predestination（n.）
14世纪中叶， predestinacioun，“上帝通过恩典预先命定某些人类获得救赎或永生的行动”，源自古法语 predestinacion，直接源自教会拉丁语 praedestinationem（主格 praedestinatio）“预先决定”，动作名词，来自拉丁语 praedestinare “预先设定目标； 预先任命或决定”，来自拉丁语 prae “之前”（参见 pre-) + destinare “任命，决定”（参见 destine（v.））。
这个拉丁词最初是由奥古斯丁在神学意义上使用的； 由加尔文引起了重视。相关： Predestinarian “相信预定教义的人”（1660年代）。
Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his onlybegotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity. [From article xvii of the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion of the Church of England]
生命的预定是上帝永恒的目的，他在（世界的基础被奠定之前）通过他的秘密谋划，不断地决定从人类中选择基督的人，使他们免于诅咒和永恒的谴责，并通过基督将他们带到永恒的救赎，作为荣耀的器皿。因此，他们被赋予了上帝如此卓越的恩惠，按照上帝的旨意，通过他的灵在适当的时候被呼召：他们通过恩典服从呼召：他们被免费称义：他们被领养成为上帝的儿子：他们被塑造成为他的独生子耶稣基督的形象：他们在善行中虔诚地行走，并最终通过上帝的怜悯获得永恒的幸福。[摘自英国国教39条信仰的第17条]
该词起源时间：14世纪中期