Featured A Question For Non-Calvinists

What do you believe 1 Corinthians 1:17-31 teaches as a whole? What does it mean to be "called" from your perspective? I'm curious about how this is understood from non-Calvinist/sovereign grace points of view. Thanks!

 

@Pastor_Bob
From your view, is there any difference between "called" and "saved" in this passage?

 

@Reynolds

I've gone and read the passage in the ESV, but I'm still curious how it fits in with non-Calvinist doctrine?
Specifically: verse 24 says that the gospel is the power of God to those who are "called", and then verses 26-28 say that God is the one who has chosen who is called.

If "called" means "saved" or "being saved", then verses 26-28 are saying that God has chosen who will be saved.
If "called" means to be given prevenient grace, then verses 26-28 are saying that God withholds this grace from some.

Is there another option for what "called" means that better fits your theology?

 

You're right, this isn't a "problem text" for those who believe in sovereign grace. I just wonder how others reconcile it with their beliefs?

So far, it seems that they agree that the "called" are the "saved". I just don't see how they reconcile verses 26-31 if that's the case though...

 

@Pastor_Bob

So you would interpret "called" in this passage as meaning responding?

"But unto them which are (responding), both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." v24

"For ye see your (response), brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are (responding):" v26

I can see how this reconciles the above verses with your beliefs. But how does that fit in with God having chosen who is called?

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" v27

Also, interpreting called as responding doesn't seem to fit very well with verse 9:

"God is faithful, by whom ye were (responding) unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

Or with verse 2:

"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, (responding) to be saints..."

 

@37818
I'm sorry, I thought by the verses that you referenced that you believed in sovereign grace.
I'm just trying to find out what a non-Calvinist understands the word "called" to mean in 1 Corinthians 1.

 

@Pastor_Bob

So you would say that the definition of the word "called" is "saved" in this chapter until verse 26, and then it changes to "responded"?
Do you have any other verse references where the word "called" would be defined as "responded"? This just seems like a strange definition for the word "called" to me...

 

Actually, maybe this is what I need to understand:

Can you explain this to me?

 

@37818

I can agree that God calls all men in a sense. He calls all men to repentance for example. But the calling in 1 Corinthians 1 specifically says that it's not to everyone:

"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:" v26

Paul refers to it as the brethren's calling, which He earlier described:

"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." v9

He also paralleled "called" to "saved" in verses 18 and 24.

My question is, how do non-Calvinists reconcile that God chose who is called? (verses 27-31)
Is it even possible?

 

He did, but in this parable it was the "wise", "mighty" and "noble" who were first called. When they refused to come, the King's anger was kindled, and He called the "foolish", "weak", "base" and "despised" to "confound the mighty". In the Luke account, it describes an important difference in how the two groups were called:

"Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready." Luke 14:16-17

"And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23

The wise and mighty were bidden, or invited to come, but the foolish and weak were compelled, or overpowered to come.

In this parable, they were all "called", but only the foolish and weak were "chosen".
In 1 Corinthians, the "called" refers only to the foolish and weak that were "chosen"