Jiří Žůrek
Soteriological interpretation of predestination as developed by priest Vladimir Boublik (1928-1974) and its presuppositions
Vladimir Boublik, a former professor and dean of
the Theological faculty of the
Pontifical University of Lateran (Rome), developed throughout his life the theory of
predestination based on soteriology. In direct opposition to st. Augustine, Boublik
develops his argument starting
from the universal salvific will of God
as expressed in 1 Tim 2:3-4
and Ef 1:3-14. The predestination is for him
the eternal predestination of Christ to the Sonship
of God in the first place,
and through Christ and in Christ
it embraces all the God’s people
unified in the “Body of Christ“, i.e.
in His Church. In this way the calling
to salvation is extended to all people in all times,
unlike the Augustinian theory of the election
of the few.
Although God calls all people
to participate on his bliss,
some may not be saved at
the end because
of the obstacles
they put against this grace. However,
Boublik does not solve the traditional
question how to harmonize the God’s omniscience, omnipotence and
gratuity of grace with the fact that some may be not saved.
We can see
Boublik’s teaching of predestination going along the same line with thoughts of
catholic or protestant theologians of the 20th century, like A. Šanda,
A. Piolanti, K. Barth and O. Cullmann, to mention just a few. This line of thinking brought
theological investigations in the field of predestination gradually to its
turning point: away from the Augustinian fatalism and to the optimistic soteriological solution. Vladimir Boublik
may be seen as the pivotal figure of this turn.