Dictionaries :: Determinate

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Determinate:

de-tur'-mi-nat (horismenos, "determined," "fixed"): Only in Ac 2:23, "by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of. God," Greek horismenos, from horizo, "to set boundaries," "determine," "settle" (compare English word "horizon"-literally, "that which bounds"). It is remarkable that Peter in one and the same sentence speaks of the death of Christ from two quite distinct points of view.

(1) From the historical standpoint, it was a crime perpetrated by men who were morally responsible for their deed ("him.... ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay").

(2) From the standpoint of Divine teleology, it was part of an eternal plan ("by the determinate," etc.). No effort is made to demonstrate the logical consistency of the two ideas. They represent two aspects of the one fact. The same Greek word is used in Lu 22:22, where Christ speaks of His betrayal as taking place "as it was (the Revised Version (British and American) "hath been") determined" (kata to horismenon). Compare Lu 24:26.

Written by D. Miall Edwards