40 QUESTIONS ABOUT

Calvinism

Shawn D. Wright

Benjamin L. Merkle, Series Editor

40 Questions About Calvinism

© 2019 Shawn D. Wright

Published by Kregel Academic, an imprint of Kregel Publications, 2450 Oak Industrial Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-6020.

This book is a title in the 40 Questions Series edited by Benjamin L. Merkle.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in printed reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Greek font GraecaU is available from www.linguistsoftware.com/lgku.htm, +1-425-775-1130.

ISBN 978-0-8254-4231-5

To Jonathan and Madison,

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is

good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

(Psalm 107:1)

Contents

Introduction

Part 1: Introductory Questions

Section A: General Questions

Question 1: What Is the Difference Between “Calvinism” and the “Reformed Tradition”?

Question 2: What Are the Five Points of Calvinism?

Question 3: What Truths Is Calvinism Trying to Protect?

Question 4: How Should We Respond to God’s Revelation?

Section B: Questions About God’s Character

Question 5: Does God Love All People?

Question 6: What Is God’s Grace?

Question 7: Is the Arminian Doctrine of Prevenient Grace Biblical?

Section C: Questions About Human Responsibility

Question 8: What Is Human Freedom According to Arminianism?

Question 9: What Is Human Freedom According to Calvinism?

Question 10: What Is Compatibilism?

Question 11: Does the Bible Teach Compatibilism? (Part 1)

Question 12: Does the Bible Teach Compatibilism? (Part 2)

Section D: Historical Questions

Question 13: Who Was John Calvin and What Did He Believe?

Question 14: Were There “Calvinists” Before Calvin?

Question 15: Who Was Jacob Arminius and What Did He Believe?

Question 16: What Did the Synod of Dort Teach? (Part 1)

Question 17: What Did the Synod of Dort Teach? (Part 2)

Part 2: Questions About Salvation

Section A: Humanity’s Sin and the Necessity of Divine Intervention

Question 18: How Sinful Are People?

Question 19: What Is Predestination According to Calvinism?

Question 20: What Does the Bible Teach About Election and Predestination?

Question 21: Is Election Unconditional?

Question 22: Is Predestination Fair?

Section B: The Extent of Christ’s Atonement

Question 23: Did Jesus Die for the Sins of the Whole World?

Question 24: Does the Bible Teach Definite Atonement? (Part 1)

Question 25: Does the Bible Teach Definite Atonement? (Part 2)

Question 26: Does Substitutionary Atonement Imply Particular Redemption?

Section C: God’s Powerful Grace and His Preservation of His People

Question 27: Is God’s Grace Effective?

Question 28: Can People ...