Divine providence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Divine providence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In theology, divine providence, or just providence, is God's intervention in the world. The term "Divine Providence" (usually
capitalized) is also used as a title of God. A distinction is usually made between "general providence", which refers to God's
continuous upholding the existence and natural order of the universe, and "special providence", which refers to God's
extraordinary intervention in the life of people.[1] Miracles generally fall in the latter category.[2]

Contents
1 Etymology
2 Catholic theology
3 Reformed theology
4 Lutheran theology
5 Swedenborgian theology
6 In Jewish thought
7 Specific examples
7.1 Text of Scripture
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
10.1 Christian material
10.2 Jewish material

Etymology
The word comes from Latin providentia "foresight, prudence", from pro- "ahead" and videre "to see". The current use of the
word has the sense of "knowledge of the future" or omniscience, understood as an attribute of God.

Catholic theology
Augustine of Hippo is perhaps most famously associated with the doctrine of Divine
Providence in the Latin West. However, Christian teaching on providence in the high
Middle Ages was most fully developed by Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologica.
The concept of providence as care exercised by God over the universe, his foresight and
care for its future is extensively developed and explained both by Aquinas himself and
modern Thomists. One of the foremost modern Thomists, Dominican father Reginald
Garrigou-Lagrange, wrote a study of providence entitled "Providence: God's loving care
for man and the need for confidence in Almighty God." In it, he presents and solves,
according to Catholic doctrine, the most difficult issues as related to providence.

Reformed theology

Eye of Providence

See also: Reformed theology

This term is an integral part of John Calvin's theological framework known as Calvinism, which emphasizes the total depravity
of man and the complete sovereignty of God. God's plan for the world and every soul that he has created is guided by his will,
or providence. According to Calvin, the idea that man has free will and is able to make choices independently of what God has
already determined is based on our limited understanding of God's perfection and the idea that God's purposes can be
circumvented. In this mode of thought, providence is related to predestination. This concept remains prominent among many
Protestant denominations that identify with Calvinism, the Reformed churches.

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Lutheran theology
See also: Lutheranism
In Lutheran theology, divine providence refers to God's preservation of creation, his cooperation with everything that happens,
and his guiding of the universe.[3] While God cooperates with both good and evil deeds, with the evil deeds he does so only
inasmuch as they are deeds, not with the evil in them. God concurs with an act's effect, but he does not cooperate in the
corruption of an act or the evil of its effect.[4] Lutherans believe everything exists for the sake of the Christian Church, and that
God guides everything for its welfare and growth.[5]
According to Martin Luther, divine providence began when God created the world with everything needed for human life,
including both physical things and natural laws.[6] In Luther's Small Catechism, the explanation of the first article of the
Apostles' Creed declares that everything people have that is good is given and preserved by God, either directly or through
other people or things.[7] Of the services others provide us through family, government, and work, he writes, "we receive these
blessings not from them, but, through them, from God."[8] Since God uses everyone's useful tasks for good, people should look
not down upon some useful vocations as being less worthy than others. Instead people should honor others, no matter how
lowly, as being the means God uses to work in the world.[8]

Swedenborgian theology
See also: The New Church
Divine Providence is a book published by Emanuel Swedenborg in 1764 which describes his systematic theology regarding
providence, free will, theodicy, and other related topics. Both meanings of providence are applicable in Swedenborg's theology,
in that providence encompasses understanding, intent and action. Divine providence relative to man is 'foresight', and relative
to the Lord is 'providence'.[9] Swedenborg proposes that one law of divine providence is that man should act from freedom
according to reason, and that man is regenerated according to the faculties of rationality and liberty.[10]

In Jewish thought
Main article: Divine providence (Judaism)
Divine providence (Hebrew Hashgochoh Protis / Hashgachah Pratit lit. [Divine] supervision of the individual) is
discussed throughout Rabbinic literature, and in particular by the classical Jewish philosophers. These writings maintain that
Divine Providence means that God is directing (or even recreating) every minute detail of creation. This analysis thus
underpins much of Orthodox Judaism's world view, particularly as regards questions of interaction with the natural world.
[11]

When the Lord created His works from the beginning, and, in making them, determined their boundaries, He arranged His
works in an eternal order, and their dominion for all generations.
[12]

Do not say, "It is the Lord's doing that I fell away;" for He does not do what He hates. Do not say, "It was He who led me
astray;" for He has no need of the sinful. The Lord hates all abominations; such things are not loved by those who fear Him. It
was He who created humankind in the beginning, and He left them in the power of their own free choice. If you choose, you
can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. He has placed before you fire and water;
stretch out your hand for whichever you choose. Before each person are life and death, and whichever one chooses will be
given.

Specific examples
Text of Scripture

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Those who believe in the inerrancy of the original biblical manuscripts often accompany this belief with a statement about how
the biblical text has been preserved so that what we have today is at least substantially similar to what was written. That is, just
as God "divinely inspired the text," so he has also "divinely preserved it throughout the centuries."[13] The Westminster
Confession of Faith states that the Scriptures, "being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence
kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical."[14]
This is an important argument in the King James Only debates. Edward F. Hills argues that the principle of providentially
preserved transmission guarantees that the printed Textus Receptus must be the closest text to the Greek autographs.[15]

See also

Act of God
Destiny or Fate
Divine providence (Judaism)
Eye of Providence
Miracle
Mortification in Roman Catholic teaching
Omniscience
Providence Plantations, the original name of the Rhode Island mainland
Providence, Rhode Island, named for "God's merciful Providence", which its founder believed had helped him
discover the place to settle.
Qadar
Russian avos'
Synchronicity
Temple of Divine Providence

References
5. Mueller, J.T., Christian Dogmatics. Concordia Publishing
1. "Definition in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World
House: 1934. pp. 190 and Edward. W. A.,A Short Explanation
Religions". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
of Dr. Martin Luther's Small Catechism. Concordia Publishing
2. "Creation, Providence, and Miracle". Retrieved 20 May 2014.
House. 1946. p. 165. and Divine Providence and Human
3. Mueller, J.T., Christian Dogmatics. Concordia Publishing
Adversity (http://www.wlsessays.net/node/1122) by Markus
House. 1934. pp. 189-195 and Fuerbringer, L., Concordia
O. Koepsell
Cyclopedia
6. Luther's Works Vol. 1 Lectures on Genesis Chapters 1-5
(https://archive.org/details/concordiacyclope009499mbp)
Concordia Publishing House. 1927. p. 635 and Christian
(https://archive.org/details/luthersworksvolu009862mbp) page
Cyclopedia
25, 47
(http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?
7. "Luther's Small Catechism, The Apostle's Creed".
t1=P&word=PROVIDENCE) article on Divine Providence.
Bookofconcord.com. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
For further reading, see The Proof Texts of the Catechism
8. Luther's Large Catechism, First Commandment
with a Practical Commentary, section Divine Providence
(http://www.bookofconcord.org/largecatechism/3_tencommandments.html)
(https://books.google.com/books?
9. S. Warren, Compendium of Swedenborg's Theological
id=IxsRAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:0qGARztO5CYpYL7QTFJ&as_brr=0#PPA212,M1),
Writings, page 480
p. 212, Wessel, Louis, published in Theological Quarterly,
10. Swedenborg, E. Divine Providence, note 71-73
Vol. 11, 1909.
11. Wisdom of Ben Sira 16.26-27 (composed circa 180 B.C.E.)
4. Mueller, Steven P.,Called to Believe, Teach, and Confess.
12. Wisdom of Ben Sira 15.11-17 (composed circa 180 B.C.E.)
Wipf and Stock. 2005. pp. 122-123.
13. Inerrancy and its Implications for Authority: Textual Critical
Considerations in Formulating an Evangelical Doctrine of
Scripture (http://www.quodlibet.net/weil-inerrancy.shtml)
Quodlibet Journal: Volume 4 Number 4, November 2002
14. Westminster Confession of Faith, I.viii.
15. Edward F. Hills, King James Version Defended!, pp. 199-200.

External links
Christian material

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Charles Hodge's Systematic Theology chapter on Providence (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/hodge/theology1.iv.xi.html) at the

Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Summa Theologica: The Providence of God by Thomas Aquinas. Traditional teaching of the Catholic Church
(http://www.newadvent.org/summa/102200.htm)
Providence (https://www.ewtn.com/library/THEOLOGY/PROVID.HTM) by Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.
God's Providence (http://www.new-testament-christian.com/gods-providence.html) by James Montgomery Boice
Dialogue 4, 13 "On Divine Providence": LH, Sunday, week 19, OR. by St. Catherine of Siena
The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel, ISBN 0-85151-104-X a Puritan classic on the subject
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/providence-divine/)
Creation, Providence, and Miracle (http://www.reasonablefaith.org/creation-providence-and-miracle)
Divine Providence (http://www.theisticscience.org/books/dp/), Emanuel Swedenborg
"Divine Providence". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.

Jewish material
Maimonides on Divine providence (http://www.personal.ceu.hu/students/97/Roman_Zakharii/providence.htm) - selected
passages from Maimonides' "The Guide for The Perplexed"
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Divine_providence&oldid=688375462"
Categories: Jewish philosophy Religious terminology Attributes of God in Christian theology Metaphysics of religion

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