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Predestination
Predestination can be defined as the belief that God has already decided what will happen
and cannot be altered. In other words, God has decided on the individuals who will receive
salvation and those who will not. In addition to that, the term does not only concern salvation but
also the notion that God controls the entire universe. However, there have been different
arguments on the theme of predestination that bring about controversy among various
theologians. In history, there have been disagreements on the issue where some theologians argue
that predestination is free will for human beings. The belief on predestination is developed from
the concept of omniscience and sovereignty. Omniscience is the belief that God knows the past,
the present and the future. Sovereignty is where God has control over everything (Easterday,
p.5). This paper presents an argument between John Calvin and Thomas Aquinas teachings on
the theme of predestination.
The concept of predestination has the original meaning that even before the creation of
the universe, God chose or knew those who will be saved and vice versa. However, the critics of
the predestination doctrine argue that predestination denies all human beings the ability to reject
or choose salvation. In other words, predestination denies humanity free will of salvation. St.
Augustine of Hippo and John Calvin are the major teachers of predestination who lived in the
1500s. Aquinas was a Roman Catholic priest who lived between 1225 to 1274 in Italy. His
teachings influenced both catholic and protestant followers. He developed many doctrines among
them being the predestination (Levering, p.35). The examined predestination in a view that
dispels the Calvinist view of the doctrine. In other words, John Calvin was the first to develop
the doctrine and later Aquinas countered it.

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Calvinism
Calvinism doctrine developed by John Calvin presented mainly five categories namely,
unconditional election, total depravity, irresistible grace, perseverance of saints and limited
atonement. In the total depravity, Calvin says that man is hopelessly sinful and not capable of
being good. Any good deed by man is always influenced by evil. In addition to that,
unconditional election is where salvation of man totally depends on God because human beings
are evil. Additionally, God chooses any man he wishes to choose regardless of how hard human
beings try. The actions of man alone cannot get man to heaven since God is in control. In other
words, Calvinists hold that man has no free spiritual will. Besides that, God will save those who
have totally dedicated their hearts to him. In regard to limited atonement, God predestined the
elect and Jesus came for the few people who are elect. Furthermore, Calvinist say that the elect
cannot resist the choice of God for electing them. In other words, the chosen people cannot resist
the grace of God. Finally on the perseverance of the Saints, John Calvin taught that when a
person is saved, there is no choice about being elect (Pinnock and Sanders, p.47). When God has
chosen to save a person, there is no choice to decline the call.
On the contrary, Thomas Aquinas responded by documenting his argument that countered
the teachings of John Calvin. Predestination is suitably attributed to God since human beings are
the subjects. Aquinas says that the end of man is twofold in the sense that there is eternal life and
the process of attaining eternal life. He gave an illustration of an archer and an arrow. God is the
archer who directs the arrow (man) towards his destination. Man has the obligation to glorify
God and enjoy his grace forever (Levering, 53). Thomas Aquinas says that God gives the ability
to live holy lives and make a glorious eternal life.

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Aquinas also argued that God can reprobate some. For instance, in Malachi 1:2-3, God
loved Jacob but hated Esau. In addition to that, Jacob is chosen by God to have eternal life
whereas Esau is ordained to have everlasting death. In the look of things, God loved Jacob
because he served him while Esau fell on reprobation because of evil acts. Therefore,
predestination can be double where some are given eternal life while others death (Pinnock and
Sanders, 48). However, those given eternal lives are individuals who live holy lives while the
evil ones attain eternal death and suffering. Moreover, God chose Jacob because he loved him as
opposed to Esau. God selects an individual from what he already knows is good and has love.
Furthermore, there is a clear difference between the love of God and that of a man (Levering,
55). God chooses a person to love but man chooses what he knows is good. Calvin saw the grace
as well as the cause and effects. On the contrary, Aquinas taught the opposite that the effects
merit the cause of predestination.
In my opinion, Thomas Aquinas is more right on the doctrine of predestination as
compared to John Calvins argument. The teachings of John Calvin were not entirely derived
from the Holy Scriptures. For instance, there would be no need to evangelize the gospel since
God has already chosen those who will go to heaven. If evangelization will not change the
number of those who will enter the Kingdom of God, then there is no essence of preaching the
Gospel of salvation. In addition to that, evangelism can be the means to save those who are
Gods elect, but that will not change Gods decision. If God has the foreknowledge on who will
enter the Kingdom of God, there is no need to evangelize the gospel (Easterday, p.8). In addition
to that, if God has already predestined everything, then there is no essence of Christians to pray
for their family and friends. Prayer is a tool of communicating to God to bring a favor. However,

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if the prayers will not change Gods mind on our sinful nature, then there is no need to pray.
However, Jesus came for all sinners and commanded them to pray without ceasing.
Another area of conflict between Calvinists and followers of Aquinas is that God
predestined everything and seems to have created sin. If God has selected those who will enter
heaven,then the others can continue in their sinful nature. Therefore, it means that sinners who
are not elect should not repent. However, the Bible says that God will forgive those who repent
their sins. Besides that, Jesus Christ came for the sinners. Every person has the opportunity to
pray to God and repent his or her sins. In addition to that, Jesus Christ died to bring salvation to
all people, not just the chosen ones according to John 10:11 and Acts 20:28. John 15:13-14 says
that Jesus died for his friends. If human beings obey Jesuss commands, they become his friends.
Moreover, other verses describe Jesus as the savior of all men as well as the savior of the world
according to 1 John2: 2.
Finally, according to John Calvin, God has made a choice of who will enter the heaven
and those who will not. Therefore, condemning the non-elect is unfair since it is not their fault.
There comes the concept of double predestination that brings confusion about how God choses
people. In the example of Jacob and Esau, God loved Jacob and hated Esau and that is
unquestionable. However, later, in John 3:15, God sent his only son to the world so that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Therefore, those who
believe in Jesus Christ and his teachings are the elect whereas the rest will perish. In other words,
God will forgive all those who believe in His Son and save them from eternal condemnation and
suffering.

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In conclusion, God is omniscient and omnipotent. He always has foreknowledge about
what will happen before it happens. However, that is not simply the meaning of predestination.
God knew Jeremiah before he was born and chosen him. However, God does not predestine that
certain people will go to heaven and others to hell. In Christianity, God sent his son to die for all
sinners so that who believes in him will enjoy everlasting life while the rest go to hell. There is
the room for human beings to choose their way whether to glorify God or not. It is unfair to have
the elect who unquestionably go to heaven while others perish regardless of their repentance. The
choice of predestination lies on man who can believe or reject the Word of God.

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Work Cited
Easterday, Kelvin. "Thomas Aquinas and His Contribution to the Doctrine of Predestination."
Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Journals (2015): 1-9.
Holy Bible: The New Testament
Levering, Matthew. Predestination: Biblical and Theological Paths. Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2011.
Pinnock, C and J Sanders. The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional
Understanding of God. Illinois: Intervasity Press, 2010.