Theologia et Vita

  How many “wills” does God have? Classical Latin theology spoke of voluntas decreti (will of decree), voluntas praecepti (will of precept), voluntas arcana (secret or hidden will), voluntas revelata (revealed will), voluntas beneplaciti (will of good pleasure), voluntas signi (will of sign), voluntas efficax (efficacious will), and voluntas permissiva (permissive will). These aren't necessarily eight separate categories, because several are overlapping ways of describing the same fundamental distinction and their precise meanings vary somewhat among theological traditions. But the multiplicity of distinctions potentially muddies the water and suggests multiple wills in God. Reformation and post-Reformation systematic theology often made the distinction between God's “perfect will” and “permissive will.” Properly conceived this is fine, but it also potentially leads to the misconception that God has two competing wills. Earlier, that very charge had been leveled against Jo...