1 God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility A Proposal Towards Synthesis Steve Copland Contents Introduction Chapter One: The Issues 1.1 Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility; The Tension in Scripture 1.1.1 Specific Motifs throughout the Old Testament 1.2 Theological Models of the Sovereignty-Responsibility Tension Chapter Two: Influences on Western Theology. Emphasis; Divine Sovereignty 2.1 Saint Augustine 2.2 Martin Luther 2.3 John Calvin Chapter Three: Other Perspectives: Emphasis; Freedom and Deification 3.1 Human Freedom as Part of the Image of God 3.2 Deification: The Purpose of Freedom-Responsibility Chapter Four: Towards a Synthesis; Two Biblical Examples 4.1 Exodus 5-15: The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart 4.2 The Life of Jesus: Theological Tensions in Synthesis Conclusions Contact Information and Biography Introduction In this essay it is proposed to examine the theological tensions between the poles of Divine sovereignty and human freedom/responsibility. We will be examining that tension from two particular angles. Firstly, from the perspective of the Epicurean objections concerning the sovereignty of God (which will be outlined in this introduction); and secondly, from the perspective of God’s over-arching plan of salvation. To the latter of these two proposals we will be examining human freedom through the theology of ‘deification’ 1 or ‘becoming’, and how this relates to our main topic. In chapter one we will begin with the revelation of Scripture, examining broadly the various texts which posit both divine sovereignty and human responsibility. We will then outline the biblical motifs on both sides of the tension, and move on to a discussion of the most popular traditional, theological, and philosophical models which have been proposed to deal with the tension. In chapter two we will examine the doctrines of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin in respect to their emphases on Divine sovereignty. It is within this discussion that we will be suggesting that a theological position which appears to undermine human freedom, does more to strengthen the 1 Our primary sources regarding deification theology will be Irenaeus, Berdyeav, and Lossky. We will also bring into this part of the discussion the voices of Minns, Hick and Forsyth.