Acts 13:48 and Election

[Brightfame52]

Acts 13:48

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

.” Here is the explicit statement of the doctrine of election by Luke. The Greek word tetagmenoi, which is translated as ordained (KJV, ASV, RSV), appointed (NKJV, NASB, Berkeley) and destined (JB) is the passive form of the verb tasso which (as might be expected) means to ordain, or to appoint. The fact that the verb is passive indicates that these people did not ordain themselves but were chosen by an outside agent—God the Father. These people believed in Christ because God first appointed them to eternal life. Luke, by the Holy Spirit, is stating in unambiguous terms why some people believe and others disbelieve. The difference is not that some people are smarter, wiser, or more holy than others, but that God has chosen or ordained some to life and passed by the rest. “[A] Divine ordination to eternal life is the cause, not the effect, of any man’s believing.”36 “Those believed to whom God gave grace to believe, whom by a secret and mighty operation he brought in subjection to the gospel of Christ.... Those came to Christ whom the Father drew, and to whom the Spirit made the gospel call effectual. Unconditional Election by Brian Schwertley

 

[Deacon]

My opinion:
This passage is not written about individual believers but of a category of believer, inclusionary of gentiles

Luke seems to be emphasizing that gentile believers (as a group) were chosen in a like manner to the way Israel was chosen.

Rob

 

[Silverhair]

Acts 13:48

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

.” Here is the explicit statement of the doctrine of election by Luke. The Greek word tetagmenoi, which is translated as ordained (KJV, ASV, RSV), appointed (NKJV, NASB, Berkeley) and destined (JB) is the passive form of the verb tasso which (as might be expected) means to ordain, or to appoint. The fact that the verb is passive indicates that these people did not ordain themselves but were chosen by an outside agent—God the Father. These people believed in Christ because God first appointed them to eternal life. Luke, by the Holy Spirit, is stating in unambiguous terms why some people believe and others disbelieve. The difference is not that some people are smarter, wiser, or more holy than others, but that God has chosen or ordained some to life and passed by the rest. “[A] Divine ordination to eternal life is the cause, not the effect, of any man’s believing.”36 “Those believed to whom God gave grace to believe, whom by a secret and mighty operation he brought in subjection to the gospel of Christ.... Those came to Christ whom the Father drew, and to whom the Spirit made the gospel call effectual. Unconditional Election by Brian Schwertley

BF when you look at the context in which Act 13:48 is found you will see that your understanding is flawed.

Christians are ordained to eternal life in Act_13:48; conferring of status rather than foreordination is the point. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

The gentiles had heard Paul's gospel message, those that accepted it and trusted in the one spoken of took that direction for eternal life, and believed. Act_13:26-52 is showing the contrast between the resistant Jews and the willing Gentiles and should be read in a way that places the responsibility for believing on the people, that the people positioned themselves either for eternal life by accepting the truth or for eternal death by rejecting it.

appointed/disposed τεταγμένοι G5021]
The meaning of this word {τεταγμένοι G5021} must be determined by the context. The Jews had judged themselves unworthy of eternal life: {Act_13:46} the Gentiles, as many as were disposed to eternal life, {Act_13:48} believed. {In both cases it is the person, Jew or Gentile, that made the choice.} By whom so disposed, is not here declared: nor need the word be in this place further particularized. ...to find in this text pre-ordination to life asserted, is to force both the word and the context to a meaning which they do not contain. Henry Alford's The Greek Testament

 

[Brightfame52]

Those who strongly disagree with predestination have approached this passage in different ways in order to avoid its plain meaning. One method is to simply twist the meaning of the Greek language to fit one’s own unbiblical presuppositions regarding election. Thus the Living Bible translates Acts 13:48b as follows: “...and as many as wanted eternal life, believed.” Likewise, the old heretic Socinius invented his own Greek grammar to have the passage say, “...as many as believed, were ordained to eternal life.” A more sophisticated method is to argue that the verb is not passive but middle: “...as many as were disposed were ordained to eternal life.” Such a translation, however, ignores the teaching of the entire New Testament that God ordains or predestinates and not man (cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 9:11; Eph. 1:4; 1 Tim. 1:9; 1 Cor. 1:26-29, etc.). “Moreover, the phrase of being disposed unto, or for eternal life, is a very unusual, if not a very improper, and an inaccurate one; men are said to be disposed to an habit, or to an act, as to vice or virtue, but not to reward or punishment.

Unconditional Election by Brian Schwertley

 

[Brightfame52]

Whenever this verb occurs elsewhere, it invariably expresses the exertion of power or authority, divine or human, and being in the passive voice, cannot denote mere disposition, much less self-determination, any more than the form used in 2, 40 above....”39 Thus it is no wonder that all the ancient versions (including the Latin Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic) as well as virtually all modern translations (Living Bible excepted) translate tetamenoi as the passive: “were ordained, or appointed.” Spurgeon writes, “Attempts have been made to prove that these words do not teach predestination, but these attempts so clearly do violence to language that I shall not waste time in answering them. I read, ‘As many as were ordained to eternal life believed’ and I shall not twist the text but shall glorify the grace of God by ascribing to that grace the faith of every man. Is it not God who gives the disposition to believe? If men are disposed to have eternal life, does not He—in every case—dispose them? Is it wrong for God to give grace? If it be right for Him to give it—is it wrong for Him to purpose to give it? Would you have Him give it by accident? If it is right for Him to purpose to give grace to-day, it was right for Him to purpose it before today—and, since He changes not—from eternity.”Unconditional Election by Brian Schwertley

 

[Silverhair]

Whenever this verb occurs elsewhere, it invariably expresses the exertion of power or authority, divine or human, and being in the passive voice, cannot denote mere disposition, much less self-determination, any more than the form used in 2, 40 above....”39 Thus it is no wonder that all the ancient versions (including the Latin Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic) as well as virtually all modern translations (Living Bible excepted) translate tetamenoi as the passive: “were ordained, or appointed.” Spurgeon writes, “Attempts have been made to prove that these words do not teach predestination, but these attempts so clearly do violence to language that I shall not waste time in answering them. I read, ‘As many as were ordained to eternal life believed’ and I shall not twist the text but shall glorify the grace of God by ascribing to that grace the faith of every man. Is it not God who gives the disposition to believe? If men are disposed to have eternal life, does not He—in every case—dispose them? Is it wrong for God to give grace? If it be right for Him to give it—is it wrong for Him to purpose to give it? Would you have Him give it by accident? If it is right for Him to purpose to give grace to-day, it was right for Him to purpose it before today—and, since He changes not—from eternity.”Unconditional Election by Brian Schwertley

So you continue to ignore Greek scholars that point out the correct understanding of Act 13:48 so you can hold to your errant view.

Exegesis by Greek scholars does not seem to matter when it comes to supporting your calvinist views.

But you even ignore the obvious understanding found from the context.

As many as were ordained to eternal life (hosoi ēsan tetagmenoi eis zōēn aiōnion). Periphrastic past perfect passive indicative of tassō, a military term to place in orderly arrangement. The word “ordain” is not the best translation here. “Appointed,” as Hackett shows, is better. The Jews here had voluntarily rejected the word of God. On the other side were those Gentiles who gladly accepted what the Jews had rejected, not all the Gentiles. Why these Gentiles here ranged themselves on God’s side as opposed to the Jews Luke does not tell us. This verse does not solve the vexed problem of divine sovereignty and human free agency. There is no evidence that Luke had in mind an absolutum decretum of personal salvation. Paul had shown that God’s plan extended to and included Gentiles. Certainly the Spirit of God does move upon the human heart to which some respond, as here, while others push him away. Word Pictures in the New Testament (A. T. Robertson)

As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.—Better, as many as were disposed for. The words seem to the English reader to support the Calvinistic dogma of divine decrees as determining the belief or unbelief of men, and it is not improbable, looking to the general drift of the theology of the English Church in the early part of the seventeenth century, that the word “ordained” was chosen as expressing that dogma. It runs, with hardly any variation, through all the chief English versions, the Rhemish giving the stronger form “pre-ordinate.” The Greek word, however, does not imply more than that they fell in with the divine order which the Jews rejected. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

Pride, as well as jealousy of the Gentiles who were crowding into the fold, stirred the Jews to antagonism, but they could not eradicate the seed which had been so profusely scattered. Large numbers believed, and as they experienced salvation in Christ, they discovered that they were in line with an eternal purpose. This is the meaning of ordained in Act_13:48. Through the Bible Day by Day (F. B. Meyer)

Ordained to eternal life—Should be rendered, disposed to eternal life. It plainly refers to the eager predisposition just above mentioned in the heart of many of these Gentiles on learning that old prophecy proclaims a Messiah for them. As many as were so inclined to the eternal life now offered committed themselves by faith to the blessed Jesus.
Rarely has a text been so violently wrenched from its connections with the context, and strained beyond its meaning for a purpose, than has been this clause in support of the doctrine of predestination. There is not the least plausibility in the notion that Luke in this simple history is referring to any eternal decree predestinating these men to eternal life. The word here rendered ordained usually signifies placed, positioned, disposed. It may refer to the material or to the mental position. It is a verb in the passive form, a form which frequently possesses a reciprocal active meaning; that is, it frequently signifies an action performed by one’s self upon one’s self. Thus, in Romans 9:22, The vessels of wrath fitted to destruction are carefully affirmed, even by predestinarians, to be fitted by themselves. Indeed, the very Greek word here rendered ordained is frequently used, compounded with a preposition, in the New Testament itself, in the passive form with a reciprocal meaning. Thus, Rom_13:1, Be subject unto the higher powers, is literally, place yourselves under the higher powers. So, also, Rom_8:7; 1Co_16:16; Jas_4:7, and many other texts. The meaning we give is required by the antithesis between the Jews in Act_13:46 and these Gentiles. The former were indisposed to eternal life, and so believed not; these were predisposed to eternal life, and so believed. Daniel Whedon''s Commentary

 

[Brightfame52]

@Silverhair

So you continue to ignore Greek scholars that point out the correct understanding of Act 13:48 so you can hold to your errant view.

While you continue to ignore scripture.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

So you continue to ignore Greek scholars that point out the correct understanding of Act 13:48 so you can hold to your errant view.

I think it is you and some of these Arminian commentators who do that.

As many as were ordained to eternal life (hosoi ēsan tetagmenoi eis zōēn aiōnion). Periphrastic past perfect passive indicative of tassō, a military term to place in orderly arrangement.

This is correct. We read in Thucidides and elsewhere of Greek generals setting their troops in battle array. This is a monergistic activity. The generals put the troops in array, and that's where they are. It's correct to say that 'ordain' is not the best word, but only because it's a bit archaic. 'Appoint' is fine, and it still has the same monergistic meaning to it (Hebrews 9:27).

I quite like Bruce Milne's take on Acts 13:48.

'The terms in which the Gentiles' response is expressed, "all who were ordained for eternal life believed, calls for comment. We need to recall that salvation involves two agents: God, and the person or persons who believe the gospel. Their joint agency is clearly affirmed in Scripture (e.g. Eph. 1:4-5 with 1:13). There is no salvation without God's willing, and no salvation without humanity's believing. Spurgeon once put it in terms of the door into the kingdom of God which carries a text above it: "Whosoever will may come." We believe in Christ and pass through the door into the kingdom. However, once inside, we look back and discover another text above the door on the inside which reads: "Chosen from before the foundation of the world." How these relate is a mystery for our present capacities [try Psalm 110:3, M.M.] Both are true. This reference at verse 48 stresses the divine agency; properly understood, its fruit is boundless praise.'

We come of our own free will, but only because God has appointed us to come and opened our hearts in His good time to receive His word.

 

[Silverhair]

@Silverhair



While you continue to ignore scripture.

Did you actually read the post or is this just your auto reply?

 

[Silverhair]

I think it is you and some of these Arminian commentators who do that.

I quote Greek scholars and you ignore them so your comment is rather useless.

This is correct. We read in Thucidides and elsewhere of Greek generals setting their troops in battle array. This is a monergistic activity. The generals put the troops in array, and that's where they are. It's correct to say that 'ordain' is not the best word, but only because it's a bit archaic. 'Appoint' is fine, and it still has the same monergistic meaning to it (Hebrews 9:27).

I looked and I did not find where Thucidides was scripture or even quoted scripture.

When you continue to ignore context you continue to fall into the errors you hold to.

But it makes you feel better to hold to the at view, I would have to conclude that it makes you feel special since you think God actually thought enough of you to pick you out before creation. Or perhaps that is just wishful thinking on your part.

 

[Brightfame52]

Did you actually read the post or is this just your auto reply?

Look, I have read all that a million times over the last 20-30 yrs, just vagabonds denying scripture. Agents of the devil. I was expelled from a bible college, fundamental baptist back in the 70s for my stance on that verse. You havent shown me anything, no commentary that i havent checked in the past 30 years.

 

[Silverhair]

Look, I have read all that a million times over the last 20-30 yrs, just vagabonds denying scripture. Agents of the devil. I was expelled from a bible college, fundamental baptist back in the 70s for my stance on that verse. You havent shown me anything, no commentary that i havent checked in the past 30 years.

So your admitting that it is not the truth you want but rather just agreement with your philosophical view.

 

[Brightfame52]

So your admitting that it is not the truth you want but rather just agreement with your philosophical view.

You havent said nothing

 

[Martin Marprelate]

I quote Greek scholars and you ignore them so your comment is rather useless.

I didn't ignore them, but pointed out why I don't agree with them. You have had Greek scholars quoted to you by BF and myself and never referred to them

I looked and I did not find where Thucidides was scripture or even quoted scripture.

Thucidides wrote in Greek. He might be expected to know what tasso means.

When you continue to ignore context you continue to fall into the errors you hold to.

But it makes you feel better to hold to the at view, I would have to conclude that it makes you feel special since you think God actually thought enough of you to pick you out before creation. Or perhaps that is just wishful thinking on your part.

You really are a very unpleasant person. Can you never accept that people can have different views to you without having to make your pathetic little snidies every single time? Still, insult is the second last resort of the incompetent and I live far enough away from you not to worry about the last one.

 

[Silverhair]

You havent said nothing

Double negative there BF. So I have said something but you just do not like what I said.

 

[Silverhair]

I didn't ignore them, but pointed out why I don't agree with them. You have had Greek scholars quoted to you by BF and myself and never referred to them

What Greek scholars have you referred to. What we do know is that the word Tasso can be translated via different English words so we have to look at the context {Act 13:38-48} to see what the proper understanding should be.

Thucidides wrote in Greek. He might be expected to know what tasso means.

Where did he write in reference to Act 13:38-48.

You really are a very unpleasant person. Can you never accept that people can have different views to you without having to make your pathetic little snidies every single time? Still, insult is the second last resort of the incompetent and I live far enough away from you not to worry about the last one.

You seem to get upset when I point out what your theology requires. Am I wrong in saying you think you were picked out before the foundation of the world? Is that not what you say Eph 1:4 means?

We come of our own free will, because God has given us the ability to hear and understand the gospel message. Even a child can hear and respond to it. No one was elect before the foundation of the world as one is only elect when they are in Christ.

If you were elect as calvinists say then you were "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son" so since only those so chosen could ever be saved we have to ask why the cross or gospel message. They would not make any difference as to who would be saved would they. You can't say those were the means of the elects salvation as you were already saved if you were elect.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

What Greek scholars have you referred to.

Bruce Milne.

What we do know is that the word Tasso can be translated via different English words so we have to look at the context {Act 13:38-48} to see what the proper understanding should be.

Where did he write in reference to Act 13:38-48.

He wrote that all those ordained or appointed to eternal life believed.

You seem to get upset when I point out what your theology requires. Am I wrong in saying you think you were picked out before the foundation of the world? Is that not what you say Eph 1:4 means?

It means that God saved you as well as me, not because of anything we had done, but because of His grace and mercy (Titus 3:3-6).
But you believe that God saved you because of your superior wisdom and intelligence in selecting Christ. In fact, you saved yourself by complying with God's requirements

We come of our own free will, because God has given us the ability to hear and understand the gospel message. Even a child can hear and respond to it. No one was elect before the foundation of the world as one is only elect when they are in Christ.

It gets really tedious to trot out the same Bible verses over and over again. We do not have the ability to hear and understand the Gospel message, not because it is difficult, or because God hides it from us, but because we have wicked, unbelieving hearts and we prefer sin to righteousness (John 3:19 again). A child can hear and respond to the Gospel if God opens His heart to do so, but as you know, or should do, 'the wicked are estranged from the womb' (Psalm 58:3).

If you were elect as Calvinists say then you were "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son" so since only those so chosen could ever be saved we have to ask why the cross or gospel message.

I can hardly believe you need to ask these questions. 'That God might be just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus.' I could ask you the same stupid question. Why the cross if all one has to do is to believe in Jesus? However, I demur.

They would not make any difference as to who would be saved would they. You can't say those were the means of the elects salvation as you were already saved if you were elect.

Of course it would. God would not be just. And BTW, no one is saved before he repents and believes in Christ (Isaiah 12:1-3; Eph. 2:1-9).

 

[Brightfame52]

Double negative there BF. So I have said something but you just do not like what I said.

You still haven't said nothing

 

[Silverhair]

Bruce Milne.

He wrote that all those ordained or appointed to eternal life believed.

It means that God saved you as well as me, not because of anything we had done, but because of His grace and mercy (Titus 3:3-6).
But you believe that God saved you because of your superior wisdom and intelligence in selecting Christ. In fact, you saved yourself by complying with God's requirements

I was saved just like everyone else, by grace through faith.
Why do you and other calvinists keep trotting out those silly comments "God saved you because of your superior wisdom and intelligence in selecting Christ" But you are right in a way. I can look back and say I was smart enough to actually trust what the bible says whereas those that reject that truth were not to smart were they.

But calvinists think God just reached down and picked you out and saved you then afterward gave you faith to believe.

It gets really tedious to trot out the same Bible verses over and over again. We do not have the ability to hear and understand the Gospel message, not because it is difficult, or because God hides it from us, but because we have wicked, unbelieving hearts and we prefer sin to righteousness (John 3:19 again). A child can hear and respond to the Gospel if God opens His heart to do so, but as you know, or should do, 'the wicked are estranged from the womb' (Psalm 58:3).

Odd that you would say that. Did you never read Ephesians 1:13 or Romans 10:14. You should read John 3:14-18. But I am sure you have read this one Act of the Apostles 16:30-31.
Note it is not God that is doing this but the man is being told to do this.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Pro 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Pro 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

I can hardly believe you need to ask these questions. 'That God might be just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus.' I could ask you the same stupid question. Why the cross if all one has to do is to believe in Jesus? However, I demur.

But if you were already elected before creation what was the need for that?
Now for those that God foreknew would freely believe in Him through the gospel message those words actually have meaning.
You asked "why the cross" well just as the text says God justified those that believe the gospel message of Christ. What did you think they meant?

Of course it would. God would not be just. And BTW, no one is saved before he repents and believes in Christ (Isaiah 12:1-3; Eph. 2:1-9).

No one is saved before he repents and believes in Christ, on that we can agree. But since no one can repent or believe in Christ prior to being born and thus be one of the elect how do you, as a calvinist, claim to have been elected prior to creation? Just as Ephesians tells us we are chosen in Him, and the only way to be in Him and one of the elect is to be in Him through faith. Which is just what you showed when you quote from Romans 2:25-26 and Ephesians 2:1-9

 

[Silverhair]

You still haven't said nothing

Still a double negative BF.