The Evangelical Universalist (Paperback)

by Gregory MacDonald (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 201 pages
• Publisher: Cascade Books (May 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597523658
• ISBN-13: 978-1597523653
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #491,947 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Count Me In, September 2, 2006

By	Caroline Wong (Ontario, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like the author, I'm now a hopeful dogmatic universalist. Hopeful because we hope it's true. Dogmatic because the doctrine is biblically supported.

The book is written at a seminary level. The first chapter covers philosophic reasons why universalism is preferable to exclusivism. This lays the groundwork for rereading the bible with a universalist hope and accepting verses like 1 Cor 15:22 or Col 1:20 at face value. All means all.

The rest of the book is a very persuasive and sound argument of why universalism is biblically sound. It is not just a defense against verses that contradict universalism. The author embarks on the difficult task of showing how the trajectory of the bible shows that the final word God speaks to Man is always reconciliation and redemption. It is well worth working through his reasoning.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Defense of Christian Universalism, September 22, 2007

By	J. Owens - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Gregory MacDonald (a pseudonym) sets out to defend the doctrine that all are eventually saved and God's judgment of sinners is temporary and intended to restore them to a right relationship with God.

Chapter 1 and Appendix 1 present the philosophical problems with the belief that hell is a place of eternal torment. Although it might be possible to hold onto a belief in eternal torment on philosophical grounds I find the arguments in favor of universalism to be far, far better than anything an adherent to eternal torment can muster.

Chapter 2 provides broad outlines of biblical theology that support universalism. It also provides an overview of Colossians defending the view that 1:20 means what it says, i.e., that all things will be reconciled with Christ. Appendix 2 makes use of Ephesians in a similar argument.

Chapter 3 deals with Israel and the Nations in the Old Testament and shows how judgment leads to restoration. It also argues that all nations are to be saved through Israel. Chapter 4 continues this line of argument but deals with the New Testament.

Chapter 5 was my favorite chapter of the book. It provides a univeralist interpretation of Revelation. The gates of the New Jerusalem are never shut and people cross from the lake of fire into the New Jerusalem (ch. 21). Appendix 3 provides an interpretation of the Book of Life, which appears in Revelation.

Chapter 6 covers the texts which mention hell and spends time analyzing the words of Jesus on hell (or Gehenna). The gist of MacDonald's argument is that hell is a temporary judgment.

Chapter 7 closes the book by looking at the impact universalism has on the Christian church. MacDonald believes it has the following advantages:

(1) It makes the Problem of Evil less of a problem.
(2) It makes Christian theology as a whole more coherent.
(3) It makes the church a microcosm of the world to come.
(4) It allows for more effective pastoral care to those have a loved one who died without becoming a Christian.

Also in this chapter he responds to a couple objects:

(1) Universalism undermines the severity of sin and the righteousness of judgment.
(2) Universalism undermines the enthusiasm for evangelism.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Information on the Book, July 9, 2006

By	Gregory MacDonald - See all my reviews

OK - I wrote this book. I am afraid that I had to give it a star rating so I picked 5 just to get your attention. You can now ignore it. Here is the blurb from the back FYI.

Can an orthodox Christian, committed to the historic faith of the Church and the authority of the Bible, be a universalist?


Is it possible to believe that salvation is found only by grace, through faith in Christ, and yet to maintain that in the end all people will be saved?
Can one believe passionately in mission if one does not think that anyone will be lost forever?
Could universalism be consistent with the teachings of the Bible?

Gregory MacDonald argues that the answer is yes to all of these questions. Weaving together philosophical, theological, and biblical considerations, MacDonald seeks to show that being a committed universalist is consistent with the central teachings of the biblical texts and of historic Christian theology.

". . . [T]his passionate and lucid advocacy of an evangelical universalism . . . not only engages with key passages in the context of the overall biblical narrative but also treats clearly the profound theological and philosophical issues to which that narrative gives rise . . . readers . . . will find this book an excellent, accessible and indispensable aid in their own attempts to grapple with what its author describes as "a hell of a problem. . ."

Andrew T. Lincoln, Portland Chair in New Testament Studies, University of Gloucestershire

". . . I was struck by the persuasiveness of many of Gregory MacDonald's arguments, not least since they rest in an unusually adept interweaving of biblical exegesis with relevant philosophical and theological considerations . . ."

Joel B. Green, Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Asbury Theological Seminary

"Gregory MacDonald's defense of universalism is well argued logically, theologically, and especially biblically . . . Evangelicals, among whom MacDonald would count himself, will find him a civil and insightfully critical dialogue partner."

Thomas F. Johnson, Professor of Biblical Theology, George Fox University

"With this wonderful book, Gregory MacDonald joins the growing body of Evangelical Christians who now accept a doctrine of universal reconciliation. But I know of no one who has set forth an equally clear, thorough and compelling case for a universalist reading of the Bible as a whole . . ."

Thomas Talbott, Professor of Philosophy, Willamette University in Salem, Oregon

Gregory MacDonald is a pseudonym.