BY JOHN OF DAMASCUS From “An Exact Exposition” a summation and synthesis of 8th Century church doctrine. Chapter 25. Concerning what is in our own power, that is, concerning Free-will. The first enquiry involved in the consideration of free-will, that is, of what is in our own power, is whether anything is in our power: […]
Free Will
The Freedom of the Will
100-165 AD, Justin Martyr: “God, wishing men and angels to follow his will, resolved to create them free to do righteousness. But if the word of God foretells that some angels and men shall certainly be punished, it did so because it foreknew that they would be unchangeably (wicked), but not because God created them […]
On Foreknowledge and Free Will
Leo the Great (440-461) Sermon 67 (On the Passion, XVI.: delivered on the Sunday.) I. The contemplation of the prophecies of Christ’s suffering are a great source of pious delight The minds of the faithful, beloved, ought indeed always to be occupied with wonder at God’s works and their reasoning faculties devoted particularly to those […]
On Foreknowledge and Freewill
Calvinists suggest that God’s foreknowledge is based on His decretal plan and/or knowledge of causal relations rather then based on the future. The Early Church Fathers disagree. (H/T SEA) Diodore of Tarsus (circa 390) This text [Romans 8:29-30] does not take away our free will. It uses the word foreknew before predestined. Now it is […]