In 40 Questions About Calvinism , church historian Shawn Wright tackles many issues about the theological system known as Calvinism. Taking an irenic approach, Wright explains the key doctrines while also contrasting them with Arminianism. The accessible format allows readers to easily look up topics in which they’re most interested, including: • What is the difference between Calvinism and the Reformed tradition? • Does God love all people? • Did Jesus die for the sins of the whole world? • Can people resist the Holy Spirit? • Do Calvinists practice evangelism and missions? “Here is a book to put into the hands of such inquirers whose understanding of Calvinism may have been formed by those who caricature it. The fact that each chapter is a question helps readers go straight to the issue that is dogging them.” —Conrad Mbewe, Kabwata Baptist Church, Lusaka, Zambia “If you are a non-Calvinist seeking answers about Calvinism, you will find a clear and winsome presentation of the position, as well as a response to some key criticisms. If you are a Calvinist looking for a model of how to talk about these things with non-Calvinists, then you will find a helpful and humble model for explaining the Calvinist position and its points of disagreement with Arminianism, in a fair-minded, evenhanded way.” —Ligon Duncan, Reformed Theological Seminary

The actual life and teaching of Jacobus Arminius are often unknown or misunderstood across many Protestant traditions. Answers beyond a basic caricature can be elusive. What are the essential historical backgrounds of Arminianism, and what theological teachings connect to the Arminian point of view? Mixing solid historical research with biblical and doctrinal precision, Baptist scholar J. Matthew Pinson clarifies the foundations of this influential tradition. 40 Questions About Arminianism addresses the following questions and more: Who was Jacobus Arminius? How has the church interpreted God's desire that everyone be saved? How is Arminianism different from Calvinism? Can one be both Reformed and Arminian? What is "universal enabling grace"? What do Arminians mean by "free will"? Do Arminians believe that God predestines individuals to salvation? Is it possible for a Christian to apostatize? An accessible question-and-answer format helps readers pursue the issues that interest them most and encourages a broad understanding of historic and contemporary Arminianism, with additional resources available at 40questions.net.

Both inside and outside the Christian faith, many difficult realities trouble human hearts and minds. By being equipped to answer questions about suffering and evil, Christians can persevere in faith, share their faith, and defend the faith when confronted with these inevitable challenges of living in a fallen world. In 40 Questions About Suffering and Evil, Greg Welty shows the necessity of exploring our vocabulary around evil and suffering so we can clearly see and express the best questions. Welty explores vital ideas, backgrounds, and issues, answering questions like these: - What is the difference between moral Evil and natural Evil? - What is the Bible's role in helping us understand suffering and evil? - Does God will all suffering and evil? - How is the gospel relevant to counseling those who suffer? Welty provides biblically informed intellectual resources for answering significant questions about suffering and evil, exposing readers to a wide range of influential views articulated by Christians over the past two millennia.

In The Work of Christ, John S. Hammett and Charles L. Quarles examine Christ’s service for his people, especially his atoning work on the cross. The first half of The Work of Christ offers a biblical theology of the atoning work of Christ, from the Pentateuch to the Prophets to the writings of the New Testament. By meticulously examining these cornerstones in Scripture, the authors help readers grasp the full magnitude and significance of Christ's sacrifice for humanity. While the first half of The Work of Christ unearths the biblical roots of Christ's atoning sacrifice, the second half approaches the theology behind the work of Christ systematically, guiding readers to understand how the church has grappled with the atonement through the ages. This section details the work of Christ before the incarnation, in his earthly life and ministry, and on the cross. The authors examine the multifaceted nature of the cross, exploring not just the traditional penal substitutionary view (where Jesus takes our punishment), but also criticisms and alternative perspectives on atonement and its reach. The volume concludes by examining the work of Christ after the cross, from his resurrection to his work still to come in his return. Equipped with a deeper understanding of Christ's work, readers will be empowered to live a life that reflects the profound impact of the Savior's sacrifice. Recognizing that faithful theological study is an integrative task, the Theology for the People of God series uniquely combines biblical and systematic theology in dialogue with historical theology and with application to church and life. This series addresses classic doctrines of systematic theology and other relevant topics, pairing careful scholarship with the practical understanding that theology finds its focus within the context of the church. Together, the series' authors guide readers in developing a theologically informed way of seeing the world, a Christlike response to life, and Christian motivation for ministry.

“Systematic Theology is a tour de force!” —Gregg R. Allison, professor of Christian theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Trinitarian, reformational, and baptistic, Stephen Wellum’s Systematic Theology models a serious evangelical engagement with the Scriptures while being grounded in church history and keenly aware of contemporary issues. Building on decades of research, Wellum formulates doctrine exegetically, covenantally, and canonically for a new generation of students, pastors, church leaders, and seasoned theologians.

Neo-Calvinism critically advances Reformed orthodoxy for the sake of modern life. Birthed in the Netherlands at the turn to the twentieth century, initiated by Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) and Herman Bavinck (1854-1921), it argued that a life before God entailed the leavening of faith over all human existence. While the movement originated in the Netherlands, the tradition now has a global reach, with practitioners and thinkers applying its insights in diverse ways and in their own contexts. This handbook is a genealogical introduction to this lively and modern branch of the Reformed tradition, with contributors that reflect its global reach. Its four sections chart the theological roots, important original figures, historical contours and the contemporary influence of neo-Calvinism across a diversity of fields.

Although we should acknowledge the fragility of memory, we should nevertheless affirm the remarkable ability of memory to reform and transform our identity. Our memories and ways of remembering are, however, often marked by trauma and violence. Memory, therefore, not merely reforms; it too is in need of reformation, redemption and transformation. With this emphasis in mind, Reforming Memory grapples with the question what a responsible engagement with the past entails, also for Christians and churches associated with the Reformed tradition. The history of Reformed churches in South Africa is, one can argue, a deeply divided and ambivalent one. The same figures are heroes to some and villains to others; historic events are deeply ambiguous and conflicting views surround different discourses. Yet the histories, and perhaps futures, of these churches and traditions are inextricably interwoven. Reforming Memory fundamentally combines an interest in the notion of ?memory? with an interest in (South African) Reformed theology and history. Central is the question: how should we remember and represent the past responsibly? The essays collected in this book engage in different ways with this question, attending in the process to some episodes in the history of the Dutch Reformed Church, some influential Reformed theologians, and some important Reformed practices and confessional documents.

Calvinism was the most dynamic and disruptive religious force of the later sixteenth century. Its emergence on the international scene shattered the precarious equilibrium established in the first generation of the Reformation, and precipitated three generations of religious warfare. This collection of essays probes different aspects of this complex phenomenon at a local level. Contributors present the results of their detailed work on societies as diverse as France, Germany, Highland Scotland and Hungary. Among wider themes approached are the impact of Calvin's writings, Calvinism in higher education, the contrasting fates of reformed preachers in town and country, Calvinist discipline and apocalyptic thought, and the shadowy affinity of merchants and scholars who formed a critical part of the 'Calvinist International'.

This book surveys the transformation of Scotland's medieval and Catholic university system into a greatly expanded Protestant one in the decades following the Scottish Reformation of 1560. It also assesses the contribution of religious reformer Andrew Melville to this process in the context of broader social and cultural developments. Through systematic use of largely neglected manuscript sources, the book offers fresh perspectives on both Andrew Melville and the development of Scottish higher education post-1560.

What impact is the Calvinist/non-Calvinist debate having on the Southern Baptist Convention today? This book holds a theological conversation between followers of Christ about issues on which they often disagree. And while such controversial points of doctrine cannot be ignored, neither should they put up impenetrable walls between groups that are committed to the same essential Christian beliefs. Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue brings together new presentations from noted Southern Baptists including Daniel Akin, Tom Ascol, David Dockery, Charles Lawless, and Ed Stetzer that address misperceptions, stereotypes, and caricatures of the debate over Reformed theology. Each strives to speak the truth in love and humility while seeking clarity in the presentation of the Gospel, improving the health of our churches, and seeking the kingdom of Christ above all. Endorsements: "What do we have to agree on? The doctrines of what it means for us to be lost, and of how we are saved could not be more important. This book explores how much we can disagree over these things and still work together. If you care about both evangelistic cooperation and doctrinal integrity, this book is a book for you." —Mark Dever, pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church and president of 9Marks.org