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#42177 Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:38 PM
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http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3817/is_200606/ai_n17176282/

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The explicit language of election unto salvation is always corporate in Paul (and the rest of the NT). While one might argue that the concept of election can be present and applied directly to individuals even when the explicit language is not, it still favors a corporate understanding of election that one will look in vain for an overt use of the language of election unto salvation in reference to an individual.


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Thus, the OT's and Judaism's corporate view of election, Paul's exclusive employment of corporate language in connection with election unto salvation, and the corporate orientation of Paul's socio-historical context all combine to provide a very strong case that Paul's view of election was corporate, and that he carried this view of election, which emanates from the Scriptures he interprets, into Romans 9. It will not do to argue that the individual entrance of Jews and Gentiles into the Church demands a concept of individual election,29 for as we have seen, the concept of corporate election embraces individual separation from and entrance into the elect community without shifting the locus of election to the individual.


Hi Pilgrim & Friends,

Related to the article I linked,

could you either link to some threads on this issue or respond to this post:

the agrument is made against 'Calvinists' who use Scriptures focus on corporate eletion and twist it to fit the Reformed theolgocial framework where individual election is at the forefront.

Personally, I see individual election throughout scriptures but this author seems to suggest that indivdual election is in no way explicit.

thanks!

AC

Last edited by AC.; Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:51 PM.

The mercy of God is necessary not only when a person repents, but even to lead him to repent, Augustine

AC. #42180 Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:56 PM
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I'll try to look at this a litte further later on, but the first question to be asked is, how does God elect a group of people without defining who is & who is not in that group? A corporate body has individual members.


Kyle

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.
CovenantInBlood #42181 Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:16 PM
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I guess the author is making a case that the Jews were elect in the OT and that election was opened up to the Gentiles upon the death and ressurrection of Christ.

I think the main case the author makes is that whenever 'election' is used in the Bible it refers to Corporate election and to try to imply individual election is signified would be false.

This argument most probably opens the door to free-will faith/salvation.


The mercy of God is necessary not only when a person repents, but even to lead him to repent, Augustine

AC. #42182 Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:47 PM
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AC.

The word "election" like so many other words can have different meanings, for example, an election to service, to an office, to salvation, etc. CONTEXT is of critical importance in determining how a word is to be understood. Arminianism/semi-Pelagianism is infamous for denying God's sovereign grace in salvation and thus of "Unconditional Election" of individuals. This is "old stuff"! grin

For a good defense of "individual election" and a refutation of "corporate election" as regards salvation, see: A Defense of Individual Election unto Salvation, by Barry Hofstetter.

Here are a couple more articles which you may benefit from:

- Corporate and Individual Election, by Grover Gunn

- Corporate Election, by Daniel Wallace

- Corporate and Individual Election in Romans 9, by Thomas R. Schreiner

ENJOY!


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Pilgrim #42184 Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:04 PM
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Funny thing Pilgrim is that the article you recommended by Schreiner is the one that is taken to task, look over the article I linked when you get the chance.

Don't get me wrong - Predestination/Perseverance of the saints does not fall with corporate election - but again, the case is being made that when Paul speaks of election it is in a coporate sense. I'm not saying this guy is right about Romans 9 stricly speaking of corporate election alone - I think God's soveriegnty is obviously on display and I would disagree that there is no reference to individual salvation at hand but this article that somebody linked to me did blindside me somewhat.

Last edited by AC.; Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:33 PM.

The mercy of God is necessary not only when a person repents, but even to lead him to repent, Augustine

AC. #42185 Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:00 PM
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AC,

That may be absolutely true.... and I apologize for not first reading your linked article. However, the other 3 articles I provided links for should prove to be of some help, particularly Barry Hofstetter's article. grin

In His grace,


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Pilgrim #42187 Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:36 PM
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ok, I'll check them out - thanks!!!


The mercy of God is necessary not only when a person repents, but even to lead him to repent, Augustine

AC. #42203 Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:46 PM
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AC

I am not sure you meant to do this, but your answer to Kyle didn't disqualify what he said. Whether or not corporate election or individual election is meant, one can not escape the fact that individuals make up the corporate.

If you think I am wrong about that, please explain.

Also on that subject, read Romans 9:6-12 notice it is talking about individuals who make up children of the flesh (corporate) and children of God (corporate).
Also read John 8:33-39, I believe this ties right in nicely to my point.

Tom

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Originally Posted by AC.
Funny thing Pilgrim is that the article you recommended by Schreiner is the one that is taken to task, look over the article I linked when you get the chance.

Don't get me wrong - Predestination/Perseverance of the saints does not fall with corporate election - but again, the case is being made that when Paul speaks of election it is in a coporate sense. I'm not saying this guy is right about Romans 9 stricly speaking of corporate election alone - I think God's soveriegnty is obviously on display and I would disagree that there is no reference to individual salvation at hand but this article that somebody linked to me did blindside me somewhat.

I think you are mistaken about Schriener's article that Pilgrim recommended being the article Brian Abasiano took him to task for. If you look carefully at Schreiner's article again, you will see the following words:
"A Response to Brian Abasciano"

Tom

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Yes Tom, you are right!

My apologies Pilgrim!!!


The mercy of God is necessary not only when a person repents, but even to lead him to repent, Augustine

AC. #42217 Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:47 AM
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Yeah, Schriener easily dismisses Abasciano's criticisms and effectively shows that corporate and indvidual election are inseperable.


The mercy of God is necessary not only when a person repents, but even to lead him to repent, Augustine

AC. #42222 Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:36 PM
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Originally Posted by AC.
I guess the author is making a case that the Jews were elect in the OT and that election was opened up to the Gentiles upon the death and ressurrection of Christ.

I think the main case the author makes is that whenever 'election' is used in the Bible it refers to Corporate election and to try to imply individual election is signified would be false.

This argument most probably opens the door to free-will faith/salvation.


That's a bit silly. Rom. 9 clearly indicates that Jacob was individually elect; likewise, Esau was individually reprobate.


Kyle

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.

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