While humans undeniably possess will--the capacity to make intentional choices--we do not possess "free will" in the strict sense, nor does scripture assert or even imply that we do.
Sorry you are so late, but indeed glad to hear you.
I have heard this philosophical argument using philosophical terms.
However, while I have seen "will" in the Bible referring to desire, or referring to an intention, or intent, as in "I will do this", I have never seen "will" in the Bible referring to "the capacity to make intentional choices".
Intent, or intention is a deliberate and focused commitment to a specific course of action... as in an intentional action.
A desire, or will... according to
@childeye 2, a want, is actually a yearning for... such as, in wanting something.
Will, which is broader, can extend to a "plan" or set purpose... as in God's will.
None of these refer to choice.
If anything, the choice is already made before a will, or after... depending on which context is in use.
Otherwise...
Philosophically, the will is often described as the power of choice that is not forced by instinct or nature, distinguishing human action from animal behavior, which is driven by appetite and instinct.
So, unless you can show me where "will" in the Bible is the capacity to make intentional choices, we can leave that concept out, since it's unrelated to the discussion on free will.
Regarding free will - the ability to make decisions of our own, unforced; willfully, and intentionally; voluntarily; of our own accord, rather than God controlling or predetermining our choice,
is a Biblical teaching.
The Bible says, at
Hosea 14:4, in part...
I will freely love them / I will love them freely
The Hebrew expression nedabah (נְדָבָה) is rendered freewill offering, freely, plentiful, voluntary, offering, willingly, offering.
This Hebrew word comes from the Hebrew word nadab, of which
Topical Lexicon says...
The verb נָדַב consistently underlines a movement of the heart that is neither coerced nor merely dutiful. It describes people stirred from within to give, serve, or step forward because they have first been moved by God. Throughout Scripture this spirit of readiness is linked to worship, stewardship, civic responsibility, and warfare, revealing a multifaceted biblical theology of voluntary devotion.
God was not coerced into loving his people, but did so freely; willingly.
Exercising free will first started with God, and as humans are made in God's image, they too have this God given attribute, as can be seen in the scriptures where God allows persons to give him worship of their own accord, or of their own free will.
In other words, God gave humans the opportunity to make a personal choice regarding their course in life.
Deuteronomy 30:19,
20
At
1 Corinthians 9:16-18, verse 17 says,
For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship.
Paul uses the Greek word hekón: Willing, Voluntary. Which means of one's own free will.
According to
Thayer's Greek Lexicon...
STRONGS NT 1635: ἑκών
ἑκών, ἑκοῦσα, ἑκον, unforced, voluntary, willing, of one's own will, of one's own accord: Romans 8:20; 1 Corinthians 9:17. (From Homer down.)
At
Philemon 1:14, Paul says...
The Greek word hekousios - meaning free will, is the neuter of a derivative from hekon; voluntariness -- willingly, which is (an adjective, a primitive term) – properly, willing; "unforced, of one's own will, voluntary" (J. Thayer), i.e. acting on one's own accord. The root (hek-) emphasizes intentional, deliberate action (choice), i.e. "of free-will" (J. Thayer).
What I have provided here, is both scripture, which contains the Hebrew and Greek words, and I have also provided the definition found in Lexicons which defines those words.
In life, we humans tend to form our opinions and then present those opinions as if they are authentic.
However, opinion that are not substantiated by any credible material are merely unsupported... we call them baseless, or empty, claims.
THE READABLE DICTIONARY - TOPICAL AND SYNONYMIC LEXICON
Those who rely solely on observation are liable to frequent mistakes. Persons who have often met with a word in reading are apt to imagine that they understand it, because it is familiar to the eye, and because they have, mentally, attached some kind of a meaning to it; yet, on examination, it may be found that they have either mistaken the meaning entirely, or that they have, at best, but a confused idea of the sense of the term.
Page 9
So, unless you can provide a reliable and credible source that discredit the Lexicons and their information... and unless you can disprove that the scriptures used the Hebrew and Greek words defined in the provided sources, what you have claimed, is of no value to the discussion, since they only would lead nowhere but to a meaningless arguments.
Thanks for sharing though.
Feel free to provide something of value we can actually work with.
True free will requires the ability of one moral agent to make moral choices without coercion, constraints, or consequences imposed by another moral agent. Anything short of that is not "free will," but "volitional agency."
Can you please provide a source reference of your definition, so that we can take a look at it, because sometimes humans have a habit of redefining words in order to support the argument they would later follow through on.
So, provide your reference, and let's have a look.
We can then go from there, because according to the Hebrew and Greek words, and their definition...
There is nothing that says voluntary or freewill offerings, or free will choices must be "without coercion, constraints, or consequences".
Did you just make that up, or is that a philosophical concept you are introducing in a discussion on the Biblical teaching of free will?
I already mentioned to another poster, that this thread is not discussing philosophical free will.
If we are to have a conversation, one person cannot be discussing golden apples, if the other is discussing sugar apples.
That would not be a fruitful discussion. You would agree.
In scripture, God (the ultimate moral agent) establishes both the moral law and the consequences of obedience or disobedience, limiting human choice.
How so?
According to Deuteronomy 30:19, 20, the consequences were outlined, but that in no way limited the choice.
Scripture consistently depicts human choice as constrained, conditioned, and accountable to God’s commands.
Where in scripture is human choice constrained, and by what?
Where in scripture is human choice conditioned...
I assume here conditioned means predetermined. Correct me if I am wrong, by God?
Accountability does not take away choice.
Therefore, humans have volitional agency but not free will, because all moral decisions occur within the framework of divine authority and consequence.
Your faulty premises cannot be built on, until you first establish them.
An unstable 'foundation' cannot be built on. It will collapse when you try to lay anything on it.
This conclusion, therefore collapses, because your premises are all incoorect.
