Any theology textbook against predestination, limited atonement, election?

[Giovanni Blancas]

Can someone recommend a theology textbook that argues against predestination, limited atonement and election? I'm taking a theology course that asks the students to compare sources but I can only find theology text books that support Calvinist ideas. Any suggestions, Thanks!

 

[Logos1560]

One theology textbook, which may not be Calvinist, would be Lectures in Systematic Theology by Henry C. Thiessen. It may also not be anti-Calvinist, but it does mention various views of the atonement etc. along with some arguments for them and some objections to them.

 

[Rob_BW]

Well, I dug around a bit. Didn't see anything like the "Moody Handbook of Freewill." (I jest.)

What I did do was snoop around at some seminaries/schools known to not support Calvinism.

Welch had:
https://www.amazon.com/Classical-Arminianism-F-Leroy-Forlines/dp/0892656077

Asbury had:
https://www.amazon.com/United-Methodist-Doctrine-Extreme-Center/dp/068703485X
and
https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Christianity-Systematic-Thomas-Oden/dp/0061449717

I know it's not much, but checking some more school textbook lists might yield what you're looking for.

 

[Logos1560]

Any suggestions

One suggestion might be to look for theology textbooks used at Free-will Baptist colleges, Methodist schools, etc. or written for them.

The old commentaries by Adam Clarke, a Methodist, would likely have some arguments on the anti-Calvinist positions.

 

[JonShaff]

I believe David Allen wrote a work on the Atonement that has a traditional perspective.

The Extent of the Atonement: A Historical and Critical Review

 

[JonC]

Perhaps Thomas Torrance's works. One is Atonement: The Person and Work of Christ.

His works have been influential in the movement by Calvinists to bring Calvinism closer to what they believe is a more biblical understanding (he held that it was biblically absurd that Jesus was “punished” for our sins).

 

[David Kent]

You could read the bible.

• Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
• 2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
• 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
• 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
• 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
• 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
• 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
• 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
• 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
• 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
• 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
• 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
• 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

 

[JonC]

If you want a pretty good "Reformation Armianism" source check out Grace, Faith, Free Will by Robert E. Picirilli.

 

[Sir Beezer]

I second the recommendation of Robert E. Picirilli's book "Grace, Faith, Free Will." I've actually got it on my desk now as I type this. It's a good one. I also think anything by F. Leroy Forlines is worth reading as well.

You might find Roger E. Olson's "Against Calvinism" of interest, but I have not read it and can't personally recommend it. My understanding is this book is the counterpart to Michael Horton's (WSCAL) "For Calvinism."

 

[Rob_BW]

You could read the bible.

• Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
• 2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
• 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
• 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
• 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
• 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
• 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
• 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
• 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
• 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
• 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
• 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
• 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Did you skip over the part of the OP where it said "compare sources?"

 

[JonShaff]

4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Yes, let us read the Bible. So, you were "in Him" before the foundations of the World? Because, Paul says we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the World. How on earth could we have been in Him before the foundation of the World when we are "Baptized into Christ" upon conversion? Quick answer: Because Paul is highlighting the Fact that God Chose Christ to bring About His Heavenly Blessings. God counseled within Himself that Christ would be the One in Whom all Nations would be blessed. I do not want to insult your intelligence Brother David, but read it slowly. It was God's plan before the foundation of the World that God would Send Christ to bless those who are in Him, this was done by His own choosing. We were not "In Christ" before the Foundation of the World. So, How could He "Choose us in Him" ?

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Can someone recommend a theology textbook that argues against predestination, limited atonement and election?

https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Norman-L-Geisler/dp/0764206036

 

[Rob_BW]

https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Norman-L-Geisler/dp/0764206036

I reckon I should have just searched his name. I tried looking for Southern Evangelical Seminary's text list but couldn't find anything online.

 

[Yeshua1]

Can someone recommend a theology textbook that argues against predestination, limited atonement and election? I'm taking a theology course that asks the students to compare sources but I can only find theology text books that support Calvinist ideas. Any suggestions, Thanks!

Not really a ST, but would help you out would be the Moody Handbook of theology, Peter Enns, as while a Calvinist, he does fairly list what differing Christians believe on those issues!

 

[Yeshua1]

Perhaps Thomas Torrance's works. One is Atonement: The Person and Work of Christ.

His works have been influential in the movement by Calvinists to bring Calvinism closer to what they believe is a more biblical understanding (he held that it was biblically absurd that Jesus was “punished” for our sins).

Thankfully, most Calvinists rejected his view on that !

 

[Yeshua1]

https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Norman-L-Geisler/dp/0764206036

The main problem with him though is that he is really confused on Calvinism, as he sees Himself as a moderate one, as 5 pointers are Hyper to him!

 

[Yeshua1]

Can someone recommend a theology textbook that argues against predestination, limited atonement and election? I'm taking a theology course that asks the students to compare sources but I can only find theology text books that support Calvinist ideas. Any suggestions, Thanks!

The ST by Dr Erickson, Christian Theology, while Calvinists, he is a "moderate one", and he does give differing positions on each major doctrine!

 

[JonC]

Thankfully, most Calvinists rejected his view on that !

There are a growing number of Calvinists trying to being Calvinism into what they believe to be a more biblical position. That is why I think the reference could be useful.

I think Picirilli may be a more helpful reference for a paper (depending on how indepth one wanted to go).

 

[Yeshua1]

There are a growing number of Calvinists trying to being Calvinism into what they believe to be a more biblical position. That is why I think the reference could be useful.

I think Picirilli may be a more helpful reference for a paper (depending on how indepth one wanted to go).

To get the real gist of what Calvinsm teaches though, at least in regards to salvation proper, one would check into Calvin, Hodge, Berkhof, Turretin etc!

 

[Van]

Can someone recommend a theology textbook that argues against predestination, limited atonement and election? I'm taking a theology course that asks the students to compare sources but I can only find theology text books that support Calvinist ideas. Any suggestions, Thanks!

If you peruse the topics on the internet, here is what can be found

"Predestination" has been defined by Calvinists to refer to the doctrine that God chose specific foreseen individuals before creation (before the foundation of the world) to save. Nothing we can do during our lifetime can alter that predestined outcome of our lives or the lives of our loved ones. Those not chosen cannot believe in Him because God created them with "total spiritual inability." Those chosen also cannot believe until God at a time of His choosing, supernaturally alters them with "irresistible grace" such they cannot avoid coming to a saving faith in Christ.

Those (like myself) who believe the above doctrine is bogus, argue that God chose His Redeemer before the foundation of the world and therefore chose corporately, but not individually, all those subsequently redeemed, thus He chose "us in Him" before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)

"Limited Atonement" has been defined by Calvinist to refer to the doctrine that Christ died only for those individuals chosen before the foundation of the world.

Again those (like myself) on the other side, believe Christ died for all mankind, because He became the propitiation or means of salvation from God's wrath for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

"Election" refers to the doctrine that God chooses us individually for salvation which is a sound biblical doctrine. However "Unconditional Individual Election" before the the foundation of the world is disputed, with other scholars believing we were corporately chosen before creation. Certainly many verses indicate we were chosen individually (during our lifetime) based on faith in the truth, a conditional election.(2 Thessalonians 2:13)