Perspectives on Eternal Security: Biblical, Historical, and Philosophical Perspectives

by Kirk R. MacGregor (Editor), Kevaughn Mattis (Editor), H. Wayne House (Foreword by)

Overview

Eternal security, or personal assurance of final salvation, constitutes the single most important matter of practical theology in the Christian tradition. For the past twenty centuries, no other doctrine has exerted such a direct impact on the lives of lay Christians, driving their daily actions, guiding their permanent choices, and shaping their psychology. From the New Testament period onward, a diversity of views on biblical interpretation, anthropology, and divine sovereignty have produced numerous models of eternal security. However, due to the early modern fracturing of Protestant thought along Reformed and Arminian lines, today most evangelicals equate eternal security with Calvin's perseverance of the saints. In an ecumenical vein, this collection of essays aims to remedy the knowledge gap by bringing a breadth of biblical, historical, and philosophical perspectives to bear on the question of eternal security. These essays comprise the first print anthology from the online theological journal Testamentum Imperium, an international forum founded and edited by Kevaughn Mattis featuring scores of first-rate articles from Christian thinkers worldwide on the topic of eternal security. This book therefore analyzes Calvin's model of perseverance alongside views on eternal security ranging historically from Clement of Rome to contemporary developments in philosophical theology and process theology. Furthermore, this book explores and strengthens the biblical roots of eternal security through an illuminating host of thematic studies on whole books and exegetical studies on particular passages. Hence this volume will profit all who are interested in the scriptural foundations and historical outworkings of eternal security.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781725244412
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	05/07/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	238
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Kirk R. MacGregor is Assistant Professor of Religion at James Madison University. His is the author A Molinist-Anabaptist Systematic Theology (2007) and A Central European Synthesis of Radical and Magisterial Reform (2006).

Kevaughn Mattis is Founder and Managing Director of Testamentum Imperium Online Journal (http://www.preciousheart.net/ti). He earned his LLB (Hons) from the University of London in 2008 and is a prospective LPC student of BPP Law School, Manchester, UK (2009-2010).
Kirk R. MacGregor is associate professor of philosophy and religion and department chair at McPherson College. He is the author of Luis de Molina: The Life and Theology of the Founder of Middle Knowledge (2015) and A Molinist-Anabaptist Systematic Theology (2007), and he is co-editor of Calvinism and Middle Knowledge: A Conversation (2019).
H. Wayne House is Distinguished Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Faith Evangelical College and Seminary.

Table of Contents

About the Contributors vii

Foreword H. Wayne House xi

Preface Kevaughn Mattis xv

Introduction Kirk R. MacGregor xvii

Abbreviations xxxiii

Part 1 Biblical and Exegetical Studies

1 The Psalms: Eternal Security and Perseverance Harold R. Holmyard III 3

2 "What My Father Has Given Me": Believers as God's Gift in the Gospel of John J. Ramsey Michaels 26

3 The Security of the Believer as the Son's Fulfillment of the Father's Will: (John 6:38-40) Shawn L. Buice 34

4 The Prayer of Jesus in John 17 and the Security of the Believer Jon Balserak 45

5 Eternal Security and the Saving Love of God: An Exposition of Romans 8:31-39 Stephen Voorwinde 53

6 Making Your Calling and Election Sure: An Analysis of 2 Peter 1:8-11 Verlyn D. Verbrugge 76

7 The Adoption Metaphor and the Security of the Believer Francis Lyall 90

Part 2 Historical and Philosophical Studies

8 First Clement and Jewish Hellenism: Historiography and "Grace" in Light of Surviving Second Temple Motifs and First Century Christianity Brandon G. Withrow 101

9 Predestination and Salvific Assurance in Early Modern Thought and Life Kirk R. MacGregor 126

10 An Anthropological Look at Eternal Life: The Internal Changes Accompanying Salvation Kirk R. MacGregor 142

11 Salvation from the Wrath to Come in the Present Epoch Georg Plasger 156

12 The Eternal Security of the Believer in Christ from the Perspective of Philosophical Theology James W. Bryant 166

13 Eternal Security from the Perspective of Process Theology Donna Bowman 181

Appendix A Testamentum Imperium 189

Appendix B Complete List of Articles in Testamentum Imperium 1 (2007) 192

Bibliography 197