Wednesday, July 25, 2018

2 Chronicles 15:17 and the "Heart" of Asa vs. Total Depravity

Speaking of King Asa, we read:

But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. (2 Chron 15:17)


What is important about this verse is that, notwithstanding Asa's failure to remove the high places, the Chronicler had no issue with writing that Asa's "heart" was "perfect all his days." Why is this important? It is common to hear in Reformed theology, as a result of an eisegetical reading of Jer 17:9 and other-like texts, that the "heart" is totally depraved. And yet, notwithstanding Asa's reign not being perfect, his heart was "perfect" (Heb: ‎הָיָה שָׁלֵם  LXX: ἐγένετο πλήρης ["became full/complete"]).