Pyatcast

Tag: Calvinism

  • Romans 8 – Textual Issues

    In preparation for tomorrow’s exegetical debate, I reviewed the text to compare for textual issues. As you know, I mostly prefer using the KJV. On the other hand, some folks will point out that the ESV is based on a better Greek text. As it turns out, there are few translatable differences between the texts.…

  • Kenneth M. Wilson's "Augustine's Conversion from Traditional Free Choice to 'Non-Free Free Will'" – Calvinism Discussion

    Since one vocal contra-Calvinist has been relying on Dr. Wilson’s materials to bash Calvinism, it makes sense to discuss every single place that Dr. Wilson mentions John Calvin in his book. Based on a text search for “Calvin” within the book, there is exactly one hit: Kolakowski argues that the Church’s repeated anathemas on the…

  • Responding to Leighton Flowers' "Choice Beef" Argument

    Leighton Flowers (transcription of oral comments): When we ask about election, we’re talking about mainly God having favor – Him choosing somebody over someone else. Matter of fact, when we use the word “choice,” a lot of times we’re thinking of kind of the verb form of it, like, “I made a choice between these…

  • Defining "Responsibility" for Leighton Flowers

    I was listening to Professor Leighton Flowers talk about “responsibility,” (mp3 – around 29 minutes into the debate) and he noticed that he tried to define it as “able to respond,” as in being able to respond positively to God’s commands and exhortations. That definition is just fanciful. The term “responsible” actually means “answerable” or…

  • Ultimate Destination Isn't Only Purpose

    Some people think that “God created the reprobate just to torture them in Hell for all eternity,” is an accurate picture of one aspect of Calvinism. I’ve heard it used a number of times as an attempt to criticize Calvinism. What’s a good answer when someone asks you if that’s what you believe – or…

  • The Potter's Precedent

    In Romans 9, in response to the most frequent objection to Calvinism, Paul provides an answer from a potter analogy: Romans 9:19-23 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed…

  • Failure to Understand both Calvinism and One's Own Doctrine …

    I saw the following comment from a lay apologist of the Roman communion recently, directed at one of my fellow Calvinists: If I am going to hell and presdestined to do so, then you don’t have to pray for me or even have any love at all, according to your warped, hideous, grotesque version of…

  • Reviewing Roger Olson's "Against Calvinism"

    Dr. James White reviewed Roger’s Olson’s “Against Calvinism” on the November 3, 2011, Dividing Line.  Meanwhile, independently Paul Manata has prepared a detailed written review. I think both reviewers would agree with the following from Manata: In any event, Olson’s book leaves much to be desired. It isn’t anything like a “case” against Calvinism. Rather,…

  • If not "can" then "could"? Response to LFW Objection

    I had written: If God knows that X will happen, it is certain to happen, and thus cannot be otherwise. In the comment box, “Dan” (profile not available) provided a proposed response from a non-Calvinist advocate of “Libertarian” free will (I assume that this is a hypothetical objection, not Dan’s own objection): God’s infallibly knowing…

  • The Potter's Fredom vs. Chosen But Free – Part 3

    I am continuing my series of responses (part 1, part 2) to reviews of Chosen But Free, with a particular emphasis on how I think the students who prepared these reviews might benefit from the rebuttal provided in Dr. James White’s book, “The Potter’s Freedom.” The numbering of the reviews picks up from the previous…