Supralapsarianism is a theological doctrine that states that God's decrees were made before the fall of man. The word is spelled as /suːprəlæpsɛərɪənɪzəm/ (soo-pruh-lap-sear-ee-uh-niz-uhm), with the stress on the third syllable. The prefix "supra-" means "above" or "beyond," while "lapsarianism" comes from the Latin word "lapsus," which means "fall." Therefore, supralapsarianism means "above the fall" or "before the fall." This complex word can be challenging to spell and pronounce, but understanding its meaning is essential for those interested in the study of theology.
Supralapsarianism is a theological doctrine that emerged within Reformed Christianity during the 17th century, particularly associated with the Dutch Reformed theologian Franciscus Gomarus. The term is derived from the Latin words "supra" meaning "above" or "before," and "lapsus" meaning "fall." At its core, Supralapsarianism deals with the logical ordering of God's decrees in relation to humanity's fall into sin, primarily focusing on the concept of predestination.
According to Supralapsarianism, God's foreknowledge and decrees are organized in a specific sequence. It asserts that God's first decree was to elect some individuals for salvation and others for eternal damnation, without considering their fall into sin. In other words, God's predestination of souls was made before the fall, or "above the fall." Following this initial decree, God then permits the fall of humanity into sin and subsequently decrees to provide salvation only for the elect, leaving the rest of humanity in their fallen state.
Supralapsarianism emphasizes God's sovereignty and absolute control over salvation, asserting that humanity's fall into sin was not a causative factor for predestination but rather a part of God's predetermined plan. This theological perspective has been subject to significant debates and criticisms from alternative theological views such as Infralapsarianism, which places God's decree of election after the consideration of the fall.
Overall, Supralapsarianism offers a distinctive perspective on the theological ordering of God's decrees and predestination, contributing to the ongoing discussions and variations within Reformed Christian theology.
The word "Supralapsarianism" is derived from Latin and Greek roots.
The term has its origins in the Latin word "supra", which means "above" or "before". In this context, it signifies the logical order or priority of events.
The second part of the word, "lapse", comes from the Latin word "lapsus", which means "fall" or "slip". It refers to the fall of mankind through the original sin of Adam and Eve, as per Christian theology.
The suffix "-arianism" is commonly used to denote a specific doctrine, belief, or school of thought.
So, combining these elements, "Supralapsarianism" refers to a theological doctrine that asserts the logical order of events regarding God's plan of salvation, placing predestination before the fall of humanity.