Bible Dictionary: Define Predestinate, Definition of Predestinate

to determine or appoint ahead of time.  It does not mean to predestine.

Sometimes, when the natural mind of man gets a wrong idea, that idea becomes a filter that makes it almost impossible to see what the Bible actually teaches.  The idea turns into a theology and becomes a very powerful lie.  Then, other parts of the Bible are unconsciously twisted to support the lie.  Such is the case with the poor translation of the Greek word, proorizo, into the English word, predestinate.  Predestine or predestinate has a prefix that means ahead of time.  It has a suffix that means destine or destiny.  Destiny implies an inevitable or irresistible course of events.  If someone is appointed, even appointed for life, that does not mean that the person cannot resist the appointment.  If a course of action is determined and that course of action involves another individual, the other individual has the power to resist the determination.  If the planner absolutely knows how the other person will react, then the appointment or the determination cannot fail.  This is the nature of predestination. Those who have speculated starting from a poor translation and then multiplying the error with poor logic and false claims have done terrible damage to the Church.  

4309 proorizo {pro-or-id'-zo}  
from 4253 and 3724; TDNT - 5:456,728; v  
AV - predestinate 4, determine before 1, ordain 1; 6  
1) to predetermine, decide beforehand  
2) in the NT of God decreeing from eternity  
3) to foreordain, appoint beforehand  
 
Proorizo is taken from a combination of the following two Greek words:  
 
4253 pro {pro}  
a primary preposition; TDNT - 6:683,935; prep  
AV - before 44, above 2, above... ago 1, or ever 1; 48  
1) before  
 
The root word of this Greek word is the key to its meaning. The root word is "orizo" or "horizo" (#3724).  
 
3724 horizo {hor-id'-zo}  
from 3725; TDNT - 5:452,728; v  
AV - determine 2, ordain 2, as it was determined + 2596 + 3588 1,  
declare 1, limit 1, determine 1; 8  
1) to define  
1a) to mark out the boundaries or limits (of any place or thing)  
1b to determine, appoint  
1b1) that which has been determined, acc. to appointment, decree  
1b2) to ordain, determine, appoint  
 
None of this implies that the One who is predetermining is the only one who is determining.  There is nothing in this word that indicates that there is no corresponding acceptance on the part of man.  The Greek word does not require or imply exclusive causation. The English translation to "predestinate" has an implication of "destiny," but the Greek shows this to be an incorrect interpretation.  

Since the clear teaching of Scripture has been twisted into some false doctrine, the following analysis is provided.

Error #1: Believing is the work to which Paul was referring when he said that salvation is not by works. (conflicts with Scripture)  
Truth: In John 6:27, Jesus said to labor/work for the meat that endures to everlasting life and in verst 29, Jesus says that the work is to believe, and in Romans 4 Paul says that Abraham was not justified by works but rather Abraham believed God and God credited it to his as righteousness and to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.  Then, in Galatians 3, Paul asks: "Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?"  To complete this alternative, we should know that faith, which is supernatural trust and belief, comes by hearing and hearing comes by an utterance of God. (literal)

Error #2: Only God or only man but not both can influence who will be saved. (conflicts with Scripture)  
Truth: Salvation is a combination of God's soveriegnty and human responsibility.  Our part is to accept, which we could also call receiving, yielding, NOT contending, or submitting. We cannot accept except that the Father draw us. In fact, the sin against the Holy Spirit is the sin of failure to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.  Since God never forces Himself on anyone, failure to cooperate makes it that the Holy Spirit cannot help us.  

Error #3: Because God made His choice first, therefore man has no choice. (conflicts with Scripture)  
Truth: The fact that God made His choice first does not have any affect on man's choice, though it is God who gives the power both to will and to do God's good pleasure.  God made His choice first, and we make our choice just as God foreknew that we would.

Error #4: if man has a choice in God's offer of salvation, then God cannot predestine man according to His good pleasure. (conflicts with Scripture)  
Truth: Some choose to accept and some reject God's offer of salvation, yet God foreknew, and based on His foreknowledge Y predestined those who would be saved according to His good pleasure.

Error #5: If God predestined, He did so based on nothing in the future but only on a whim. (conflicts with Scripture)  
Truth: God predestined based on His knowledge of the future and His knowledge of how each person would react to His leading and His Holy Spirit--and He did this to glorify Himself by displaying His omniscience (All-Knowing).

Error #6: The cause of man's acceptance or rejection of God's free gifts is God's predestination based on foreknowledge. (does not fit the God described in Scripture)  
Truth: The cause of God's predestination is God's foreknowledge of man's acceptance or rejection of God's free gifts.

Error #7: If man has a responsiblity to submit to the Holy Spirit, that will result in pride. (without evidence)  
Truth: Only humility will allow man to submit to the Holy Spirit, for the saved person knows that they have only received a free gift.  
 
Which part of God's will can be resisted?  Using Romans 9 says that God does have occasion sometimes to harden a person's heart and that person cannot resist.  Romans 1  tells us that God did this to some because they chose not to hold God in their knowledge.  John 6:44 does not say that once the Father draws a person, that person cannot resist.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say that man cannot resist the grace of God.  Acts 7:51 tells us that men do resist the Holy Spirit calling them to repentance.  
Error #8:  
1. Man can resist God's will regarding sin.  
2. Man cannot resist God's Spirit calling us to repentance. (conflicts with Scripture)  
3. Man cannot resist the execution of God's judgment.  
Truth:  
1. Man can resist God's will regarding sin.  
2. Man can resist God's Spirit calling us to repentance.  
3. Man cannot resist the execution of God's judgment.  
4. Man cannot resist God's will when God decides to STOP calling them to repentance.  
 
"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:30-31 (ESV)  
 
Suppose that extreme predestination were true, and, at the same time, this Scripture is true.  Extreme Predestination doctrine says that God has already determined and ordained that some will be unable to repent, since He decided that He would not enable them.  Some even say that God will not extend His grace to them.  Acts 17:30-31 says that God commands all to repent.  Why would God command all when He knows that He has created them in such a way that they could not repent?  
 
See:  
1 Tim 2:3-6  
Ezekiel 33:11  
2 Peter 3:9  
Acts 17:30  
1 John 2:1-2  
John 3:16  
 
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people."  Titus 2:11  
 
"Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:29-31  
 
"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears. You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you." Acts 7:51  
 
Luke 8:13 says it is possible for people to believe for awhile, but in time of temptation fall away  
 
"His disciples came to Him" (Matt.5:1). And He taught them, and gave them (THE DISCIPLES) this warning: 27 "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.  30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." Matt.5:27-30   Jesus said this to His own deciples.  
 
The Scripture is clear that we can fall away: "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God." Hebrews 3:10  This is written to Christians, not to the unsaved.  
 
Acts 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before <4309> to be done.  
Romans 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he <4309> also did predestinate <4309> to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  
Romans 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate <4309>, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  
1 Corinthians 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained <4309> before the world unto our glory:  
Ephesians 1:5  Having predestinated <4309> us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  
Ephesians 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated <4309> according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:  
 
 

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