Here are the clarion voices that are crystalline clear about one of the most important issues of our day. This scholarly work with pastoral practicality gives great guidance through a thorny issue. I encourage every pastor to read this book.
Mac Brunson, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida
Exploring issues from a biblical, historical, philosophical, and theological perspective, the contributors to Whosoever Will have put forward an alternative to the Calvinist model of the doctrine of salvation within Baptist life.
David S. Dockery, president, Union University, Jackson, Tennessee
We took a large group of our staff members to the John 3:16 Conference, and we found it to be scripturally based, scholarly, fair, and on target. With the resurgence of Calvinism in the SBC, every Baptist should read this book.
Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee
All who wish to consider seriously the role of Calvinism in Baptist life today can find stimulation in these pages, which in turn invite further discussion and dialogue.
James Leo Garrett, Distinguished Professor of Theology, Emeritus Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Fort Worth, Texas
I believe that you will see the spirit of Christ from page to page... this book... was never intended to bash those of a different persuasion, but rather be part of an ongoing Southern Baptist dialogue that is building bridges.
Johnny Hunt, pastor, FBC Woodstock, Georgia, and President, Southern Baptist Convention
Whosoever Will is an excellent introduction to those who wonder from where the Southern Baptist passion for evangelism and missions came and why a concern for the integrity of Gods Word and the necessity of the atonement were major forces driving the Conservative Resurgence.
Chuck Kelley, president, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, Louisiana
A much needed corrective to the contemporary rise of Calvinism especially among young Christians; it presents a scholarly, biblically accurate, and reasonable case against radical Reformed theology.
Roger E. Olson, professor of Theology, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
There is no more important message in all the world than that contained in John 3:16. The contents of this book will encourage everyone who reads it to keep the balance in proclaiming this verses majestic truth.
R. Philip Roberts, president, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri
These stimulating essays provide thoughtful and provocative reflection, both pastoral and academic, from the Baptist via media tradition between Arminianism and Calvinism. Though I would differ with some of the contributors perspectives (for example, their approach to perseverance), this book is a must read for all those interested in the current healthy exchange over Arminianism and Calvinism in the evangelical community.
Matthew Pinson, President, Free Will Baptist Bible College, Nashville, Tennessee
{ Acknowledgments }
We would like to express our appreciation to Dr. Jerry Vines and his staff for allowing us to publish this book based on the presentations given at the John 3:16 Conference. We appreciate each scholar who contributed a chapter to the book, as well as Dr. Johnny Hunt for his foreword and Dr. James Leo Garrett Jr. for his preface. The editors and staff at B&H Academic have been of superb assistance, particularly Dr. Terry Wilder, Jim Baird, Dean Richardson, and Emily Cheney. We were also greatly assisted in the manuscript editing by Christopher Black and Pam Cole at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. And thanks to the many Baptists who have been encouraging us to write such a volume. We hope that it accomplishes its purpose and glorifies the Lord.
David L. Allen
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Fort Worth, Texas
Steve Lemke
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
New Orleans, Louisiana
Whosoever Will:
A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism
Copyright 2010 by David L. Allen & Steve W. Lemke
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8054-6416-0
Published by B&H Publishing Group
Nashville, Tennessee
Dewey Decimal Classification: 284
Subject Heading: Calvinism\Doctrinal Theology
Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible , Holman CSB, and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible. The Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972 , 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1946, 1952, 1971, 1973.
Abbreviations used for journals, periodicals, major reference works, and series conform to The SBL Handbook of Style, ed. Patrick H. Alexander et al. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1999).
Printed in the United States of America
{ Table of Contents }
Jerry Vines
Paige Patterson
Richard Land
David L. Allen
Steve W. Lemke
Kenneth D. Keathley
Kevin Kennedy
Malcolm B. Yarnell III
R. Alan Streett
Jeremy A. Evans
Bruce A. Little
{ Foreword }
As I contemplated writing the foreword for this book, the phrase that captured my heart as I consider the subject of Reformed and non-Reformed theology is just this: differing viewsunified spirit. I can honestly confess that the Lord has placed people in my life whom I deeply love who have made incredible contributions to my life and who are on both sides of the fence. What I have come to love most about theology is the capacity to agree to disagree but to do it in the spirit of Christ. With that being said, I really believe that you will be a better student of Gods Word having read this wonderful book.
As Baptists, we all know that we have Calvinists and non-Calvinists within our ranks. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is highly exalted when we can acknowledge our differences but join hands around a gospel-centered message to proclaim its truth to the nations. I also confess that, having studied the subject of Calvinism and its doctrines, I am a better student of Gods Word. As most everyone who knows me personally is aware, I do not adhere to the five points of Calvinism. However, as a student of Gods Word, by becoming better informed by hearing the heart of my friends and reading recommended volumes, I have a better love for and greater understanding of soteriology. One thing is for sure: I will never get beyond the day that God stepped out of heaven in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and saved me. Since that day I am so grateful for the men and women who have been used by God to help shape my life as well as my theology.
