Is the doctrine of election merely a "Pauline" teaching, or was it taught by the other apostles & Jesus...?

Question

Please use scripture to support your argument. Thanks in advance for all considered, intelligent replies. Bless you.

Answer 1

One of Luther's "soldiers" in his great work "The Bondage of the will" was John. He shows from John (and Paul) that the scripture clearly teaches that all mens wills are in bondage to sin with no escape unless they are born again of God.
John 1:13
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This verse clearly shows that it is in no way the work of man, not even his will.
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
If one cant' even see the kingdom how can he find it or enter it?
John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
They can't
Hope has good stuff I need not add so I'll add just one more from John where Jesus tells those who don't believe that they CAN"T because they were not of the ones God had chosen and given to Christ to save ( and He will lose none!)
John 8:43
Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

Answer 2

JESUS taught it, according to Matthew 24: 20 - 31 and Mark 13: 20 -27.

"If these days had not been cut short, no-one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.... false prophets will appear.... to deceive even the elect - if that were possible... And he [the Son of Man] will send his angels... and they will gather his elect."

Elect, in the N/T refers to The People of God. In the O/T it talks about God gathering his scattered people (Duet 20: 3,4, Isaiah 43: 6, Jeremiah 32: 37 and Ezekiel 34: 13 and 36:24).

I recently started to read a book by A.N. Wilson, 'PAUL - The Mind of the Apostle'. I gave up after the second chapter because the author was clearly trying to show Paul up as the originator of the Christian religion and that his writings were spurious. I don't think Paul was the originator of the doctrine of election - but he certainly brought it to life and made it meaningful!

Answer 3

Mentioned by Jesus in Matt 13:11
God is not obligated to deal with everyone in the same way in Matt 20:1-16
Jesus acknowledged God's right to reveal to some but not others in Matt 11:25-27
You will also find it in John 5:21 where the "Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it"
Also John 13:28
God gives selected ones to Jesus in John 10; 17:2,6,9,24 and 18:9
John 6:37
THe verb eklegomai is used 8 times of Jesus choosing disciples nad seven times of God's choice of people for eternal life (Mk 13:20; Acts 17:13; 1 Cor 1:27, 28; Eph 1:4; James 2:5)
Also see James 1:8; Jude 1 1 Pet 2:9-10
2 Pet 1:10 is good as well.

So the answer is NO, election is not merely Pauline. Even if it was only Pauline, it would certainly not invalidate it.

Answer 4

I think it is Biblical - but I think it is very much taken to the extreme sometimes!

It is written "Many are called but few are chosen" and in other place, I think in the book of Romans ,' "Jacob I have love but Esau I have hated" this was said while the children were not yet born nor having done anything bad, that the ELECTION of God might stand. So it's not him who runs but him who calls".

So, we see that the doctrine of ELECTION is very much supported by scripture. However, this shouldn't make people conclude that there are some that God is not willing to save or call. For it also written that "God wills that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ" and "For God is not pleased when a sinner dies, He would rather see him change his ways and live". But concerning the righteous ones the Bible records " Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints".

Answer 5

From Wikipedia
"Doctrine of Election, the doctrine that the salvation of a man depends on the election of God for that end, of which there are two chief phases: one is election to be Christ's, or unconditional election or Doctrine of Free Will, and the other that it is election in Christ, or conditional election."

The first phase (We are called by God) seems to be backed up by John 6 v44 "No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him."

The second phase (We choose to accept Jesus as Saviour and He accepts us) seems to tie in with John 14 v6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 6 v37 also seems to support this teaching "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."

Answer 6

Yes Paul was the teach for the Gentiles without him we wouldn't have the Catholic Church,Baptist,Mormon,JWS,etc of the christian world and we would know that much about him but the other are just as much help and more the first 12 that follow Jesus and his teaching

Answer 7

if you study the time in the heavens, before man was become earthbound, they had a voting system, lucifer went against gods plan at a great council, 1 third af all who attended voted for satans plan, they became his demons, the rest voted for christs plan, they became the earths people. That voting system between the cause of good and evil still goes on in every single individual. choice betwix these two is a vote,when the voting and disgusing got confusing the early christians went to the prophet, he enquired of god and brought the answer to the people, when god speaks the debate ends, if one then opposes god and goes his own way, he will learn the hard way, but that is his choice.

Answer 8

The Bible teaches throughout (think Abel, think Abraham, think Isaac, think Jacob, etc.) that before the foundation of the world, God sovereignly chose in Christ who He would graciously save. Jesus Himself says-

John 6:37-45
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
And Peter says-
1 Peter 1:1,2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

These are just a few examples, I could go on and on, but time doesn't permit.
: )

Answer 9

Paul's teachings are not independent of God, as all of his epistles are regarded as God's word.