How Shall They Be Saved?: The Destiny of Those Who Do Not Hear of Jesus [Paperback]

Millard J. Erickson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Baker Pub Group (February 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801020654
• ISBN-13: 978-0801020650
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,859,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Millard J. Erickson (B.A., University of Minnesota, B.D., Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.A., University of Chicago, Ph.D., Northwestern University) has taught theology at several evangelical seminaries. He has written over twenty-five books and numerous articles. He and his wife, Virginia, have three daughters and live in Mounds View, Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When They Haven't Heard, March 3, 2009

By 

Orville B. Jenkins "Research Guy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Shall They Be Saved?: The Destiny of Those Who Do Not Hear of Jesus (Paperback)

This is a thoughtful presentation of considerations from a Christian perspective of the status of people who have not heard the Gospel, and the possibilities for their salvation in light of the Christian understanding of salvation in reference to Jesus Christ. Erickson reviews the various factors and evidence from traditional, scriptural and logical perspectives. He competently presents and analyzes the views of major thinkers throughout the Christian era on this question.

He discusses general "schools" of thought on this in the traditions of Christina theology and practice. He then evaluates the positive aspects and strengths of each position, then likewise the negative or weak aspects. He deals with some difficult questions that are often ignored, especially in popular theology and common preaching, but even in formal theologies. One strength of this work is the detailed consideration of major contributions on this topic in the last 25 years.

But Erickson also reviews current Christian thinkers like Pinnock and Sanders, and the previous generation, such as Rahner, as well as masters throughout history. He covers both Catholic and Protestant thinkers, and reflects of various historical councils (of the Western church), including changes in perspectives from Vatican II and later. He reviews in detail every passage from the Old and New Testament that he can find that relates to this question.

In the process he debunks many popular ideas that supposedly are based on some of these passages. I was impressed, and frankly surprised, at the objectivity and care he takes to honestly say what he feels can be drawn from each biblical passage. He does not seem slavishly indebted to a certain fundamentalist line of thought, nor is he beholden to popular liberal ideas.

This is a great resource on the history of Christian attempts to deal with the question on those who have not heard, the mentally deficient and others who for various reasons are incompetent to understand and decide for themselves. Erickson lays out clearly the concepts of God entailed in the various views on this question.

2 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOST, July 22, 2008

By 

J. W. Majors (DUNLAP, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Shall They Be Saved?: The Destiny of Those Who Do Not Hear of Jesus (Paperback)

It's a no brainer. They join the vast majority in the lake of fire. If they were elect God would have moved the gospel to them or them to the gospel. Since He didn't they will pay for their sins.Case closed.