Well-spoken of is the God even Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One eulogizing us in all spiritual eulogy in the heavens in Christ, just as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love, having marked off our bounds unto [the] placement of sons through Jesus Christ unto Himself, according to the good pleasure of His desirous will unto the praise of a proper opinion of His grace, which He graced us in the beloved, in Whom we have the full redemption through His blood, the sending away of trespasses according to the riches of His grace, which He caused to abound unto us, in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His desirous will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in him, in a dispensation of the fulness of times, having brought together all things in Christ—the things upon the heavens and the things upon the earth—in him. In whom also we have obtained a lot, having been marked off according to a plan of the one who works all things according to the determination of His desirous will, Ephesians 1:11.
In English, the word “predestined” conveys the idea of a foreordained fate. However, this concept does not exist in Scripture, for the word that is often translated as “predestine” actually expresses a marking off of boundaries, not a foreordained destiny. The concept of predestination comes from late Latin, and entered the realm of Christianity primarily through Augustine. This improper translation has negatively impacted the Church through Calvinist and Arminian theology.
Augustine of Hippo (AD 354–430) was a Roman African theologian, philosopher, and bishop whose writings profoundly impacted Western Christianity and philosophy, particularly within Roman Catholicism and much of Protestantism. Trained in rhetoric and philosophy in Carthage—a city–state located on the coast of North Africa. He became well-versed in classical Latin literature and philosophy, particularly the works of Cicero and the Neoplatonists. The works of Cicero and the Neoplatonists encompass extensive philosophical, rhetorical, and theological literature that deeply influenced thinkers like Augustine of Hippo.
In Calvinist theology, predestined refers to God’s eternal decree by which certain individuals are chosen for salvation (election) and others for damnation (reprobation)—a doctrine known as double predestination.
In Arminian theology, predestination refers more generally to God's foreknowledge and purpose, but maintains human free will. Based on the teachings of Jacobus Arminius ( AD 1560–1609), a Dutch theologian who apposed aspects of Calvinism, particularily the doctrine of uncondtional election and irresistible grace. This doctrine holds that believers can fall away from the faith and lose their salvation.
In Acts 2:28, during Peter’s first message testifying of the resurrection of Christ to the Jews in Jerusalem, he speaks of the determined will of God to mark off what would be done to the Messiah by their hands. They were permitted to put Him to death, but only in the manner which God had marked out beforehand.
For those who are in Christ, God marked off our bounds to the placement of sons (Ephesians 1:5). We know that all things work together for good to those who are loving God—those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He marked off their bounds to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). In addition, those whom He marked off, He also called, justified, and glorified (Romans 8:30).
When it comes to the things of Christianity, Paul spoke wisdom to the mature. It is not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, for they are coming to nothing (1 Corinthians 2:6). Rather, it is a wisdom of the hidden mystery of God, which was hidden before the ages unto His glory (1 Corinthians 2:7).
An age is a period in which God shows something of Himself to intelligent beings and is not limited to time. Before the renovation of the earth, there were ages; and after the dispensations of man, there will be ages of the ages.
The rulers of this age—which is the malignantly evil age—are Satan and his demons. They do not understand the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:8). However, to those of us who are mature, the Spirit of God reveals the deep things of God, so that we may know the things that God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9–10).
We are marked off to obtain a lot among the saints (Colossians 1:12), just as the Israelites were allotted land after seven nations in the land of Canaan were destroyed (Acts 13:19). For those of the Church, our lot is in the heavens (Philippians 3:20). This is an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, reserved in the heavens for us (1 Peter 1:4).