What does the Bible say about predestination?

The Bible says God foreknew, predestinated, chose, and ordained people to life in Christ, and it also says God will have all people to be saved and is not willing that any should perish. Churches that confess the Trinity read those sentences together in more than one way. This page quotes the verses and the confessions. It does not decide.

Key points

• Romans 8:29For 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.Romans 8:29 · King James Version (1): “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Romans 8:30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.Romans 8:30 · King James Version (2) continues: called, justified, glorified.
• Ephesians 1:4According 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:Ephesians 1:4 · King James Version (3): “he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.” Ephesians 1:11In 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:Ephesians 1:11 · King James Version (4): “being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
• Acts 13:48And 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.Acts 13:48 · King James Version (5): “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
• 1 Timothy 2:4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.1 Timothy 2:4 · King James Version (6): “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Peter 3:9The 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.2 Peter 3:9 · King James Version (7): God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
• Westminster Confession 3.3 (12) says some are “predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.” Catechism 1037 (15) says, “God predestines no one to go to hell.”
• Canons of Dort I.9 (13) says election is “not on the basis of foreseen faith.” Remonstrance I (14) says God determined to save those who believe and persevere.
• What is Calvinism? is the five points at full length. This page stays on the word the Bible uses.

The verses that say predestinate

Romans 8:29For 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.Romans 8:29 · King James Version (1): “For 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.” Romans 8:30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.Romans 8:30 · King James Version (2): “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Ephesians 1:4According 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:Ephesians 1:4 · King James Version (3): “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.” Ephesians 1:5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,Ephesians 1:5 · King James Version: “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” Ephesians 1:11In 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:Ephesians 1:11 · King James Version (4): “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.”

Acts 13:48And 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.Acts 13:48 · King James Version (5): “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.” 1 Peter 1:2Elect 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.1 Peter 1:2 · King James Version (11): “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Acts 2:23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:Acts 2:23 · King James Version says Jesus was “delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.”

Romans 9:15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.Romans 9:15 · King James Version: “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Romans 9:16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.Romans 9:16 · King James Version: “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Romans 9:18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.Romans 9:18 · King James Version (10): “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”

The verses that say all

1 Timothy 2:4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.1 Timothy 2:4 · King James Version (6): “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Peter 3:9The 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.2 Peter 3:9 · King James Version (7): “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.”

John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:16 · King James Version (8): “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Matthew 23:37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!Matthew 23:37 · King James Version (9), words of Jesus: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

John 6:37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.John 6:37 · King James Version, words of Jesus: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.John 6:44 · King James Version: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

The confessions below do not drop either set. They say how the two sets stand together.

Westminster and Dort

Westminster 3.1 (12) says God “freely, and unchangeably” ordained “whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures.” Westminster 3.3 (12): “By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.” Westminster 3.5 (12) says this choice was “without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving him thereunto.” Westminster 3.7 (12) says of the rest that God was pleased “to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin.” Westminster 10.1 (12) says he effectually calls those predestinated to life, “yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.”

Canons of Dort I.6 (13) calls election and reprobation “God’s act—unfathomable, and as merciful as it is just—of distinguishing between people equally lost.” Canons I.9 (13) says election took place “not on the basis of foreseen faith” but “for the purpose of faith.” Canons I.15 (13) says Scripture bears witness that some “have not been chosen or have been passed by in God’s eternal election,” and that the decree of reprobation “does not at all make God the author of sin (a blasphemous thought!) but rather its fearful, irreproachable, just judge and avenger.” Canons III/IV.8 (13) says those called through the gospel “are called earnestly.”

The Remonstrance, the Articles, and the Catechism

Remonstrance I (14) says God, “by an eternal, unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ his Son, before the foundation of the world, hath determined, out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in Christ, for Christ’s sake, and through Christ, those who, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, shall believe on this his Son Jesus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience of faith, through this grace, even to the end,” and “to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under wrath.” The English is Philip Schaff’s translation as printed in the Remonstrant institute’s PDF.

Article XVII (16):

Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour.

The same article says God’s promises must be received “as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1037 (15): “God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end.” Can you lose your salvation? quotes the Catechism on losing grace and the Council of Trent on justification.

Rev. George Mastrantonis (17), in an essay on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America site and not a synod, says the Orthodox Church fought “the theory that the human soul is totally corrupted and man’s salvation is God’s work alone, predestining man to salvation or to perdition (Augustine).” Methodist Article XII (18) does not use the word predestination. It says, “After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend our lives.”

Frequently asked questions

What is double predestination?

Westminster 3.3 (12) says some are predestinated to life and others foreordained to death. Westminster 3.7 (12) says God ordains the rest “to dishonor and wrath for their sin.” Canons I.15 (13) describes a decree to leave some in the common misery, not to grant them saving faith, and finally to condemn them for their unbelief and their other sins. Catechism 1037 (15) says God predestines no one to go to hell. The Mastrantonis essay names “predestining man to salvation or to perdition” as a view the Orthodox Church fought. The pages do not use one definition.

Does foreknowledge mean God looked ahead and saw who would believe?

Westminster 3.5 (12) and Canons I.9 (13) say no: election is not based on foreseen faith. Remonstrance I (14) says the purpose is to save those who, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, believe and persevere. 1 Peter 1:2Elect 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.1 Peter 1:2 · King James Version (11) says “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” and does not add a definition of that word.

Where should a reader go next?

What is Calvinism? quotes the five points and the Remonstrance articles on grace and perseverance. Can you lose your salvation? quotes what each church says about falling away.

The churches on this site

• Reformed
• Catholic
• Anglican
• Methodist
• Eastern Orthodox
• Christianity
• What is Calvinism?
• Common arguments