Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching [Paperback]

Iain H. Murray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1995

Murray has uncovered much fresh information which, I suspect, will both surprise and delight even the most seasoned reader....a valuable new resource--Garth M. Rosell, American Presbyterians.

Product Details

• Paperback: 179 pages
• Publisher: Banner of Truth (June 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0851516920
• ISBN-13: 978-0851516929
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #889,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spurgeon's Fight For Gospel Preaching, November 5, 2004

By 

Roy Ingle "The Seeking Disciple" (Lexington, SC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching (Paperback)

While other readers have had negative opinions of Murray's work on the doctrinal battles between Charles Spurgeon and hyper-Calvinist, I enjoyed Murray's work and thought he did a masterful job of presenting an historical account of the debate. While sadly this debate no longer rages today (some would say that is good but in light of the seeker movement and the hyper-Rick Warren gospel I believe we need to return to Spurgeon), the book does give us insight into the life and struggles of Charles Spurgeon. As John Piper coined it, "Spurgeon knew how to preach through afflictions."

In this book, Murray gives us the historical account of the legendary prince of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon against extreme Calvinist who saw no need to preach the gospel to all men since only the elect would be saved and that by God's sovereign choice. While Spurgeon agreed that God predestined men to salvation he also believed that the gospel was to be preached to all men, allowing the Holy Spirit to draw men to Christ, and that it was through the medium of preaching that men are saved (1 Cor. 1:18-25). Spurgeon himself was saved through the preaching of the Word through a Primitive Methodist laymen's preaching at the age of 15.

In our day we see the need for true, expository, biblical preaching to return. We need men hungry for Jesus as Spurgeon, Wesley, Fox, Bounds, Ravenhill, Tozer. We don't need new methods or new programs but we need the gospel to be preached with authority and power.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Calvinism and Evangelism, they go together like . . ., May 31, 2002

By 

David T. Wayne "aka The 'JollyBlogger'" (Glen Burnie, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching (Paperback)

Hi, my name is David and I am a Calvinist (pause while the rest of the group says "Hi David.!")

Yes, I embraced the doctrines that have come to be known as "Calvinism" and it was not without a great struggle. I wrestled with the issues that many people wrestle with, God's sovereignty vs. man's freedom, sovereingty and the existence of evil, etc.. Some were thrilled when I embraced Calvinism and others were horrified. One of the most common complaints that I have heard about Calvinists is that we don't care about evangelism. There are some who aren't bothered by that charge, they figure that God is sovereign and he will bring in the elect with or without their help. There are others who are bothered by the charge and would strenuously object to it. But, many wrestle with the practical implications of Calvinism, specifically in the realm of evangelism. There are those who believe that to be passionate about evangelism is to compromise God's sovereignty.

This book shows that the two can and do go together. The only reason that a person should embrace what is called Calvinism is because they believe the Bible teaches it and if the Bible teaches it we must embrace it. And, if the Bible says that Christians have the responsibility to evangelize then we must embrace this as strongly as we embrace our Calvinism.

Spurgeon got in trouble with Calvinists because of his passion for evangelism and he got in trouble with Arminians because of his passion for God's sovereignty. But Spurgeon said that his goal wasn't to be a consistent Calvinist, his goal was to be consistent with the Scriptures. If the Scriptures teach God's sovereignty, we must affirm it. If the Scriptures teach that we must have a passion for evangelism, we must.

This book should be a challenge to complacent Calvinists who have rationalized away their obligation to evangelize by appealing to their views of God's sovereignty.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Getting the Gospel Right, October 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching (Paperback)

Another very satisfying and enlightening book by Murray on Spurgeon's battle for historic, evangelical, biblical Calvinism amidst the hypercalvinism prevelant among Baptists in his day. Murray shows the progression of the controversy between Spurgeon and James Wells, using myriads of quotes from periodicals like Earthen Vessel and Gospel Standard, as well as Spurgeon's sermons.

A helpful chapter develops Spurgeon's "fourfold appeal to Scripture" against the hyper's errors: 1. The universal invitations of the gospel, 2. The warrant of faith in the commands of Christ; 3. The responsibility of all men; and 4. The love and benevolence of God to all men.

Another chapter shows how hypercalvism began with John Hussey, was systematized by John Gill, and was popularized by William Huntington. There are also numerous extracts and quotes by such people as John Brown and T. C. Hammond on aspects of the controversy.

Many professed Calvinists would take great offence to the tone of this book and would level criticism at both Murray and Spurgeon. But I think the fruit of Spurgeon's ministry testifies God's blessing. Excellent book.

I also read the attmpted rebuttal of the book called Calvin v. Hyper-Spurgeonism edited by James North and Hugh Williams. It contained a good sermon on I Tim. 2:4 by Calvin (countering Spurgeon's interpretation of the text), but the rest of the pamphlet betrayed a caustic and annoying spirit.