Electing grace? : Friedrich Schleiermacher on the doctrine of election

Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
Friedrich Schleiermacher’s (1768–1834) theological essay on the doctrine of election – in which he claims to stand squarely within the Reformed tradition – was an attempt to aid church unification in the 19th century Prussian church of which he was a member and a minister. In this essay Schleiermacher resists a narrow focus on individual election and particularly on how election was worked out in the direction of double predestination. The gift of God’s electing grace is worked out historically and is therefore Christological and communal. He argues that God’s will is neither twofold nor divisible – into two parts, concerning the elect and the reprobate – but one, indivisible, unconditional decree governed by the logic of electing grace. This article explores Schleiermacher’s doctrine of election as part of a 250th commemoration of Schleiermacher’s birth, and suggests how Schleiermacher’s essay on election may contribute to theological interpretations and portrayals of the doctrine of election today.
Description
CITATION: Marais, N. 2019. Electing grace? : Friedrich Schleiermacher on the doctrine of election. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 75(4):a5810, doi:10.4102/hts.v75i4.5810.
The original publication is available at https://hts.org.za
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Keywords
Schleiermacher, Friedrich, 1768-1834
Citation
Marais, N. 2019. Electing grace? : Friedrich Schleiermacher on the doctrine of election. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 75(4):a5810, doi:10.4102/hts.v75i4.5810