Below is a collection of verses supporting either major side of the debate on Unconditional Election, categorized by the strength of support they offer. I suggest why some verses are weak arguments for propping up a specific side, otherwise I offer minimal commentary. God’s Word should be able to speak for itself! Please feel free to present me with additional verses on either side. Let’s have a fresh look at Scripture together!
| Verses that seem to give Strong Support for Calvinism | 2 Tim 1:9, Eph 1:4-5, Eph 2:8-9, 1 Pet 1:21, Rom 11:5-8, Ps 65:4 |
| Verses that are a Weaker Support for Calvinism … they either don’t say much, or they can be argued the other way too. | 1 Pet 2:8-9 (because some disobeyed the Word they were appointed for stumbling, so the others who were chosen must have been obedient)
John 5:21 (doesn’t say how God makes his choice), John 6:65 (same) Acts 11:18 (this is a very general kind of election of the gentiles, not all of them will be saved) Eph 2:5 (by grace you have been saved, but it doesn’t say here why God chose us), Gal 1:15-16 (same), Eph 2:12-13 (same), 2 Thess 2:13-14 (same), 1 Cor 1:9 (same), Col 1:21-22, 27 (same) Eph 1:11-13 (same, in fact He may have chosen us because we hoped in Christ & listened & believed), Matt 20:14 (this is not about salvation, it is about rewards) Matt 24:24 (it does not say whether these elect people were chosen unconditionally), Matt 24:31 (same), John 6:69-70 (same), John 13:18 (same), John 15:16 (same), Rev 17:14 (same), Acts 13:48 (same), Acts 2:39 (same) Act 10:41 (this is not referring to salvation, but the choice of witnesses to Christ’s resurrection) Rom 9:10-13 (doesn’t rule out foreknowledge of how Esau would behave in the future. The last verse is a quote from Malachi where Esau was a nation and had sinned) Rev 13:8 (similarly doesn’t rule out foreknowledge) Rom 9:14-18 (#1 Pharaoh first hardened his own heart before God hardened it further {Exod 8:15, Exod 8:32}, #2 God has mercy on whom He has mercy but that doesn’t make him random – it means He is free to choose His own criteria – see Jer. 29:13 where anyone who seeks may find Him, and we know He is kind and unchanging #3 it does not depend on the man who wills…but God who shows mercy – tells us that we can’t save ourselves but fortunately He has consistent character that shows mercy to those who seek Him and repent) Rom 9:21-33 (reading later in this passage we see that the vessels of mercy are those who attain righteousness by faith, and it ends by saying “he who believes in Him will not be disappointed” showing that mercy goes to the one who has faith. God had foreknowledge of their future faith when He molded them (ref v21-24). Deut 7:6-8 (God chose the Israelites because of an oath sworn to their forefathers, it doesn’t say whether that oath was unconditional), Deut 14:2 (same) |
| Verses that seem to give Strong Support for Arminianism | 2 Pet 3:9, 2 Pet 1:10, 2 Thess 2:12-13, Heb 11:6, Heb 7:25, 2 Chr 19:7 re impartiality, Rom 2:9 re impartiality, 1 Cor 9:23 & 27 re disqualified, Rom 8:28-30 He foreknew their response then predestined, Acts 17:27, John 1:12-13, Matt 23:37 re Jesus weeping about it, Rom 2:3-5, Rom 2:6-7, Matt 5:8 , Matt 5:9, Jam 2:5 re their love, Jer 29:12-13, Matt 7:7-8, John 3:36, Luke 15:7 re joy about it, 1 Cor 1:27 condition of being foolish/weak, 1 Pet 1:1-2 |
| Verses that are a Weaker Support for Arminianism … they either don’t say much, or they can be argued the other way too. | 1 Sam 16:6-7 (God is here choosing an earthly king, not a heavenly subject. Thought it would seem strange if He only looked at the heart for the former and not for the latter).
1 Sam 10:24 (again God is only choosing an earthly king here, when He seemed to choose Saul based on looks) Phil 2:12-13 (it suggests that we work out our own salvation, but then says that God is behind it. Still, God may work based on how he sees us working out our salvation) 2 Tim 2:25-26 (the previous verses show that this is about Believers who are in opposition) John 4:23 (it doesn’t say that God doesn’t help them become true worshippers though it seems like he wants free-will worshippers (‘worship…in truth’)) Luke 18:7 (election may not be based on being a prayer warrior, because next verse “will He find faith on the earth” may be taken to mean the other elect who don’t have faith to pray) Tit 3:5 (leaves a loophole that the choice may be based on foreknowledge of future behavior), Gal 1:15 (same) Matt 22:10-14 (a man who wants to be in the kingdom is thrown out because he is not trusting Christ, or is it because God doesn’t want to choose Him? Calvinists might say the latter but then their God is cruel) Joel 2:32 (It seems like the people call on God’s name first, and by foreknowledge they have been chosen, but it’s not conclusive. Or it may mean that God has called a lot of people who are not chosen unless they also call on Him) Luke 5:32 (yes they seem to be called based on a condition (they have to at least be a sinner)… but calling is not the same thing as election – many are called but few are chosen (elected) (Matt 22:14) Rom 10:13-14 (why do they have a will to call on the name of the Lord?) |
The choice of the above two categories (Calvinism & Arminianism) were not intended to say that those are the only two possible categories. There are also Molinism, Thomism, Open Theism, and perhaps more that I am not aware of.
Do you consider yourself unbiased? Do you allow the Bible to speak and take you were God wants to lead you? Wherever that may be – it will be better to be found on the side of truth than defending the indefensible. Let us never be found working against Truth (2 Cor. 13:8). I leave you to draw your own conclusions.
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