What is the Biblical basis and support for and against the view of predestination?

Question

Simple and easy. I am looking for Biblical support (not opinion) for and against the view of predestination. Predestination is the view that all events are willed by God. I'm looking for both sides of the view, not just one side. What Biblical evidence exists for/against predestination?

Answer 1

In Support

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

Even the dice fall according to God's plan.

Ephesians 1:11 In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will

God works everything according to his will.

Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.

God has written down (in other words, planned to the letter!) every day of our life before they even come to pass.

Matthew 10:30-31a But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; therefore

God knows how many hairs you have. He's counted them.

And now allow me to quote at length Louis Berkof, Systematic Theology, pg. 168, quoted in the Reformation Study Bible

The Bible clearly teaches God's providential control

1. over the universe at large, Ps. 103:19; Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:11;
2. over the physical world, Job 37; Ps. 104:14; 135:6; Matt. 5:45;
3. over the brute creation, Ps. 104:21, 28; Mt. 6:26; 10:29;
4. over the affairs of nations, Job 12:23; Ps. 22:28; 66:7; Acts 17:26
5. over man's birth and lot in life, 1 Sam. 16:1; Ps. 139:16; Isa. 45:5; Gal. 1:15-16
6. over the outward successes and failures of men's lives, Ps. 75:6-7, Lk. 1:52
7. over things seemingly accidental or insignificant, Prov. 16:33; Matt. 10:30
8. in protection of the righteous, Ps. 4:8; 5:12; 63:8; 121:3; Rom. 8:28
9. in supplying the wants of God's people, Gn. 22:8, 14; Deut. 8:3; Phil. 4:19
10. in giving answers to prayer, 1 Sam. 1:19; Isa. 20:5-6; 2 Chron. 33:13; Ps. 65:2 Mt. 7:7; Lk. 18:7-8
11. in the exposure and punishment of the wicket, Ps. 7:12-13; 11:6

Against

I'm not very familiar with verses against Predestination, but as I understand it, a lot of the argument against it is an interpretive argument; and those who are opposed to the doctrine would say the verses above are more general in nature and are simply talking about his omnipotence, not his nitty-gritty control over the details. I'll leave it to someone more versed in this position to answer for the against side.

Answer 2

If your definition of predestination is - "Predestination is the view that all events are willed by God", then I would say that the Bible doesn't support this at all.

If all events were willed by God, it would be absolutely redundant for Jesus to ask us to pray this way -

Our Father, who art in heaven.... Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done... (Matthew 6:10)

If God's will is always done, we don't need to pray that his will be done. God's will is always done in only one sense - God's will is that man have free will and choose God or reject God.