The concept of being "destined" in the Bible often relates to God's sovereign will and purpose for individuals and nations. It encompasses themes of predestination, divine calling, and the fulfillment of God's plans. The term is closely associated with God's foreknowledge and the unfolding of His divine purposes throughout history.

Predestination and Divine Sovereignty

The doctrine of predestination is a key aspect of the biblical understanding of destiny. It refers to God's eternal decree by which He has determined the fate of individuals and events according to His will. Ephesians 1:4-5 states, "For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will." This passage highlights the belief that God has a predetermined plan for His people, rooted in His love and sovereign choice.

Romans 8:29-30 further elaborates on this concept: "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." Here, the apostle Paul outlines a sequence of divine actions that underscore God's sovereign role in the salvation and ultimate glorification of believers.

Divine Calling and Purpose

The Bible also speaks of individuals being destined for specific roles or missions as part of God's overarching plan. Jeremiah 1:5 records God's words to the prophet Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations." This verse illustrates the idea that God has a specific purpose for each person, known and ordained even before birth.

Similarly, the apostle Paul acknowledges his own divine calling in Galatians 1:15-16 : "But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood." Paul's recognition of his destiny to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles underscores the belief that God orchestrates individual lives for His purposes.

Nations and Historical Events

The Bible also addresses the destiny of nations and historical events as part of God's sovereign plan. Acts 17:26 declares, "From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands." This passage suggests that God has predetermined the rise and fall of nations, as well as their geographical and temporal boundaries.

In the Old Testament, the destiny of Israel as God's chosen people is a recurring theme. Deuteronomy 7:6 states, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession, above all the peoples on the face of the earth." Israel's destiny as a nation set apart for God's purposes is central to the biblical narrative.

Conclusion

The concept of being destined in the Bible is deeply intertwined with God's sovereignty, His foreknowledge, and His divine purposes for individuals and nations. It encompasses the themes of predestination, divine calling, and the fulfillment of God's plans, reflecting the belief that all things ultimately work according to His will.(imp. & p. p.) of Destine.2749. keimai -- to be laid, lie
... Phonetic Spelling: (ki'-mahee) Short Definition: I lie, recline, am laid Definition:
I lie, recline, am placed, am laid, set, specially appointed, destined. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2749.htm - 7k

3805. pathetos -- one who has suffered or is subject to suffering
... suffered or is subject to suffering. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
pathetos Phonetic Spelling: (path-ay-tos') Short Definition: destined to suffer ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3805.htm - 6k

5087. tithemi -- to place, lay, set
... root the- Definition to place, lay, set NASB Word Usage appointed (6), assign (2),
committed (1), conceived (1), destined (1), down* (4), falling (1), fixed (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5087.htm - 10k

6257. athod -- to be ready
... 6256, 6257. athod. 6258 . to be ready. Transliteration: athod Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-thad') Short Definition: destined. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/6257.htm - 5k

6822. tsaphah -- to look out or about, spy, keep watch
... root Definition to look out or about, spy, keep watch NASB Word Usage destined
(1), keep watch (3), lookout (1), looks well (1), spies (1), watch (3), watch ...
/hebrew/6822.htm - 6k

Our Destined Likeness to the Angels in the Glorious Life of the ...
... Chapter LXII."Our Destined Likeness to the Angels in the Glorious Life of
the Resurrection. To this discussion, however, our Lord's ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter lxii our destined likeness to.htm

See the Destined Day Arise
... THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Holy Week 146. See the destined day arise. Four 7's ... Paraphrased
by Richard Mant, 1837. See the destined day arise! See a willing sacrifice! ...
/.../holy week 146 see the.htm

The Words, Mortale (Capable of Dying), Mortuum (Dead), and ...
... and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants Chapter 5 [V.] "The Words,
Mortale (Capable of Dying), Mortuum (Dead), and Moriturus (Destined to Die ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 5 v name words.htm

As God in his Word Enjoins Common Prayer, So Public Temples are ...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 30 As God in his word enjoins common prayer,
so public temples are the places destined? As God ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 30 as god in.htm

O virgin, Maintain Thy Purpose which is Destined for a Great ...
... Chapter XII. O Virgin, maintain thy purpose which is destined for a great reward.?
O Virgin, maintain thy purpose which is destined for a great reward. ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xii o virgin maintain.htm

The Patience of the Heathen Very Different from Christian Patience ...
... Chapter XVI."The Patience of the Heathen Very Different from Christian Patience
Theirs Doomed to Perdition. Ours Destined to Salvation. ...
/.../tertullian/of patience/chapter xvi the patience of the.htm

St. Paul's Teaching on the Subject.
... But if we believe the resurrection of the dead, of course we shall be bound to them
with whom we are destined to rise, to render an account the one of the other ...
/.../tertullian/on monogamy/chapter x st pauls teaching on.htm

The Same Subject Continued.
... She converts day into night and night into day, giving to pleasure the time destined
for repose; she purloins from the industrious hours of day the sleep and ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter viii the same subject.htm

Diversity of Dreams and visions Epicurus Thought Lightly of Them ...
... Now they who interpreted these visions did not deceive the mother when they destined
her son for so great an enterprise, for Cyrus both inundated and ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter xlvi diversity of dreams and.htm

The Gains of the Faithful Steward
... aims, high aspirations, pure thoughts, treasures of wisdom, treasures of
goodness"these are the real wealth corresponding to man's nature, destined for his ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the gains of the faithful.htm

Destined (25 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Destine. Multi-Version Concordance Destined (25 Occurrences). ... We
have been looked upon as sheep destined for slaughter." (WEY). ...
/d/destined.htm - 14k

Pre-destined (13 Occurrences)
Pre-destined. Predestined, Pre-destined. Predetermined .
Multi-Version Concordance Pre-destined (13 Occurrences). Luke ...
/p/pre-destined.htm - 10k

Destiny (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That to which any person or thing is destined; predetermined state; condition
foreordained by the Divine or by human will; fate; lot; doom. ...
/d/destiny.htm - 8k

Predestined (6 Occurrences)
... 2:7 But in dealing with truths hitherto kept secret we speak of God's wisdom--that
hidden wisdom which, before the world began, God pre-destined, so that it ...
/p/predestined.htm - 8k

Ages (114 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 13:48 The Gentiles listened with delight and extolled the Lord's Message;
and all who were pre-destined to the Life of the Ages believed. (WEY). ...
/a/ages.htm - 36k

Heavens (548 Occurrences)
... But from the things thus shaken and removed (including heaven), the writer
distinguishes "those things which are not shaken," which are destined to remain, ...
/h/heavens.htm - 49k

Earth (10501 Occurrences)
... But from the things thus shaken and removed (including heaven), the writer
distinguishes "those things which are not shaken," which are destined to remain, ...
/e/earth.htm - 26k

Hellenism
... Henceforth, Greek philosophy was destined, with relatively few and unimportant
exceptions, to devote itself to the study of human conduct and to be essentially ...
/h/hellenism.htm - 26k

Hellenist
... Henceforth, Greek philosophy was destined, with relatively few and unimportant
exceptions, to devote itself to the study of human conduct and to be essentially ...
/h/hellenist.htm - 26k

Vast (54 Occurrences)
... Romans 8:29 For those whom He has known beforehand He has also pre-destined to bear
the likeness of His Son, that He might be the Eldest in a vast family of ...
/v/vast.htm - 22k

What does the Bible say about karma? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about fate / destiny? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about predetermination? | GotQuestions.org

Destined: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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