There are two parts to predestination: election and reprobation. Election is the eternal decree of God, before the world began, by which he chose and foreordained some to be saved. Reprobation is the reverse side of election, whereby God passed some by and left them in their sins. In neither election nor reprobation did God decide because of some merit or lack of merit in man.

These decrees of God are mysterious and awesome. They are mysterious because we cannot understand why God should choose some and not others. But the Bible tells us so. Therefore, the Christian believes it.

These decrees are also awesome because they bring us into the very presence of God—into God’s eternal plans that deal with the eternal destiny of all people. Therefore, the Christian trembles—not out of fear, but out of wonderment and humility and awe—overwhelmed by the greatness, majesty and wisdom of God.

John Calvin said that the decree of reprobation was “horribilis,” to use his Latin term. Some theological novices have interpreted that to mean that Calvin said that the decree was a horrible one in the sense of being bad.

But, believe it or not, this is a superficial and incorrect reading of the Latin, and Calvin said no such thing. The Latin “horribilis” does not necessarily mean horrible in the bad sense. Far from it. It can also mean “full of awe.”

There is a group of English words that are similar in meaning, origin and development to the Latin “horribilis.” They are the words “dreadful,” “awful,” “terrible,” “fearful” and “horrible.” Originally all these words had the meaning that someone or something inspired awe—a feeling of majesty and overpowering greatness.

Take, for example, the word “terrible.” Today that word suggests that someone or something is extremely bad, unpleasant and disagreeable. When we say that a boy has a terrible temper, we mean that he flies off the handle easily, is easily provoked.

But that is not the meaning of terrible when the King James Version quotes Nehemiah as praying, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God” (Neh. 1:5). The King James Version does not mean that God is bad and unpleasant—like the devil. Rather, in 1611 the word “terrible” meant “awesome.” So the New International Version captures this idea when it says, “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God.”

Similar examples. are seen in the following quotes from the King James Version (we have put the New International Version’s translation next to it, lest the reader think that the Bible is blasphemous):

1. Daniel 9:4. KJV: “O, Lord, the great and dreadful God.” NIV: “O Lord, the great and awesome God.” 2. Isaiah 64:3. KJV: “When thou didst terrible things.” NIV: “When you did awesome things.” 3. Psalm 66:3. KJV: “How terrible art thou in thy works.” NIV: “How awesome are your deeds.” 4. Job. 37:22. KJV: “with God is terrible majesty.” NIV: “God comes in awesome majesty.” 5. Psalm 99:3. KJV: “Let them praise thy great and terrible name.” NIV: “Let them praise your great and awesome name.” 6. Psalm 68:35. KJV: “O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy place.” NIV: “You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary.”

Now the Latin word that Calvin uses to describe the divine decree of reprobation has meanings similar to these English words. The Latin word “horribilis” does not necessarily mean “horrible” in the modern sense of painful, repugnant, loathsome and abhorrent. Rather, the Latin word can mean “dreadful” in the sense of “awesome.”

Calvin uses “horribilis” to describe reprobation when he writes: “The decree is awesome” (“Decretum quidem horribile,” Institutes, III, xxiii, 7). He does not mean at all that God’s decrees and plans are abhorrent, loathsome and repugnant. But he uses “horribilis” in the same sense that he does in III, xx, 17, where he applies the adjective “horribilis” to the majesty of God. There Calvin is thinking of coming by prayer into the very presence of God. Instead of tripping in lightly and nonchalantly, Calvin thinks of how great God is and how unworthy we are to come into his awesome presence. Calvin says, “For as soon as God’s awesome majesty [horribilis Dei maiestas] comes to mind, we cannot but tremble and be driven far away by the recognition of our own unworthiness, until Christ comes forward as intermediary to change the throne of dreadful [formidabilis] glory into the throne of grace.” Far be it from Calvin to call God’s majesty or glory “horrible” or “abhorrent.”

And in exactly the same way does Calvin apply the Latin term “horribilis” to the decree of reprobation. Reprobation is a decree that causes one to tremble in wonder and adoration at the actions of the infinite, eternal, holy and wise Creator God.

So, contrary to what some who oppose the Biblical doctrine of reprobation would have us believe, believe it or not, Calvin did not teach that reprobation was a horrible decree. He said it was an “awesome decree.”

Edwin H. Palmer is Executive Secretary of the New International Version of the Bible.