John MacArthur: POLYTHEIST?

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I can't speak for MacArthur, but that terminology is actually Biblical. The problem appears to be that you heard "council" when MacArthur was no doubt saying "counsel."

I'm willing to bet just from what you've said, that the text for MacArthur's message (at least this portion of it) was from the First Chapter of Ephesians. Ephesians 1:1-12, speaks of the "predestination" of God's "elect.' It is a portion of Scripture that a lot of Evangelical ministers will often turn to when preaching about predestination.

Read the passage again, especially Ephesians 1:11, and see if that doesn't help to settle everyone's stomach. I doubt very much that even MacArthur views the "Godhead" as a "council."

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will."

Ephesians 1:11

Pel, I listened to it again. There is no doubt he says "council" in fact he says it plural "councils"

"How does church growth theory fit into that?
Soverign election has already been determined, it has determined who will be saved, and constitute the regenerate church. That was done in the councilS of the trinity before time began."

gty.org sermon #gty114 @ the 1:04:00-1:03:00 mark

I guess you can quit ripping me over my reaction now.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

Pel, I listened to it again. There is no doubt he says "council" in fact he says it plural "councils"

"How does church growth theory fit into that?
Soverign election has already been determined, it has determined who will be saved, and constitute the regenerate church. That was done in the councilS of the trinity before time began."

gty.org sermon #gty114 @ the 1:04:00-1:03:00 mark

I guess you can quit ripping me over my reaction now.

If he is teaching from Ephesians 1, then I would lean very heavily on the idea that he said, "counselS of the Trinity..." Suppose we could ask him.

I'm not trying to defend this particular view, just saying that there is a bit of a difference here in the extremities to which a person might go with their rather inherently tri-theistic terminology. This is a big reason that I personally don't use the word "Persons" to describe the nature of God.

God's nature is complex, particularly in the ways in which we as humans perceive Him; however He is still One.