foreordination
/,fɔ:rɔ:di'neiʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- (Theology) The state or fact of being determined in advance; predetermination. Specifically, it refers to the theological doctrine that God has decreed all events from eternity, including the ultimate fate of human souls.
- (General) The action of ordaining or appointing something beforehand.
Usage
- Theological Context: The term is primarily used in discussions of Christian theology, particularly relating to concepts of divine sovereignty, fate, and predestination.
- Formal/General Context: It can be used in a broader, more secular sense to mean something that is preordained or fated to happen.
Examples
- Theological:
- The debate centered on the concept of foreordination versus free will.
- Calvinist theology emphasizes God's foreordination of all events.
- General/Formal:
- There was a sense of foreordination about their meeting, as if it was meant to be.
- The plan's success seemed like a matter of foreordination, given the perfect alignment of circumstances.
Advanced Usage
- "Divine foreordination": Explicitly links the concept to a deity's pre-existing plan.
- The prophet spoke of a divine foreordination that could not be altered by human action.
- "Doctrine of foreordination": Refers to the formal theological teaching.
- The doctrine of foreordination is a key point of distinction between certain Protestant denominations.
Variants and Related Words
- Foreordain (verb): To decree or ordain beforehand.
- Many believers hold that God foreordains certain outcomes.
- Predestination (noun): A closely related, often synonymous theological term for the foreordination of salvation.
- Predetermination (noun): A more general term for the act of deciding or settling in advance.
Synonyms
- Predestination
- Predetermination
- Preordination
- Destiny (in a general sense)
- Fate (in a general sense)
Antonyms
- Chance
- Accident
- Free will (in theological contexts)
- Fortuity
Related Phrases/Idioms
- (To be) foreordained to [verb]: Destined or decreed to do something from the beginning.
- He felt he was foreordained to become a leader.
- A foregone conclusion: An outcome that is seen as inevitable or predetermined, often used in secular contexts.
- His victory was a foregone conclusion from the start of the race.
Noun
- (theology) being determined in advance; especially the doctrine (usually associated with Calvin) that God has foreordained every event throughout eternity (including the final salvation of mankind)