Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Scripture InterpretationWhether Paul's potter-and-clay metaphor teaches unconditional individual election to salvation (Calvinist reading) or God's sovereign freedom in salvation history (Arminian/corporate reading).
Key scriptures: Romans 9:18-21, Romans 9:6-13
Catholic (5)
Eastern Catholic (Byzantine Rite)
Affirms
God's sovereign choice and predestination affirmed in patristic framework
Maronite Catholic
Nuanced
God's grace and human free will cooperate in salvation
Old Catholic Church
Nuanced
God's sovereign choice affirmed; human cooperation and synergy emphasized
Roman Catholic
Nuanced
God's sovereignty in election; balanced with human free will; Thomistic reconciliation
Saint Thomas Christians (Syro-Malabar Church)
Nuanced
God's sovereignty balanced with human freedom in salvation
Orthodox (5)
Assyrian Church of the East
Affirms
God's sovereignty and choice affirmed; foreknowledge basis of election
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Affirms
God's sovereign will and choice established from eternity
Eastern Orthodox
Affirms
God's sovereign will and foreknowledge; human freedom maintained mysteriously
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Affirms
God's sovereignty in election; divine foreknowledge and human freedom held in tension
Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite)
Nuanced
Divine providence and human choice both real; mystery of relationship maintained
Mainline Protestant (8)
Anglican / Episcopalian
Nuanced
God's sovereignty affirmed; election debates unresolved within Anglicanism
Calvinist / Reformed
Varies
God's sovereign election; some ordained to glory, others to judgment
Congregationalist (UCC)
Nuanced
God's sovereignty acknowledged; human free response affirmed in congregationalist tradition
Lutheran
Nuanced
God's will and human responsibility mysteriously held together
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Nuanced
God's election real; human resistance causes rejection
Methodist
Nuanced
Romans 9 describes God's sovereignty; Methodism affirms universal prevenient grace
Presbyterian
Affirms
God's absolute sovereignty and unconditional election affirmed
Reformed Church in America
Nuanced
Gods purpose stands; election affirmed with human responsibility
Evangelical (15)
Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention)
Varies
God's sovereignty affirmed; Baptist views on election range from Calvinist to Arminian
Calvary Chapel
Varies
God is sovereign; all are responsible; plain reading of Paul's argument
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Nuanced
God's sovereignty and human choice coexist; prevenient grace enables freedom
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Affirms
God's election is sovereign, unconditional, particular; from eternity
Church of the Nazarene
Nuanced
God's sovereignty and human freedom both preserved; Arminian harmony attempted
Evangelical Covenant Church
Nuanced
God's sovereignty in election affirmed; but balanced with human responsibility and free will
Evangelical Free Church of America
Nuanced
God's sovereignty in salvation affirmed; human freedom and responsibility also maintained
IFCA International (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)
Affirms
God's election and human responsibility both affirmed; tension maintained
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Nuanced
God's foreknowledge and choice; human free will and responsibility are real
Non-denominational Evangelical
Varies
Spectrum from Calvinist predestination to Arminian free will; both widely held
Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)
Affirms
God's sovereignty over creation and salvation affirmed; election biblically sound
Presbyterian Church in America
Affirms
God's sovereignty and election affirmed; Romans 9 teaches predestination
Reformed Baptist Churches (1689 London Baptist Confession)
Affirms
Gods unconditional election; vessels for honor prepared
The Wesleyan Church
Denies
Denies Calvinist predestination; God's election conditional on foreseen faith; prevenient grace enables choice
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Nuanced
God sovereignly elects; humans cause own rejection
Charismatic (5)
Charismatic Movement
Nuanced
God's sovereignty in calling; emphasis on responsive obedience to God's choice
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Nuanced
God's election mysterious; human response and divine grace in dynamic tension
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Nuanced
God's sovereignty affirmed but human free will preserved; Arminian reading
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Nuanced
God's sovereignty in election affirmed; human choice and responsibility preserved
Vineyard Churches
Nuanced
God's sovereign choice coexists with human responsible choice; both divine election and human response
Anabaptist (5)
Amish (Old Order)
Nuanced
God's sovereignty affirmed; Arminian reading—election based on foreknowledge
Brethren in Christ Church
Varies
Varied interpretation; Anabaptist tradition emphasizes human response
Church of the Brethren
Nuanced
God's sovereignty balanced with human freedom and responsibility in faith
Hutterite Brethren
Affirms
God's sovereign election affirmed; paradox of election and human response embraced
Mennonite Church
Nuanced
Romans 9 addresses God's sovereignty; Mennonites affirm human responsibility
Adventist & Restorationist (5)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Nuanced
God's mercy and sovereignty; no binding predestination doctrine
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Nuanced
God's sovereignty affirmed; human responsibility and choice maintained; compatibilist view
Churches of Christ
Nuanced
God's sovereignty and human freedom in tension; election based on foreknowledge
International Churches of Christ
Nuanced
God's choice affirmed with emphasis on human obedience and faith
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Nuanced
Gods purpose stands; election conditional on faith in Christ
Other Protestant (8)
Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum)
Nuanced
Romans 9 affirms God's sovereign purposes; mystery embraced in faith
Plymouth Brethren
Affirms
God's absolute sovereignty and unconditional election affirmed
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Affirms
God's absolute sovereignty and unconditional election affirmed
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Nuanced
Affirms God's sovereignty with human responsibility; resists determinist reading
The Salvation Army
Denies
Gods will for salvation universal; all invited; choice real
True Jesus Church
Affirms
God's sovereign choice affirmed; emphasis on predestination and election
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Nuanced
God's election is conditional on faith; God hardens those who resist; divine sovereignty and human freedom
Waldensian Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese)
Nuanced
God's election respects human freedom; double predestination rejected; mercy extended to all who believe
Non-Trinitarian (6)
Biblical Unitarians
Nuanced
God's will is sovereign but compatible with human moral responsibility
Christadelphians
Affirms
God's sovereign power in election; Israel's rejection and calling; divine prerogative
Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
Affirms
God's sovereign choice affirmed; Romans 9 supports conditional election not double predestination
Jehovah's Witnesses
Nuanced
God's choice is sovereign but not arbitrary; God foreknows human choices
Oneness Pentecostals (UPCI)
Nuanced
God's sovereignty emphasized; human faith response essential; corporate election focus
Unitarian Universalist
Varies
No official stance; members emphasize human freedom and responsibility
Latter-day Saint (2)
Unique & Independent (7)
Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)
Nuanced
God's sovereign choice; Armstrongism: God calls the 'elect' for special purposes
Church of Christ, Scientist
Denies
No predestination; God's Love embraces all; individual choice determines destiny
General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
Nuanced
God's will coordinates with human freedom; divine providence guides all
Iglesia ni Cristo
Affirms
God's sovereign choice affirmed; based on divine foreknowledge of response
Message Movement (Branhamism)
Affirms
God's absolute predestination and sovereign will govern all events and destinies
Messianic Judaism
Nuanced
Romans 9 addresses Israel's corporate rejection; individual choice remains
New Apostolic Church
Nuanced
God's sovereignty and human faith both essential; synergistic soteriology
African Independent (4)
Cherubim and Seraphim Church
Affirms
God's sovereign choice; election understood through divine mercy and power
Church of Jesus Christ on Earth through the Prophet Simon Kimbangu (EJCSK)
Nuanced
God sovereign yet respects human freedom and response
Redeemed Christian Church of God
Nuanced
Gods sovereignty affirmed; human responsibility preserved
Zion Christian Church
Nuanced
God's choice operates through spiritual leadership and response; election includes those who respond to Gospel