Predestination of Christ in Time and Space Theology
The concept of Christ's predestination is a point of theological divergence among Christian traditions, primarily concerning the nature and scope of God's eternal decrees regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ. The core of the debate often centers on whether Christ himself, in his incarnate state, was an object of predestination in the same way that humanity is, or if his role is distinct.
One perspective, articulated within Scholastic Catholic theology, holds that it is fitting for Christ to be predestined. Thomas Aquinas argues that predestination, in its proper sense, is God's eternal preordination of what will be done in time by divine grace. Since the union of God and man in Christ is something accomplished in time by God's grace, and God eternally pre-ordained this, then Christ can be said to be predestined [2]. This view emphasizes God's comprehensive eternal plan, where Christ's incarnation and redemptive work are central to that plan from eternity [2, 5].
Conversely, many Reformed traditions, while affirming God's eternal decree concerning Christ's redemptive work, tend to distinguish Christ's predestination from that of believers. Charles Hodge, one theologian, discusses predestination in the general sense of foreordination, which applies to all events, as God foreordains whatever comes to pass [6]. However, when discussing the election of individuals, the focus is typically on humanity's salvation. The Westminster Confession of Faith, for example, speaks of God's eternal decree to elect some to everlasting life, but does not explicitly apply the term "predestination" to Christ in the same manner as it does to fallen humanity [3, 4]. Instead, Christ is often seen as the means by which God's eternal purpose of election is accomplished, rather than an object of predestination in the same category as elect individuals [8]. The Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles also address predestination and election primarily in relation to individuals chosen for salvation [7].
Despite these differences, traditions generally agree that Christ's role as the head of the Church and the redeemer of humanity was part of God's eternal plan [1]. His coming was not an afterthought but was foreordained before the foundation of the world [8]. The disagreement lies more in the precise theological language and categories used to describe God's eternal decree concerning Christ's person and mission, and how that relates to the predestination of individuals for salvation. The divergence often stems from differing hermeneutical approaches to passages that speak of God's eternal decrees and the application of terms like "predestination" and "election" [6].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, the Head of the Church — Predicted -- Ps 118:22; Mt 21:42. Appointed by God -- Eph 1:22. Declared by himself -- Mt 21:42. As his mystical body -- Eph 4:12,15; 5:23. Has the pre-eminence in all things -- 1Co 11:3; Eph 1:22; Col 1:18. Commissioned his Apostles -- Mt 10:1,7; 28:19; Joh 20:21. Instituted the ordinances -- Mt 28:19; Lu 22:19,20. Imparts gifts -- Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8. Saints are complete in -- Col 2:10. Perverters of the truth do not hold -- Col 2:18,19.”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Predestination of Christ, Art. 1: Article: Whether it is befitting that Christ should be predestinated? I answer that, As is clear from what has been said in the FP, Question [23], Articles [1],2, predestination, in its proper sense, is a certain Divine preordination from eternity of those things which are to be done in time by the grace of God. Now, that man is God, and that God is man, is something done in time by God through the grace of union. Nor can it be said that God has not from eternity pre-ordained to do this in time: since”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 3:12: the elect of God--There is no "the" in the Greek, "God's elect" (compare Rom 8:3; Th1 1:4). The order of the words "elect, holy, beloved," answers to the order of the things. Election from eternity precedes sanctification in time; the sanctified, feeling God's love, imitate it [BENGEL]. bowels of mercies--Some of the oldest manuscripts read singular, "mercy." Bowels express the yearning compassion, which has its seat in the heart, and which we feel to act on our inward parts (Gen 43:30; Jer 31:20; Luk 1:78, Margin). humbleness of mind--True "lo”
- 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 1:4: Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. Which intends not an election to an office, for this epistle is written not to the officers of the church only, but to the whole church; nor to the Gospel, the outward means of grace, since this was common to them with others, and might be known without the evidence after given; nor does it design the effectual calling, sometimes so called for this is expressed in the following verse as a fruit, effect, and evidence of the election here spoken of, which is no other than the eternal choice of, them to everlasting”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), The Will of God, Art. 12: Article: Whether five expressions of will are rightly assigned to the divine will? I answer that, By these signs we name the expression of will by which we are accustomed to show that we will something. A man may show that he wills something, either by himself or by means of another. He may show it by himself, by doing something either directly, or indirectly and accidentally. He shows it directly when he works in his own person; in that way the expression of his will is his own working. He shows it indirectly, by no”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 61: lay in the Apostle’s mind as he teaches us in Rom. viii. 29, 30 . Different Meanings assigned the Word Predestination. 2. There is an ambiguity in the word predestination. It may be used, first, in the general sense of foreordination. In this sense it has equal reference to all events; for God foreordains whatever comes to pass. Secondly, it may refer to the general purpose of redemption without reference to particular individuals. God predetermined to reveal his attributes in redeeming sinners, as He 321 predetermined to create the heave”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), XVII. Of Predestination and Election: XVII. Of Predestination and Election”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:20: God's eternal foreordination of Christ's redeeming sacrifice, and completion of it in these last times for us, are an additional obligation on us to our maintaining a holy walk, considering how great things have been thus done for us. Peter's language in the history corresponds with this here: an undesigned coincidence and mark of genuineness. Redemption was no afterthought, or remedy of an unforeseen evil, devised at the time of its arising. God's foreordaining of the Redeemer refutes the slander that, on the Christian theory, there is a period of fo”