Predestination

Predestination is the teaching that God determines beforehand, drawn from passages that speak of God predestinating, electing, choosing, and foreknowing. Christian traditions understand these passages in different ways; this page lists the passages that use these words.

Predestinated and ordained

• Romans 8:29-30
  ²⁹For 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.For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
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• Ephesians 1:5
  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
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• Ephesians 1:11
  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
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• Acts 4:28
  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.
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• Acts 13:48
  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
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• 1 Corinthians 2:7
  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
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Chosen

• Ephesians 1:4
  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
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• John 15:16
  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
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• 2 Thessalonians 2:13
  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
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• James 2:5
  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
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• 1 Corinthians 1:27-28
  ²⁷But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
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The elect and election

• Romans 8:33
  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
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• Romans 9:11
  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,
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• Romans 11:5
  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
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• Colossians 3:12
  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
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• 1 Thessalonians 1:4
  Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
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• 2 Peter 1:10
  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
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Foreknowledge

• Acts 2:23
  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.
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• Romans 11:2
  God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he appealed to God against Israel:
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• 1 Peter 1:2
  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
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• 1 Peter 1:20
  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
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God willing all to be saved

• 1 Timothy 2:3-4
  ³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
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• 2 Peter 3:9
  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
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• Ezekiel 18:23
  Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
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See also

• Sovereignty of God
• Salvation
• Grace
• Calling

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.