Universal Salvation?
The Current Debate
Published on 1. July 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-84227-199-5 (ISBN)
Description
Will God one day save all people through Christ's atoning work? That is the question at the heart of the debate in this volume - a debate sure to challenge readers, whatever their current perspective.
Featuring evangelical writers of exceptional insight and sensitivity, Universal Salvation? offers a conversation worth everyone's attention. The volume opens with a rigorous three-part defense of Christian universalism by philosopher Thomas Talbott, who argues that Scripture teaches the ultimate salvation of all people, including those in hell. Gabriel Fackre in his foreword calls Talbott's work "the most thoughtfully wrought argument for universalism to date from within the contemporary evangelical community." The rest of the book gathers incisive responses to Talbott by Christian scholars from different disciplines, who evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Talbott's arguments, take his thought in new directions, or explain why they think he is mistaken. Talbott then responds to his critics.
The aim of this volume is not to persuade people that universalism is true but to open up a fairer debate on a controversial subject of continuing importance to theologians and non-theologians alike.
Table of Contents
Introduction--Robin Parry & Christopher Partridge
I. A Case for Christian Universalism
1. Towards a Better Understanding of Universalism--Thomas Talbott
2. Christ Victorious--Thomas Talbott
3. A Pauline Interpretation of Divine Judgement--Thomas Talbott
II. Biblical Responses
3. The New Testament Does Not Teach Universal Salvation--I. Howard Marshall
4. A Wideness in God's Mercy: Universalism in the Bible--Thomas Johnson
III. Philosophical Responses
6. A Philosophical Critique of Talbott's Universalism--Jerry Walls
7. Human Freedom and the Impossibility of Eternal Damnation--Eric Reitan
IV. Theological Responses
8. A Calvinist Response to Talbott's Universalism--Daniel Strange
9. A Freewill Theist's Response to Talbott's Universalism--John Sanders
V. Historical Responses
10. Universalism in the History of Christianity--Morwenna Ludlow
11. Universalistic Trends in the Evangelical Tradition: A Historical Perspective--David Hilborn & Don Horrocks
VI. Talbott Responds to his Interlocutors
12. Reply to my Critics--Thomas Talbott
Bibliography.
By exploring universal salvation from biblical, philosophical, theological, and historical perspectives, the book helps readers think through the issues more carefully than has been possible with resources previously available.
Featuring evangelical writers of exceptional insight and sensitivity, Universal Salvation? offers a conversation worth everyone's attention. The volume opens with a rigorous three-part defense of Christian universalism by philosopher Thomas Talbott, who argues that Scripture teaches the ultimate salvation of all people, including those in hell. Gabriel Fackre in his foreword calls Talbott's work "the most thoughtfully wrought argument for universalism to date from within the contemporary evangelical community." The rest of the book gathers incisive responses to Talbott by Christian scholars from different disciplines, who evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Talbott's arguments, take his thought in new directions, or explain why they think he is mistaken. Talbott then responds to his critics.
The aim of this volume is not to persuade people that universalism is true but to open up a fairer debate on a controversial subject of continuing importance to theologians and non-theologians alike.
Table of Contents
Introduction--Robin Parry & Christopher Partridge
I. A Case for Christian Universalism
1. Towards a Better Understanding of Universalism--Thomas Talbott
2. Christ Victorious--Thomas Talbott
3. A Pauline Interpretation of Divine Judgement--Thomas Talbott
II. Biblical Responses
3. The New Testament Does Not Teach Universal Salvation--I. Howard Marshall
4. A Wideness in God's Mercy: Universalism in the Bible--Thomas Johnson
III. Philosophical Responses
6. A Philosophical Critique of Talbott's Universalism--Jerry Walls
7. Human Freedom and the Impossibility of Eternal Damnation--Eric Reitan
IV. Theological Responses
8. A Calvinist Response to Talbott's Universalism--Daniel Strange
9. A Freewill Theist's Response to Talbott's Universalism--John Sanders
V. Historical Responses
10. Universalism in the History of Christianity--Morwenna Ludlow
11. Universalistic Trends in the Evangelical Tradition: A Historical Perspective--David Hilborn & Don Horrocks
VI. Talbott Responds to his Interlocutors
12. Reply to my Critics--Thomas Talbott
Bibliography.
By exploring universal salvation from biblical, philosophical, theological, and historical perspectives, the book helps readers think through the issues more carefully than has been possible with resources previously available.
Reviews / Votes
'Taking its cue from Thomas Talbott's project, this volume of essays engages in intelligent discussion of the various universalisms to which evangelicals might be attracted. Whichever way readers decide, it is good to have the subject placed firmly and creatively on the agenda.' Dr Nigel G Wright, Principal of Spurgeon's College, London. 'In this work evangelicals are talking to one another about the controverted question of universalism. It's a conversation worth overhearing by the wider theological world.... On matters of authority, the primacy of Scripture is given its due, tradition is taken seriously and reason is honoured in the development of points of view, pro or con... This...is a land-mark discussion among evangelicals, with ecumenical constituencies--academic and ecclesial--having much to learn from the give-and-take.' From the foreword by Gabriel Fackre, Abbot Professor of Christian Theology Emeritus, Andover Newton Theological School. 'This book contains a tightly focused, well-argued debate on the important issue of whether all persons will finally share in the joy of God's salvation. The book sets a high mark for both quality of argument and civility of the arguers, and is unusual in looking at the issue from biblical, theological, and philosophical perspectives. Both those who favor universalism, and those, such as myself, who must in the end reject this view will benefit from careful study of this work.' C. Stephen Evans, Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Baylor UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cumbria
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Send The Light
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
397 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84227-199-5 (9781842271995)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Robin A. Parry (Ph.D., in Old Testament Narrative Ethics) was commissioning editor for Paternoster Press. His books include Old Testament Story and Christian Ethics: The Rape of Dinah as a Case Study; The Evangelical Universalist; Worshipping Trinity: Coming Back to the Heart of Worship and most recently Lamentations (Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary Series) He is the co-editor of numerous books including Universal Salvation? The Current Debate with Christopher J. Partridge; The Futures of Evangelicalism, and Canon And Biblical Interpretation (Scripture and Hermeneutics Series) .
- Editorial Review.
Christopher Partridge is Professor of Contemporary Religion at the University of Chester, England. Helen Reid is Director of Faith to Faith, a Christian consultancy. C
- Editorial Review.
Christopher Partridge is Professor of Contemporary Religion at the University of Chester, England. Helen Reid is Director of Faith to Faith, a Christian consultancy. C
Content
Foreword Gabriel Fackre Introduction Robin Parry & Christopher Partridge Part I - A Case for Christian Universalism Chapter 1 - 'Towards a Better Understanding of Universalism' Thomas Talbott Chapter 2 - 'Christ Victorious' Thomas Talbott Chapter 3 - 'A Pauline Interpretation of Divine Judgement' Thomas Talbott Part II - Biblical Responses Chapter 4 - 'The New Testament Does Not Teach Universal Salvation' I. Howard Marshall Chapter 5 - 'A Wideness in God's Mercy: Universalism in the Bible' Thomas Johnson Part III - Philosophical Responses Chapter 6 - 'A Philosophical Critique of Talbott's Universalism' Jerry Walls Chapter 7 - 'Human Freedom and the Impossibility of Eternal Damnation' Eric Reitan Part IV - Theological Responses Chapter 8 - 'A Calvinist Response to Talbott's Universalism' Daniel Strange Chapter 9 - 'A Freewill Theistic Response to Talbott's Universalism' John Sanders Part V - Historical Responses Chapter 10 - 'Universalism in the History of Christian Theology' Morwenna Ludlow Chapter 11 - 'Universalistic Trends in the Evangelical Tradition: A Historical Perspective' David Hilborn & Don Horrocks Part VI - Talbott Responds to His Interlocutors Chapter 12 - 'Reply to my Critics' Thomas Talbott