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God's strategy in human history

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Forster and Marston have delivered a stellar book that attempts to present an exegetical and Scriptural framework for the content presented in the book. Instead of beginning from a set of deductive theological assumptions and then attempting to support that system from Scripture, Forster and Marston examine Scripture and attempt to build their case directly from the text. The authors unabashedly admit that their views are very similar to those of Arminian and Weslyan traditions, but they state in the beginning of the book that they do not want to be labeled with these names, but want to construct a theology that is in line with the teachings of the first 300 years of Christianity. Anyone who reads their appendix will come to understand that the teachings presented in this book were the orthodox consensus of the early Church for the first 300 years, and that it was Augustine who introduced serious deviations into the mainstream orthodox Christianity of his time.

Forster and Marston begin by describing the battle that is being waged between God and the spiritual forces that oppose Him. They examine the book of Job and see how this relates to the overall struggle. Then the authors examine the 9th chapter of Romans to see if this book is dealing with election and individual destinies, or God's actions within human history. The authors do an excellent job of arguing for their opinion that this chapter is speaking about God's involvement in human history and it deals with God's choosing of one nation or individual over another nation or individual to accomplish His purpose. Other sections of interest in this book are the sections on foreknowledge and predestination and the chapters on faith and works. The section on faith and works was particularly interesting because it relies on much of the teaching of the new perspective which has shed much light on how a 1st century Palestinian Jew would have approached Scriptural issues. The research, argumenation, and exegesis in this book are solid so every chapter is excellent, but the ones mentioned above were two of my favorites.

There really aren't too many weaknesses I could find in this book. There were a lot of little printing mistakes so that was a bit annoying. Furthermore, there were times when the authors dealt with the teachings and writings of Open Theist's and seemed to be a bit sympathetic with them, but never said they agreed wholeheartedly with them. This group of scholars has come under attack from people from every perspective within the Christian Church, so it would have been nice to know definitively where the authors stand. Also, some of the arguments against Reformed teaching were too emotional, but that does not detract from the fact that there are also many biblical arguments against their teachings. Anyone interested in reading a scholarly study that defends free-will, God's love and desire for all to be saved, and explains how God interacts in the affairs of men, then this is the book to read. The Appendix with quotes from the early Church Fathers defending free will, and illustrating how Augustine's teaching was a 5th century invention is also invaluable. Without a doubt this is one of the best books available that discusses such issues.

Many assume that when the Bible speaks of "electing" people and "hardening" other people, it means that God arbitrarily chooses who he will love and save, and who he will hate and damn. This book convincingly shows that the biblical authors had no such idea in mind in using these terms. With meticulous research these authors support an interpretation of the biblical narrative that affirms human free will, God's universal love, and God's desire for all people to be saved. I couldn't recommend a book more strongly!

This book is worth its cover price (£5) just for the Appendix alone, which covers subjects like 'Original sin' 'Infant Baptism' and the teachings of the 'Early Church Fathers'. Throughout the book Roger Forster and Paul Marston look at the implications of man's freewill and how God gets his will carried out on earth. The issue of God's foreknowledge, predestination and election are covered with a preciseness that the subject requires. Lately the 'Openness Debate' by Clark Pinnock and others has sparked new interest in this whole theological area, and any one who wants to examine all sides of this subject needs a copy of this book. Roger Forster's home church Ichthus Christian Fellowship in London England has copies of this book available, they can be emailed on media@ichthus.org.uk

I became aware of this book while reading "Election & Predestination" by Samual Fisk. If you want to read that the early church fathers teachings on what we call Calvinism this book is for you. If you wish to read a study of scripture without the Reformed baggage, this book is for you. If you wish to study after men who just rehash the standard Calvinist proof texts that they learned from others. This book is not for you.

This is one of the finest books I have read that attempts to give a biblical diagnosis of the extremes of some of TULIP Calvinism. These authors exegete the Scriptures to show that some of Calvinism's assertions against free-will don't stack up with the Bible.

A sample from the word study on "Chosen and Elect" explains some of their perspective: "Although God, in his foreknowledge, doubtless knew which individuals would repent and so be joined by him to Christ's body, this is not at all the same thing as picking them out to make them repent. God's choice is not an individual one of who should repent; it is a corporate choice of the church in Christ. . . Those in the early church seem to have grasped much more readily than ourselves the concept of being chosen in Christ."

I have been troubled for years by the Calvinistic autocratic determinism that leads to a predestination that seems to drag people into the Kingdom of God. This is a scholarly and readable biblical understanding that refutes the Reformed view of election/predestination.

A very well written book on the freewill of mankind and how God interacts with him and works his plan for salvation, while yet allowing man the freedom of choice and freedom. If you have ever had difficulty harmonizing God's foreknowledge and freewill, this book will provide you with tremendous insight and knowledge. This book does a wonderful job of addressing the heresies of Calvinism. I highly recommend this book for any one seeking answers.

The authors take a look at God's interaction with humanity, and come to non-Calvinist conclusions.

There is in depth coverage of the scripture passages that Calvinists use, such as Romans 9 and Ephesians 1. Their overview of Romans 9 is masterful. They go into some detail about the Hebrew words that we translate as "harden". They show how the meaning of these words are inconsistently and inadequately translated into the English language. This is relevant to God's interaction with Pharaoh, and helps to give context to the "hardening" of Pharaoh's heart in Exodus.

The book has an appendix that reviews the consensus of the early church on the issue of free will. They argue that determinism in a Christian context was an invention of Augustine. They point out that Augustine was the first church leader to reject free will, and the he came to his conclusions because he did not have an adequate understanding of Greek.

There are two versions of the book out, the newer version is more friendly to Open Theism, while the original version is more of a classical Arminian view.

I don't put too many books on my Burning Books list (on my website), but this is one of them. This list is not a list of books which should be burned, but which, when read, cause the mind to ignite with ideas, a new way of reading Scripture, or a new insight into a difficult theological problem.

When I first read this book, I was a hyper-Calvinist seeking to refute every argument thrown against the "logical system of theology passed down to us through John Calvin from Augustine and the Apostle Paul."

"God's Strategy in Human History" was one of the first books which created some cracks in Calvinism. It is one of the best books I have read.

I had a hunch that Open Theism and the "New Perspectives" on Paul were compatible. This book brings the two streams together in a compelling way. Admittedly, the author's were preaching to the choir as I was reading. But regardless of your stance on openness or New Perspectives, you will appreciate a thorough argument. If you like Open Theism, you'll like this book. Many open theist concepts are in primitive form, but they germinate here to give quite a bit of insight. If you track with N.T. Wright, you'll also like this book. But most fascinating in this book is the appendix where the authors use a plethora of early church evidence to show that those who didn't believe in free will were the heretics of the early church.

...as this is absolutely untrue and historically inaccurate.

"Any serious student of scripture knows that the tenants of Calvin's doctrine are heretical. From start to finish, his teaching has lead men and women into spiritual ruin for the last sixteen hundred odd years. Ask the Spanish physician, Michael Servetus, if Calvinism was a reflection of God's love and mercy for sinful mankind. Burned at the stake in Geneva on Oct27, 1553 by John Calvin himself, for 'doctrinal heresies', he suffered a most horrid death, as Calvin prolonged his execution by using 'green wood'."

Although I am not a Calvinist, this statement is nothing short of purest slander. In reality, Calvin pleaded for Servetus' life, asking originally that he simply be banned from Geneva rather than be executed. Then, when the city council proved determined to put Servetus to death, Calvin asked that the sentence be carried out by some means other than burning.

Thanks...just needed to clear that up.

As far as the book is concerned, this is excellent material from the founding pastor and one of the elders of London's Ichthus Christian Fellowship. It tries to take a 'middle knowledge' approach to the subject of Divine foreknowledge. Although that is a position which I myself do not agree with, I do believe that the author's have done an outstanding job in summarizing their arguments and present a cogent defense of their position. Well worth reading by all those interested in this timely and crucial debate within evangelical circles.

[Special Addendum: A note to C. E. Core above] - No. It is NOT accurate and it is NOT true. It is nothing more or less than slander disguised as church history. Schaff-Herzog got it W-R-O-N-G. Do your homework. Schaff-Herzog was published in 1950. We've obtained a LOT of additonal historical material in the intervening 56 years, including source documents. All modern and revised church histories now acknowledge that Calvin's role was MUCH different than it was portrayed in Schaff-Herzog. At first, Calvin pleaded with Servetus to leave Geneva and seek asylum in some city more amenable to his theological novelties. But Servetus would have none of it. Failing all efforts to convince Servetus to either leave Geneva or recant his views, Calvin still interceded on Servetus' behalf...even at the eleventh hour. To wit the following quote from Banner Of Truth: "And now at last one man alone stands forth to plead for a mitigation of the sentence, namely, that another form of death be substituted for the stake. That one man was John Calvin. He interceded most earnestly with the judges for this, but in vain. Both Farel, who came to Geneva for the purpose, and Calvin, prayed with the unhappy man, and expressed themselves tenderly towards him. Both of them pleaded with the Council for the substitution of a milder mode of death; but the syndics were inflexible. The historian Paul Henry writes of this matter: Calvin here appears in his real character; and a nearer consideration of the proceeding, examined from the point of view furnished by the age in which he lived, will completely exonerate him from all blame. His conduct was not determined by personal feeling; it was the consequence of a struggle which this great man had carried on for years against tendencies to a corruption of doctrine which threatened the church with ruin. Every age must be judged according to its prevailing laws; and Calvin cannot be fairly accused of any greater offence than that with which we may be charged in our own day for punishing certain crimes with death." Trust me on this one Mr. Core. I teach Church History.