Charles Johnson
Puritan Board Junior
Hi brothers,
I recently came across a quote from Augustine in his work on Romans stating that election is according to foreknown faith, and I was wondering if anyone had some context. I'm especially wondering about the date of the work, indicating whether it is likely to represent his mature thought on the matter or not, and if he gives a different view in any of his works. The quote is as follows:
Sed quoniam Spiritus Sanctus non datur nisi credentibus, non quidem Deus elegit opera, quae ipse largitur, cum dat Spiritum Sanctum, ut per caritatem bona operemur, sed tamen elegit fidem...
Non ergo elegit Deus opera cuiusquam in praescientia, quae ipse daturus est, sed fidem elegit in praescientia, ut quem sibi crediturum esse praescivit, ipsum elegerit, cui Spiritum Sanctum daret, ut bona operando etiam aeternam vitam consequeretur.
But, since the Holy Spirit is not given except to those who believe, God does not indeed elect works, which he bestows, when he gives the Holy Spirit, in order that we do good works through love; but he nevertheless elects faith...
God does not therefore elect the works of any in foreknowledge, which works he is going to give. But he elects faith in foreknowledge, so that he elected him who he foreknew to believe in him, to whom he would give the Holy Spirit, in order that, by doing good works, eternal life would indeed follow.
(Also, just a friendly reminder for anyone that might be shaken up by this quote that we confess sola fide for a reason. The fathers are often not a reliable guide to the meaning of the Scriptures.)
I recently came across a quote from Augustine in his work on Romans stating that election is according to foreknown faith, and I was wondering if anyone had some context. I'm especially wondering about the date of the work, indicating whether it is likely to represent his mature thought on the matter or not, and if he gives a different view in any of his works. The quote is as follows:
Sed quoniam Spiritus Sanctus non datur nisi credentibus, non quidem Deus elegit opera, quae ipse largitur, cum dat Spiritum Sanctum, ut per caritatem bona operemur, sed tamen elegit fidem...
Non ergo elegit Deus opera cuiusquam in praescientia, quae ipse daturus est, sed fidem elegit in praescientia, ut quem sibi crediturum esse praescivit, ipsum elegerit, cui Spiritum Sanctum daret, ut bona operando etiam aeternam vitam consequeretur.
But, since the Holy Spirit is not given except to those who believe, God does not indeed elect works, which he bestows, when he gives the Holy Spirit, in order that we do good works through love; but he nevertheless elects faith...
God does not therefore elect the works of any in foreknowledge, which works he is going to give. But he elects faith in foreknowledge, so that he elected him who he foreknew to believe in him, to whom he would give the Holy Spirit, in order that, by doing good works, eternal life would indeed follow.
(Also, just a friendly reminder for anyone that might be shaken up by this quote that we confess sola fide for a reason. The fathers are often not a reliable guide to the meaning of the Scriptures.)
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