Faith and doubt
What does the Bible say about predestination?
Scripture speaks of God choosing and of people responding. Christians have held different views for centuries, and both sides appeal to real passages.
What Scripture says
Ephesians 1:4-5
“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love, having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,”
Romans 8:29-30
“For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.”
John 6:44
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day.”
2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. See all Bible questions or verses by topic.