Concurrence
Jump to: Webster'sConcordanceThesaurusGreekLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Definition:
Concurrence, in theological terms, refers to the cooperative interaction between divine sovereignty and human free will. It is the concept that God, in His omnipotence and omniscience, works through and with human actions and decisions to fulfill His divine purposes. This doctrine maintains that God's will is accomplished without negating human responsibility.

Biblical Basis:
The Bible presents numerous instances where divine sovereignty and human actions intersect, illustrating the principle of concurrence. One of the clearest examples is found in the account of Joseph. In Genesis 50:20 , Joseph tells his brothers, "As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Here, human intentions and actions are evident, yet God's overarching plan is fulfilled through them.

Another significant example is found in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In Acts 2:23 , Peter declares, "He was handed over by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross." This verse highlights the concurrence of God's predetermined plan and human actions, where both divine sovereignty and human responsibility are at play.

Theological Implications:
Concurrence upholds the belief that God is actively involved in His creation, guiding and directing events according to His will. It affirms that while humans have the freedom to make choices, these choices are ultimately used by God to achieve His purposes. This doctrine provides comfort to believers, assuring them that God is in control, even in situations where human actions seem to prevail.

The doctrine of concurrence also addresses the problem of evil and suffering. It suggests that while God does not cause evil, He permits it and can use it to bring about a greater good. Romans 8:28 supports this view: "And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."

Philosophical Considerations:
The concept of concurrence raises philosophical questions about the nature of free will and divine foreknowledge. How can human actions be genuinely free if God is sovereign over all events? The doctrine of concurrence posits that God's sovereignty and human freedom are not mutually exclusive but are instead complementary. God's foreknowledge does not coerce human decisions; rather, it encompasses them within His divine plan.

Historical Perspectives:
Throughout church history, theologians have grappled with the tension between divine sovereignty and human freedom. Augustine of Hippo emphasized God's sovereignty, while also acknowledging human responsibility. The Reformers, particularly John Calvin, further developed the doctrine of concurrence, emphasizing God's providential control over all aspects of life.

Practical Application:
For believers, the doctrine of concurrence encourages trust in God's providence. It reassures them that their choices and actions, while significant, are part of a larger divine narrative. This understanding fosters a sense of peace and purpose, knowing that God is working through every circumstance to accomplish His will.

In prayer, concurrence invites believers to align their desires with God's purposes, seeking His guidance and wisdom in their decisions. It also encourages a humble acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, leading to a life of obedience and faithfulness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A meeting or coming together; agreement; union; conjunction; combination.

2. (n.) A meeting of minds; agreement in opinion; union in design or act; -- implying joint approbation.

3. (n.) Agreement or consent, implying aid or contribution of power or influence; cooperation.

4. (n.) A common right; coincidence of equal powers; as, a concurrence of jurisdiction in two different courts.

Greek
4795. sugkuria -- chance
... chance. From a comparative of sun and kureo (to light or happen; from the base of
kurios); concurrence, ie Accident -- chance. see GREEK sun. see GREEK kurios. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4795.htm - 7k

5222. hupantesis -- a going to meet
... meeting. From hupantao; an encounter or concurrence (with eis for infinitive, in
order to fall in with) -- meeting. see GREEK hupantao. see GREEK eis. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5222.htm - 6k

Library

And, Therefore, in this Concurrence of the Sun and Moon...
... Section VI. And, therefore, in this concurrence of the sun and moon? And,
therefore, in this concurrence of the sun and moon, the ...
/.../the paschal canon of anatolius of alexandria/section vi and therefore in.htm

Counter-Statements of Theodoret.
... Against III.--- The sense of the terms used is misty and obscure. Who needs to be
told that there is no difference between conjunction and concurrence? ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/counter-statements of theodoret.htm

On Obedience to the Commands of God in General
... The grace and special concurrence of God are required for the performance of entire,
true, and sincere obedience, even for that of the inner man, of the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxx on obedience to.htm

The Providence of God
... (4.) The destined concession of its concurrence, which, on account of the dependence
of a second on the first cause, is a necessary concurrence. Secondly. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/the providence of god.htm

Whether Anger is a Special Passion?
... Now it happens that an effect is produced by the concurrence of various causes;
and since every cause remains somewhat in its effect, we may say that, in yet a ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether anger is a special.htm

The Second Continental Journey.
... were favored to enter most fully and feelingly into our views, and under a precious
solemnity, a general sentiment of unity and concurrence spread through the ...
/.../chapter viii the second continental.htm

On the Providence of God 1
... against creation, which it would do, were it to inhibit or hinder the use of free
will in man, or should deny to man its necessary concurrence, or should ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/on the providence of god.htm

"If we Confess Our Sins, He is Faithful and Just to Forgive us Our ...
... and these are daily called by the gospel to come to this table, which the wisdom
of the Father hath prepared for us, without either our knowledge or concurrence ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xviii if we confess.htm

An Argument against those who Say that Matter is Co-Eternal with ...
... of these should be withdrawn from the substratum, the whole idea of the body is
dissolved; it would seem to follow that we may suppose the concurrence of those ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/xxiv an argument against those.htm

Whether the Matter of Christ's Body Should have Been Taken from a ...
... For the first man was made from the "slime of the earth," without the concurrence
of man or woman: Eve was made of man but not of woman: and other men are made ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the matter of christs.htm

Thesaurus
Concurrence (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (n.) A common right; coincidence of equal powers; as, a concurrence of
jurisdiction in two different courts. ...Concurrence (1 Occurrence). ...
/c/concurrence.htm - 7k

Consent (34 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Voluntary accordance with, or concurrence in, what is done or proposed
by another; acquiescence; compliance; approval; permission. ...
/c/consent.htm - 18k

Agreement (341 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) State of agreeing; harmony of opinion, statement, action, or character;
concurrence; concord; conformity; as, a good agreement subsists among the ...
/a/agreement.htm - 36k

Excommunication
... It was the act of the local church, either with (1 Corinthians 5:4) or without
(1 Corinthians 5:13; 1 Corinthians 3John 1:10) the concurrence of an apostle. ...
/e/excommunication.htm - 15k

Fortunate (4 Occurrences)
... chance; bringing some good thing not foreseen as certain; presaging happiness;
auspicious; as, a fortunate event; a fortunate concurrence of circumstances; a ...
/f/fortunate.htm - 7k

Transfiguration
... vision. The concurrence between them in all the circumstances of the incident
is exact. John seems to allude to it also (John 1:14). ...
/t/transfiguration.htm - 17k

Pauline
... Yet there was general concurrence in certain broad principles, while some of Paul's
own statements enable us to specify his beliefs still more closely. ...
/p/pauline.htm - 38k

Convention (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vi) General agreement or concurrence; arbitrary custom; usage;
conventionality. 3. (n.) A meeting or an assembly of persons, esp. ...
/c/convention.htm - 7k

Conspiracy (17 Occurrences)
... treason; a plot. 2. (n.) A concurrence or general tendency, as of circumstances,
to one event, as if by agreement. 3. (n.) An agreement ...
/c/conspiracy.htm - 12k

Coincidence (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) Exact correspondence in nature, character, result, circumstances, etc.;
concurrence; agreement. Multi-Version Concordance Coincidence (1 Occurrence). ...
/c/coincidence.htm - 7k

Resources
If God knew that Adam and Eve would sin, why did He create them? | GotQuestions.org

Concurrence: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Concurrence (1 Occurrence)

1 Corinthians 7:6
and this I say by way of concurrence -- not of command,
(YLT)

Subtopics

Concurrence

Related Terms

Condemnation (30 Occurrences)

Damn

Judgement (68 Occurrences)

Greater (219 Occurrences)

Justify (19 Occurrences)

Arise (235 Occurrences)

Condemning (6 Occurrences)

Generation (150 Occurrences)

Present (577 Occurrences)

Someone (153 Occurrences)

Nin'eveh (18 Occurrences)

Jonas (11 Occurrences)

Reformed (5 Occurrences)

Repented (49 Occurrences)

Ends (108 Occurrences)

Damnation (11 Occurrences)

Damnable (1 Occurrence)

Proclamation (31 Occurrences)

Betrayed (31 Occurrences)

Barabbas (10 Occurrences)

Censure (3 Occurrences)

Condemns (11 Occurrences)

Teachers (87 Occurrences)

Listen (441 Occurrences)

Rise (417 Occurrences)

Condemned (49 Occurrences)

Behold (1513 Occurrences)

Delivered (427 Occurrences)

South (170 Occurrences)

Solomon's (56 Occurrences)

Justified (46 Occurrences)

Innocent (97 Occurrences)

Judgment (430 Occurrences)

Stand (542 Occurrences)

Guilty (131 Occurrences)

Queen (59 Occurrences)

Purity (16 Occurrences)

Won't (144 Occurrences)

Chief (696 Occurrences)

Preaching (116 Occurrences)

Judge (297 Occurrences)

Quietness (15 Occurrences)

Vote (3 Occurrences)

Vow (49 Occurrences)

Nineve (1 Occurrence)

Ninevites (2 Occurrences)

Unheard (2 Occurrences)

Uttermost (48 Occurrences)

Obtains (4 Occurrences)

Obtaineth (5 Occurrences)

Justifying (9 Occurrences)

Judged (201 Occurrences)

Govern (21 Occurrences)

Gomor'rah (23 Occurrences)

Golgotha (4 Occurrences)

Weakened (7 Occurrences)

Impious (19 Occurrences)

Interceding (1 Occurrence)

Fraud (15 Occurrences)

Forgiven (61 Occurrences)

Forgive (81 Occurrences)

Forged (3 Occurrences)

Thereafter (8 Occurrences)

Repayeth (16 Occurrences)

Released (52 Occurrences)

Revile (28 Occurrences)

Renounce (12 Occurrences)

Remitted (4 Occurrences)

Remit (3 Occurrences)

Reprobate (8 Occurrences)

Resort (14 Occurrences)

Excuse (13 Occurrences)

Either (152 Occurrences)

Devices (43 Occurrences)

Deem (4 Occurrences)

Devises (11 Occurrences)

Doom (15 Occurrences)

Disannul (3 Occurrences)

Concurred
Top of Page
Top of Page