Acts 13:48 De-Calvinized

Dr. Leighton Flowers, Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists, walks through the context of Acts 13 to reveal that the Calvinistic interpretation does not fit within the overall understanding of the scripture.

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[becktimmons]

Has anyone noticed that it’s over acts 13:48 and video is 13 minutes and 48 seconds…. BRILLIANT

[scottmercer]

These specific videos focused on Calvinist’s go to verses are so so good!!! Thank Jesus for this!!!

[mandersdaro]

Just want you to know that I am so thankful for your channel. And I'm so thankful for the shorter teachings. I dont always have time to listen to something over an hour long and it's tough to figure out where I left off. But with the shorter vids I am able to watch the entire thing, usually. :-) God bless you and your family!!

[AuditoryStorytelling]

This verse should really be read, "And so did believe -- as many as were determined for eternal life". This leaves it in English as ambiguous as it is in Greek. It's in the 'middle-passive' voice, so it can be taken as either middle (were determining themselves for...) or passive (were determined by someone else for...). Both Philip Doddridge (a puritan) and Alexander Campbell (a non-calvinist) agreed here; in a New Testament translation by Doddridge and published by Campbell in 1826, the verse is rendered this way: "and as many as were determined for eternal life believed." In the index, Campbell assesses the reading with many other versions, but states, "We prefer Doddridge, because his translation is as ambiguous as the Greek."

Too many translations today are picking a side when translating verses that can go equally in 2 different directions. When we ought to seek to render it with the same level of ambiguity as the Greed does, and let readers (in English) see that ambiguity. No ambiguous text can be used as a foundation for a theological principle. And this IS an ambiguous text. It obviously is not meant by Luke to teach Calvinism, since he would have been clear (not unclear) if that was his purpose. Wilkin is also right in it's contrast in this context with the Jews "judging _themselves_ unworthy of eternal life" 2 verses earlier. The Gentiles here were simply "determined" for eternal life. Just as I'm *determined* to go eat a sandwich right now.

[StaunchlyLutheran]

I like that the time of this video is 13:48

[ericmusgrave]

Just prayed for this video exegesis on this verse alone and this video showed up! God is good!

[charliemack]

I am a KJV Bible Believing Christian Baptist. But left the southern Baptist for many reasons but am very encouraged by the Ministry you have been given and enjoy a lot especially the short videos so I can get to watch with the short breaks I get at my job. I pray you always stay on a place where God may be able to continually Bless all the Ministry. I wish I could have time to sit with you and talk about Gods Holy Inspired infallible WORD. If there were more like you I the the SBC would not have moved so far from the truth.

[PreciousMeddler]

Great video, Dr. Flowers. I appreciate the extensive commentary over a single passage, so it's easier to digest. Thank you.

[nathanstewart]

Not exegesis. Mr. Flowers says lets check the context, and then immediately leaves the context, acts 20, acts 28, luke, on and on. No. As many of those hearers who heard Paul speak those words to that audience who were ordained to eternal life believed. Then down the rabbit hole we go discussing the word choice “ordained” of the translators, how bob wilkin would do better and nearly ends up saying they ordained themselves. The word “ordained” is a perfect choice, strongs 5021, check it. I agree that there are scriptures that raise difficult questions but this is not exegesis, this is making hard truths easier to deal with for our comforts sake.

[webbangel]

Mic drop!! This is what I’ve prayed for. I’ve been on the fence about whether the calvinistic view of salvation is accurate or not. This video has finally solidified in my mind that Jesus’s offer of salvation IS for all people. The “predestined before the foundation of the world” is the fact that the Lord was going to make the offer of salvation through faith in Christ’s atoning work open to the gentiles also. NOT that he picked certain individuals before creation. I do have a question though Leighton, I absolutely love the expository preaching of McArthur and Sproul. I have to admit that I have learned more from those 2 about the love of God and the history of the bible, and what it means to live a godly life then from anyone else. Do you think it’s not wise or possibly even detrimental to my faith to listen to calvinist preachers? Would it be possible for you to do a video that gives a list of teachers/preachers who are as excellent in this expository style but are not Calvinists? Waiting on answer, thank you!

[therealdavidboyd]

I really appreciate you’re Dr Flowers. God is blessing it. I’ve told so many people about your channel

[jasonholmes]

I just realized something...

At 11:50 Dr. Flowers brings up a verse in Romans 10 about Israel's disobedience. If you think about it, EVERY verse in the entirety of Scripture that mentions disobedience to God, is a proof text against calvinism. According to their false beliefs, the ability to disobey God is impossible, because God has already decreed everything that would happen. They believe that God has "sovereignly" predestined everything, including sin. So, if humans can disobey God, that's an act AGAINST his decree, because otherwise, He would have decreed them to do what they chose to do instead. Disobedience to God literally proves that we have free will. If the act of disobedience is what God "sovereignly decreed" them to do, it would NOT, and COULD NOT be disobedience; because the very act of disobeying would be obeying what God had decreed them to do. So, according to the God's word, disobeying God is possible. According to calvinism, it's impossible to disobey God's decrees. Both cannot be correct, so one of these worldviews is wrong! I chose to belive the Bible... NOT calvinism.

[emelineporrta]

GOD BLESS YOU DR. LEIGHTON FLOWERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CLEAR EXPLANATION.

[andresbenavides]

Gracias! You are doing a great job brother! IT was a real blessing to watch this video. Dios le bendiga mucho!

[heatherwoods]

Gah! This is excellent! I've been finding flaws in the Calvinist viewpoint for 20 years. You said it, the whole counsel of God disagrees with that view. You even used some of the scriptures verses I've used for awhile, "All day long I've held out My hands..." I love this channel. I'm so thankful it providentially came across my YouTube. 😁

[Lin-gvfi]

Thank you, makes me cry. So many are deceived 🙏🏼

[jesuscross]

Another great video brother Leighton. Loved it!!! I just can't help but wonder what is in the mind of a Calvinist regarding their love relationship with God? I mean when I enter into a personal time of worship with the Lord and I just feel so close, so loved...I see His beauty and Majesty and great splendor. I am just aww struck as the lover of my soul draws near to me. And here's the thing brother. Love in any relationship is understood to only be meaningful if it is genuine. In order for it to be genuine it must be freely given and freely received. I mean I can program my computer screen saver to randomly tell me it loves me. However that means nothing. But when my wife just randomly sends me a text message during the day that says "I love you, " well that makes my heart skip in fills me with great joy. The reason is because I know she is not forced to say that. She does it because she wants to. With even the thought that God has forced His will upon me to be predetermined from the foundations of the world to love Him, steals away all the magic of those precious moments I enjoy with Him. I would think for the Calvinist they could never really experience real aww struck worship because their theology reduces everything with God to a strictly intellectual experience. The pizzazz and emotion for them in worship would be non existent or at best overshadowed by the thought that they have no choice but to love Him.

[edsnyder]

Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith.

[Ministria_Zëri_i_Mesias]

Dr Leighton,
I thank God for these teachings of the Word of God so correctly in its context! I have been debating with one of our Calvinist Pastor that I discover in our church.
so sad that after long year of study the Word he still not in the right interpretation of Scriptures even bringing clear deeply evidences that I also gained from you what actually the Bible says.

Definetly Im standing firm, because I honor the Word of God and rejoice when Teachers like you bring truth that we dont often hear out there! May the Lord bless you and keep you!
🙏

[breadoflife]

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 
Joh 6:64  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 
Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 
Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.