The Purpose of Election in Romans 9:11: Rethinking the Doctrine of Predestination Through the Theology of the Cross

The renewed interest in the reading of Romans 9-11 over recent decades is indicative of the attempt to settle the controversy concerning the doctrine of double predestination. In reference to Luther’s directive that the theology of the cross be the lens through which all other doctrines be examined, and based on the “New Perspective” on Paul’s writings and his Jewish background, this dissertation reassesses the Reformed doctrine of predestination through Paul’s convictions concerning the cross and his theological reading of the Old Testament. Accordingly, this study establishes that the primary principle which Paul underscores within the context of Romans 9 is that the cross is the supreme expression of God’s purpose of election. The cross of Christ not only is a statement about God’s determination in election, but it also has an existential purpose in its ways and works. Furthermore, the readers of Romans 9 will recognize that when Paul discusses election, he engages a specifically Trinitarian articulation of God, who works out His election of grace in a definite yet surprising manner. Such a reassessed scriptural perspective on the purpose of election is clearly stated in Paul’s understanding of God’s unfolding promises of redemption for both Jews and Gentiles through the suffering Christ. Since the correlation between election and the cross is held together in Christ through His crucifixion, my proposition is to put “cruciform election” foremost in our understanding of predestination. Thus, cruciform election becomes the essence in explicating the purpose of God according to election in Romans 9:11. Correspondingly, the cruciform reading of predestination presents the eternal decision of God, vested in the immanent Trinity, in which Christ is elected to accomplish human salvation through the atonement of the cross. The ultimate goal is that God’s purpose of election be revealed existentially in the elect community.Doctor of Philosophy (PhD