Free Will Revisited: A Respectful Response to Luther Calvin and Edwards

Whether man has free will continues to be a hot topic among Bible teachers and theologians. After defining the issues involved from both a worldview and a biblical standpoint this work devotes three chapters to exploring the single-volume treatments against free will by the great theologians Luther Calvin and Edwards. The author then responds to the major issues involved in their objections to free will: foreknowledge and necessity human depravity and the grace of God the sovereignty and all-encompassing providence of God and Edwardss rationalistic argument. In each instance the doctrine of free will rightly understood is in full and biblical accord with these concerns. A concluding chapter summarizes and expresses the bottom-line differences in the doctrine of salvation between the Arminian and the Calvinistic wings of reformed theology. Robert Picirilli is a seasoned scholar who is one of the best-known advocates of Reformed Arminianism speaking from his Free Will Baptist tradition. Free Will Revisited carefully articulates the objections that Luther Calvin and Edwards present against free will and provides a compelling defense of free will. Calvinists Arminians and those who are undecided will profit from reading his discussion of this vital issue for Christian theology. --Steve Lemke Provost New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Free Will Revisited is a must-read book for those interested in the Calvinist-Arminian debate. In it we see Picirilli at his best using his keen intellect and broad background in theology to reflect on the thought of the three best-known stalwarts of a non-libertarian approach to free will. The unique thing about his response to these thinkers is that he is much more Reformed in his Arminianism than many proponents of libertarian free will (worlds apart from semi-Pelagianism) and this brings nuance to his critiques that will surprise many readers. As always Picirilli writes in a clear readable and irenic manner that Calvinists and Arminians alike will find refreshing. --Matthew Pinson President Welch College Robert E. Picirilli is professor emeritus (New Testament and philosophy) at Welch College in Gallatin Tennessee. He is author of Grace Faith Free Will Paul the Apostle and numerous other works and journal articles. He is also the editor of the Randall House Bible Commentary on the New Testament.