Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities
Overview
In this book, Roger Olson sets forth classical Arminian theology and addresses the myriad misunderstandings and misrepresentations of it through the ages. Irenic yet incisive, Olson argues that classical Arminian theology has a rightful place in the evangelical church because it maintains deep roots within Reformational theology, even though it maintains important differences from Calvinism.
- Myth 1: Arminian Theology Is the Opposite of Calvinist/Reformed Theology/li>
- Myth 2: A Hybrid of Calvinism and Arminianism Is Possible
- Myth 3: Arminianism Is Not an Orthodox Evangelical Option
- Myth 4: The Heart of Arminianism Is Belief in Free Will
- Myth 5: Arminian Theology Denies the Sovereignty of God
- Myth 6: Arminianism Is a Human-Centered Theology
- Myth 7: Arminianism Is Not a Theology of Grace
- Myth 8: Arminians Do Not Believe in Predestination
- Myth 9: Arminian Theology Denies Justification by Grace Alone Through Faith Alone
- Myth 10: All Arminians Believe in the Governmental Theory of the Atonement
Top Highlights
“Only those will be saved, however, who are predestined by God to eternal salvation. They are the elect. Who is included in the elect? All who God foresees will accept his offer of salvation through Christ by not resisting the grace that extends to them through the cross and the gospel. Thus, predestination is conditional rather than unconditional; God’s electing foreknowledge is caused by the faith of the elect.” (Page 35)
“Today, semi-Pelagianism is the default theology of most American evangelical Christians.23 This is revealed in the popularity of clichés such as ‘If you’ll take one step toward God, he’ll come the rest of the way toward you,’ and ‘God votes for you, Satan votes against you, and you get the deciding vote,’ coupled with the almost total neglect of human depravity and helplessness in spiritual matters.” (Pages 30–31)
“Arminians believe such libertarian free will in spiritual matters is a gift of God through prevenient grace—grace that precedes and enables the first stirrings of a good will toward God.) When predestination is used, it will be modified by either conditional (Arminian form) or unconditional (Calvinists form), depending on the context.” (Page 20)
“People who say that Calvinists teach predestination and deny free will, and that Arminians deny predestination and teach free will are simply wrong. Both teach both! They interpret them differently. Arminians believe in election and predestination—because the Bible teaches them.” (Page 19)
“Arminians affirm that God is in charge of nature and history but deny that God controls every event” (Page 38)
- Title: Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities
- Author: Roger Olson
- Publisher: IVP
- Print Publication Date: 2006
- Logos Release Date: 2020
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subjects: Arminianism; Religion › Christian Theology--Systematic; Religion › Christianity--General
- ISBNs: 9780830874439, 9780830828418, 0830874437, 0830828419
- Resource ID: LLS:WS_6DD07F3FF8D34153931C07619DB3E3A5
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T04:12:58Z
Roger E. Olson is the Foy Valentine Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Previously he served as professor of theology at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of 18 books, including The Journey of Modern Theology: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction (IVP).
Dr. Olson was born and raised in the Upper Midwest of the United States and considers himself a “Bapticostal.” He grew up Pentecostal but became Baptist while attending North American Baptist Seminary. His PhD in religious studies is from Rice University in Houston, and he studied at the University of Munich with theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg. He served as editor of Christian Scholar’s Review in the 1990s and has served as consulting and contributing editor for Christianity Today. He is married and has two daughters and two beautiful grandchildren. He enjoys southern gospel music, Victorian gothic mystery books, and traveling.