Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
General Christian
Four Views on Fate and Freewill: Christian Perspectives

Four Views on Fate and Freewill: Christian Perspectives

Last updated on: October 16, 2021 at 10:35 pm by B. J. Oropeza

Four Views on Fate and Freewill: Christian Perspectives 2021-10-16T22:35:20-07:00 B. J. Oropeza

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Four different voices that give us insight on fate and freewill are Boethius, John of Damascus, Peter Abelard, and the Glossa Ordinaria. These are Christian voices from the medieval times that still resonant today. They inform our conversations about divine election, foreknowledge, and predestination.

Boethius and His Encounter with Lady “Philosophy”

Boethius wrote, The Consolation of Philosophy (Consolatio Philosophiae) either when imprisoned or in exile from Rome (c. 480–524). Theodoric the Great punished him because of a conspiracy attempting to restore the senate and overthrow the emperor. Boethius eventually suffered execution. Although arguably more a Neoplatonist than Christian in his thinking, the Eastern Orthodox Church venerates him, and the Roman Catholic Church considers him a martyr.

His writing centers on his dialogue with a woman personifying Philosophy. This dialogue takes place while he awaited his fate. Although he did not write a commentary on Romans 9, he discusses freewill and determinism with Philosophy. Boethius apparently did not find comfort in Augustine’s type of predestination.[1]

Philosophy affirms human freedom since humans are rational beings, though such freedom sis not the same in all. Human souls are freest in contemplation of God, less free imprisoned in bodily flesh and blood, and enslaved when given over to wickedness (Consolation 5.2). Paul likewise speaks of sin as enslavement in Romans 6, though he rejects the Platonic notion of the soul’s imprisonment in the body.

Philosophy speaks of God’s foreknowledge of human merits and his ability to predestine rewards according to those merits. Not satisfied with this answer, Boethius asks that if God foresees such things and cannot be mistaken, how is it possible that humans have freedom of will? (Consolation 5.3). Philosophy expresses a divine mystery related to human freedom and God’s omnipotence; humans are simply not permitted to comprehend fully the ways of God’s work (Consolation 4.6; 5.4).

Nevertheless, just as knowledge about present things and seeing those present things do not impose necessity on what is happening, so divine foreknowledge and foresight of things impose no necessity. When God gazes, he sees all things presently (outside of time), and so there is no necessity related to it, although “under the condition of time they are future things” (Consolation 5.6). Further discussion then takes place in which it is decided that both necessity and human freedom are affirmed.

John of Damascus and the Eastern Orthodox Church

Greek Orthodox theologian John of Damascus (675–749) wrote, “An Accurate Exposition of the Orthodox Faith” (De Fide Orthodoxa), Part III of his tome, The Fount of Knowledge. Although he did not write a commentary on Romans 9, he does address foreknowledge and predestination. Like the early church fathers prior to Augustine, he regards foreknowledge in terms of prescience, which takes precedence over predestination.

This position is standard in the Greek Orthodox Church: “For He [God] knows beforehand those things that are in our power, but He does not predetermine them. For it is not His will that there should be wickedness nor does He choose to compel virtue. So that predetermination is the work of the divine command based on foreknowledge. But on the other hand God predetermines those things which are not within our power in accordance with His prescience. For already God in His prescience has pre-judged all things in accordance with His goodness and justice.” (Orthodox Faith II.31).[2]

Predestination to damnation is also ruled out by John: “God’s original wish was that all should be saved and come to His Kingdom [1 Tim 2:4]. For it was not for punishment that He formed us but to share in His goodness, inasmuch as He is a good God. But inasmuch as He is a just God, His will is that sinners should suffer punishment.” (Orthodox Faith II.29).

Peter Abelard’s Commentary on Romans

Differently, in the Western Church, 12th-century French theologian Peter Abelard (1079–1142), wrote a commentary on Romans. Regarding Esau serving Jacob before either was born (Romans 9:11–13), he writes:

“This servitude [of Esau] should be understood not so much in the persons of the two brothers as in their posterity, that is, in the peoples who were promised to be born from them, when the Lord said to Rebecca, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be divided from it, and a people.”[Gen 25:23].[3] This election, then, is corporate.

Similar to and perhaps influenced by Augustine, Abelard writes regarding that God has mercy on whom he wills and hardens whom he wills (Romans 9:18): “that is, because of his willing and his choice rather than because of their own merits, men are either saved through his mercy or condemned in their sins through his hardening. He causes this hardening by not having mercy, so that the whole thing may appear to be ascribed to the divine choice of men for salvation or condemnation.”

The Glossa Ordinaria

The Glossa Ordinaria (“ordinary gloss”) is a Medieval commentary considered the standard of its day (12th century), compiled by the school of Anselm of Laon. In Romans 9:11, this work interprets “purpose” as the foreknowledge of God. Regarding Jacob elected over Esau (Rom 9:12) this source says, “He found nothing to be loved in Jacob except the gift of his own mercy; he hated nothing in Esau except original sin.”[4] Jacob is chosen by grace rather than merit, and Esau, “was reprobated when grace was taken away.”

This work considers the divine hardening of Pharaoh as an act of justice, which takes place when grace is subtracted from such a person. The notions of original sin and the withholding of grace seem to be under the influence of Augustinian thought, as is the notion that God’s mercy is gratuitous (see Rom 9:15–18).

Reflection

With this instalment of the Romans 9 debate, I decided to focus on neglected voices from the Middle Ages. This study is by no means exhaustive for the period. At any rate, we notice three different positions that emerge here. Two reflect the influence of Augustine in relation to the Western Church (Abelard and Glossa Ordinaria). One reflects the influence of the early church fathers in relation to the Eastern Church (John of Damascus). And one reflects Plato’s philosophy (Boethius).

If we add Thomas Aquinas to this mix, we get a blend of thoughts influenced by both St. Augustine and the philosopher Aristotle. These sources provide us with important links in between the Patristic theologians and the Reformers. In our next instalment of the debate, we will observe a debate over freewill between a Reformer influenced by Augustine and a Christian humanist philosopher. So stayed tuned…

Notes

[1] Victor E. Watts, “Introduction,” in Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy (Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1969), 26.

[2] John Damascene, “An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith,” in The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1899), vol. 9b: 42.

[3] Peter Abelard, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2011), 290–91.

[4] Michael Scott Woodward, translator, The Glossa Ordinaria on Romans (Kalamazoo: Western Michigan University, 2011), 143.

Image 1: busts philosophy Aristotle via pixabay.com; image 2: sculpture bronze figure via pixabay.com

About B. J. Oropeza

B. J. Oropeza is Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Azusa Pacific University. Among his many works include Perspectives on Paul: Five Views, 1 Corinthians (New Covenant Commentary series), New Studies in Textual Interplay, and Exploring Second Corinthians (Rhetoric of Religious Antiquity series). You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

September 8, 2021

Ephesians 6:10-18, Spiritual Attacks, and the Good Fight of Faith

Next Post

October 2, 2021 "Put on the Full Armor of God": Applying Ephesians 6:10-18

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "in Christ" 1 Corinthians 1 Enoch 1 John 2:19 1 Peter 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 1Peter 2 Corinthians 2 Timothy 400 years of silence A. I. A. M. Hunter Abraham Achilles Tatius Acts 13 Acts 19 Acts 22 Acts 26 Acts 9 addiction adultery Aesop's Fables Affliction afterlife allegiance allusions amanuensis Amen Ananias Ancient Biography Andrew Wilson Andronicus Angels anger Anglicanism anointing aorist tense Apep apocalypse apocalyptic Apocrypha apologetics apostasy Apostle Apostle Paul Aquinas archaeology archangel Ardel Caneday Arminianism armor of God article from journal artificial intelligence Asbury ascension atlas atonement Augustine Augustus authorship Awakening awards baptism Battle of Armageddon beasts behemoth Belial Beliar belief Benediction between Testaments Beverly Roberts Gaventa Bible Bible discrepancies Bible Gateway Bible reading Bible reading plan Bible Study Bible translations Bible version Bible versions biblical inerrancy Biblical Theology blasphemy blindness Boethius boldness Book of Acts Book Review Born Again bravery burial Caesar calling Calvinism canon canon Cassius Dio Catholics Channing Crisler charistmatic Christ Christian behavior Christian origins Christian theology Christians Christology church church fathers Church of England Chuza Cleopas Commandments Commentaries congregation conversion Corinthian letters coronavirus courage Covenant covenant theology covenantal nomism coveting COVID-19 Craig Keener Crescens crocodile Cross crucifixion curse custom Cyprian Daily Bread Dale Allison Damascus Damascus Experience Damascus road David Moffitt Day of Atonement deacon dead Dead Sea Scrolls death Deity of Christ Demas demonology demons determinism Deuteronomy Devil devotion dinosaur Dio Chrysostom divided I Divine Christology divine punishment divorce Do not fear Doxology dragon E. P. Sanders Eastern Orthodox Ebeneazer Urga echoes ekklesia election Elijah the Prophet Elymas embodiment of the gospel embodying the gospel emperor empty tomb Encouragement end times enlightement Ephesians Ephesus Epistles of Paul eschatology eternal life Ethics (Christian) euchlaion Eusebius of Caesarea evangelical evangelism evidence exile extreme unction Ezekiel faith falling away false prophet fate father Father's Day favorite Fear film Final Judgment Flood foreknowledge foreordain forgiveness fornication freewill from Saul to Paul Galatians Gary Cooper Genesis Gentile studies Gentiles geography giants gift gift giving global perspective Glossa Ordinaria God God perception good news gospel gospel 2.0 Gospel of John Gospel of Luke Gospel of Mark Gospel of Matthew Gospels grace gratitude Great Awakening Greco-Roman Greco-Roman world Greek Greek classic literature Greek lexicon Greek Orthodox Greek prepositions greetings guilt Habakkuk hair Halloween head covering head coverings healing heaven Hebrew Hebrews hermeneutics Hesed high Christology Higher Christology highlights holiness holy Holy Bible Holy Scriptures Holy Spirit Homer hospitable hospitality how to read the Bible human effort I Am sayings imperialism in Adam In Christ inspiration intercession Interpretation intertestamental period Intertextuality Interview intimidation Isaiah Israel Israel (land of) James James D. G. Dunn Jason Staples Jerome Jesus Jesus sayings Jesus traditions Jesus: Studies Jewish literature Jewish names Jewish Scripture Jewish studies Jews Joanna Job John John 3:16 John Chrysostom John Hyrcanus John Mark John of Damascus John the Baptist John Wesley Josephus joy Judaism Judgment day Julia Junia Justice justification kerygma King Kingdom kingdom of God Krister Stendahl lament Law lecture hall letter writing Letters of Paul Leucippe et Clitophon Leviathan Leviticus light Logical fallacy looting Lord Lord's Prayer lose salvation Lot Lotan love lovingkindness Lucifer Luke lust Luther LXX maenads Malachi Marcion marginalization marital affair marriage martyrdom Mary Matt Damon Medieval theologians Medieval theology memorization mercy Michael the Archangel miracles Mishnah missiology mission missionary missions monergism monogenes monster monsters Mysterious Ways mythology N. T. Wright name change names narrative Nephilim New Birth new covenant new covenant pneumaism new creation New Perspective on Paul New Testament New Testament use of Old Testament Noah Noah's ark non-Christian oath obedience Odysseus Odyssey oil Old Testament only begotten Origen Outpouring pagan pagans parable paraceratherium Parousia participation in Christ Pastoral Letters patristic theology Paul in prison Paul letter of Paul teaching Paul the Apostle: Studies Paul within Judaism Paul's calling Paul's conversion Paul's death Pauline Theology persecution perseverance perseverance of the saints Persis personal devotion pesher Peter Abelard Philo philosophy Phoebe Pink Floyd pistis Plague plutarch pneuma pneumagism popular culture sayings Porneia Post-New Perspective on Paul praise prayer preaching predestination Prisca Priscilla Prison Epistle Prophecy prophets Psalm Psalms Pseudepigrapha Q Q source quest for the historic Jesus quotations Rabbi Pinhas be Yair Rabbinic literature Rainer Riesner raised from the dead rapture reading missiologically reading plan recipients reciprocity reconciliation Red Herring red letter edition redemption Reformation Regeneration rejoicing reminder renewal repentance restoration resurrection revival righteousness riot Roman Antiquity Roman names romance Romans Romans 12-16 Romans 16 Romans 4:25 Romans 7 Rome Rufus's mother sacrificial system salvation Salvation/Soteriology sanctification Satan Satan's fall Saul the Pharisee SBL Scholars school Scripture Second coming of Christ Second Temple Judaism secretary Septuagint Sergeant York Sergius Paulus Servant in Isaiah sex and sexuality sex ethics sexual immorality sheep sick sin sinful nature single Christians and dating social justice Society of Biblical Literature sons of God soteriology spinosaurus spiritual gifts spiritual renewal spiritual warfare Stephen Wilson struggle Study Bible studying the Bible Suetonius suffering Suffering Servant suggestive commentary Survey synergism Synoptic Gospels Tacitus teacher teaching telos temptation Tertius The Chosen the flesh Theology Thomas Aquinas Thomas Robinson Thomas Schreiner Thorn Thucydides Timothy Titus tongues Top 10 top 12 Torah trust Tryphaena Tryphosa Tyrannus U2 Ugaritic Ukraine Ukrainian Uncategorized unconditional love unforgiving Union with Christ unity/solidarity unpardonable sin Valentine's Day veils vice vices victory warnings Watchers witnessing Woman ministers women women ministers women speakers women teachers word of God works works of the law worship writing YouVersion Zen Hess

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I gleaned in fields behind reapers and caught the eye of a wealthy landowner. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Naomi Hannah Ruth Orpah