Understanding Supralapsarianism: A Controversial Doctrine in Reformed Theology

Supralapsarianism is a theological concept that was developed by some Reformed theologians in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is a controversial doctrine that has been debated among Reformed theologians and has had different interpretations and applications throughout history.

At its core, supralapsarianism is the belief that God's decree of redemption (or the plan of salvation) was made before He decreed the fall of humanity into sin (the "lapsus" or "fall" in question). In other words, God's plan to save humanity through Jesus Christ was in place before He created the world or allowed for the fall of Adam and Eve.

This doctrine is based on passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5, which states that God chose us in Christ "before the foundation of the world," and 2 Timothy 1:9, which says that God "called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace." Supralapsarians believe that these passages indicate that God's plan of redemption was in place before He created the world or allowed for sin to enter the world.

Supralapsarianism is often contrasted with infralapsarianism, which is the belief that God decreed the fall of humanity into sin before He decreed the plan of redemption. In other words, infralapsarians believe that God allowed for the fall of Adam and Eve to occur before He decided to send Jesus Christ to save humanity from their sins.

While supralapsarianism is a minority view among Reformed theologians today, it has had significant influence on the development of Reformed theology throughout history. Some notable Reformed theologians who have held to supralapsarianism include John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, and Herman Bavinck.