I thought I was Arminian until I read this verse literally and was like... 'wha......'
Ever have an experience with that verse like that?
This passage is often misunderstood because it is taken out of context. In this section of Romans Paul is addressing the Jewish believers in the church at Rome. He starts this discussion in chapter 2 verse 17 where he says.
17
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, (Rom. 2:17 KJV)
He continues addressing the Jews in the church through chapter 11 verse 13.
13
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: (Rom. 11:13 KJV)
Through this section he's addressing Jewish believers. In verse 28 he writes 'for we know' the word know literally means to see or to know by seeing. A good translation is, to perceive. That brings us to the question of how his Jewish readers would have perceived that God works all things together for good to those who love him. He goes on to explain that those God foreknew He also predestined. This is where people go off the rails. The word that is translated "foreknew" is the Greek word "proginosko" it's a compound word, "pro" and "ginosko". Pro means before and ginosko means know. Literally, it's before know. The problem is that people claim that this means God knew them before the foundation of the world. However, that's not how the word is used. Paul used this word of himself and the Jewish leadership.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
(Acts 26:4-6 KJV)
The phrase "which knew me from the beginning" is translated from proginosko. Paul surely isn't saying that those Jews knew him before he was born. He's simply saying that they knew him in the past, from his youth. That's the same way he's using it in Romans 8. He's talking about those God knew before, or in the past. Men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc. These men that God knew in the past he did predestine them. He also called them, justified them and glorified them. Paul is not talking about some kind of eternal knowledge on God's part, but simply men that God had interacted with in the past. That we know this is the case can be seen in chapter 9 where Paul explains this.
How would Paul's readers perceive that God works all thing together for good to those who love Him? Paul explains this in chapter 9 where he begins.
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ
for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Rom. 9:1-5 KJV)
Notice here that Paul is talking about Israelites. He states this plainly. He says that the promises pertain to the fathers, who are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Notice how he then continues to explain the promises.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Rom. 9:6-13 KJV)
Paul's Jewish readers who were reading this letter were familiar with the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it was Israel's hope. It's through this history that Paul's readers would have perceived that God works all things together for those who love. This passage in not about the Calvinist belief that God know people before the foundation of the world. It's simply an example of what God had done for those in the past who loved Him.
