Responsibility vs Accountability: Where is your Free Will Now?

In our society, Free Will is considered almost sacred. People get very angry suggesting that we are not in some way control of our destiny. Our society tells the poor that if they choose to have more and work harder they can raise their station in life. But if you know the challenges of living in our society you know that there is more to life than just your own choices. We put the responsibility for the well-being and opportunities and outcomes of people's lifes on people. I think it is for society to avoid accountability to  leave behind people instead of helping everyone thrive and share in the wealth of America. So here is the question: What does scripture say about how your Free Will affects your fate in life? As a Christian, I want to make a distinction between salvation and living life when discussing Free Will. First I will discuss our Free Will in salvation and in living life. "Free Will" is not specifically in the Bible but throughout the Bible but there is a lot about the will of God and the will of individual people. Face it. More times than not your will or my will runs counter to God's Will. When this inevetiability occurs, whose will wins out? Yours? Ours? God's? Obviously, God's will overshadows and shapes reality. We want this. This is best. How could God's will not be best for you? If someone does not like me or hate me, why would I want their will to shape my reality rather than God? I want God's will to shape my life because he knows what is best for me. Let's look at multiple passages to see how scripture handles "will".

In Hebrew, the word "will" conveys the idea of  "choosing" or making a "decision" is "חָפֵץ" (chaphets). You can see this word (Strong's 2654) used in Ezekiel 18:23. The NIV renders חָפֵץ as "taking pleasure"

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

However the Douay-Rheims Bible translates the verse, thusly:

Is it my will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and not that he should be converted from his ways, and live?

The verse is God talking through the prophet Ezekiel telling us that God is not happy when people are destroyed in their sins. Does God want or desire or choose to destroy sinners instead of them repenting? This verse tells us that is not what God likes to do. This Hebrew word conveys emotion and desire not just choice. 

Here is a Greek example. In Biblical Greek, there are two words "θέλημα"(thelēma) and "βουλή" (boulē) that get tranlated into "desire", "want", or "purpose" throughout the English translation of the New Testament. The Bible does not tweet the two words as interchangeable. It is interesting to see how it is used. Let's look at four examples. "θέλημα" (Strong's number 2307) is in the following passages as "will" in the NIV:

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12,13

Each of the passages above translates "[βουλή]" as "will" but in John 1:13 the word "θέλημα" is used twice as "human decision" or "human desire" in its first appearance in the verse and "will" in the second. So what of "βουλή" (Strong Number 1012)? Let us look at a couple of examples.

This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan[βουλή] and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. Acts 2:23

50Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51who had not consented to their decision[βουλή] and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Luke 23:50,51

In both cases, βουλή is carrying out the idea of a plan or decision. Yet βουλή and θέλημα are not interchangeable. I wanted a concise distinction. I prompted Microsoft Copilot about the distinction so now I get:

Great question! In Greek, both **"θέλημα" (thelēma)** and **"βουλή" (boulē)** relate to the concept of will, but they have distinct nuances:

**θέλημα (thelēma)**:

- This word generally means "will," "desire," or "purpose."

- It often emphasizes a personal or intentional desire, sometimes divine will.

- Example: **Matthew 6:10** - "Thy kingdom come, Thy will (thelēma) be done on earth as it is in heaven."

**βουλή (boulē)**:

- This term usually means "counsel," "plan," or "intention."

- It can refer to a more deliberate, considered decision or plan, often used in the context of divine or human counsel.

- Example: **Acts 2:23** - "Him, being delivered by the determined counsel (boulē) and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain."

In summary, **"thelēma"** tends to denote a will or desire, while **"boulē"** implies a planned, thoughtful decision or counsel. These distinctions help us understand the depth of intent and purpose in biblical contexts.

So why does this matter? It comes down to salvation. Does God desire and purpose to save us or does God have just a plan and an intention to save us. If it is just a plan and not concrete extension of his will it would change the interpretation of many scriptures. Here are two more examples:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting[βουλή] anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

I think the distinction matters in this verse. Does God thoughtfully decides for people to perish? Or does God not desire for people to perish? In this case βουλή is in this verse. God is not telling us that he is not happy and not desiring sinners to die in their sins. If Peter had used "θέλημα" would we need to change the way the verse should be translated into English? I think so. θέλημα brings with it a more hands-on drive to bring what is desired into place. What I am getting at if God does not want something liked people perishing in their sin,why does it still happen? If Peter have used "θέλημα", I think Peter would not be allowing space for the fact that people will perish but it is not the fault of God's.