Forward to the book by FF Bruce
It is a sign of grace on the part of the authors of this book that they should invite an impenitent Augustinian and Calvinist to write a foreword for it. There are several reasons for my ready acceptance of their invitation, but there is one which outweighs all others, and that is the thoroughly exegetical character of what they have written.
There is a great danger, when once we have adhered to one particular school of thought or adopted one particular system of theology, of reading the Bible in the light of that school or system and finding its distinctive features in what we read. One reader may tend to do less than justice to those texts which stress man’s responsibility; another will be inclined to modify the force of those which emphasize eternal election. The remedy for this is to bear resolutely in mind that our systems of doctrine must be based on biblical exegesis, not imposed upon it. The authors of this work bear this in mind, and make a special point of asking what the Scriptures really say. They do this by means of a study of key words and key passages in context.
This is not to say that I am convinced by all their arguments, perhaps my heart, like Pharaoh’s, has been “strengthened”! That however, is not important; what is important is that the reader is provided with evidence on which he can form his own judgment.
A study of the following pages will impress on the reader that the initiative in saving grace rests with God; that the election of believers is “in Christ; and that election implies not that some are elected and the others consigned to perdition, but that some are elected so that others through them may receive the divine blessing.
Professor F F Bruce: Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis, University of Manchester
This is a long awaited treatment of the mystifying problem of predestination and freedom… The work is sound, biblically and exegetically…
Dr Harold J Ockenga: President of GordonCollege and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
I congratulate you on the many excellent features of the book; in particular its style is crystal clear. I like the presentation of the material and short chapters that make the argument very easy to follow. There are many splendid insights offered on important aspects of Biblical teaching throughout the book. I also think it a very good idea to place in the study sections material which strengthens the argument, without asking the reader to stop in his tracks and consider in detail the meaning of the key concepts which are alluded to.
Rev Dr G. R. Beasley Murray: Principal of Spurgeon’s College, London.
This is a book to read with an open mind. I have learnt a lot from it, and I am grateful to the authors for daring to take a fresh look at questions which most of us have too easily considered closed.
Rev Derek Kidner, M.A.: Warden, Tyndale House, Cambridge.
Here is a book which gets to grips with some of life’s baffling problems – dealing particularly with the Christian’s spiritual warfare. It deals both with the nature of the warfare and with its history. In the second part of the book we see how God’s purposes find their culmination in Christ, with the final overthrow of evil. The authors reveal not only a profound knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures, but a refreshing realism as regards human nature, and the situation in the world generally. Here is a book to be warmly commended as meeting a real need.
Rev G W Kirby: Principal, LondonBibleCollege
Within the Biblically minded community this book should be much appreciated. You have stated the case for human responsibility very forcibly, and this is needed. I like the “grand design” of the book and trust that it will be successful.
Rev A Morgan Derham: Secretary for Information, United Bible Societies.
This is a most worthwhile study on an important and relevant theme. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and consider that it deserves a wide circulation. It is on beam for today, and interprets the Divine strategy in meaningful terms.
Rev Dr A Skevington Wood, Senior Lecturer in Theology, CliffCollege, Calver.
CONTENTS
AUTHORS vii
PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION viii
ORIGINAL FOREWORD AND COMMENTS x
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xiii
BIBLE VERSIONS USED xiv
Part 1. The Nature of the Conflict 1
1. Introduction 3
2. Job – Human Battlefield 5
3. Daniel – Human Combatant 16
4. The Church - Weapons, Methods and Banners 18
5. Jesus – God’s Glory in the Battle 24
6. Fight or Fake ? 27
Part 2. The History of the Conflict 31
7. How War Was Declared - Genesis 33
8. Israel and God’s Plan – Introduction 37
9. Israel and God’s Plan – Abraham & Isaac 44
10. Israel and God’s Plan – Jacob & Esau 51
11. Israel and God’s Plan – Moses 56
12. Israel and God’s Plan - Pharaoh 63
13. Objectors and Vessels 70
14. The Present Conflict 81
15. God’s Great Project and the Final Battle 92
Part 3: Key Concepts in the Conflict 107
16. Wills, Plans and Sovereignty 109
17. Chosen and Elect 134
18. Justification and Righteousness 170
19. Works and Faithfulness 185
20. Foreknowledge and Predestination 222
21. Hardening and Unbelief 260
Appendix 287
Early Teaching on Freewill and Election 289
Bibliography 356
General Index 363
Index of Verses Cited 372
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The responsibility of anything said in this book remains that of the authors alone. We would, however, like to thank Dr. G. R. Beasley Murray, Mr. Geoffrey Bull, Rev. A. Morgan Derham, Mr. T. Harpur, Dr. and Mrs. A. Kinnear, Rev. G. W. Kirby, Dr. Leon Morris, Mr. F. N. Martin, Dr. T. Martin, Canon Alan Neech, Rev. K. F. W. Prior, Dr. A. Skevington Wood, Mr. Alan Storkey, Dr. Stephen Travis, and many other fellow Christians, for reading all or part of the manuscript and offering encouragement or useful criticism. We thank especially four scholars who spared us time to make penetrating and constructive criticism in detail: Professor F. F. Bruce, Mr. H. L. Ellison, Rev. Derek Kidner and Mr. D. F. Payne.
On the second edition we would particularly thank the scholars Dr Meic Pearse of London Bible College and Dr Mark Bonnington of Durham university for reading the manuscript for us and making helpful comment. Our thanks go to Victor John Marston for help with scanning in the original text as a basis for the rewrite. We would also like especially to thank John D. Wagner a Bible-study teacher at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena California for his encouragement and for networking between us and the publisher, and both John and Dr Bob Carling for help with proofreading. Our thanks go to the publisher Wipf and Stock for patient waiting whilst we undertook what became substantial rewriting. Finally, for the new cover design we thank Justin Marston.
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