Definition:
Foreordination refers to the divine decree or purpose established by God before the foundation of the world. It is the act of God determining certain events or outcomes in advance, particularly concerning salvation and the unfolding of His divine plan.

Biblical Context:
The concept of foreordination is closely related to predestination and election, terms often used interchangeably in theological discussions. It emphasizes God's sovereignty and His ultimate authority over creation and history.

Key Scriptures:

1. Ephesians 1:4-5 :
"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 idea that God, in His sovereignty, chose believers before the creation of the world. The purpose of this choice is to bring them into a relationship with Him, characterized by holiness and adoption as His children.

2. Romans 8:29-30 :
"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 begin with foreknowledge and lead to glorification. Foreordination is part of this divine process, ensuring that believers are transformed into the likeness of Christ.

3. 1 Peter 1:20 :
"He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake."

· This verse refers to Jesus Christ, indicating that His role as the Savior was foreordained by God. It underscores the pre-temporal planning of God in the redemption of humanity.

Theological Implications:

· Sovereignty of God: Foreordination underscores the belief in God's absolute sovereignty. It affirms that God has a predetermined plan for the universe and for individual lives, which He executes according to His will.

· Human Responsibility: While foreordination emphasizes God's control, it does not negate human responsibility. Scripture maintains a balance between divine sovereignty and human free will, a mystery that has been the subject of theological debate throughout church history.

· Assurance of Salvation: For believers, the doctrine of foreordination provides assurance of salvation. Knowing that God has chosen and predestined them offers comfort and confidence in their eternal security.

· Purpose and Calling: Understanding foreordination helps believers recognize their purpose and calling in life. It encourages them to live in a manner worthy of their calling, knowing that their lives are part of a larger divine plan.

Historical Perspectives:

Throughout church history, the doctrine of foreordination has been a central theme in Reformed theology, particularly emphasized by theologians such as John Calvin. The Westminster Confession of Faith articulates this belief, stating that God, from all eternity, did by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass.

Conclusion:

The concept of foreordination is a profound and complex aspect of Christian theology. It invites believers to trust in God's perfect plan and to rest in the assurance that their lives are under His sovereign care.(v. t.) To appoint beforehand; to predetermine; to predestinate; to preordain.FOREORDAIN; FORORDINATION

for-or-dan', for-or-di-na'-shun:

The word "foreordain" is uniformly used in the Revised Version (British and American) to render the Greek proorizo, in the passages where this verb occurs (Acts 4:28 Romans 8:29, 30 1 Corinthians 2:7 Ephesians 15:11). In the passages in Romans and Ephesians it takes the place of the King James Version word "predestinate," a return to the usage of the older English versions The word has simply the sense of determining beforehand. It is thus kindred in meaning with a number of other New Testament words expressing the idea of Divine purpose, as "foreknow" (in pregnant sense, Acts 2:23 Romans 8:29, etc.); "determine" (Acts 17:26); "appoint" (1 Peter 2:8). Foreordination, in the widest sense, is coextensive with the sphere of God's universal providence, being but another name for that Divine plan, purpose or counsel which embraces all things, great and small (Matthew 10:29, 30), that happen in Nature, or fall out in human life. Man's free actions are not regarded in Scripture as excluded from it (Acts 2:28). Foreordination, at the same time, is not to be conceived of as in any way overriding, or doing violence to, human freedom. Man acts freely, as Nature acts necessarily, but it is God who appoints the time, place and circumstances of the free act, permits its happening, and overrules it and its issues for the furthering of His own wise and holy ends. See PROVIDENCE. Foreordination in the sphere of grace has respect to the choice, calling and blessing of those who, through faith, are made partakers of eternal life (Romans 8:29, 30 Ephesians 1:5, 11). In this, its soteriological aspect, the subject is considered in special articles.

See CHOOSE; ELECTION; PREDESTINATION.

James Orr

4309. proorizo -- to predetermine, foreordain
... to predetermine, foreordain. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proorizo Phonetic
Spelling: (pro-or-id'-zo) Short Definition: I foreordain, predetermine ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4309.htm - 7k

The Synod of Jerusalem and the Confession of Dositheus, AD 1672.
... Article V."The doctrine of Providence. God foresees and permits (but does
not foreordain) evil, and overrules it for good. Article ...
/.../creeds of christendom with a history and critical notes/ 17 the synod of.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation
... Confession it is said, "God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel
of His own will, freely and unchangeably foreordain whatsoever comes to pass ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter five the sovereignty of.htm

The Gift of the Holy Spirit is the Principle of all Good Actions ...
... actions from the impurity of natural interests, is in a general manner to forethink
daily of their employments of obligation, and to foreordain the future ...
/.../chapter vi the gift of.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1828 to the Beginning ...
... and hence the compound word signifies to limit, bound, or decree beforehand, or,
as very properly translated in the sacred Scriptures, to foreordain, or before ...
/.../chapter 10 from the close.htm

The Gentile Christian Theology. Paul and the Gospel of Faith.
... knowledge (not election). The verb proorizooccurs six times, and means always
to foreordain, to determine before. The words eklego ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 71 the gentile christian.htm

The Theology of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers. <. ...
/.../chapter ii the theology of st.htm

Foreordain
... (vt) To appoint beforehand; to predetermine; to predestinate; to preordain.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FOREORDAIN; FORORDINATION. ...
/f/foreordain.htm - 9k

Forordination
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia FOREORDAIN; FORORDINATION. for-or-dan',
for-or-di-na'-shun: The word "foreordain" is uniformly used ...
/f/forordination.htm - 8k

Foreordained (8 Occurrences)

/f/foreordained.htm - 8k

Forenoon (1 Occurrence)

/f/forenoon.htm - 6k

Predestinate (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To predetermine or foreordain; to appoint or ordain beforehand by an
unchangeable purpose or decree; to preelect. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/p/predestinate.htm - 7k

Foreknow (1 Occurrence)
... are translated in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American)
by the word "foreknowledge," and once by the word "foreordain" (1 Peter ...
/f/foreknow.htm - 36k

Foreknowledge (2 Occurrences)
... are translated in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American)
by the word "foreknowledge," and once by the word "foreordain" (1 Peter ...
/f/foreknowledge.htm - 37k

Predestination
... as a mere golden haze of good will. SeeELECTION; FOREORDAIN. LITERATURE.
The relative works of Augustine, Aquinas, Zwingli, Calvin ...
/p/predestination.htm - 26k

Purpose (448 Occurrences)
... with the character of God. See FOREORDAIN; PREDESTINATION. Multi-Version
Concordance Purpose (448 Occurrences). Matthew 5:31 Again ...
/p/purpose.htm - 37k

Can a Christian “give back” salvation? | GotQuestions.org

Unconditional election - is it biblical? | GotQuestions.org

Foreordain: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus