Is it possible that Acts 13:48 is simply a figure of speech?

[Guest]

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Acts 13:48 - NRSV

How one understands this statement depends upon how far one presses the word “destined.” Let me illustrate with a parallel statement.

After freshman orientation, the students destined to become electrical engineers enrolled in calculus.

I do not believe in exegesis by analogy. I am not asserting that I have discovered the meaning of the Biblical text by virtue of creating a parallel sentence. I am simply writing the parallel sentence to illustrate a possible range of meaning in the phrase using the word “destined.” Few reading the parallel sentence above would conclude that some external power had predetermined specific students would become electrical engineers, and because of this predetermination the students enrolled in calculus. Most reading the parallel sentence would understand that the writer is reflecting the end result of a process back to the beginning step of the process, and tying the two points together. After all, when one starts down one end of a path, he inevitably arrives at the other end.

Is it possible that Luke, looking back on the event, is tying together the two ends of the path, and to emphasize how closely they are connected, uses an overstatement? They became believers as if they were “destined” for eternal life by an external power?

Luke’s point was not that God decreed that certain of these gentiles would receive eternal life, and thus drew them irresistibly.

Luke’s point was that certain gentiles became believers, and because the two are strongly connected, received eternal life. He emphasizes the strength of this connection by using the word “destined.”

[Guest]

One could have no problem in placing the time of origin in being destined to eternal life before the Gentiles believed and still avoid a unilateral determinism as proposed by Calvinism. Instead, one could view this in the same way they do Lydia, Cornelius, and others in Scripture. The very fact that Luke did not specify when God destined the Gentiles for eternal life is very telling. If Luke wanted to let his reader know that this destiny of the Gentiles goes back before the ages began, he was perfectly capable of doing so, without a doubt.

If all we had was this text, the most we can (and must) conclude is that God had been at work by the Spirit to prepare the hearts of these Gentiles who yeilded to His drawing to recieve the Gospel.

Greg Boyd has pretty much said the same thing, though he developes it a bit further. He says:

“When the Gentiles heard this [preaching], they were glad and praised the word of the Lord, and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers.”

Luke does not specify when the Gentiles who believed were “destined for eternal life.” Compatiblists rightfully point out that the Gentiles’ faith followed their being “destined for eternal life” but mistakenly assume that this “destiny” was decided by God from before creation. The text only requires us to believe that the Spirit of God had been at work preparing the hearts of all who did not resist him to accept the Gospel when they heard it.

God knows our heart before we express it through our words or through our decisions (Ps. 139:2–4). On this basis the Lord could assure Paul before his missionary endeavor at Corinth that “there are many in this city who are my people” (viz. whose hearts have been opened and who will therefore believe your message) (Acts 18:10).

So too, Lydia listened intently to Paul’s Gospel because the Lord had already “opened her heart” (Acts 16:14). Those Gentiles who did not resist the Spirit’s work in their life were “ripe” for the message of Paul and Barnabas. They were already “destined for eternal life” and thus accepted the Good News when it was preached to them.

We only create impossible problems for ourselves—such as how God can love all and want all to be saved while predestining many to hell—when we go beyond what Scripture teaches.

[Guest]

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Acts 13:48 - NRSV

How one understands this statement depends upon how far one presses the word “destined.” Let me illustrate with a parallel statement.

After freshman orientation, the students destined to become electrical engineers enrolled in calculus.

I do not believe in exegesis by analogy. I am not asserting that I have discovered the meaning of the Biblical text by virtue of creating a parallel sentence. I am simply writing the parallel sentence to illustrate a possible range of meaning in the phrase using the word “destined.” Few reading the parallel sentence above would conclude that some external power had predetermined specific students would become electrical engineers, and because of this predetermination the students enrolled in calculus. Most reading the parallel sentence would understand that the writer is reflecting the end result of a process back to the beginning step of the process, and tying the two points together. After all, when one starts down one end of a path, he inevitably arrives at the other end.

Is it possible that Luke, looking back on the event, is tying together the two ends of the path, and to emphasize how closely they are connected, uses an overstatement? They became believers as if they were “destined” for eternal life by an external power?

Luke’s point was not that God decreed that certain of these gentiles would receive eternal life, and thus drew them irresistibly.

Luke’s point was that certain gentiles became believers, and because the two are strongly connected, received eternal life. He emphasizes the strength of this connection by using the word “destined.”

Hi Sam,

Take notice that the word "tassō" in this verse is in the middle voice which means that the ordaining was done by themselves. This passage has contrasting verses. Look at verse 46,


Acts 13:46 ( KJV ) 46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Luke says that the Jews judged themselves unworthy of eternal life. This is a parallel to verse 48 where the Gentiles believed, they disposed or ordained themselves toward eternal life.
If Luke had meant the idea of Calvinistic election, the previous verses would not make sense. Also If Luke meant Calvinistic election He is saying that EVERYONE who was appointed to eternal life believed right at that moment, which also would not make sense.

Butch

[Guest]

Take notice that the word "tassō" in this verse is in the middle voice which means that the ordaining was done by themselves.

It is not clear that it is the middle voice. It may be the passive voice as most Greek experts think it to be. The two voices are identical in form.

The English word "appoint" would be closer to the meaning of "tassō" than "ordain".

A person can have an appointment, but may not keep that appointment. It is possible that God did indeed appoint a number of people here for "eternal life", and that it just happened in this case, that all who were appointed kept their appointment. They believed.

[Guest]

Take notice that the word "tassō" in this verse is in the middle voice which means that the ordaining was done by themselves.

It is not clear that it is the middle voice. It may be the passive voice as most Greek experts think it to be. The two voices are identical in form.

The English word "appoint" would be closer to the meaning of "tassō" than "ordain".

A person can have an appointment, but may not keep that appointment. It is possible that God did indeed appoint a number of people here for "eternal life", and that it just happened in this case, that all who were appointed kept their appointment. They believed.

Yes the word may be passive or middle, therefore the voice has to be determined by the context, which here, is decidedly middle.