Clarifying Calvinism (Part 3)
January 15th, 2009
(By Phil Johnson)
Part III: Some book recommendations
Before we go further in this series, let me recommend a handful of books. The first book I want to recommend is a new book by Roger Olson, who is himself an Arminian, and he has written a defense of Arminianism titled Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities. You might be surprised to hear me recommend this book because I published a review of it on my weblog a few months ago, and the review wasn’t altogether positive. The review was written by my friend Gary Johnson, who is pastor of The Church Of The Redeemer in Mesa, Arizona. Gary’s mentor, by the way, was S. Lewis Johnson. And even though we are all three named Johnson, none of us are related. (Though I would be very happy to be related to either S. Lewis Johnson or Gary Johnson.) Anyway, Gary’s review was in several parts, and he titled it “Calvinists in the Hands of an Angry Arminian.” So it wasn’t a completely positive review, and I agree with practically all of Gary’s complaints about the book.
But I have to say that Olson’s book is the best book in defense of Arminianism I’ve ever read. Some readers might be aware that I didn’t have a very high opinion of Dave Hunt’s anti-Calvinistic screed. When I reviewed Hunt’s book in a Shepherds’ Conference seminar a few years ago, someone told me the only reason I hated the book was because I’m a Calvinist and Hunt stepped on my toes.
And I said, “No, it’s just a really bad book, written by a guy who has no clue what he is talking about.”
My friend challenged that: “Name one well-written book, written after 1950, either defending Arminianism or attacking Calvinism, written by someone who does know what he is talking about.”
I admit it; I was stumped. But now Roger Olson has bailed me out. If anyone ever asks me that question again, I can point to Olson’s book. It’s a good defense of Arminianism, and although I disagree with virtually all his conclusions, he pretty much knows what he is talking about, and he explains the differences between Arminianism, Pelagianism, and semi-pelagianism pretty well.
If you read that book, you’ll need to read at least three or four good Calvinist books to get the taste out of your mouth. So I’ll recommend three. Two are standard works that I routinely recommend every year. The first is a massive syllabus, written by Curt Daniel, called The History and Theology of Calvinism. These are notes Dr. Daniel wrote when he taught this material, and the tapes of his teaching are downloadable for free from the internet. Dr. Daniel is currently working on developing that material in book form, to be published by P&R. My guess is you’ll have to wait 2-3 years for that, so buy the syllabus; download the sound files for free download.
The other standard work you must have is the book by David Steele, Curtis Thomas, Lance Quinn, titled The Five Points of Calvinism (also by P&R). It is an encyclopedic collection of key Scripture references and some wonderful essays explaining and defending Calvinism from the Bible.
And then one of my favorite books — hard to find for a long time but recently published in a quality edition by Audobon Press, The Great Invitation, by Erroll Hulse, subtitled “Examining the use of the altar call in evangelism.” The book deals with the question of altar calls, as the subtitle suggests, but it’s greatest value, I think, is that this is a classic example of the kind of warm-hearted, evangelistic, classic Calvinism that I appreciate, and it’s a great antidote to the ugly Calvinism I spoke about that you find in Internet forums. Erroll Hulse is a greatly respected British Reformed Baptist leader, and this is one of my all-time favorite books.
Note: Part 4 will be posted later this afternoon.
The link to the syllabus doc returns a 404. Could you doublecheck the link? Sounds like a handy resource!
Other than that, I’m enjoying the series and looking forward to IV this afternoon.
Link to the word document doesn’t work, please update?
And I said, “No, it’s just a really bad book, written by a guy who has no clue what he is talking about.”
Tha’s what i like about Phil J., he don’t sugar-coat it, in a wordl of a lot of sugar-coating going on.
What about George Bryson as an author who writes agaisnt Calvinism? I noticed on Hunt’s website he is selling his book, and Doug Wilson endorses him. Just wondering.
Y’know, I get so frustrated with Olson’s book that it’s hard for me to understand why so many people are so high on it–Carl Trueman recommends it, and now Phil.
Olson’s entire book struck me as self-defeating and hypocritical, and I H-A-T-E-D his comparison of the atonement to vietnam war deserter amnesty.
Maybe it was just too over-hyped for me (an Arminian friend at an Assembly of God seminary touted it as the final word in the Calvinist debate)…I’ll have to have another go of it sometime, I guess.
I recently went through R.C. Sproul’s:
What is Reformed Theology? (formerly titled Grace Unknown)
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntk=keywords&Ntt=what+is+reformed+theology&action=Search&N=0&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1&Go.x=21&Go.y=21
Which I read in book form and I went through the DVD series (Audio also available); which was awesome from a Theological & Historical point of view. (Albeit as a Baptistic I do differ greatly on Church Traditions and in particular upon Infant “baptism” and that aspect of Covenentalism.)
I also greatly appreciated the DVD from Nicene Council:
Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of Calvinism
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=789433&netp_id=441267&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers
BUT MOST OF ALL, I appreciated the Scriptures; reading them critically of my own opinion and reasoning; as I was a Pelagian, without linence who used my own “decision” to limit my God, so as to allow my OWN LORDSHIP, my OWN Kingship and MY OWN Mastership; that is untill my sin was made to be ssen as exceedingly sinful and the Holiness and Justice of YAHWEH was revealed by the Spirit through the teaching of the Scriptures.
We MUST always be able to be critical of our OWN position, challenge ourselves with teh Scriptures and then pray that He will submit us most willingly unto His command.
By the mercy from Christ Alone, your servant with the Gospel of grace, to those in bondage to sin’s lusts and desires,
W
donsands-
George Bryson deleted a comment from the Doug Wilson quote and printed it on his book as an “endorsement”. Although I don’t know for sure, I don’t think Wilson was actually promoting the book.
Here is the “endorsement” on the back of Bryson’s book:
George Bryson is a very unusual non-Calvinist. He is able to describe the doctrinal position of Calvinism without putting any extra eggs in the pudding. His descriptions are fair and accurate, and he clearly knows his subject. The first portion of the book, the place where he does all this, is very good.
Here is the actual quote. Notice the last two lines which were left off the “endorsement”:
George Bryson is a very unusual non-Calvinist. He is able to describe the doctrinal position of Calvinism without putting any extra eggs in the pudding. His descriptions are fair and accurate, and he clearly knows his subject. The first portion of the book, the place where he does all this, is very good. The second, where he turns to refutation, falls in another category. The name of this book is The Five Points of Calvinism: Weighed and Found Wanting.
Hmmmmmm… Taken out of context, unnaturally abridged, and then used for specific agenda in a book about theology.
How ironic.
Olson’s book was a bit of a let down simply because it was devoid of any meaningful exegesis of the relevant passages. Robert Picirrili of the Free Will Baptist College had a similar problem with his book defending Arminianism, “Grace, Faith, and Free Will.”
One source often over looked is the works of Jacob Arminius. They may be a tad heavy for some, but what’s better than straight from the horse’s mouth.
Most importantly, though, I cannot recommend enough the Thomas and Steele book on Calvinism. It is by far the best introduction to the subject in print.
Fred
Thanks Andrew. Bad George.
In dealing with “free” will, I strongly recommend “God’s Greater Glory: The Exalted God Of Scripture And The Christian Faith” by Bruce A. Ware. It really helped me pull things together.