A Brief Book Notice from Books At a Glance
by Fred G. Zaspel
Kregel’s 40 Questions series, edited by our friend Benjamin Merkel, has proven to be a helpful growing resource for biblical and theological studies, and this new volume is a genuine contribution both to the series and to its topic.
Here’s the endorsement I wrote for the publisher:
Discussion and debates about the doctrine of election are often hampered by a lack of clarity of essential concepts and terminology. This “40 questions” approach lends itself to the careful nuancing necessary, and it is here that Kirkpatrick excels. His work shows precision in both theological concept and biblical statement. Well informed, clearly stated, and easily accessible. A welcome contribution to this wonderful study.
Selected Quotes
- First, the Scriptures affirm that predestination is rooted in God’s eternal will or desire, not knowledge of creaturely actions. To be clear, we should not separate God’s will from his knowledge nor set one before the other. What is at question here is not whether God’s knowledge precedes his will. Rather, the question is whether predestination is ultimately rooted in the divine will (his intrinsic desire), or his knowledge of the human will (humanity’s intrinsic desire). p.70
- Second, what was foreknown and predestined was people, not choices. Romans 8:29–30 does not say, “For that which He foreknew He also predestined,” as if God merely foreknew information. Rather, it states: “those whom he foreknew he also predestined … and those whom he predestined, he also called, … justified, and … glorified.” God foreknew and predestined people. This predestination makes divine election personal, not informational. God chose people not as an afterthought of human choices but as a priority in his will. p.71
- It is significant to note that across both Testaments, God’s people are called the “chosen ones” (1 Chr. 16:13; Ps. 105:6, 43; Isa. 65:22; Luke 18:7; Col. 3:12; 1 Peter 2:9), not the choosing ones. p.76
- We see divine initiative before human initiative in the Gospel of John, where Jesus affirmed that those who come to him for eternal life are those whom the Father has given him (6:37–44). These people did not choose Christ, but he chose them (15:16) and referred to them as his “sheep” who have eternal life because the Father gave them to him (10:27–29). Moving to Paul, we find the apostle closely tethers faith in Christ to election in places such as 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13. However, in both of these texts we see that a believer’s faith was preceded by God’s choice of them. p.76-77
- A few more points are in order. If election is based upon humans meeting a condition, we may rightly say that salvation is a work between God and people (a view called synergism; see Question 12). There are many problems with such a view;11 however, among the highest is that humans may then take partial credit for their salvation. Said another way, our election is due, in part, to what we have done. p.83
- Our view is that the involvement of the human will in divine election is best understood through a compatibilist perspective. This view affirms that people act in accordance with what they truly desire to do. Therefore, it gives the best rationale for why depraved sinners act in rebellion to God freely and with full responsibility for their actions (John 3:20; Rom. 8:7–8; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:3). Sinners act in accordance with their nature, and God does not force (nor is responsible for) sin or unbelief on the part of sinners. It further gives strong rationale to the genuineness of faith among the elect, for it is what they want to do. Moreover, this view best explains salvation by grace. In this view, God changes the hearts of undeserving sinners through regeneration and gifts them with faith (John 6:29; Acts 16:14; Eph. 2:8–9). p.88
Table of Contents
Part 1: Historical Overview of Election
1. What Is Divine Election?
2. How Did the Early Church Understand Election?
3. How Did Medieval Theologians Understand Election?
4. How Did the Protestant Reformers and Their Successors Understand Election?
5. How Did Jacobus Arminius and the Remonstrants Understand Election?
6. What Do Molinists Believe About Election?
7. How Did Karl Barth Understand Election?
8. What Are Other Alternative Views on Election?
Part 2: Biblical Evaluation of Election
Section A: The Workings of Election
9. Is Election Rooted in the Divine or Human Will?
10. Is Election Individual or Corporate?
11. Is Election Conditional or Unconditional?
12. How Does Human Will Reconcile with Divine Will in Election?
13. Does God Elect Some People to Hell?
14. How Does God Elect?
15. When Are the Elect Saved?
16. What Is the Ultimate Purpose of Election
Section B: Relating Election to Other Doctrines
17. How Is the Trinity Involved in Election?
18. Did Christ Die for All People or Only the Elect?
19. How Does Election Relate to Conversion?
20. Are the Elect Secured in Their Salvation?
21. What Is Hardening of the Heart?
22. What Can Satan and the Demons Do to the Elect and Non-Elect?
23. What Is Supralapsarianism, Infralapsarianism, and Sublapsarianism?
24. What Is the Relation Between Election and the Church?
Part 3: Ethical Considerations of Election
Section A: Election and the Divine Will
25. Does God Love All People If Only Some People Are Elect?
26. Does God Want All People to Be Saved If Only Some People Are Elect?
27. Does God Choose People Arbitrarily?
28. Is God Unjust to Predetermine the Salvation of the Elect Only?
29. Why Does God Not Elect Everyone?
Section B: Election and Human Will
30. Are the Non-Elect Responsible for Their Sin and Disbelief?
31. Do the Non-Elect Desire to be Saved but Merely Lack the Capacity?
32. How Does Election Relate to the Soul Competency of Infants and Children?
33. Can We Have Assurance That We Are Elect?
Part 4: Practical Considerations of Election
34. How Does Election Affect a Christian’s Identity?
35. What Is the Role of Prayer in the Lives of the Elect?
36. How Does Election Relate to Personal Evangelism and Missions?
37. Is There Such a Thing as a Well-Meant Offer of the Gospel?
38. How Does a Formulated Doctrine of Election Help Me in Personal Holiness?
39. How Does a Formulated Doctrine of Election Help in Ministry?
40. How Does Divine Election Give Us Hope?
Scripture Index
Other books in this 40 Questions series
- 40 Questions about the End Times, Echard Schnabel
- 40 Questions about Christians & Biblical Law, Thomas Schreiner
- 40 Questions about Salvation, Matthew Barrett
- 40 Questions about Biblical Theology, Jason DeRouchie & Andrew David Naselli
- 40 Questions about Roman Catholicism, Gregg Allison
- 40 Questions about Calvinism, Shawn Wright
- 40 Questions about Arminianism, J. Matthew Pinson
- 40 Questions about Baptism & the Lord’s Supper, John Hammett
- 40 Questions about Bible Translation, Mark Strauss
- 40 Questions about Church Membership & Discipline, Jeremy Kimble
- 40 Questions about Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare, John Gilhooly
- 40 Questions about Creation & Evolution, Kenneth Keathley & Mark Rooker
- 40 Questions about Elders & Deacons, Benjamin Merkle
- 40 Questions about Heaven & Hell, Alan Gomes
- 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, Robert Plummer
- 40 Questions about Islam, Matthew Bennett
- 40 Questions about Pastoral Ministry, Phil Newton
- 40 Questions about Pentecostalism, Jonathan Black
- 40 Questions about Prayer, Joseph Harrod
- 40 Questions about Suffering & Evil, Greg Welty
- 40 Questions about the Apostle Paul, Miguel Echevarria & Benjamin Laird
- 40 Questions about the Atonement, Channing Crisler
- 40 Questions about the Great Commission, Daniel Akin & George Robinson
- 40 Questions about the Historical Jesus, C. Marvin Pate
- 40 Questions about the Text & Canon of the New Testament, Charles Quarles & L. Scott Kellum
- 40 Questions about Typology & Allegory, Mitchell Chase
- 40 Questions about Women in Ministry, Sue Edwards & Kelley Matthews
Buy the books
40 QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVINE ELECTION, by Daniel Kirkpatrick