Whom He Foreknew He Also Predestined

Romans 8:29

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” -Romans 8:29

Here we have arrived at what many theologians have called the golden chain because here Paul lays out an order of events related to our redemption as having been predetermined by God so that we can not posses one aspect of our adoption without possessing the other, as shall be demonstrated.

This is also a point of controversy for many Christians who have tried to wrest the Scriptures in an effort to make sense of what to our fallen human sensibilities appears to be unfathomable, namely that God has planned our redemption without our consent or participation. Nevertheless, his plan is not contrary to his proclamation that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” -Romans 10:13 Cf. Joel 2:32 & Acts 2:21. The Divine workings of our salvation do not belong to us, but what God has revealed does (Deuteronomy 29:29).

What we do know is that the Greek word translated foreknew, προγινώσκω (progynosko) means to ordain or determine beforehand. It is not a “bare prescience” as some try to argue. Because the English word, foreknew appears to have in it the idea of simply “knowing” as the Greek word γινώσκω (gynosko) carries with it, these have attempted to argue that God simply predestines those whom he knew beforehand would repent and believe. But this is not supported by the definition of the word, the grammatical structure of the sentence, or the larger argument Paul is making. What Paul is asserting quite plainly is that God has distinguished from the beginning, by the adoption of sons, his own children from the reprobates.

It is of interest to note that this verse is only found in this place and in chap. 9:2; Acts 26:5; 1 Pet. 1:20; and 2 Pet. 3:17. And on this point, the editors of John Calvin and John Owen’s Commentary on Romans reference those passages mentioned, stating that,

In the second, and in the last passage, it signifies merely a previous knowledge or acquaintance, and refers to men. In 1 Pet. 1:20, it is applied to Christ as having been “foreordained,” according to our version, “before the foundation of the world.” In this Epistle, chap. 11:2, it refers to God,—“God hath not cast away his people whom he foreknew:” and according to the context, it means the same as elected; for the Apostle speaks of what God did “according to the election of grace,” and not according to foreseen faith.

From here, we can follow Paul’s logical chain. Those who have been foreknown by God, have also been predestined (determined beforehand) to be conformed to the image of Christ to the end that his adopted sons will resemble their older, model brother.

Finally, we must not forget that all of this is meant to be an encouragement to those in Christ and in whom the Spirit of God is working to help their infirmities in this life. It’s an assurance of sanctification.

As believers, we are set in hopefulness knowing that long before we were born, God chose us to be his sons, and has planned for our redemption via the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and the imparting of his divine nature by the Holy Spirit who helps us by making intercession on our behalf according to the will of God that we might overcome our infirmities as we are conformed more and more into the image of our older brother, Jesus the Christ.

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