1) Free will is a philosophical notion, not a Biblical notion, which means that man has the power to make all moral choices.
But Scripture does not present the "free will" of man, it presents the slavery to sin of man (Jn 8:34). Slaves to sin are not completely morally free.
They cannot choose to be sinless, therefore, they are not completely morally free.
I cannot choose to be black or white, but that doesn't mean I can't choose.
You are incorrectly defining free will... in the Bible.
The Biblical notion of "freedom" is "voluntary;" i.e., man has the power to choose what he prefers, not the power to choose anything (sinlessness).
That is not relevant to free will... in the Bible.
2) "Voluntary" does not imply (the philosophical notion of) complete freedom; i.e., ability to make all moral choices.
"Voluntary" simply means that man has the moral power to choose what he prefers.
Fallen man does not have the freedom to make all moral choices, he cannot choose to be sinless, because he is a slave to sin (Jn 8:34).
Therefore, his will is not completely free. . .his moral choices are limited.
He has freedom, but it is limited, not complete. He can choose what he prefers, but he cannot choose to be sinless.
This reminds me of the man that said aliens abducted him and gave him knowledge he can't share.
When asked to prove it, he said, "I said it, so there."
All you have done Clare, is said, I'm right, so there.
You have not been given the authority to decide what's in the Bible. You're not God, Clare.
Free will is not about overcoming one's 'nature'.
Free will is about being given the gift to freely make decisions based one's desires... regardless of sin.
Adam was sinless, wasn't he? Was he given free will... yes or no?
Sin does not render one incapable of having the freedom to make decisions regarding one's will.
At Deuteronomy 30:19, God said, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,"
It's not possible to choose life, if one did not have free will.
So, you are making God's word void, aren't you?
There is no conflict.
That definition does not involve the extent of voluntariness (which does not extend to sinlessness).
Because free will is a human notion (Pelagius), and its definition is the ability to make all moral choices.
No, Clare.
The Bible does not support that philosophical concept.
The NT denies this ability, one cannot choose to be sinless.
That has nothing to do with free will in the Bible.
It does back to Aristotle and Cicero, but we have Pelagius, a British monk around 400 AD, to thank for it in the church.
No source?
Okay. Then we have your opinion and your claim, alone.
"Free will" is not in the Bible.
Repeated claim, but that is your word against the Bible's.
I go with the Bible. If you prefer your claim, that's your free willed choice.
Personal "freedom" is simply the power to act voluntarily, which does not include the power to choose to be sinless.
We don't have that power, our "personal freedom" is limited.
Did you make that up, because it sounds like you coined the term, and gave it a definition, because personal freedom is subjective to 8,000,000,000 people.
To some, personal freedom is not having to get up in the morning to go to work.
Personal freedom refers to the ability of individuals to make choices and decisions about their lives without undue interference from external forces, such as government or societal norms.
However, let's work with your definition.
You said,
Personal "freedom" is simply the power to act voluntarily, which does not include the power to choose to be sinless.
We don't have that power, our "personal freedom" is limited.
Free will is the ability to act according to one's will, desires... and does not include the power to choose to be sinless.
We don't have that power, our free will is limited. For example, free will cannot change our skin color, nor make us immune to sicknesses, since free will is not a physical 'asset'.
What argument do you have against free will, because it's no different to what you call "personal freedom"?
Philosophical free will is the power to make all moral choices.
Man does not have that power, he cannot choose to be sinless.
Let's forget about Philosophical free will.
I'm not discussing that.
I'm talking about God given free will.
If you aren't talking about that, then it's like you talking to me about theory (scientific), when I am talking about theory (general).
If we aren't talking about the same thing, the conversation is meaningless. It's actually not conversing.
Personal freedom is simply the ability to act voluntarily, but not necessarily to make all moral choices; e.g., sinlessness.
"Free will" is not in the Bible.
It is in the Bible, and I showed two scriptures.
However, you claimed that you know better than those who understand Greek, and therefore they need to remove the word they used -
hekousios: free will.
On what basis, Clare... because Clare said it?
Choosing "voluntarily" is in the Bible, which presents limitations to man's power to choose voluntarily; e.g., to be sinless.
I must use your Bible then, because of the 43 translations on
this page, only 10 use the word voluntary.
All the others use "free will"; "willing"; "of your own accord"; "willingly"...
Are you saying I should scrap these, and take up the one you prefer?
Present the verse which states "free will" of man, there is none.
I did Clair.
You called it into question with your expertise Greek knowledge.
What more would you like me to do?
Asking me to satisfy a self proclaimed expert that provides no proof of their claim of being the right one is no different to to asking me to break a wall with my head, and I can't do that.
You have not provided any proof of your claim, but yet, you are right... to you.