The doctrine of free will concerns whether human beings possess the capacity to make genuinely free choices, particularly in relation to salvation, obedience to God, and moral decisions. This has long been debated in Christian theology. Some hold that humans are free moral agents able to choose or reject God (libertarian free will), while others affirm that human will is bound by sin and can only respond to God by divine grace (compatibilist or monergistic view). Below are scriptural references from the King James Version (KJV) for and against the idea of human free will, with explanations and theological perspectives, followed by a summary of major denominational positions.
A. SCRIPTURES SUPPORTING HUMAN FREE WILL
- Joshua 24:15 (KJV) – “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve…”
Interpretation: Joshua appeals to the Israelites’ ability to choose between serving God or other gods.
Theological View: Supports the idea that people have a genuine choice in matters of obedience and worship. - Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV) – “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life…”
Interpretation: God presents a clear choice with consequences, implying human capacity to choose.
Theological View: Favors libertarian free will; often cited by Arminians and Methodists. - Revelation 3:20 (KJV) – “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door…”
Interpretation: Christ initiates, but entry depends on human response.
Theological View: Evangelicals use this to affirm personal responsibility in responding to grace. - Galatians 5:13 (KJV) – “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh…”
Interpretation: Believers are free and are urged to choose how they live.
Theological View: Suggests moral agency post-conversion. - Proverbs 16:9 (KJV) – “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”
Interpretation: Man plans and chooses, but God ultimately guides.
Theological View: Implies human initiative still exists within divine sovereignty. - Matthew 23:37 (KJV) – “O Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered thy children… and ye would not!”
Interpretation: Jesus laments the rejection of God’s offer, placing blame on human refusal.
Theological View: Shows humans can resist divine initiative. - 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) – “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Interpretation: God’s will is for all to repent, but not all do.
Theological View: Implies human decision influences the outcome. - Romans 2:6-8 (KJV) – “Who will render to every man according to his deeds…”
Interpretation: Final judgment is based on human choices and actions.
Theological View: Suggests moral accountability and freedom to act accordingly.
B. SCRIPTURES ARGUED TO BE AGAINST HUMAN FREE WILL
- John 6:44 (KJV) – “No man can come to me, except the Father… draw him…”
Interpretation: Coming to Christ requires divine intervention.
Theological View: Calvinists argue this supports monergism—God alone enables the will. - Romans 3:10-11 (KJV) – “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”
Interpretation: Human nature is fundamentally corrupt and unable to initiate toward God.
Theological View: Total depravity; humans cannot choose God without grace. - Ephesians 2:1 (KJV) – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins…”
Interpretation: Spiritually dead people cannot respond unless made alive by God.
Theological View: Regeneration precedes faith; will is not free in sin. - Proverbs 21:1 (KJV) – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord… he turneth it whithersoever he will.”
Interpretation: Even rulers’ decisions are under divine control.
Theological View: God sovereignly governs human choices. - Jeremiah 13:23 (KJV) – “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good…”
Interpretation: Humans cannot change their sinful nature by themselves.
Theological View: Implies moral inability without divine help. - Philippians 2:13 (KJV) – “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do…”
Interpretation: Even the desire and action come from God.
Theological View: Human will is moved by divine grace, not autonomous. - Romans 9:16 (KJV) – “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
Interpretation: Salvation is not based on human will or effort.
Theological View: Emphasizes divine sovereignty in salvation. - Acts 13:48 (KJV) – “And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
Interpretation: Belief is a result of divine ordination.
Theological View: Election, not free choice, determines salvation.
TRANSLATION DEBATES AND THE DOCTRINE OF FREE WILL
The doctrine of human free will—especially in matters of salvation and obedience to God—is deeply tied to biblical language, interpretation, and translation. Understanding the nuances of key Hebrew and Greek terms is essential when determining whether Scripture teaches that humans possess libertarian free will, are bound in will due to sin, or cooperate synergistically with God’s grace. The King James Version (KJV), based on the Masoretic Text (Hebrew OT) and the Textus Receptus (Greek NT), has played a foundational role in shaping theological understandings in English-speaking Christianity. However, variations in manuscript traditions, lexical ambiguity, and translation philosophy have fueled debates on textual accuracy and doctrinal bias.
1. KEY HEBREW TERMS AND TRANSLATIONAL ISSUES
a. “בָּחַר” (bachar) – “to choose”
Example:
- Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV) – “…therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
- Hebrew nuance: Indicates a deliberate and moral decision. The use of bachar is consistent with free moral agency.
- Theological Note: Supports libertarian free will. However, in some Calvinistic interpretations, such choices are seen as responses to prevenient or irresistible grace.
b. “לֵב” (lev) – “heart” / “inner being”
Example:
- Proverbs 16:9 (KJV) – “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”
- Debate: Some argue “heart” as seat of decision implies inner moral agency; others interpret it as corrupt post-Fall and in need of divine reformation (cf. Jeremiah 17:9).
- Translation Challenge: Some modern versions translate “lev” more psychologically (e.g., “mind”), shifting interpretive focus.
c. “רָצֹון” (ratson) – “will, desire, delight”
Example:
- Psalm 40:8 (KJV) – “I delight to do thy will, O my God…”
- Implication: Demonstrates conscious, moral freedom to obey God, though understood by some as only possible after regeneration.
2. KEY GREEK TERMS AND TRANSLATIONAL ISSUES
a. “θέλω” (thelō) – “to will, to wish, to desire”
Example:
- John 7:17 (KJV) – “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine…”
- Interpretation: Indicates a willful intention or decision. The KJV preserves this meaning clearly.
- Debate: Calvinists may argue such a will is only enabled by divine grace, while Arminians see it as evidence of moral responsibility.
b. “ἐκλέγομαι” (eklegomai) – “to choose, select”
Example:
- John 15:16 (KJV) – “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…”
- Discussion: Raises election/free will debates. Does God’s choosing preclude human choice? Or are both active?
- Translational Accuracy: Greek is clear; interpretation depends more on theology than lexicon here.
c. “προορίζω” (proorizō) – “to predestine”
Example:
- Romans 8:29 (KJV) – “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate…”
- Theological Note: Strongly used in predestination debates. Some versions (e.g., NIV, ESV) keep “predestined,” but paraphrased Bibles often soften it, creating doctrinal drift.
d. “βουλή” (boulē) and “θέλημα” (thelēma) – both mean “will,” but with distinction.
- Boulē = resolved will or plan (God’s decrees).
- Thelēma = wish or desire (sometimes thwarted).
Example: - Ephesians 1:11 (KJV) – “…who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
- Translation Strength: KJV’s rendering of “counsel” (boulē) and “will” (thelēma) preserves nuance lost in modern simplifications.
3. ENGLISH TRANSLATION ISSUES & THE KJV’S ROLE
The KJV Philosophy:
- Based on formal equivalence (“word-for-word”) translation principles.
- Translated from the Masoretic Text (OT) and Textus Receptus (NT).
- Prioritized theological consistency and reverence in diction.
Problems in Translation Affecting Free Will Doctrine:
- Ambiguity of “will” and “shall”
- In Romans 9:16 (KJV) – “So then it is not of him that willeth…”
- “Willeth” today sounds archaic; modern readers may misunderstand it as merely desiring, not volitionally choosing.
- Use of “choose,” “draw,” and “ordained”
- In John 6:44 (KJV) – “No man can come to me, except the Father… draw him…”
- “Draw” (Greek: helkō) can mean “to drag” or “to compel,” fueling Calvinist interpretations. Some modern versions like the NASB render more forcefully as “drag.”
- Shifts in modern paraphrases
- Many paraphrased or dynamic equivalence Bibles (e.g., NLT, The Message) obscure distinctions between will, desire, and divine election, often softening predestinarian or synergistic tensions.
4. GREEK TEXTUAL ISSUES AND ACCURACY IN RELATION TO FREE WILL
a. Textus Receptus vs. Critical Text (Nestle-Aland/UBS)
- The Textus Receptus (TR) was used in the KJV.
- The Critical Text includes readings from earlier manuscripts (e.g., Codex Vaticanus, Sinaiticus) and is the basis for most modern translations.
Concerns:
- Mark 16:9–20 and John 7:53–8:11 are missing in some early manuscripts but retained in the KJV. These passages touch on divine mercy and repentance—areas relevant to free will theology.
- Some Calvinistic proof-texts (e.g., Romans 8–9) remain consistent across manuscript traditions, but wording differences can nuance meaning.
Accuracy of Greek Translations:
- The Greek NT, especially in modern editions (Nestle-Aland 28, UBS5), is highly accurate to available early manuscripts.
- However, translation into English always involves interpretation, especially for theological terms like will, grace, election, repentance, and choice.
5. CHRISTIAN TRANSLATIONAL TRADITIONS AND FREE WILL IMPLICATIONS
Catholic Translations (e.g., Douay-Rheims, NABRE):
- Tend to favor interpretations that support synergism (grace + will).
- May translate grace and free will terms with theological glosses (e.g., “cooperate with grace”).
Eastern Orthodox Translations (e.g., Orthodox Study Bible):
- Use Septuagint (LXX) for OT, sometimes differing from KJV in emphasis.
- Favor synergy and human participation in salvation.
Protestant Reformation Translations (e.g., KJV, Geneva Bible):
- KJV reflects Reformed influence but leaves space for free will interpretation.
- The Geneva Bible was more overtly Calvinistic in footnotes.
Modern Evangelical Translations (e.g., NIV, ESV, NASB):
- ESV leans Reformed.
- NIV often simplifies and sometimes ambiguates key terms like “predestined” or “called.”
SUMMARY
The doctrine of free will, when examined through the lens of biblical language, reveals both the complexity and delicacy of translation. Hebrew and Greek terms like bachar, thelō, and proorizō carry theological weight that can shift depending on translation philosophy. The KJV, though based on later manuscripts, upholds word-for-word consistency, preserving theological tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Modern translations, particularly those using dynamic equivalence, may obscure or soften key doctrines.
While Greek translations of the New Testament are textually accurate and rich in meaning, translational choices into English (especially in free will-related passages) must be critically evaluated for doctrinal fidelity. In the end, whether one affirms monergism (God alone saves), synergism (God and man cooperate), or libertarian freedom, the battle is often fought not only in theology but in translation choices rooted in ancient words.
Let me know if you’d like a chart comparing specific translations on key verses, or deeper linguistic analysis of particular Greek or Hebrew terms.
Denominational Views
1. Roman Catholic Church
View on Free Will:
Affirms synergism: humans freely cooperate with God’s grace. Free will is wounded by sin but not destroyed.
Scripture (For):
- Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV) – “…therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
- Hebrew: בָּחַר (bachar) – “to choose, select, prefer”; implies an active decision.
- Catholic theology sees this as evidence that humans can make real choices with the aid of grace.
Scripture (Against Absolute Free Will):
- John 6:44 (KJV) – “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…”
- Greek: ἕλκω (helkō) – “to draw, drag”; interpreted as divine initiative is required before any free will act can occur.
- Catholic interpretation: grace precedes human response.
Translation View:
- Uses Vulgate historically; now endorses translations like NABRE.
- Supports Hebrew (Masoretic) and Greek (Septuagint, NT) sources but sees Church Tradition and Magisterium as the authoritative interpreter.
2. Eastern Orthodox Church
View on Free Will:
Strongly supports synergy – cooperation between divine grace and human free will.
Scripture (For):
- Philippians 2:12–13 (KJV) – “…work out your own salvation… For it is God which worketh in you…”
- Greek: κατεργάζεσθε (katergazesthe) – “to work thoroughly, accomplish” implies human participation.
- The synergy of man working alongside God’s grace is emphasized.
Scripture (Against Autonomy):
- Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV) – “The heart is deceitful above all things…”
- Hebrew: לֵב (lev) – “inner man, mind, will”; fallen state seen as corrupt, needing divine healing.
Translation View:
- Uses the Septuagint (LXX) for OT, which sometimes differs from the Masoretic Text (used in the KJV).
- Prefers Greek NT; supports KJV when aligned with traditional theology.
3. Evangelical
View on Free Will:
Mixed: some affirm libertarian free will (Arminian), others affirm monergism (Calvinistic).
Scripture (For):
- Revelation 22:17 (KJV) – “…whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
- Greek: θέλω (thelō) – “to will, to desire”; implies genuine choice.
Scripture (Against):
- Romans 9:16 (KJV) – “So then it is not of him that willeth… but of God that sheweth mercy.”
- Greek: θέλω (thelō) again used, but here contrasted with God’s sovereign will.
Translation View:
- Broadly supports translations based on Critical Greek Texts (e.g., ESV, NIV).
- KJV is respected historically but not always preferred due to manuscript basis (Textus Receptus).
4. Protestant (General)
View on Free Will:
Generally accepts a balance of grace and human responsibility.
Scripture (For):
- Joshua 24:15 (KJV) – “Choose you this day whom ye will serve…”
- Hebrew: בָּחַר (bachar) again used; plainly expresses volitional choice.
Scripture (Against):
- Psalm 51:5 (KJV) – “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity…”
- Suggests inherited sin nature limits autonomous free will.
Translation View:
- Accepts both KJV and modern versions.
- Typically affirms authority of Scripture over tradition but recognizes translation affects interpretation.
5. Baptist (Southern, Independent)
View on Free Will:
- Southern Baptist: Often compatibilist – God’s sovereignty and human responsibility co-exist.
- Independent Baptist: Strong defenders of KJV-only; favor libertarian free will.
Scripture (For):
- Romans 10:13 (KJV) – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Scripture (Against Free Will Autonomy):
- Ephesians 2:1 (KJV) – “…dead in trespasses and sins;”
- Interpreted as spiritual inability; one cannot choose God apart from regeneration.
Translation View:
- KJV-only segment emphasizes inerrancy of the KJV.
- Rejects modern translations due to textual and doctrinal changes from Textus Receptus.
6. Methodist (United Methodist, AME)
View on Free Will:
Arminian. Affirms prevenient grace, allowing all humans the capacity to respond freely to God.
Scripture (For):
- Titus 2:11 (KJV) – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”
- Greek: ἐπεφάνη (epephanē) – “appeared, become visible”; grace universally available.
Scripture (Against Total Autonomy):
- John 15:5 (KJV) – “…for without me ye can do nothing.”
Translation View:
- Open to various translations. Emphasis on Wesleyan Quadrilateral: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience.
7. Lutheran (Missouri Synod, ELCA)
View on Free Will:
- Original sin destroys free will in spiritual matters. Grace enables response.
- Missouri Synod = more confessional; ELCA = more liberal, open to free will.
Scripture (For God’s Initiative):
- John 15:16 (KJV) – “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…”
Scripture (For Human Response):
- Acts 2:21 (KJV) – “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Translation View:
- Accepts KJV and modern versions.
- Values original language study (Hebrew and Greek) in seminary training.
8. Pentecostal (Assemblies of God, UPCI)
View on Free Will:
Affirms free will and personal decision. Strong on choice and repentance.
Scripture (For):
- Acts 2:38 (KJV) – “Repent, and be baptized every one of you…”
- Greek: μετανοέω (metanoeō) – “to change one’s mind”; repentance implies volitional choice.
Scripture (Against Self-Sufficiency):
- Romans 8:7 (KJV) – “…the carnal mind is enmity against God…”
Translation View:
- KJV widely used but not exclusive.
- Emphasis on experiential interpretation with Spirit-led insight into Scripture.
9. Jehovah’s Witnesses
View on Free Will:
Affirms conditional free will; humans can choose to obey Jehovah.
Scripture (For):
- James 4:7 (KJV) – “Submit yourselves therefore to God…”
Scripture (Against Eternal Security):
- Hebrews 6:4–6 (KJV) – Falling away seen as a possibility by choice.
Translation View:
- Uses New World Translation (NWT); often differs in key verses.
- Criticized for theological bias in translation (e.g., John 1:1).
10. Mormonism (LDS)
View on Free Will:
Essential doctrine. Humans existed spiritually before and had moral agency.
Scripture (For):
- 2 Nephi 2:27 (Book of Mormon) – echoes Deuteronomy 30:19.
Bible Reference (KJV):
- Galatians 5:13 (KJV) – “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty…”
Translation View:
- Accepts KJV as official Bible but believes it is only “correct insofar as it is translated correctly.”
- Uses additional scripture (Book of Mormon, D&C, Pearl of Great Price).
11. Seventh-day Adventist
View on Free Will:
Strongly affirms libertarian free will and accountability.
Scripture (For):
- Deuteronomy 30:15 (KJV) – “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;”
Scripture (Against Human Sufficiency):
- John 15:5 (KJV) – Emphasizes dependence on Christ.
Translation View:
- Favors KJV but accepts others.
- Strong emphasis on original language meaning, especially in prophecy and end-times context.
SUMMARY
Each denomination holds a nuanced view of free will, ranging from Calvinistic determinism to Arminian libertarianism, with translation choices deeply influencing their theology.
Key Patterns:
- Hebrew “bachar” (choose) and Greek “thelō” (will) are central to free will arguments.
- KJV tends to support both divine sovereignty and human responsibility, depending on interpretation.
- Translation allegiance (e.g., KJV-only vs. Critical Text proponents) affects doctrinal conclusions.
- Catholic and Orthodox emphasize synergy, while Reformed groups stress God’s initiative.
- Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses hold distinct theological frameworks, influencing their use of Scripture.
The doctrine of free will is a foundational theological issue that influences how salvation, grace, sin, and human responsibility are understood across Christian traditions. Some denominations affirm libertarian free will—the genuine human ability to choose God—while others lean toward monergism, where God alone initiates and completes salvation. Most lie somewhere in between, teaching a synergistic view—a cooperation between divine grace and human response.
A significant factor in this diversity of belief is translation philosophy: how Scripture is rendered from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into English, and how key words like bachar (to choose), thelō (to will), and metanoeō (to repent/change mind) are interpreted. The KJV, based primarily on the Textus Receptus and Masoretic Text, is still widely used and revered, but modern denominations may favor other translations influenced by critical texts, affecting doctrine.
TABLE 1: Denominational Views Supporting Free Will
(View, Interpretation, Scripture Basis with KJV Quote)
| Denomination | View | Interpretation | Scripture Basis (KJV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | Synergism (Grace + Free Will) | Humans can choose God through prevenient grace | Deut. 30:19 – “…choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” |
| Eastern Orthodox | Synergy | Cooperation with divine energy; free to respond | Phil. 2:12-13 – “…work out your own salvation… For it is God which worketh in you…” |
| Evangelical (Arminian) | Libertarian Free Will | Choice to accept or reject salvation | Rev. 22:17 – “…whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” |
| Protestant (General) | Balance of Grace + Will | Real choice in service and salvation | Josh. 24:15 – “Choose you this day whom ye will serve…” |
| Baptist (Independent) | KJV-Based Free Will | Individual decision to accept Christ | Rom. 10:13 – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” |
| Methodist | Prevenient Grace | God enables choice through universal grace | Titus 2:11 – “…the grace of God… hath appeared to all men.” |
| Lutheran (ELCA) | Grace enables will | Response possible through Word and Sacrament | Acts 2:21 – “…whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” |
| Pentecostal | Decision-based repentance | Volitional repentance is necessary | Acts 2:38 – “Repent, and be baptized every one of you…” |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | Conditional Free Will | Obedience to Jehovah is a choice | James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God…” |
| Mormonism (LDS) | Moral Agency | Humans choose liberty or captivity | Gal. 5:13 – “…ye have been called unto liberty…” |
| Seventh-day Adventist | Free Will with Responsibility | Humans can choose good or evil | Deut. 30:15 – “I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;” |
TABLE 2: Denominational Arguments Against Absolute Free Will
(View, Interpretation, Scripture Basis with KJV Quote)
| Denomination | View | Argument Against Interpretation | Scripture Basis (KJV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic | Grace-First Salvation | Human will must be drawn by God first | John 6:44 – “No man can come to me, except the Father… draw him…” |
| Eastern Orthodox | Fallen Nature Requires Grace | Heart is corrupted, needs healing | Jer. 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things…” |
| Evangelical (Calvinist) | Total Depravity | Man’s will cannot initiate salvation | Rom. 9:16 – “…not of him that willeth… but of God that sheweth mercy.” |
| Protestant (Reformed) | Monergism | Spiritual inability before regeneration | Ps. 51:5 – “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity…” |
| Baptist (Southern) | Limited Human Will | Dead in sins, need regeneration | Eph. 2:1 – “…dead in trespasses and sins;” |
| Methodist | Human Limit Without Grace | Apart from God, nothing can be done | John 15:5 – “…without me ye can do nothing.” |
| Lutheran (Missouri Synod) | Bondage of Will | God must act first; man is spiritually dead | John 15:16 – “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…” |
| Pentecostal | Carnal Mind Opposes God | Flesh resists spiritual truth | Rom. 8:7 – “…the carnal mind is enmity against God…” |
| Jehovah’s Witnesses | Can Fall Away | Choice is real, but not autonomous | Heb. 6:4–6 – “…if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance…” |
| Mormonism (LDS) | Dependent Free Will | Agency requires accountability | 2 Nephi 2:27 (parallels KJV Deut. 30:19) – choice leads to life or death |
| Seventh-day Adventist | Dependence on Christ | Free will doesn’t mean self-sufficiency | John 15:5 – “…without me ye can do nothing.” |
SUMMARY
- KJV scriptures are widely used to support both free will and divine sovereignty, depending on theological lens.
- Key Hebrew words like בָּחַר (bachar) and Greek words like θέλω (thelō), μετανοέω (metanoeō), and ἕλκω (helkō) shape interpretation around choice and divine action.
- Catholic and Orthodox emphasize a grace-enabled synergy, while Reformed traditions deny autonomous free will, favoring God’s sovereign initiative.
- KJV-only groups (e.g., Independent Baptists) argue for preservation in the English language, while others weigh Greek/Hebrew textual variants critically.
- Theological views across denominations are deeply connected to their understanding of Scripture, their translation philosophy, and how they define human nature.