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| source: https://redeeminggod.com/john-6_44-total-depravity/ |
I think that there is a major problem in his arguments First, let's look at two of the verses he site.I will be attempting to get a little more context in the discussion.
43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. John 6:43,44
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.The contention Professor Flowers tries to raise is that "draw" in John 6:44 does not mean "to compel" and then tries to run to John 12:32 to try to argue that "draw" means the same thing there as it does in John 6:44 and it should be interpreted as "invited" not "compelled". Does this make sense?
John 12:31,32
Well, going to the Greek text could help us in this case. The word "draw" in John 6:44 is the same as the word translated "draw" in John 12:32. The word has Strong's #1670 - ἑλκύω. And according to the Thayer's Lexicon entry I got from StudyLight.org, ἑλκύω means the following:
- to draw, drag off
- metaph., to draw by inward power, lead, impel
Which definition fits in John 6:44 and John 12:32? It's can't be the second definition given the context in both passages are about the source - the power - of the drawing is coming from outside of the drawn. That leaves us with the paraphrase: "no one is able to come to Christ unless they are dragged by the Father." Same for John 12:32. The word translated "draw" is also used in the context of the pulling in a net. There is no room here for assuming that the dragging has anything to do with those being dragged. Jesus even says in John 6:44 that the same ones the Father drags to him is the same ones that he will save. No one who comes will be lost and no one who is drawn by the Father will fail to come.
This is the problem with trying to read the context of John 12:32 back on 6:44. Jesus is not talking about the exact same thing. In John 6:44, Jesus is telling why the religious leaders are not believing Him. As for John 12:32, Jesus it talking about his crucifixion and how it will be through his death all people would be dragged towards him but He did not clearly say they would be raised up. Therefore, Jesus is not talking about the same "drawing".
The word "draw" shows up 8 times in the King James Version. One of the great things about the StudyLight.org site is that when you use the online Lexicon it tells you how many times the words appears in the King James Version and the New American Standard Version. Here are the 8 passages from the King James Version:
No man can (5736) come (5629) to me, except the Father which hath sent (5660) me draw (5661) him: and I will raise him up (5692) at the last day
And I, if I be lifted up (5686) from the earth, will draw (5692) all men unto me.
Then Simon Peter having (5723) a sword drew (5656) it, and smote (5656) the high priest's servant, and cut off (5656) his right ear *. The servant's name was (5713) Malchus.
And he said (5627) unto them, Cast (5628) the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find (5692). They cast (5627) therefore, and now they were not able (5656) to draw (5658) it for the multitude of fishes.
Simon Peter went up (5627), and drew (5656) the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was (5752) not the net broken (5681).
Some anti-Calvinists have gone as far as trying to interpret the "drawing" as "gently wooing". They claim that God "woos" us through His loving kindness such that we choose to love and serve Him. No way do any of these eight passages have "gentle wooing" in mind while the drawing is happening. Outside the Bible, the word was used in the first century to describe pulling a bucket water out of well. Good luck trying to woo water in a bucket.
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