Robert Picirilli renews the discussion of issues that have divided Calvinism and Arminianism since the Reformation. Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian of the 16th century, contested the dominant theological ideas advanced by the well-known Protestant reformer John Calvin and his disciples. Historically, Arminius has been frequently misunderstood and often reinterpreted by friend and foe alike. Even today, one who calls himself "Arminian" does so with considerable risk, as the name means different things to different people and comes in various flavors. Though he presents both classic Calvinism and Arminianism in order to help readers intelligently decide for themselves, Dr. Picirilli unashamedly advocates a very specific form of Arminianism as the best resolution of the tensions between the two doctrinal postions. In what he calls "Reformation Arminianism," Picirilli reclaims the original views of Arminius and his defenders. This is an Arminianism that defends: total depravity, the sovereignty of God to control all things for the certain accomplishment of His will, God's perfect foreknowledge of, and the certainty of, all future events including the free, moral choices of human beings, the penal satisfaction view of the atonement, salvaiton by grace through faith and not by works, from beginning to end, an apostasy that cannot be remedied.
I commend Picirilli for such an erudite, comprehensive, and persuasive presentation of the classical Arminian position as contrasted with classical Calvinism and sub-Calvinism. The final chapter which analyzes Hebrews and Petrine writings with respect to the finality of apostasy is one of the strongest arguments on the same that I have read.
A study of the theology of salvation typically begins with the decisions of God made before creation. When we do that, we are dealing with what is technically called the decrees of God, or to borrow Warfield's title, The Plan of Salvation. Systematic theologians usually treat this subject under the heading of predestination. In turn they subdivide predestination into two parts, election and reprobation. The specific definitions of these terms depend, more or less, on the theological position of those defining them. We will first examine the Calvinistic view of predestination and then the Arminian view. In each case, a "systematic theology" approach will be somewhat briefly outlined, with such comments as seem necessary for understanding. Then will follow the pursuit of some "biblical theology" investigations that appear helpful for the issues involved. This methodology will be used throughout the rest of the book, with some variations that reflect the nature of the material.
El Despertar
Fish Food
Espies
Superior