure understanding.  Jesus spoke in parables so that people would not understand Him.

Mat 13:13  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand, … LEST THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEARTS AND TURN, SO THAT I SHOULD HEAL THEM.’

A little understood truth is that God is only calling some people now – in this age – to receive salvation. 

The predestination referred to in the Bible is part of God’s plan of salvation for mankind.  God’s plan is that He has predestined some to be called now, in this age, and the rest later.  The rest, that is, the vast majority of mankind, are described as vessels for dishonour, rejected, or hardened.  It’s not a state of eternal damnation but rather a temporary situation.  They will be resurrected to physical life after the 1000-year reign of Christ on earth and given their chance for salvation then.  For more information on this see, “What are the two deaths?” and “What are the three resurrections?”

Conclusion

The predestination mentioned in the Bible refers to God’s overall plan of salvation for mankind in which He is calling a few people now and the rest later.  God does not predestine some for eternal life and others for eternal damnation.  God wants all people to be saved.