The Potter's Promise: A Biblical Defense of Traditional Soteriology

by Leighton Flowers

As discussed in chapter one, the term “hate” is sometimes an idiomatic expression of choosing one over another for a greater purpose, and certainly would not mean despise, or reject without the possibility of reconciliation.[115] For instance, Jesus told Peter, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). No reputable commentator would suggest the term hate in Luke 14:26 should be interpreted literally. If so, one would be hard pressed to explain Scripture’s other teachings about loving and honoring one’s parents. Instead, this passage should be understood to mean that individuals must choose to follow God’s will over the will of even the most beloved in one’s life. In other words, this is the idiomatic way of communicating that one is to choose Christ and