Questions on Chapter 23.

1. The Gentiles, as a people, because God foreknew that they would believe and embrace the gospel, were predestinated to the enjoyment of its privileges.

2. Genuine and persevering believers, because God foreknew them as such, were predestinated to be “conformed to the image of his Son.” They were “called, justified, and glorified.” But all this was conducted according to the regular gospel plan. Their predestination was founded upon the foreknowledge of God, which contemplated them as complying with the condition of faith as laid down in the gospel. Here, then, we can see no ground at all for the Calvinistic notion of absolute and unconditional election or predestination to eternal life, irrespective of faith or good works.

We have now briefly examined those texts which have ever been considered as the strongholds of Calvinism, and think we have clearly shown that they are susceptible of a different and much more consistent interpretation. There are other passages which they frequently urge in support of their doctrine; but we deem it useless to detain longer. We have selected the principal and most difficult; and from the solutions already furnished, the proper explanation of others will be readily presented, in perfect consistency with a possible salvation for all mankind. QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 23.

QUESTION 1. Upon what scripture do the Calvinists found their first argument which is here noticed?

2. What commentators are named as having refuted the Calvinistic construction of this passage?

3. What Calvinistic commentators are named as having favored the Arminian construction?

4. Upon what two positions is the Calvinistic argument here dependent?

5. How is it proved that this election and reprobation did not refer to Jacob and Esau personally?

6. How does it appear that it did not refer to the eternal destiny of those concerned?

7. Upon what passage is the second Calvinistic argument here noticed, founded?

8. What are the several positions here presented as essential to sustain the Calvinistic argument from this passage?

9. How is the first position disproved?

10. How the second?

11. The third?

12. The fourth?

13. The fifth?

14. Upon what is founded the third Calvinistic argument here noticed?

15. What is the literal meaning of predestinate?

16. In what sense do Calvinists understand this doctrine?

17. How is it understood by Arminians?

18. What is the essential difference between Calvinistic and Arminian predestination?

19. How is it shown that the texts quoted accord with the Arminian theory?

20. Have Arminians all agreed in their explanation of the passage quoted from Romans 8.?

21. What is the probable meaning of that passage?

22. Are there any other passages appealed to by Calvinists?

23. Are they more difficult than the ones selected?

24. Upon what principle may they be explained?