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I am starting this thread for anyone who may be interested in whether they taught free will or predestination. I am going to read every church father within the first 150 years or so, those close to the early church. Chapter by chapter. And honestly appraise what they taught regarding the free will / predestination debate.
Please if you are commenting on this thread try not to quote mine. Follow through the thread logically chapter by chapter with us. To start this I am going to begin with Irenaeus [A.D. 120-202] because he is known to have made comments on this subject, where many of the church fathers have just written general epistles.
After Reading a book I will put a summary here:
Irenaeus [A.D. 120-202]
Taught that God gives enlightenment to all people, that the law is not hidden from them, that it is understood by all. That man has it in his own power to either accept or reject God, that God does not coerce or force salvation or damnation on any. Anyone willing to follow God can, for God has made man a free agent from the beginning. The cross restored communion with God for all. But man to his own hurt can reject God, but it is man who blinds himself not God. God has no responsibility for the apostacy of the damned.
As for foreknowledge nothing can come to pass that God does not know. In the present time, God foreknows who will not believe [in that generation]. God has also predetermined the number of people He desires to be saved*.
In a similar way to the following (but regarding corporate salvation):
Rev 6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Justin Martyr [AD 110-165]
Justin Martyr believed that those who imitate God’s excellences will be saved, but those who resort to the lower nature damned. He believed that man was a free agent, having free will to choose how to live, free to choose his own salvation. He believed that God desires the repentance, not damnation of the sinner. Those who do the works of God shall be saved. He believed men are rational and contemplative, with the power of thought, with this mind can choose to do good or evil. He taught that men are not controlled by any kind of fatalism, but will be judged according to their own, self-chosen deeds. He stated if this were not so man could not be held responsible for actions either good, or evil. He said the blame for damnation is not with God. That even those known to be unrighteous could repent, had the opportunity to do so. He said both angles and men have been given free will, which makes them capable of vice or virtue. He saw repentance as essential for salvation. He said the one who opposes God’s salvation to man is the devil, it is not God opposing man.
Like Iranaeus he believed that God has ordained a number of people that He wishes to be saved.
St. Clemont [A.D. 30-100]
Saw right living, righteousness to be the gate through which salvation comes. That it saves all those who walk in it. Although he did say the blessing is received not by our works but by God’s will. He said the innocent or righteous are God’s elect. He said that God desires nothing but confession from everyone. God was said to have prepared his gifts for us before we were born. Also like Irenaeus and Justin Martyr he stated “[that] the number of God’s elect might be saved”.
Ignatius [A.D. 30-107.]
Started one of his epistles with:
[to the church ] predestinated before the beginning of time, that it should be always for an enduring and unchangeable glory, being united and elected through the true passion by the will of the Father
As for his beliefs regarding individual salvation. He stated there is hope of repentance in other men. That God desires repentance not the death of the wicked. That sinners set a naught God, those who receive the power of distinguishing but reject the knowledge given them shall be judged. That Jesus is the savior of all men. We gain life with observance of God’s precepts, everyone will be judged according to the choice they make. He states “ I do not mean to say that there are two different human natures” and “ he is a man of the devil, made such, not by nature, but by his own choice”. That all of them that repent have salvation.
Polycarp [A.D. 65-100-155]
Said "If we please Him in this present world, we shall receive also the future world, according as He has promised to us that He will raise us again from the dead, and that if we live worthily of Him, “we shall also reign together with Him,” (2Ti_2:12) provided only we believe".
Mathetes [AD 130]
Stated that God truely loves man, that he gives HIs knowledge to all, the privilege of looking to himself. Stating: "He rendered subject all the things that are in it [the world], to whom He gave reason and understanding, to whom alone He imparted the privilege of looking upwards to Himself"
Barabus [AD 100]
Spoke of love, and righteousness being needful for salvation. Also stated "This means that the man perishes justly, who, having a knowledge of the way of righteousness, rushes off into the way of darkness".
Papias [A.D. 70-155.]
Nothing to report.
This concludes the writers from the First Century. May do the Second Century over time. Hopefully, this gives a good over view of the Early Church View.
Please if you are commenting on this thread try not to quote mine. Follow through the thread logically chapter by chapter with us. To start this I am going to begin with Irenaeus [A.D. 120-202] because he is known to have made comments on this subject, where many of the church fathers have just written general epistles.
- Irenaeus (read/completed)
- Justin Martyr (read/completed)
- St. Clement (read/completed)
- Ignatius (read/completed)
- Polycarp (read/completed)
- Mathetes (read/completed)
- Barabus (read/completed)
- Papias (read/completed)
After Reading a book I will put a summary here:
Irenaeus [A.D. 120-202]
Taught that God gives enlightenment to all people, that the law is not hidden from them, that it is understood by all. That man has it in his own power to either accept or reject God, that God does not coerce or force salvation or damnation on any. Anyone willing to follow God can, for God has made man a free agent from the beginning. The cross restored communion with God for all. But man to his own hurt can reject God, but it is man who blinds himself not God. God has no responsibility for the apostacy of the damned.
As for foreknowledge nothing can come to pass that God does not know. In the present time, God foreknows who will not believe [in that generation]. God has also predetermined the number of people He desires to be saved*.
In a similar way to the following (but regarding corporate salvation):
Rev 6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Justin Martyr [AD 110-165]
Justin Martyr believed that those who imitate God’s excellences will be saved, but those who resort to the lower nature damned. He believed that man was a free agent, having free will to choose how to live, free to choose his own salvation. He believed that God desires the repentance, not damnation of the sinner. Those who do the works of God shall be saved. He believed men are rational and contemplative, with the power of thought, with this mind can choose to do good or evil. He taught that men are not controlled by any kind of fatalism, but will be judged according to their own, self-chosen deeds. He stated if this were not so man could not be held responsible for actions either good, or evil. He said the blame for damnation is not with God. That even those known to be unrighteous could repent, had the opportunity to do so. He said both angles and men have been given free will, which makes them capable of vice or virtue. He saw repentance as essential for salvation. He said the one who opposes God’s salvation to man is the devil, it is not God opposing man.
Like Iranaeus he believed that God has ordained a number of people that He wishes to be saved.
St. Clemont [A.D. 30-100]
Saw right living, righteousness to be the gate through which salvation comes. That it saves all those who walk in it. Although he did say the blessing is received not by our works but by God’s will. He said the innocent or righteous are God’s elect. He said that God desires nothing but confession from everyone. God was said to have prepared his gifts for us before we were born. Also like Irenaeus and Justin Martyr he stated “[that] the number of God’s elect might be saved”.
Ignatius [A.D. 30-107.]
Started one of his epistles with:
[to the church ] predestinated before the beginning of time, that it should be always for an enduring and unchangeable glory, being united and elected through the true passion by the will of the Father
As for his beliefs regarding individual salvation. He stated there is hope of repentance in other men. That God desires repentance not the death of the wicked. That sinners set a naught God, those who receive the power of distinguishing but reject the knowledge given them shall be judged. That Jesus is the savior of all men. We gain life with observance of God’s precepts, everyone will be judged according to the choice they make. He states “ I do not mean to say that there are two different human natures” and “ he is a man of the devil, made such, not by nature, but by his own choice”. That all of them that repent have salvation.
Polycarp [A.D. 65-100-155]
Said "If we please Him in this present world, we shall receive also the future world, according as He has promised to us that He will raise us again from the dead, and that if we live worthily of Him, “we shall also reign together with Him,” (2Ti_2:12) provided only we believe".
Mathetes [AD 130]
Stated that God truely loves man, that he gives HIs knowledge to all, the privilege of looking to himself. Stating: "He rendered subject all the things that are in it [the world], to whom He gave reason and understanding, to whom alone He imparted the privilege of looking upwards to Himself"
Barabus [AD 100]
Spoke of love, and righteousness being needful for salvation. Also stated "This means that the man perishes justly, who, having a knowledge of the way of righteousness, rushes off into the way of darkness".
Papias [A.D. 70-155.]
Nothing to report.
This concludes the writers from the First Century. May do the Second Century over time. Hopefully, this gives a good over view of the Early Church View.
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