FREEWILL AS TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE

by Brian H. Wagner, Ph.D.,

instructor of church history,
theology and biblical languages
at Virginia Baptist College
How often have I read in various Facebook theological discussions the declaration of a
Calvinist Freewill is not taught in Scriptures? Of course, the freedom of will to go
against ones nature, even for God, is not possible. It is impossible for God to lie or to
deny Himself (Titus 1:2, Heb 6:18, 2 Tim 2:13). And it is impossible for me to fly by just
flapping my arms. But the ability to freely make decisions commensurate with the limits
of ones nature and with the opportunities provided for such decision making is logically
part of Gods and mans nature and experience. The exercise of that ability by God and
by man is also well documented in Scripture. And I can fly if I decide to get on an
airplane and allow its power to transport me through the air!

The following is an attempt at a rather thorough study of words used in the OT and NT
that teach aspects and examples of the exercise of freewill. The reader will hopefully
become convinced, contrary to Calvinistic dramatic false statements in opposition, that
freewill is clearly taught in the Scriptures

The Hebrew word [verb] naw-dab is a primitive root that means to impel; hence,
to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneouslyprimarily translated as an adverb
willingly which indicates free motivation or voluntary decision. It is used 17 times in 15
verses throughout OT Scripture [also 3 times in 3 verses using the same root in
Aramaic Ezra 7:13, 15, 16]. (Most of definitions for this paper are adapted from
Strongs Concordance lexical definitions.)
Here are all the verses that translate this word, naw-dab, with the translation of it
underlined. The ESV translation for each verse was chosen to accommodate Calvinist
readers, so they wont have to keep running back to their favorite translation, which is

deterministically flavored.
Exod 25:2 ESV From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the
contribution for me.
Exod 35:21 ESV And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone
whose spirit moved him.
Exod 35:29 ESV All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose
heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded
by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.
Judg 5:2 ESV that the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people
offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD!
-[The verbal form in this last verse is an infinitive, on the Hithpael stem, which is
reflexive in meaning, thus the word themselves is added. This Hithpael verbal stem is
used 16 other times in the same reflexive way Jg 5:9; 1Ch 29:5, 6, 9(2x), 14, 17(2x);
2Ch 17:16; Ezr 1:6, 2:68, 3:5, 7:13, 15, 16; Neh 11:2]. The reflexive action only helps to
emphasize the non-compulsory action of the persons will in the decision made in each
context-

The noun ned-aw-baw is used 26 times in 25 verses, mostly in connection with a

voluntary freewill offering to God. With all these verses one cannot help but ask
How can you have a freewill offering without a freewill? Calvinists reject its normal
meaning, but the Bible literally uses the word 26 times. Even the Calvinist translators of
the KJV and ESV freely chose freewill as a suitable translation. Their translation
choice is telling of what they believed this original word meant.
Here are the verses in which this noun is used:

Exod 35:29 ESV All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved
them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to
be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD. -[The idea in this verse of a
sacrifice made as a free-will offering, one not commanded as an obligation, is also
found in Ex 36:3; Le 7:16; 22:18, 21, 23; 23:38; Nu 15:3; 29:39; De 12:6, 17; 16:10;
2Ch 31:14; Ezr 1:4; 3:5; 8:28; Ps 54:6; 119:108; Eze 46:12(2x); Am 4:5]
Deut 23:23 ESV You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you
have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your
mouth.
2Ch 35:8 ESV And his officials contributed willingly to the people, to the priests,
and to the Levites.
Ps 68:9 ESV Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your
inheritance as it languished;
Ps 110:3 ESV Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power,
in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be
yours.
Hos 14:4 ESV I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has
turned from them.
All these OT verses clearly confirm that man, even an unregenerate man, can
exercise a free-will in a manner pleasing to God. Even God is said to exercise His
freewill in Hos 14:4. The translation in Ps 68:9 was obviously determined with some
subjectivity. It could easily be translated A shower of freewill gifts, O God, you have
shed abroad

Here are some NT words and verses to consider that also speak to the issue of the
freedom of the will. A Calvinist may try to attribute all of the following examples as a
result of regeneration, but that does not seem to fit this first example

Acts 17:11-12 ESV Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica;
they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if
these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek
women of high standing as well as men.
-[from proth-oo-mee-ah, meaning predisposition. See also 2Co 8:11,
12, 19, 9:2;] The Calvinist may endeavor to suggest this willing predisposition of the
Bereans was a result of regeneration, which they think is before faith is expressed. It is
very difficult to convince them otherwise when their loyalty to Calvinism is so strong that
they refuse to see the gospel of John clearly teaches light is freely received before faith
which is before new birth life is given. See John 1:4-13, 12:35-36, 20:30-31.
Other NT verses to consider that speak to the issue of freewill are these

1Cor 7:37 ESV But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no
necessitybut having his desire under control, and has determined this in his
heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. -from ,
literally not having a necessity, which would be impossible if everything was
predetermined eternally and immutably, making every event a necessary result of Gods
decree. Notice also the verse says this man having his desire under control, and has
determined this in his heart.
1Cor 9:17 ESV For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own
will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. - from hek-own meaning
willingly.
2Cor 8:3 ESV For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond
their means, of their own accord, and 2Cor 8:17 ESV For he not only accepted our
appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. -
from ow-thah-ee-ret-os meaning self-chosen, and by implication
voluntary.
2Cor 9:7 ESV Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly
or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - from pro-
ahee-reh-om-ahee meaning to choose for oneself before another thing, to prefer and
by implication, to intend.
Phlm 1:14 ESV but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that
your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. -
from hek-oo-see-on meaning willingness.
1Pet 5:2 ESV shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,
not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful
gain, but eagerly; -from hek-oo-see-ose meaning willingly.
The existence of a free will, even post regeneration, runs counter to the idea of an
eternally immutable divine will that had completely determined everything forever into
the future before creation began. Calvinism is based upon that philosophical premise,
making the exercise of any free-will for God or man impossible, before creation and
especially after it. That premise makes a falsehood out of these clear Scriptures shared
here. These Scriptures and many others clearly show that free will does exist and is
being exercised by God and man.