Does Romans 8 PROVE Calvinism? or are there alternative interpretations that are POSSIBLE?

The “Golden chain of redemption”

Explaining the Chaining

INTRO

Before I offer my unique alternative; I want to note I will not be addressing “free will” in this article.

I will focus on the “P” of TULIP

(perseverance of the Elect).

That is the Calvinist doctrine that the Elect (after initial justification) are never in a state that IF they were to die would result in their damnation.

and

Likewise the damned are never in a state that IF they were to die would result in them going to Heaven.

not even for a single instance of time. An elect Christian who is justified and then commits adultery; even if while in the act of defilement they were to die… goes to Heaven.

A person who “appears” (even to their own subjective opinion) to have a conversion to Christ is going to Hell even if they die slipping and hitting their head as they leave the baptismal font.

Anecdotal arguments may be leveled against this. For example people we know who seemed to have a genuine conversion and baptism that later apostatize.

However against scripture anecdote is NOTHING.

An anecdote could be based purely on false data and the “heads I Win, Tails you lose” version of Calvinism is deployed:

“they were never TRULY saved or they wouldn't have fallen away from the faith”

if said person later returns to the faith they may say:

“they were never truly in danger of losing their salvation. They were saved the whole time”

“their first conversion was false, only the 2nd/3rd/4th… time was a true conversion!”

This can neither be proven nor disproven. It is unfalsifiable.

That does not make it intrinsically true or wrong...

But we must turn to the Infallible and inerrant word of God to see whether it proves the Calvinist view; or leaves open the possibility that our anecdotal intuitions are true and a state of grace may be removed.

NOTE 1: Now I DO personally assert that an ELECT christian who is in a state of sin WILL by the grace of God live long enough to repent and be restored to friendship with God.

What I assert that is rejected by Calvinists is:

a) the elect CAN be in a state that is they WERE to die they would go to Hell.

(they will not die; but counter factually if they were then they would go to Hell)

b) we cannot know if we are elect or not.

(We can still have peace that if we keep faith and hope in God He will DEFINITELY save us. But we cannot know with infallible certainty that we will keep this faith, and hope if we act contrary to the spirit in unrepentant mortal sin)

Today I will offer an alternative to the Calvinist exegesis of:

“THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF REDEMPTION”

Romans 8:28-30

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

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. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

This sequence is one of the most powerful arguments for the Calvinist position. It almost converted me to become Reformed Presbyterian.

It is also one of the greatest arguments that Christianity is false; because if the Calvinist view is correct many verses in this epistle and the rest of scripture contradict.

(assuming the law of non contradiction is actually a real law)

Here are two alternatives; commonly offered that fail:

1) I have seen some of my brothers suggest that a person may be “justified” without the former categories. They try and break up this sequence, and say the links are not interdependent.

I think this interpretation is incorrect.

The groups follow on from one another, both in English and in Greek.

St Paul basically says if you were in group A than you are in group B; and if in group B than you are in group C; and in group C than you are in group D.

A=B=C=D=E

This chain is a single beautiful chain from one group to another showing sanctification.

You cannot add links that are not there. There is a continuity between the links that is necessarily unbroken.

2) another rejection of Calvinism claims that the golden chain refers to corporate groups not individuals This argument is stronger… but requires more nuanced interpretation.

scripture shows a telescoping pattern where individuals and groups are linked typologically. Groups are made of individuals.

(one may argue this proves Calvinism is false because we see groups cut off from God; and while this implies individuals may lose salvation it is far from proof and doesn’t explain the chain)

Therefore I find this interpretation also unlikely. (Though as a fallible interpreter I could be wrong…)

So it seems that Calvinism is true… our common sense intuitions are false.

(and we must now use “Misson: Impossible” level mental gymnastics-

to explain the parables of 10 virgins, the withering fig tree, the wedding garment, Jame’s epistle, Romans 11 etc)

or scripture is broken…

BUT. Here is an alternative.

Past tense is used here.

For Every. Single. Link.

Quite simply although God is outside of time, St Paul (and us) are not.

This ENTIRE golden chain refers to the saints triumphant. That is those already, right now, in Heaven.

The ENTIRE golden chain is in the past.

The term “justified” (ἐδικαίωσεν) here refers not to a STATE of justification; but past tense completed justification.

ἐδικαίωσεν (edikaiōsen) in its particular form appears nowhere else in the entire bible.

IF we persevere (God willing), a SIMILAR golden chain will be applicable to us.

Until that time we do not know infallibly if we are in the chain or not.

We AWAIT adoption as sons of God in FAITH and HOPE.

Not in feigned “absolute” certainty.

For the Old Testament saints who did not receive the gospel in full... God “foreknew” them.

They had “invincible ignorance” (of the incarnation) and were saved by Christ through God’s “foreknowing” that they would accept Christ when He came.

This means THEY received the golden chain of redemption. Waiting in Abraham's Bosom until Christ GLORIFIED them in Heaven. All past tense.

God gave them a special waiting place; in foreknowledge of their response when Christ would proclaim the gospel of grace to them and bring them by faith to the glory of Heaven to reign beside Him.

NONE, not even the Old Testament saints; were saved apart from Christ’s sacrifice and God’s drawing.

with this; objection #1 becomes valid for those of us in the PRESENT.

The unbroken golden chain refers to (past tense) saints triumphant; and that is all. Reading anything beyond this assertion is going beyond the text.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Below I defend this position with an emphasis on the old testament saints- as contemporary to Paul this was the bulk of saints triumphant. Even if you apply this to ALL saints triumphant; all my proofs are still applicable just skip #2.

The same point applies that until we are in the past tense… then it leaves open:

-people predestined that haven’t yet received the call

-people predestinied, called but have not yet heeded the call and been justified by faith.

-people called, and currently in a state of justification that (may or may not) leave this state

Some dedicated Calvinists will accuse me of mental gymnastics. Of “eisegesis” -as us flawed Christians tend to throw out this word; as though whosoever says it FIRST and LOUDEST is correct.

here is some supporting points for you:

1) Past tense

it is undeniable that this is all in past tense. The ENTIRE CHAIN, Greek and English is in the past tense.

It is eisegesis to assert that the tense does not matter simply because God is outside of time.

Paul is a human talking to humans.

A particular tense was used… for a particular reason.

Notably; if true this also puts to sleep the notion of “soul sleep” as it clearly states they have already been “glorified”.

(side note in support of the cult of the saints: the Saints triumphant are indeed “glorified”. Later in the epistle we are told to other people like it is a competition to honor them!

12:10 "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

Who ought to be honored more than those glorified by God?).

2) προέγνω

That “foreknowledge” being the first link further strengthens this. This particular word in Greek is not used a great deal in scripture. In Romans it appears only twice. In the golden chain; and

Romans 11:1-2:

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?”

as you can see; “foreknowledge” is again used in the context of the people of the old covenant- the Jewish people.

Elijah also appeals (present tense) to God.

It makes sense to clarify this as it is a natural question when informed of the absolute necessity of Christ; “what about those before Him?” and “what about those who die before they hear about Him?”. Yet…

 “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.”

The chain continues… even to the present.

But from “justified” to “glorified” the present day link has not been sealed.

Scripture does not say ALL those CURRENTLY justified will be glorified. (they will if they die justified, abiding in Christ)

Some may be linked to justification but will be removed before glorification is sealed. Others are yet to be added to the chain.

The Golden chain says those who WERE justified (completed) have been glorified (past tense).

God knows and decides who will receive the final link of glorification; but this occurs when we finish running our race.

3) Fitting immediate context.

Romans 9:1-7:

“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—  that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.  To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,”

It continues on in this vein; I will not post it all here but I encourage you to read it yourselves. St Paul. This is a natural way to continue; to return to the current Jews who have been cut off.

St Paul is balancing the Old Testament salvation (through Christ) with the importance of the current living Jewish peoples joining the New covenant. An overarching theme of Romans is this unity and distinction;

-between the old and the new

-the Jewish and the Gentile.

It is great to explain the salvation before Christ

but this MUST be balanced by declaring the absolute supreme importance of conversion and preaching the word of God NOW!

Here Paul goes so far as to say he wished he could swap places with his PRESENT day Jewish brother- so that they may be grafted into the new covenant instead of him.

For a similar example; I would NEVER explain the concept of “invincible ignorance” to a person without ALSO explaining the CRUCIAL importance of accepting Christ and receiving the sacraments!

I believe Romans does the same when read as one long but connected piece of literature.

This discussion has naturally merged into my next point:

4) Balance.

The preceding verse is present tense:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Yet in the context of Roman persecutions this makes perfect sense. St Paul is trying to inspire of of us who are currently called; by showing the golden chain of redemption for the OT saints who were glorified!

Indeed if we are elect like them then we shall be able to apply the golden chain to our own stories!

(I want to remind you of what I believe, recorded in “NOTE 1”. )

Indeed the “elect” are guaranteed salvation, God will keep them alive however long it takes for them to return or remain in a state of grace.

We should also HOPE in our election! Though… not with infallible certainty (8:24-25):

“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

St Paul does not want the Roman Christians (who are suffering persecution) to be scrupulous about their election!

Nor does the modern Roman Catholic Church want us to be scrupulous about this!

Indeed we must balance between despair of mercy and presumption of salvation.

Between these extremes rests HOPE in humility.

Often in polemics; we will over correct too much in the other direction. As a
Catholic, if a brother is struggling with despair, with sin, with persecution- I want to instill BOTH fear AND hope in him!

To emphasize the necessary change but also the infinite love of the Father.

This is the Catholic both/and.

Let us not over correct but find the middle ground between despair and presumption; as Romans encourages us:

8:18-19

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope”

 8:23 “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”

8:34-38

“ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Notice the challenges the Roman church shall face. The brutal persecutions that are ahead. St Paul emphasizes hope. External threats may not separate us from God.

Even future SINS will not separate us from God- (granted we have faith working through love and renew our commitment. We take our stained garments to Christs and He shall wash them for us till we die. But we must take them to Him lest we die in stained garments).

In context; offering hope is really a no brainer! They need this consolation in context of their suffering.

5) Coherence

It makes Romans coherent; both with itself and with the rest of scripture.

2:6-8

"He will repay each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."

2:13

"For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified."

8:12-13

"So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

8:16-17

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

11:20-22

""That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith.

So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off."

14:10-12

"Why do you pass judgement on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God; for it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us will give an account of himself to God."

These verses are taken from the start, middle and end of the epistle. For the sake of simplicity I have not gone outside of this epistle; simply for internal consistency the Calvinist reading fails.

CONCLUSION

The Golden chain of redemption is still applicable to us. It shows the faithfulness and supreme agency of God.

It shows His grace, and our hope. For those of us elect; they shall have the golden chain in all its links.

Much like the Marian dogmas ought not to be merely theological opinions… but good things of God to meditate upon and imitate.

Now

This does not disprove that there are those CURRENTLY in a “state of justification” that will not receive:

final, total, PAST TENSE completed justification- by abiding in Him till death.

They have been justified at this current point in time; but may sadly later reject this current justification and end up dying in their sins all the worse for having been free only to return to slavery willingly.

And vise versa.

There are those right now living without faith in unrepentant sin; that shall be justified before they die and receive glorification by the grace of God through Christ.

St Paul inspired by God says it best:

“So do not become proud, but FEAR.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have FALLEN, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness.

Otherwise you too will be cut off."

Let us also have hope. For nothing may take us from Him. With hope, faith and love NOTHING may force us to be severed from Him.

CLOSING

One may challenge; “why would God allow a person in a state of grace to continue living if He knows they later will fall from grace and go to Hell?”

to which I use the Calvinist’s retort against them Romans 9:20-21 :

"But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?"

In the end; the plan will be revealed. Perhaps the state of grace of the damned is an instrumental cause of another elect Christian’s conversion…

There are still a lot of elements remaining to this discussion.

Other books of scripture. other letters of TULIP.

This is intended to move the dialogue along by suggesting that a Calvinistic reading is not the only valid possibility.

Fortunately God left us a magisterium we can trust for dogmatic guidance.

I have not resorted to using the patristics or even other books of scripture. I encourage a person to keep this possibility in mind and to read Romans- start to finish- in one sitting.

I think this interpretation necessary for the cohesion of this long and complicated epistle where St Paul characteristically addresses the polemic with nuance to both sides.

God bless you and thank you for reading.