What is Providence?

[QvQ]

The word Providence is used in earlier Christian writings but it seems to have slipped out of the modern Christian vernacular.
I know the concept is in Protestant and also Catholic theology. A Methodist friend used it in a conversation recently. Aquinas wrote extensively on the subject.
Also, the phrase to describe natural events as "Acts of God" I believe means Providence.
What is the theology of Providence?

 

[bling]

Ro. 8:28

 

[QvQ]

Is there universal agreement among the denomination as to the meaning of Providence?

I found this list of verses concerning Providence:

"Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's" preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; "Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26;" "10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov." "21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam." 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to "the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14," "15; Prov. 16:1; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1), and things sinful (2 Sam." "16:10; 24:1; Rom. 11:32; Acts 4:27, 28), as well as to their" "good actions (Phil. 2:13; 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9, 10; Eph. 2:10; Gal." 5:22-25). "As regards sinful actions of men, they are represented as occurring by God's permission (Gen. 45:5; 50:20. Comp. 1 Sam. "6:6; Ex. 7:13; 14:17; Acts 2:3; 3:18; 4:27, 28), and as" controlled (Ps. 76:10) and overruled for good (Gen. 50:20; Acts "3:13). God does not cause or approve of sin, but only limits," "restrains, overrules it for good." "The mode of God's providential government is altogether unexplained. We only know that it is a fact that God does govern all his creatures and all their actions; that this government is "universal (Ps. 103:17-19), particular (Matt. 10:29-31)," "efficacious (Ps. 33:11; Job 23:13), embraces events apparently" "contingent (Prov. 16:9, 33; 19:21; 21:1), is consistent with his" "own perfection (2 Tim. 2:13), and to his own glory (Rom. 9:17;" 11:36).

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 KJV
11. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
12. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

 

[Mark Quayle]

The word Providence is used in earlier Christian writings but it seems to have slipped out of the modern Christian vernacular.
I know the concept is in Protestant and also Catholic theology. A Methodist friend used it in a conversation recently. Aquinas wrote extensively on the subject.
Also, the phrase to describe natural events as "Acts of God" I believe means Providence.
What is the theology of Providence?

Thanks for bringing this subject up; I've always wondered about some of the things I've heard attributed to the doctrine, but never studied it as such. To me, the word, 'providence', is of simple meaning: Whatever God provides. But apparently some take it to specify more, and some quite a bit less.

As I've gotten older I've seen the word applicable to absolutely everything that God has done for HIS OWN SAKE, but on our behalf. It does not mean only his setting things into play that will result in the good of his own people, and neither does it only mean his interventions for the good of his own people, but the whole course of his decree. So when I look it up for a bit of research, I see definitions that depend on a person's point of view more than definitive of God's work.

For the Self-Determinist, it is God intervening as necessary for the continued good of those who need his occasional help. For the Calvinist/Reformed it could almost be mistaken for "God's Love", or at least, for that particular facet to God's love whereby he has decreed all things --or, more specifically, those things that WE see God has done for us.

Here is a pretty good treatise, more technical and precise, than I would bother to write.

Providence | Monergism

by Louis BerkhofChristian theism is opposed to both a deistic separation of God from the world and a pantheistic confusion of God with the world. Hence the

www.monergism.com

 

[QvQ]

Providence | Monergism

by Louis BerkhofChristian theism is opposed to both a deistic separation of God from the world and a pantheistic confusion of God with the world. Hence the

www.monergism.com

" Socinians and Arminians, though not both to the same degree, limited the providence of God by stressing the independent power of man to initiate action and thus to control his life. The control of the world was really taken out of the hands of God, and given into the hands of man. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries providence was virtually ruled out by a Deism which represented God as withdrawing Himself from the world after the work of creation; and by a Pantheism which identified God and the world, obliterated the distinction between creation and providence, and denied the reality of second causes. "

This quote is interesting as it gives an explanation of why Providence is fading from Christianity.