The Narrow Path Ministries

Mr. Gregg: You probably already knew this, but the word “freewill” occurs 17 times in the KJV. How would the Calvinists interpret that term from their perspective? Anyone is welcome to participate.

loaves

Yes, "freewill" occurs 17 times, all in the Old Testament, and all with respect to "freewill offerings." Hardly a case against Calvinism.

As a former Calvinist, I suppose I would have said this term is descriptive of the voluntary nature of these offerings, rather than the requirement of them from the religious leaders or by the regulations of the God of Israel or by the Israelite religion.

I would further have said that what man considers to be voluntary actions are actually "ordained by God."

Hmmm. I guess you're right. Hardly a case. But do Calvinists say they make voluntary offerings? I thought God forces them, you know, the offerings don't "flow from within."

It gets pretty sticky.

loaves

Oh!! I just found one that doesn't pertain to offerings.

"I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded <b><i>of their own freewill</i></b> to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee." - Ezra 7:13.

I'm too lazy to look up the word in the lexicon.

How would my Calvinist friends interpret that verse? Like Paidion described?

I am no longer a Calvinist, but that's an easy one for a Calvinist to answer. He is quite likely to answer as follows:

We use the word "freewill" in connection with any action in which there is no apparent constraint.

In this case, the call was for anyone to go to Jerusalem "of their own freewill." That is, no authority was commanding them to go to Jesusalem.

However, though "freewill" is used in common speech, it is illusion. We are not aware of any force that caused them to make this so-called "choice".

But in reality, God is the author of every event on the earth, both good and evil, whether we are aware of it or not.