READING TIME: 3-6 MINUTES
April 7, 2020
Appointed to eternal life in Acts 13:48?
Part 2
The Calvinists wrongly argue that people are unconditionally ordained or appointed to eternal life, and therefore believe as a result of that appointment. The unmistakable testimony of Scripture is that a person is ordained or appointed to eternal life because they believe in Jesus Christ, not because they were appointed to believe.
Sorry to have to delve into Greek grammar, but in verse 48, the Greek word tetagmenoi (which comes from the verb τάσσω) translated “had been appointed” is a perfect participle and it can either be the middle or passive voice. The NASB translators assumed this participle is a passive voice, but it can also be legitimately a middle voice. Since the Apostles had just referred to the Jews’ rejecting and considering themselves unworthy of eternal life, the reflective nuance of the middle voice makes much better sense here. The following is Olson’s translation of Acts 13:46, 48, assuming the participle mentioned above is interpreted as a “middle” voice:
“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles . . . When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and all who had set (devoted) themselves to eternal life believed.”
Here are other legitimate ways the perfect middle participle (in v. 48) could be translated: “as many as had given themselves or delivered themselves over to eternal life believed.”
When seen in context, v. 48 doesn’t refer to an election to eternal life. The Gentiles had simply heard the message and had given themselves to eternal life. They became believers by the preaching of the Gospel and as a result, were eternally saved. Jesus said in His High Priestly prayer, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). It is clear in v. 48 that the Gentiles did become believers or otherwise, they wouldn’t have had this joyful and God-glorifying reaction.
Adam Clarke correctly wrote about the perfect participle mentioned above in v. 48 “Whatever tetagmenoi may mean, which is the word we translate ordained, it includes no idea of preordination or predestination of any kind…. [O]f all the meanings ever put on it, none agrees worse with its nature and known signification than that which represents it as intending those who were predestinated to eternal life; this is no meaning of the term and should never be applied to it.”
Likewise, Dean Alford translated this same participle, “as many as were disposed to eternal life believed.”
Please notice that verse 48 is the opposite of verse 46. In other words, verse 48 presents the contrast between the Jews who had rejected the gospel and the Gentiles who believed it. In v. 46, the Jewish people, having judged themselves (which, like the participle in 48, can either be a middle or passive voice, which all the English translations translate it as a middle) unworthy of eternal life, did not believe and receive it. Their internal disposition was against the message that promised eternal life. They wrongly thought that since they were Jewish, they were already right with God. In 13:47-48 the Gentiles, having heard of the availability of eternal life, rejoiced, received the Lord’s message, and believed resulting in salvation. It seems that they considered themselves worthy of it (they desired to live forever), were convinced that Paul’s message was true, and gave themselves over to eternal life. They were separated from God, but now they were part of the same body of Christ as Jewish believers. Calvinists need to learn from this passage that salvation is available to all who consider themselves worthy of eternal life (i.e., who desire to live forever). To everyone, Jesus says, “Let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev 22:17).
Indeed, predestination and election are biblical teachings, but contrary to what Calvinists teach, they are never unto salvation. When Calvinists teach this, they are incorrectly imposing this on Scripture. Election/predestination is always unto specific blessings that accompany salvation, but not to salvation itself.
BIBLICAL TEACHING ABOUT DIVINE ELECTION
I believe that God chooses individuals for salvation, with the proviso that He did not choose them apart from their own choice to believe in Him. In other words, nowhere in Scripture does it say He chooses people to believe or predestined them to believe. Rather, He chooses to save those who place their faith or trust in His Son. Since God is omniscient and has always known all things, there was never a time when He did not know that we would believe and so it would have been impossible for Him to choose us apart from His knowledge of our choice to believe in His Son. I don’t believe His foreknowledge was causative as Calvinism teaches (i.e., He didn’t make us believe); however, it is exhaustive (i.e., He must have foreknown all those who would believe in Christ).
Here are excellent questions from Dave Hunt to end with: “How can God be ‘good’ to those whom He, according to Calvinism, predestined to eternal torment? How can He be ‘plenteous in mercy’ unto those whom He could have saved but didn’t? And how can the God of salvation be the ‘confidence’ of those He takes pleasure in damning? Calvin refers to ‘our most merciful Father,’ yet he limits God’s mercy to the elect.”
Sources Used
Badger, Anthony B. Confronting Calvinism: A Free Grace Refutation and Biblical Resolution of Radical Reformed Soteriology, 201-202.
Bryson, George. The Dark Side of Calvinism: The Calvinist Caste System, 126, 128-129.
Hunt, Dave. What Love is This? The Berean Call, chapter 16.
Lazar, Shawn. “Election for Baptists: Why Biblical election is to service and privilege, not to eternal life..” < https://faithalone.org/grace-in-focus-articles/election-for-baptists-why-biblical-election-is-to-service-and-privilege-not-to-eternal-life/>.
Köstenberger, Andreas J.; Merkle, Benjamin L; Plummer, Robert L. Going Deeper with New Testament Greek: An Intermediate Study of the Grammar and Syntax of the New Testament. B&H Publishing Group, chapter 2.
Mathewson, David L.; Emig, Elodie Ballantine. Intermediate Greek Grammar: Syntax for Students of the New Testament. Baker Publishing Group, chapter 7.
Meisinger, George E. “The Issue of One’s Ability to Believe: Total Depravity/ Inability.” Chafer Theological Seminary Journal Volume 11.1 (2005): 65-96.
Olson, C. Gordon. Beyond Calvinism & Arminianism: An Inductive Mediate Theology of Salvation. 3rd Edition Expanded, Revised, & Updated. Global Gospel Publishers, 106 and footnote C.
Wilkin, Bob. “A New View on Acts 13:48 ‘As Many as Were Prepared for Eternal Life Believe.’”