Predestination and Free Will: Four Views of Divine Sovereignty & Human Freedom (Spectrum Multiview Books)
Overview
If God is in control, are people really free? This question has bothered Christians for centuries. And answers have covered a wide spectrum. Today Christians still disagree. Those who emphasize human freedom view it as a reflection of God’s self-limited power. Others look at human freedom in the order of God’s overall control.
David and Randall Basinger have put this age-old question to four scholars trained in theology and philosophy. John Feinberg of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Norman Geisler of Dallas Theological Seminary focus on God’s specific sovereignty. Bruce Reichenbach of Augsburg College and Clark Pinnock of McMaster Divinity College insist that God must limit his control to ensure our freedom. Each writer argues for his perspective and applies his theory to two practical case studies. Then the other writers respond to each of the major essays, exposing what they see as fallacies and hidden assumptions.
Top Highlights
“God’s predetermination is based on his foreknowledge.” (Page 66)
“God’s predetermination is in accord with his foreknowledge.” (Page 70)
“My basic problem with Feinberg’s view is that, logically, it amounts to a denial of human free choice and, thus, would make God responsible for evil.” (Page 46)
“Pinnock believes that human freedom is incompatible with divine foreknowledge. Thus, God operates in a more ‘open’ universe.” (Page 14)
“God determined that Judas would freely betray Christ. There is no logical contradiction between determinism and free will. There would be a contradiction only if God forced Judas to freely betray Christ. Forced freedom is a contradiction in terms. But if God simply determines that Judas will freely do it, then there is no contradiction. God can determine through free choice with the same certainty that he can determine without it. An omniscient mind cannot be wrong.” (Page 72)
- Title: Predestination and Free Will: Four Views of Divine Sovereignty & Human Freedom
- Authors: David Basinger, Randall Basinger
- Series: Spectrum Multiview Books
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 1986
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Predestination › Addresses, essays, lectures; God › Omnipotence--Addresses, essays, lectures; Providence and government of God › Addresses, essays, lectures; Freedom (Theology) › Addresses, essays, lectures; Free will and determinism › Addresses, essays, lectures
- ISBNs: 9780830876594, 9780877845676, 0877845670, 0830876596
- Resource ID: LLS:PRDSTNTNFRHFRDM
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:22:10Z