Relationship Between God's Love and Sovereign Election
The relationship between God's love and sovereign election is a complex and contested topic among Christian traditions. At its core, the debate revolves around how God's love relates to his sovereign choice of individuals or groups for salvation or special purposes.
The concept of election is rooted in biblical teachings, where it is described as God's choice of individuals or nations for specific roles or salvation (1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 1:4) [1]. God's sovereignty is also a key aspect, as He is seen as having the absolute right to do as He pleases (Daniel 4:25, 35; Romans 9:15-23) [2].
One position, represented by Reformed theologians like John Calvin, emphasizes that God's love is the foundation of election. According to Calvin, God's love is the source of predestination, and those who are predestined are chosen by God out of His love for them [4]. This view is also reflected in the writings of Charles Hodge, who argues that God's sovereignty in election is consistent with His love, as He chooses to save some out of His gracious will [8].
In contrast, the Catholic tradition, as represented by Thomas Aquinas, posits that God's love precedes election. According to Aquinas, God's love is the cause of goodness in things, and election presupposes love [7]. This perspective is also echoed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which emphasizes God's desire to communicate His divine life to humanity out of love [10].
The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, as represented by Adam Clarke, interprets election as being according to God's foreknowledge. Clarke argues that election refers to the calling of individuals to salvation, rather than a predetermined choice to salvation [6].
The Patristic tradition, as represented by Augustine, also grapples with the relationship between God's love and election. Augustine's views on predestination emphasize God's sovereignty, while also highlighting the importance of human response to God's grace [9].
Despite these differences, all positions agree that God's love is a fundamental aspect of His character (1 John 4:8; Jeremiah 31:3) [3]. The disagreement lies in how this love relates to His sovereign election.
The divergence in traditions can be attributed to differing hermeneutical commitments and prior doctrinal premises. For instance, Reformed traditions tend to emphasize God's sovereignty, while Catholic and Methodist traditions stress the importance of human response to God's love. Understanding these underlying commitments is crucial to grasping the nuances of the debate.
The complexity of this topic is further highlighted by the fact that different biblical interpretations yield varying conclusions. For example, the interpretation of Deuteronomy 7:6-8 and 10:15 influences understandings of God's love and election, with some seeing it as an expression of God's sovereign choice and others as an indication of His covenant love [5].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Election of Grace — The Scripture speaks (1) of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles. (2) There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deut. 7:6; Rom. 9:4). (3) But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2; John 13:18). The ground of this election to salvation is the good pleasure of God (Eph. 1:5, 11; Matt. 11:25, 26; John 15”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 48.6: lost sheep and joins them to his flock, and holds out his hand to those that were wandering and estranged from him. Hence a knowledge of our election must be sought from this source. As, however, the secret counsel of God is a labyrinth to those who disregard his calling, so those act perversely who, under pretext of faith and calling , darken this first grace, from which faith itself flows. “By faith,” say they, “we obtain salvation: there is, therefore, no eternal predestination of God that distinguishes between ”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 33:3: 33:3 In covenant contexts, to love is frequently synonymous with to choose. The Lord does love his people, but here it means that he chooses them as his special possession (4:20). • his hands: This phrase figuratively conveys the security that Israel (his holy ones) had in the Lord. • his steps: Following the Lord requires adopting his lifestyle and going where he goes. • His teaching refers particularly and pertinently to the Torah in all its fullness.”
- 1 Peter (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Peter 1:2: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God - If the apostle had directed his letter to persons elected to eternal life, no one, as Drs. Lardner and Macknight properly argue, could have received such a letter, because no one could have been sure of his election in this way till he had arrived in heaven. But the persons to whom the apostle wrote were all, with propriety, said to be elect according to the foreknowledge of God; because, agreeably to the original purpose of God, discovered in the prophetical writings, Jews and Gentiles, indiscriminately, were called to ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), Of Predestination, Art. 4: Article: Whether the predestined are chosen by God? [*"Eligantur."] I answer that, Predestination presupposes election in the order of reason; and election presupposes love. The reason of this is that predestination, as stated above (Article [1]), is a part of providence. Now providence, as also prudence, is the plan existing in the intellect directing the ordering of some things towards an end; as was proved above (Question [22], Article [2]). But nothing is directed towards an end unless the will for that end alre”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 140: renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.” 531 531 Ibid. x. § 2. If man is as really spiritually dead, in his natural state since the fall, as Lazarus was corporeally dead, then is the spiritual resurrection of the one as really a work of divine omnipotence as the bodily resurrection of the other. These doctrines, therefore, thus logically connected, have never in fact been dissociated. All who hold that original sin involves spiritual death and consequent ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 33.--IT IS IN THE POWER OF EVIL MEN TO SIN; BUT TO DO THIS OR THAT BY MEANS (part 2): mouth of our father David, thy holy servant, hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the peoples imagine vain things ? The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ. For in truth, there have assembled together in this city against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, Herod and Pilate, and the people of Israel, to do whatever Thy hand and counsel predestinated to be done."(3) See what is”
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 1 (part 1): Article 1 THE REVELATION OF GOD I. God Reveals His "Plan of Loving Goodness" 51 "It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will. His will was that men should have access to the Father, through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit, and thus become sharers in the divine nature."2 52 God, who "dwells in unapproachable light", wants to communicate his own divine life to the men he freely created, in order to adopt them as his sons in his only-begotten Son.3 By revealing himself”