Reprobation Asserted [Paperback]

John Bunyan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1991 | ISBN-10: 0685198413 | ISBN-13: 978-0685198414

In this little volume, John Bunyan, best known for his allegories Pilgrims Progress and Holy War, tackles the difficult doctrine of reprobation. Some of the Calvinist persuasion, of which Bunyan was one, have taught that God not only chose some for salvation but also elected others for damnation. Bunyan rejects this definition of reprobation and seeks to define, describe and explain its true meaning. Reprobation, Bunyan informs us, means to exclude, to pass by or be leave out of God’s election (p. 6), but it does not mean active cursing or damning (pp. 8, 25). Reprobation makes no one a sinner (p. 7); men are sinners because they are born depraved and because they sin. The lost are excluded from the benefits of salvation not because God actively chose them to be lost but because they exclude themselves (p. 49). That God will damn the lost is true, but “He appointeth no man to the pains of everlasting fire, merely from sovereignty, but by the rule of justice: God damneth not the man because he is a man, but a sinner” (p. 25). This explanation does not answer all of our questions for, as Bunyan admits, God could have stopped sin from entering the world had He chosen to do so (p. 30). But ultimately it is a waste of energy to question God, for He did not intend man to know all His ways: “The secret things belong to God” (p. 39). It is enough for us to know that it is by the grace of God that any are saved and all are not damned (p. 59).

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Bunyan of Elstow and Bedford, is important to the Reformed tradition, since his famous allegory is one of the chief avenues by which the Puritan spirit entered the mainstream of the English Reformation. With Calvinism as foundational, Bunyan’s prolific writings and fervent preaching embodied a vibrant awareness of Reformed theological thought and its implication for Christian living. The author of more than sixty books, he gained a unique place in history through Grace Abounding (1666), The Pilgrim’s Progress (pt. 1, 1678; pt. 2, 1684), The Life and Death of Mr. Badman (1680), and The Holy War (1682). Other works were primarily expository, doctrinal, and practical. Bunyan joined the Bedford Baptist Church (1654) and soon began preaching in nearby villages. Prosecuted under an Elizabethan act against nonconformity, he was imprisoned for three months, which was extended to twelve years, with a brief respite during the sixth year. Bunyan emphasized the centrality of the Bible as the foundation for belief and conduct, stressing the grace of God as the basis of predestination, the focal point of eternal salvation. Initiative in the salvation of sinners belonged to God, since God elected, within God’s purpose and framework of grace, certain individuals to eternal life. Subscribing to the doctrine of “effectual calling,” Bunyan believed it was impossible to resist the call because of the power with which the Holy Spirit accompanied and illuminated the sinner’s understanding. None of the elect could fall from grace. Though Bunyan was primarily an adherent of the Calvinist tradition, his view of God as Savior, providing salvation from divine wrath rather than God as sovereign ruler, and his belief in the necessity of justification through grace alone showed influence of Luther. The separatist tradition shaped his view of the sacraments. He strongly opposed teachings of the Quakers and the Arminians. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Reiner Pubns (December 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0685198413
• ISBN-13: 978-0685198414
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #402,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important and Neglected Teaching, January 11, 2011

By 

J. Adrian (Orange,New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reprobation Asserted (Paperback)

The frequent occurrence(in the scriptures)of God choosing certain individuals and His passing by(reprobation-the negative side of election)of others makes us aware of the importance of this teaching and helps us come to a fuller understanding of God's will and the manner in which He executes His will.

In his letters to Spartanberg(edited by Richard Belcher)A.W.Pink in commenting on reprobation made this observation:that many Cavinists did not teach reprobation(not that they taught the contrary)but they either dodged or ignored it.But Calvin and Edwards seemed to be plain in their teaching of it.This is significant because Pink was very familiar with theological books from the 16th through the first half of the 20th century(he died in 1952).Pink did not mentoion Bunyans work on reprobation possibly because it was difficult for him to obtain(it appeared in only one edition of Bunyans collected works and in his select works published in America in 1832)and did not appear as a seperate book until after Pink's death( first appearing in seperate book form in 1969).This is important because relative to its frequent appeareance in Scripture it has rarely been addresed in Christian theological literature.

In the first chapter Bunyan looks at the fact that reprobation exists in the purposes of God.This is denied by most Arminians and as Pink observed it is dodged or ignored by many Calvinists.The verses he uses to support this assertion are:Rom.11:7,Rom.11:10,Eph.13:48,Rom.8:28-30,Eph.1:3-4 and 1Thess.5:9.No doubt many other Scripture verses could be cited.

The authors reasoning is sound and throughly Biblical.In chapter 7 answering the objection 'whether any under eternal reprobation have just cause to quarrel with God for not electing them?' Mr.Bunyan writes p.37"In a word,reprobation maketh no man personally a sinner;neither doth election make any man personally righteous.It is the consenting to sin that makes a man a sinner;and the imputation of grace and righteousness that makes(men)gospelly and personally just and holy."God is not harming or doing injustice to the reprobate,He is excercising His sovereign perogative.He is showing mercy to whom He wills to show mercy.

In chapter nine John Bunyan ably defends 'the free offer of the gospel'because those who reject the doctrine of reprobation (as being taught in the Scriptures)often wrongly conclude that it negates offering the gospel to all men without distinction.

I think another reason for the paucity of Christian theological books on reprobation is due to the difficulty of receiving this truth(let God be true and every man a liar,so says the Word of God).

The scarcity of books attempting to deal with this doctrine,the difficulty of receiving this aspect of truth in addition to the frequency with which the Bible speaks to this teaching all elevate the importance of this work.