Reformation Theology (Monergism‘s blog) links to a very interesting textual and logical analysis of John 6:44 (Reformation Theology’s introduction of that analysis is here.) It is a little technical, but working your way through it will prove profitable. The article does not claim to infallibly prove Calvinism, but the treatment of John 6:44 will prove extremely problematic to Arminians (which is the default position of virtually all non-Calvinist evangelicals).
2 thoughts on “Logic, John 6:44, and Calvinism”
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Hi Bob,
Quote: The article does not claim to infallibly prove Calvinism, but the treatment of John 6:44 will prove extremely problematic to Arminians (which is the default position of virtually all non-Calvinist evangelicals).
My response; Here is a basic error in exegesis linked with a common assumption of Calvinist’s; both are incorrect.
First of all, there is a third position. It is called Biblicist. I understand that it grates on the ear as presumptuous, since it suggests superiority in interpretation due to a closer adherence to the text. I regret that unavoidable impression but am somewhat mollified by the fact that many Calvinist’s believe the assumption true for their own followers. Some of them have gone underground, using alias’, so they can avoid the stigma (presumably) attached to following a man, Calvin. I state this as fact, not as a taunt.
And back to the basic error in exegesis! Accusing a Calvinist of such is like saying the king is naked! Oh the shame!
Anyway, we cannot let them get away with what we would abhor in the practice of the cults, i.e., ripping a text from it’s context, either immediate or even the completed revelation of the whole Word of God.
So here is the immediate context of the verse under consideration;
43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me”.
So the plain teaching is that people are taught into receiving Jesus Christ. Instead of a mystical drawing inside a person that perpetuates the myth that God is negating an open invitation to faith by a secret enabling to a closed, select few, we see that the Gospel seed is sown on all soils.
Everyone may listen, everyone may believe, everyone may be saved. The Gospel is the great enabler, not a secret, mysterious work that draws certain sinners to Christ as well as drawing the character of God into question. Bait and switch, false advertising, are not the tactics of our Holy God.
In Galatians, Paul points out to the Christians that God has CALLED them THROUGH the Gospel. 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
Succinctly put, the Gospel invitation is the empowerment to believe. The invitation rejected is the empowerment of eternal punishment.
Obviously, anybody who is a Christian could say, “I was called.” But every person in Hell can and will say the same thing, “I was called.” Then they will be forced to add,” But I refused to come”.
God bless all, Dennis Clough
Dennis,
I believe other positions do exist. But they are similar in that they are synergistic (to some degree) positions. Calvinists sometimes overstate their case and call others Arminians when they shouldn’t. However the terms Calvinist and Arminian are more descriptive terms than anything like a strict label.
Anyway, I think you have John 6:44 wrong. Did you read the article I linked to? Anyway, John 6:64-65 is in the context and Jesus there explains that the reason he stated verse 44 was that he knew not everyone would believe. He stated it to explain this. And in vs. 65 Jesus rephrases the original quote of v. 44 with the Father “granting” some to believe rather than “drawing” which enables some to come/believe.
Verse 45 merely describes what this looks like. Those who are drawn, those who are enabled/granted the ability to believe, will be listening (think Lydia’s need for God to work on her heart before listening/paying attention to Paul’s message) and learning of God–they will become disciples and will come after Christ.
The article I linked to goes in depth in examining what v. 44 actually says–we can’t just try to use other verses to rephrase the verse arbitrarily. We must take into accoutn exactly what it says.
About the “call” = preaching the gospel: 1 Cor. 1 shows that there is another call. The preaching of the gospel is done to all, the Greeks and Jews despise it, but to the ones who are called, they receive it as the power of God. Again I refer you to John Piper’s treatment of Calvinism in his brief booklet available on line. In it he discusses this very topic.
Thanks for your comments. I appreciate a dissenting view.
God bless. And may our differences not make us lose sight of the common faith we share in a glorious loving and gracious God who has seen us in Christ’s death and has graciously removed our sins as far as the east is from the west! May He be praised, and may we love one another in a loving response to His love for us.
Bob Hayton