Free Will and God's power

Many Christians find themselves in between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, they want to affirm the Biblical teaching that God is in control of all things. On the other hand, they also want to affirm the Biblical teaching that humans are free, and can be held responsible for their actions. But these two teachings can seem incompatible; how can one reconcile these contradictions?

The tension arises on two different levels. It arises in God�s �general� providence over all things and God�s more �specific� providence in his salvation plan. This tension, though, is not new to the Church. Different theological traditions and denominations have attempted to resolve this tension in various ways, all the while remaining true to the Biblical witness. Some traditions minimize the role of God�s providence; others argue that God�s providence is compatible with human free will�and there are many more views beyond these.

We�ve compiled here a list of some of the most important texts on the issue. Issues of free will and God�s providence became a central focus after the Reformation, especially during the Calvinism-Arminianism debates. Since then, they have remained a central focus of Christian theology. Here, arranged chronologically, are some important texts on the matter. They present a variety of views on how to understand the relationship between God�s providence and human free will.

Some additional works worth consulting:

Written and compiled by Tim Perrine, CCEL Staff Writer