13:8 Does this teach as some claim that the names of those whom God has predestined for salvation have been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world?
13:8 Does this teach as some claim that the names of those whom God has predestined for salvation have been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world?
No, although a great many Christians believe it does. The underlying teaching here though, is that it was God's redemptive plan for fallen man through Christ's atoning death that God predestined from the foundation of the world - not the individual conformity to the plan (cp Gen 3:15; Isa 9:6-7; 28:16; 52:13-15; 53:1-12; Mt 1:20-23; Lk 1:26-33, 68-71; 24:25-27, 44-48; Jn 1:29; Ro 3:21-25; 2Ti 1:1, 8-10; 1Pe 1:18-20).
These scriptures all teach - and they are not exhaustive, but merely representative of the body of truth - that it was the redemptive death of Christ for the salvation of humanity that God decreed from the foundation of the world. Every member of the human race has their name written in the book of life from their mother's womb, but it is whether it stays written in the book that counts in eternity. Only the names of those who conform to God's plan of redemption remain in the book.
The rest are blotted out (cp Psa 139:15-16 with Ex 32:31-34; Deut 9:13-14; Psa 69:28; 109:13; Dan 12:1; Php 4:3; Rev 3:5; 17:8; 20:12-15; 21:27; 22:18-19). It is plainly evident from scripture that God does not predestine who will be saved. Individuals choose for themselves
(See also comments on Mt 20:16, Lk 14:16-24, Jn 3:36, 6:37, Php 4:3)