From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective

by David Gibson (Editor), Jonathan Gibson, Henri A. Blocher (Contributor)

There is a palpable sense of confusion—and sometimes even embarrassment—with regard to so-called limited atonement today, pointing to the need for thoughtful engagement with this controversial doctrine. Incorporating contributions from a host of respected theologians, From Heaven He Came and Sought Her stands as the first comprehensive resource on definite atonement as it examines the issue from historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral perspectives.

Offering scholarly insights for those seeking a thorough and well-researched discussion, this book will encourage charitable conversations as it winsomely defends this foundational tenet of Reformed theology.

*The epub edition of this title will not display correctly when viewed on Adobe Digital Editions. Hebrew characters will be inaccurately displayed in this reader.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Religion, Reference, Biblical Studies, Faith

927 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

David Gibson (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is the Minister of Trinity Church in Aberdeen, Scotland. Previously he served as a staff worker for the Religious and Theological Studies Fellowship (part of UCCF) and as an assistant minister at High Church, Hilton, Aberdeen. Gibson has also published a number of articles and books such as Rich: The Reality of Encountering Jesus and Reading the Decree: Exegesis, Election and Christology in Calvin and Barth.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm a 4-point Calvinist."

At coffee shops across the United States - but mostly the southwest region oft-titled the "Bible Belt" - there have been conversations raging amongst America's evangelical youth. Like a virus, it has spread with an unparalleled fury, and - also like a virus - it has produced blood, tears, vomit. This conversational virus does not respect generational lines: it shows no mercy, slaying our nation's elderly with a unwarranted amount of fear and insecurity, yet its victim is largely our young. Thankfully, our young soon awake from their delusions, are released from their cage of determinism, and joyfully proclaim the truths they once bludgeoned their opponents with. The curses of cage stage Calvinsim are to three generations, but for Calvinism properly understood, nuanced and enjoyed, the blessings are to a thousand.

Unfortunately, the word "Calvinism" produces in many weeping and gnashing of teeth on sight. Sadly, "Calvinistic tummy aches" are very much warranted, especially whenever the victim has been bludgeoned "in love" by a Cage Stager - the effects on the elderly are especially traumatic. And typically the character that causes the most grief in the Calvinistic manifesto hailed by the cabal of Cage Stagers - TULIP - is the middle agent: "L", "Limited Atonement." How can any sensible Christian believe such a medieval, exclusive doctrine? non-Calvinists will ask. Sadly, whenever such a doctrine is articulated without nuance, or rootedness in Scripture, mass hysteria follows. The very name, "Limited Atonement," already places things in disastrous waters.

So whenever I heard about the publishing of From Heaven He Came And Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective I leapt at the possibility of having a nuanced, fully-orbed scholarly discussion of Definite Atonement (you'll notice I didn't say "Limited Atonement," and for due reason!). This book is a gift to any Calvinist seeking to understand how best to articulate definite atonement. You can already guess what sorts of grounds are covered by the title alone, FHHCASH establishes historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral grounds for believing in the glorious doctrine of definite atonement.

Doing an in depth review of this book is outside the scope of a GR review, so I'll just mention a few areas which helped convince me even more of why I am a 5-pointer who, like Doug Wilson, buys my grace from Costco in bulk.

*Definite Atonement grasps that Christ both accomplishes redemption AND applies that redemption through the giving of the Spirit.*

This is important because Christ's work didn't accomplish a possibility of salvation for His bride, but actually accomplished salvation, and for those whom he accomplished his work, he applies all of the benefits of that accompany His work. You can't divorce Christ's work, the directionality of His work, and the application of His work from each other. They are all intimately connected through our union with Christ.

*Definite Atonement sustains the ultimate triune purpose in salvation.*

The contributors point out that to hold any other form of the atonement, specifically Amyraldianism or Hypothetical Universalism, is to introduce a disharmony amongst the persons of the Trinity. If the Father's purpose was to direction the atonement to be for the salvation of every individual without exception, and the Spirit only applies it to some, there is an inherent disunity amongst the Godhead, which is to depart from the orthodox understanding of the Trinity. Not only a form of Hypothetical Universalism confusing, it also has temptations toward a departure from orthodoxy.

*Definite Atonement understands that Christ mediates for His people, not for the whole world.*

The mediatorial office of Christ is intimately related to his atoning work. There were several chapters that emphasized this (Stephen Wellum's chapter was especially good) but the ultimate point is that for those whom Christ died, he mediates for. Christ mediates for the Church, therefore Christ's work is for His bride, the Church. There is other theological and exegetical evidence for this claim, but if you don't believe me, you'll have to read the book.

*Definite Atonement captures the truth that Christ's work is for all without distinction, not all without exception.*

This proposition - all without distinction, no all without exception - was reiterated throughout the book, sometimes on the verge of ad nauseam, however it was helpful because it brings clarity to the various "problem texts" for definite atonement that speak about Christ dying for the world. The original author's audience, a people obsessed with distinctions between Jews, Gentiles, Slaves, Women, would need to hear from Paul and others that Christ died for all without distinction (Gentile, woman, or slave) not every living, breathing person who has ever lived without exception. This is crucial.

Much, much more could be said about this definite atonement tour de force, but I'll let it end here. My only criticism is that, at times, there was a tendency for some of the discussions to get very esoteric. I understand this is necessary, but it will surely divert many potential readers from reading. Then again, maybe something like this is necessary to teach a thing or two to our Cage Stage friends about what it means to nuance our conversations?

Most importantly, though, this book made me worship. I've maintained that Calvinism is good because it leads much glory to God and produces worship in His saints. If the reader can make his way through almost 700 pages of technical discussion, they will find that definite atonement, more than a doctrine to bludgeon with, is a doctrine that produces assurance, hope, and worship. Central to the TULIP with its unfortunate name, "Limited Atonement" is Calvinism's awkward cousin, the dirty little secret. However, after spending some time swimming in the glories of definite atonement, it's hard to walk away without thinking Definite Atonement, properly defined, is central to the gospel of God. I welcome you to do so and find out for yourself.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathtaking look at the doctrine of definite atonement. Nothing has matched John Owen's work, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. This work comes a close second!

[Jared Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to make this review as quick and to the point as possible. I just finished From Heaven He Came and Sought Her from Crossway. Before I get to what I disagree with I need to state that I have a lot of respect for the contributing authors and am grateful that the book has been written. I ascribe to definite atonement (and more) so naturally I was looking forward to reading and enjoying. While I did enjoy the book I have to say it did disappoint. So my goal of this post is to simply point out the biggest problem I see with the content of the book. Instead of focusing on the whole, I am going to look at the last chapter the book because it will allow me to use a couple quotes that I believe are consistent with the rest of the book. I will attempt to show the incompleteness of the arguments contained in the book as a whole.

"The term definite atonement refers to this truth-when God sent his Son to die, he had in view the definite acquisition of a group of undeserving sinners, whose faith and repentance he obtained by the blood of his Son. This is a divine purpose in the cross-to purchase and create the saving faith of a definite, freely chosen, unworthy, rebellious group of sinners." pg 643

As someone who holds to definite atonement I would like to affirm the above quote as truth. In fact most of the people I know who hold to a reformed type soteriology would also affirm the truth contained in this quote. If that is the case then what is my problem with the content of the quote. My problem is that it does not take the extent of the atonement far enough. Many people who hold to definite atonement say "yes" to Jesus death for the elect, but want further and biblical answers to statements like this from John Piper "Whatever blessings flow to the world from the cross of Christ, and they are many, there was in its design a "Great Love" specifically intended to rescue "His Own". pg 641 So my question to Piper and for the book is what are the many universal blessings that flow from the Cross of Christ to the world? From the statement above can we not say in some way then Christ in fact has died even for the non-elect? If universal benefits flow from the cross to the world it seems perfectly consistent to affirm dual purpose in the atonement. This is a problem throughout the book. Almost every chapter contains generalized statements about benefits that universally flow from the atonement to the world but then start to critique anyone who would try to answer the very questions that flow from the writers affirmations of universal benefits.

For some reason the contributers never seem to answer the question "What are the universal benefits that flow from the cross"? To those who would try to answer that question, all that we get is chapter after chapter arguments of Owen's double payment and Trinitarian Unity. I am left wondering why the authors did not further elaborate on those who affirm Christ atonement for the elect specifically and Christ death for all generally. We are not all Hypothetical Universalist or Amyraldian. We agree with Owen and Trinitarian Unity we just try to biblicaly answer "What are the universal benefits to the world?" In my estimation the view expressed in the book truly does "Limit" the atonement.

Why does God "Make the sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust" Mt 5:45
Why does God "Have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord: so turn and live" Ezk 18:32
Why does God "Love the world" Jn 3:16
Why does God let any non-believer live another day?
Could it not be that those might be some of the "Universal Blessings" that Piper was talking about?

btw... The 2 Books I have read on the atonement are both by the same auther, George Smeaton. His books "Christ Doctrine of the Atonement" and "The Apostles Doctrine of the Atonement" are worth finding and reading. Jerry Bridges said about the ADOC that it is his favorite book on the atonement. I agree!!!

[Sam Knecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definite atonement should not bring embarrassment or shame to Christians; this is a biblical doctrine that should be embraced and preached. Praise God that Christ made salvation sure for his bride, the church. Truly, from heaven he came and sought her.

600+ pages of academic writing was difficult for this layman, but putting in the effort was rewarded in the end. As with any essay compilation volume, there are going to be better chapters and worse chapters. I’d specifically highlight:

• Carl Trueman’s essay, Atonement and the Covenant of Redemption: John Owen on the Nature of Christ’s Satisfaction
• Jonathan Gibson’s second essay, The Glorious, Indivisible, Trinitarian Work of God in Christ: Definite Atonement in Paul’s Theology of Salvation
• Robert Letham’s essay, The Triune God, Incarnation, and Definite Atonement
• Garry Williams’s essay, Punishment God Cannot Twice Inflict: The Double Payment Argument Redivivus
• Sinclair Ferguson’s essay, “Blessèd Assurance, Jesus Is Mine”?: Definite Atonement and the Cure of Souls

Many of these chapters have since become freely available in other venues since publication in late 2013.

[Andrew Krom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definite-ly worth the read!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhaustively thorough and compelling case for definite atonement. Rich insights from historical, biblical, systematic, and practical theology.

[Spencer R · Rating 4 out of 5]

My entire review is on my blog found at this link: http://spoiledmilks.wordpress.com/201...


What this book has been set forth to do is provide an updated resource for the legitimacy of definite (limited) atonement. In case you're unsure of what that means, it views the atonement through the lens of election, "teaching that Christ died only for the elect, to secure infallibly the salvation of the elect" (p37).

The book is divided into 4 main sections:
I. Definite Atonement in Church History: What are definite atonement's controversies and nuances in church history
II. Definite Atonement in the Bible: Which shows to prove definite atonement's presence or absence in the Bible
III. Definite Atonement in Theological Perspective: What are definite atonement's theological implications?
IV. Definite Atonement in Pastoral Practice What is a pastor to do with the consequences of definite atonement?

Clearly, I cannot give this book an "adequate" review (consider it's size. It's massive! It's 704 pages (front-to-back) with 23 different essays from different authors. I actually did not read any essay in the Church History section. However, I read all but one of the other essays in this book. I will comment mainly on the section titled "Definite Atonement in the Bible", and loosely on the remaining two sections.




Definite Atonement in the Bible

This was easily my favorite part of the book. There were 6 essays, dealing with how D.A. is seen in the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy), in Isaiah's suffering Servant, in the Synoptic Gospels and Johannine literature, in the Pauline epistles, in Paul's theology of salvation, and in the Pastoral and General epistles.

D.A. in the Pentateuch was intriguing. I had come to the understanding that D.A. could easily be refuted because even though Israel underwent the Day of Atonement, not all of Israel was saved. However, I realized it was more tricky than that because Israel was called "out of the world" by God. Ah, there's that election status. Alright Williamson (author), you got me there.

In the Suffering Servant, J. Alec Motyer [Tyndale] does a fantastic job explaining how D.A. is seen in Isaiah 53 [and the surrounding chapters]. I say "fantastic" not because I necessarily agree with him, but because he is so clear (which, unfortunately, not every author is. Just wait until I get to the Theological section). Motyer goes through the dimensions of salvation seen in the Suffering Servant passage, along with the "many" intended recipients of salvation and what "many" means in context.

Harmon does a good job showing D.A. in the Synoptics, but his real focus is seen in the Johannine literature where he points to and elaborates on many of Jesus' discourses (Bread of Life [Jn 6:22-58], High Priestly Prayer [Jn. 17:1-26], and the Throne Room Vision [Rev. 4:1-5:14]). He shows how Christ died for His people, how Jesus died for the "world", and what those "universal" texts (may) mean. He does a good job (though I was hoping for more) of explaining 1 John 2:2 and shows a parallel between it and John 11:52 giving more backdrop to the situation.

Gibson's first chapter on the meanings of Christ dying for "me," for "us," for "the church," for "His people," for "all," for the "world," was particularly interesting, including the section on the "Perishing" texts [Rom. 14:15; 1 Cor. 8:11; and Acts 20:28-30] which was particularly illuminating.
However his next essay was a bit more obtrusive. Maybe that's harsh, because it was good. However, I felt like there were so many side-roads or new discussions popping up that I felt lost at times. "Karl Barth? Who invited you?" His thoughts on the Trinity and D.A. were helpful, though the format still led to some confusion.

Finally, Thomas Schreiner. He covers topics such as how God desires to save all [1 Tim. 2:1-7]; God is the Savior of all, especially of those who believe [1 Tim. 4:10]; the false teachers who fell away from Christ who "bought them" [2 Pet. 2:1], and more. After reading Gibson, Schreiner was a breath of fresh air. He is a very clear and coherent writer. Though, I will say that there are times when he gives ideas that sound right, and in the next paragraph scraps the whole idea. But aside from that, I appreciated his input into this topic (D.A. in the Pastoral/General epistles).

What I liked about this section is that the authors go to the source itself (the Bible), and show you what they believe it says. You can take it or leave it from there. You can look for yourself in your own Bible and see if you agree or not, why or why not, and what you think about their conclusions. But a least you can see who they arrived there.




Definite Atonement in Theological Perspective

Quite frankly, this section was hit or miss for me. I didn't read Macleod's essay (the first), but I read all of the others. I found every one of them (except for Wellum's "The New Covenant Work of Christ") to be difficult to read. While I think it is an accurate statement that I don't know enough about this subject as a whole (which is why I requested this book), I found many of the authors in this section weren't always clear in the subjects they were talking about. If they interacted with other scholars and discussions, I frequently found myself entangled in a mess of who's who on what's what? I wasn't always sure which side of the debate the author was vying for.

Wellum's essay on Christ's New Covenant work was a a sigh of relief! Finally, an essay I understood and could take something away from. I felt like I didn't have to work to understand this chapter. Wellum shows the connections between Christ's atonement for His people and His High Priestly ministry for His people (Priesthood, typology, the old and new covenants) and how Christ fulfills the office of the OT High Priest. I found this to be a very good mixture between the Theological Perspective and the Biblical Exegesis.




Definite Atonement in Pastoral Practice

Strange's chapter was fairly good, yet in the end I felt like I was left on a cliffhanger. I'm not really sure if all the ends were tied at the conclusion or not on unlimited atonement, the universal call to evangelize, and those who will never hear.

Ferguson's essay dealt with Jesus's teaching on D.A. in John 10, which was an interesting read. However, I felt he spent more time talking about the other sides deficiencies rather than the assurance that DA provides. Campbell? Federal theologians? Older Calvinism? How does help me to assure my flock if I'm a pastor? His conclusion made sense, but it felt like I took the long road there and was then left wanting.

John Piper. Of course Piper's essay will be good. He broke his essay down into mini-sections, and when I was reading Piper's view, I knew it was his view of D.A. When he spoke on Driscoll's view or Ware's view, I knew he was talking about Driscoll or Ware. There was no confusion. I never stopped to think, "Wait, who/what is he talking about? How did I get here?" And for that I am thankful.

Two points I was glad to see Piper touch one were as such:
1). Piper goes to explain how one, believing in D.A., could preach a sincere and valid Gospel to the entire, unevangelized world.
2). Piper explains how one who was atoned for my Christ's blood could be under the wrath of God before being saved. If they are really atoned for, how are they still under the wrath of God at all (even before salvation)? Piper gives a pretty good explanation. Not perfect or amazing, but it makes sense to a degree.


Summary

All in all, this is a huge book. You will see a lot of names. You will see a lot of Greek in the Bible exegesis section #2 (though not an overwhelming amount). This is a book geared more toward Bible college, seminary, scholars, and not the layman (unless you really know your stuff). Though I wish some scholars could have been more clear or concise in their writing, I understand this is a tough subject to write on, and I am but one reader trying to understand the aspects of this doctrine so that I can better speak with and understand those around me. I won't understand everything. This book is an incredible resource that will hold for years to come on the doctrine of Definite Atonement. Now, I'm waiting for the other side (Unlimited Atonement) to come out with a book so I can see their position. We'll see.

[A big "thank you" to NetGalley and Crossway for allowing me to read and review this book before it came out. I was not obligated to give a positive review in return for reviewing my copy].

[Parker Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving this book 4 stars for two reasons: 1) the work can be quite technical at times and not for the faint of heart, and 2) in an attempt to be balanced in my ratings of books. The book otherwise is worthy of a 5 star rating due to the research, content, and Christ-centeredness, however it's not a Christian classic that I'd recommend to all Christians. I would highly commend John Murray’s “Redemption Accomplished and Applied” as a more succinct, but equally edifying treatment of the atonement among other things.

My Review:
If you once asked me if I was a Calvinist, I would've probably said "Yes, but I'm a 4 point Calvinist!" I think there are many people that can relate to this in their Christian journey. I always thought the "L" in "TULIP", denoting limited atonement, contradicted the free offer of the gospel and put a limit on the efficacy/extent of the work of Christ. Little did I know. Honing in on one aspect of "TULIP" is a bit futile anyways. Yes, all of them are true, but the thread runs through them all, so when you make my former mistake and try to throw out one you're being inconsistent. But, this is a topic worth mining the scriptures and reading books on because once ones eyes are opened to the glorious truth of the atonement, one can only stand amazed.

This work begins with (and is continually driving home) the point that the use of the term "Limited" with regards to the atonement is unhelpful, not fully truthful, and has led to much of the debate throughout church history. Rather, the atonement should be seen as a definite atonement - an atonement purposed and accomplished by the Triune God, that doesn't contradict the call to proclaim the gospel to all people but lives alongside that truth. As the late RC Sproul said, "Did Christ come to make salvation possible (Amyraldianism and Hypothetical Universalism; i.e. contingent on man's choice to accept it), or did He come to accomplish it for His people?"

The compilation of essays and articles delves into the history of the doctrine in the church. The church fathers' doctrine is reviewed to prove that they held to a definite atonement despite less debate and discussion related to it at the time. After looking into Beza, Calvin, Dort, Amyraut, and others' theology, the work reviews the key scriptures in the Old Testament and New Testament that make the case for a definite atonement. Readers of this work will take away that the Old Testament leaves no other category save a definite atonement (penal substitution). The confusion mainly stems from New Testament texts that allude to God's desire for all men to repent, God so loving the world, or the command to proclaim the gospel to all people. The book provides a lot of clarity on some of the passages used as counterarguments to the doctrine. The work then focuses on the theological implications of a definite atonement. What does this mean if God is Triune? Are the works of the Triune God indivisible? What about the incarnation? How do we think about it from a covenantal perspective? This section is rich and really helpful. The book concludes with a focus on pastoral practice. Evangelism, assurance of salvation, and preaching are the main focus, and these sections help to really flesh out the practical implications of the doctrine in local churches and in Christian ministry.

I read this as a convinced reformed Baptist on the subject. Either way, I think the work could be helpful and convincing to someone struggling with it. The analysis of the scriptures is very thorough and balanced and the contributors take a holistic and consistent approach to their analysis (to square texts/biblical doctrine not at the expense of losing something). Those that do embark on the journey of reading this will be encouraged by the many contributors as they exalt Christ as the Good Shepherd that laid down His life for His sheep.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definite atonement is one of the hardest doctrines for people to accept, Christian or non, Reformed/”Calvinistic” or not. There is something about this doctrine that offends many who reject it and embarrasses many who hold to it. Others would argue that the doctrine of definite atonement is not a central doctrine and it cannot be proven from Scripture so we shouldn’t even fool with it. People from all walks of theological life have been trying to prune the L out of the Reformed TULIP bed for centuries, claiming that it is a doctrine that assaults the very character of God by limiting His love. So, a fair question to ask might be, “Why even hold to a doctrine that is, apparently, so awful and not even that important to begin with.”

From Heaven He Came and Sought Her not only sets out to show that this doctrine is not “awful” or peripheral, but that it is actually beautiful and central, one that is “at the heart of the meaning of the cross”.

For this reason, along with the list of notable scholars quite apt to explain and defend thoroughly this position, this is a book that I, and many, have looked forward to with great anticipation. There is much to be praised about this massive volume and relatively little that would leave the reader frustrated or shorted in any way.

This text is thorough…thorough! Regardless of whether you think the conclusions drawn are sound or every aspect of thought is covered fairly, you have to acknowledge that just about everything you could want covered is covered. The major players and major events get many pages and all of the Scriptures you would want to see addressed seem to be. This is a 700 page beast of a book and it will take some time to get through, but due to the quality of scholarship and writing, it will be time well invested and an enjoyable experience to boot.

It is important to remember that this is a collection of essays. While the essays build on each other in parts, they can be read individually. This leads to a bit of overlap and some repetitiveness at times. For example, many of the authors, for good reason, were determined to point out what a poor label “limited atonement” is…and I agree. But it got to a point where I was a bit battle-worn at how many shots needed to be fired at this acronymical enemy. Add to that the fact that no one addressed how silly TUDIP would sound and I felt time would have been better spent not kicking this dead flower. However, and this is key, I am convinced that some of this weariness is in large part due to my reading strategy. I really wanted to finish the book and I read, for the most part, in order and one immediately after another. I think it would be wiser, for numerous reasons, to spread out the reading of these essays and spend more time on each individual one. That would have made the repetition not a negative at all, but quite beneficial.

That also would make it much easier to digest the contents of this behemoth. Don’t get me wrong, this book is quite readable. The authors are quite capable writers and the text is very readable, but it is VERY meaty. There is not much soup and salad on this buffet, it is pretty much steak from beginning to end. For me, the historical essays were especially readable and the OT theology essays, especially over Isaiah, were especially tough, along with the whole of section IV. I have a feeling that this has to do with my interests and what I am familiar with.

Certain things stood out to me as I was reading:
The introductory essay by Gibson and Gibson was quite good and set a high standard for the remainder of the book. Thankfully, the essays that followed consistently lived up to this standard.

There was a good historical essay on the age-old(see “tired”) argument of “Calvin wasn’t even a Calvinist…thus you cannot have an L in your TULIP!” Paul Helm gives a good defense of why his theology and Calvin himself would probably hold to definite atonement. It is definitely more thorough and probably quite a bit more convincing reply to this argument that my standard response of “So?!?”

The essay on Moyse Amraut is excellent. Simply superb. Djaballah gives a good, interesting biography of the man and then provides the reader with comprehensive coverage of his “Brief Traite”, a chapter by chapter summary and exposition of this influential work.

Carl Trueman commenting on Baxter vs Owen was quite interesting and going in, due to the author and the subject, I figured this would steal the show for me. Trueman the historian is not quite as sarcastic and cutting as Trueman the blogger or current events/political thoughts author. While it is probably more appropriate how he engaged the subject here, I certainly missed some of his biting British humor. That being said, Trueman’s essay was excellent.

Moyter’s essay on Isaiah left me in the dust. It looked really good and I tried my best to work through it, but I think I will have to return to it after a bit of study. This should be more of a critique of my OT prophetic writings knowledge than a testimony of any deficiency in the essay. I have a feeling, though, that many readers will be in the deep end of the pool with this one.

Both of Gibson’s essays on the Pauline literature were great. I enjoyed his discussion of Col 1:20 and the parallel reading of 1Tim 2:4/4:10 and especially enjoyed his essay on Definite Atonement in Paul’s soteriological paradigm, about how Definite Atonement is a “biblico-systematic doctrine.”

I was less than impressed with much of Schreiner’s arguments in the chapter on “problem texts”. I agreed with his conclusions, but did not think he gave a good account of how arrived at his destination. Too often he simply contradicted the opposing view he had just presented without much explanation of how he reach his position. He even brings up one opposing view, says it would take too long to explain but “suffice it to say” the opposing position “is unpersuasive and lacks exegetical and theological support from the remainder of the NT.” I disagree that this, in any way, “suffices”. In a book of 700 pages, it would have been ok to devote a couple more to fleshing this out a bit more, or not bringing it up at all. (At the very least maybe this could have been relegated exclusively to a footnote and an encouragement for any who were willing to chase down this rabbit, but to include it in the body of the text in this manner just did not sit right with me.)

Section 3, Definite Atonement in Theological Perspective, was a tough section for me to read. The content was deep and rich, but at times hard to get through. This is, for the most part, an academic-level book so it is not a bad thing at all to find parts that the reader will need to spend time with and work through. Wellum’s essay was particluarly enjoyable for me, partly due to content, the necessity of definite atonement in regards to the priestly office of Christ and His intercession for believers, and partly due to the format, a series of very clearly outlined lists in response to lists in response to lists…it was incredibly comforting for a person who processes things the way I do to have such deep and complex thoughts presented in such an organized and simple way.

The book ends on an upswing with Sinclair Ferguson and John Piper presenting passionate and pastoral essays on McLeod Campbell’s assault on penal substitutionary/definite atonement and how the doctrine of definite atonement particularly glorifies God.

From Heaven He Came and Sought Her is a hard read and deserves to be soaked in and enjoyed, not rushed through. This will be the definitive text on definitive atonement, at least at a popular-to-academic level, for some time to come. It warrants a spot on every pastor and thinking Christian’s shelf, regardless of one’s position, in order to better understand and articulate this important doctrine.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher to read and review.

[LaRosa Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

For whom did Christ die? In my experience, this has been one of the most divisive in Christendom, and one that I have spent a number of years struggling with. Having recently come fully on board with the doctrine of definite atonement (or limited atonement, if you prefer that term), I was anxious to read Crossway’s latest book titled From Heaven He Came and Sought Her, edited by David Gibson & Jonathan Gibson. With a myriad of qualified theologians contributing to this work, I was excited to see how they would tackle and solidly defend this doctrine. As its subtitle suggests, this book looks at the subject of definite atonement from four perspectives: historical, biblical, theological, and pastoral; all of which are the primary battlegrounds where this debate takes place.

After an introductory chapter outlining the premise for the book and what to expect, the first section dives right in and begins to examine the development of the doctrine of definite atonement throughout church history. These seven chapters proved to be vital in laying the groundwork for anyone’s argument for definite atonement as the writings of the church are examined starting with the ancient & medieval churches, all the way up to Reformation era and beyond. As you read these chapters, you quickly find that there isn’t a lot explicitly stated concerning the definiteness of Christ’s atoning work in the early church. As stated in one of the early chapters, “‘the saving work of Christ remained dogmatically undefined.’ What this does not mean is that the Fathers were uninterested in this overall subject—in fact, the very opposite: meditation on and thought about the atonement were a central feature of the piety, exegesis, and worship of the ancient church. (page 701)” That being said, we still find that many medieval theologians like Peter Lombard and Thomas Aquinas “wrote about predestination, divine foreknowledge, free will, and the atoning death of Christ in a manner that is not only consistent with later Reformation expressions of definite atonement, but preparatory and foundational for this doctrine. (page 96)” The chapter on John Calvin is brilliant, as it shows how his teachings are consistent with definite atonement, although he does not commit himself to any version of the doctrine. The history of definite atonement is further traced in the Synod of Dort and John Owen, even down to some of its more significant opponents such as Moïse Amyraut who argued for a universal grace. For anyone unfamiliar with such history, these chapters are more than a worthwhile read and show how solid the idea of definite atonement is throughout the history of the church.

The next section is dedicated to biblically defending the doctrine of definite atonement. This section is chock full of solid biblical exegesis. Paul Williamson starts off by looking at the idea of election, atonement, and intercession throughout the Pentateuch. The primary point here being that “any consideration of Israel’s experiences must take on board Israel’s unique status as the elect people of God. God’s special dealings with Israel, to which the Pentateuch repeatedly attests, are firmly premised on the idea of Israel’s divine election. (page 315)” In other words, Israel lays the biblical groundwork for this doctrine as we trace it throughout Scripture. The atoning work of the suffering servant in Isaiah is then expounded as the idea of Christ being stricken for the transgression of his people, which implies that it is not an all encompassing atonement. The New Testament treatment of this doctrine is primarily limited to the Johannine and Pauline corpora of Scripture. While these chapters grant the argument that it is entirely fair to state that nowhere in Scripture does it explicitly state that Christ died for the elect alone or for them only (page 402), it is shown to be a biblically valid concept when Scripture is compared with Scripture and reconciled as a whole. Even many of the common problem texts are addressed and shown how they can validly fit within a definite atonement framework without butchering the context. As a whole, these chapters, in my opinion, provide some of the most thorough treatment of biblical passages for the defense of definite atonement.

Typically when definite atonement gets discussed, it is usually within a theological context, which is the third section of this book. While the history might be straightforward and you can come to some kind of agreement (or simply agree to disagree) on what the text of Scripture has to say, the theological and philosophical discussion of definite atonement is where many have the most problems with this doctrine. It is here that you have to answer the why questions, which don’t always have the clearest answers. What is the link between the divine intention of the atonement and its extent? (page 554) Was it God’s plan to only redeem the elect? If Jesus died and paid for the sins of everyone, is there a double payment for those who go to hell? It is these kinds of deep questions that are tackled here in this section. What is shown is that there is an inherent unity between the three persons of the Trinity that cannot be broken, which lends itself beautifully to a definite atonement. Simply stated, if God only intended to save some but Christ died for all and the Spirit only works in some then there is disunity in the Trinity, which cannot be; therefore, for there to be unity Christ died for those whom the Father chose to save. While these chapters may make your head spin at times, they provide a very logical and sound argument as to why definite atonement must be, and how those like Amyraut are wrong in their assessment of the doctrine.

Finally, this book is tackled from a pastoral perspective. In these final three chapters Daniel Strange, Sinclair Ferguson, and John Piper do an eloquent job of showing just how important this doctrine is practically. We oftentimes think of doctrines like this primarily being confined to academia; but, this doctrine, like all, have implications that trickle all the way down to how we preach the gospel to the people of God. Yes, the doctrine of definite atonement may be uncomfortable to teach, but when properly understood it provides the kind of assurance that any and all believers need to put their faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. And, ultimately it’s a doctrine where Jesus Christ is most glorified.

As a whole, I was floored by this book. This is one of the most thorough treatments on definite atonement that I have ever read and probably ever will read. It does a wonderful job of tackling the doctrine from all possible angles, showing just how biblical and coherent definite atonement is. While I was initially concerning with how fair this work would be in handling the opposing views, I found it to be very evenhanded in its criticism of a universal atonement. What’s more, even though this is a highly academic book, I found it written plainly enough in most areas that anyone should be able to pick up this book and benefit from it. As it stands right now, From Heaven He Came and Sought Her is now my go to book for defending the doctrine of definite atonement and this book has firmly solidified in my mind that this is indeed a biblical doctrine.

[Peter Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book an excellent resource for discussion of limited atonement or what the authors call "definite atonement." I like their term better than the classic term. The book is essentially a reference tool. There numerous essays by different men covering the historical, Biblical, theological, and pastoral aspects of definite atonement. The book gives the reader an excellent lay of the land.

The historical views addressed are amazing. Barth, Torrance, McLeod Campbell, Davenant, Beza, Calvin, Amyraut, Owen, Baxter, Bavinck, Warfield, Driscoll, and Bruce Ware are all mentioned, as well as many others. Barth gets a lot of attention in various essays,which I found helpful because I know so little about him and his theology.

All the major passages supporting unlimited atonement are addressed. After reading the book, I am convinced the most difficult texts for definite atonement men are the passages that express a dual will, such as I Timothy 2:4. There were several essays on the Old Testament. Moyter's on Isaiah 53 was particularly helpful.

Several points were made over and over again. First, unlimited atonement puts a dissonance between redemption accomplished and redemption applied. Several authors mention this. I believe it is thorny issue for unlimited atonement view. Second, Christ's priestly intercession should be a larger part of the discussion. Does he intercede for those that are never saved? Can he die for those he does no function as a priest for? Third, does unlimited atonement logically end in universal accessibility to the Gospel? And if so, why do we not get that? Sinclair Ferguson's essay on this was thought provoking. Finally, one's views of the covenant and the Bible as a whole will influence the interpretation of specific texts. Much like any discussion of infant baptism, there must be exegesis of specific texts, but there also must be an understanding of the entire scope of Scripture.

Each of the essays could be a book. Therefore they are not in-depth. But they orient the reader to the major players, major texts, and major theological questions in the debate. This book is not a thorough discussion of the atonement. But it is an excellent introduction to one question related to the atonement: For whom to Christ die? It will be a valuable resource for any minister or theological student.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent exploration of a doctrine that often confuses Reformed Christians, definite atonement. The editors have compiled a great collection of essays that look at the critiques of the doctrine, all of the Scripture regarding it, the history of the doctrine and what it means to preach it. The underlying theme is that it is all to the glory of God.
This is a big book but there are indexes at the end so the reader can find what authors have written on a particular Scripture or subject.
Christians adhering to universal atonement will find some challenging issues in this book. One I found compelling was the issue of universal accessibility in regard to universal atonement. That issue alone should cause one to question belief in universal atonement.
Reformed Christians will find the doctrine clarified and defended - all to the glory of God. See my full review at http://bit.ly/1cGZvj7.

[Josue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew! This is necessarily a long book. Each chapter is written with clarity and love for the Church and for the God who came from heaven and sought her. This book, without a doubt, will not end the debate on this topic. Yet I am sure its contribution will prove to be influential both now and in years to come.

[Tony Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Treats the topic thoroughly and with great balance. If you're trying to hash this out, this would be the book I'd point you too as a primer.

[Austin Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical section was great. Exegetical and BT sections had bright spots, but it got repetitive in spots. Good book.

[Justin Feland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exceptional volume is an essential for anyone seriously interested in the definite atonement discussion. It truly is, as the back cover says, "The most comprehensive resource on definite atonement to date." Therefore, comments on it must be short.

A strength of the book is that there is both a clear connectedness between the chapters and yet never excessive redundancy. One the one hand, the book does not suffer from the awkward disjointedness that often surfaces in collections of essays like these. On the other hand, themes recur, as one would expect from a book about one subject from essentially the same perspective, but themes are never overused.

I had a great appreciation for the whole work, though I found the center two sections the most compelling (Definite Atonement in the Bible and in Theological Perspective). The section on the biblical proof for the doctrine left me more convinced than ever that the Bible does in fact explicitly teach definite atonement and that it is not, contrary to popular opinion, a monstrosity of Calvinistic logic. The section on Theological Perspective served to show that, in relationship to other doctrines which Christians largely affirm, definite atonement is in fact the most consistent with all of them.

The central arguments for the doctrine are certainly articulated (triune harmony of intention in the atonement, the unity of Christ's mediatorial work, faith itself as a gift from God, the "double payment" argument, etc.), but fresh perspective is brought to the table through interaction with opposition sides.

Over all, the book certainly provides a huge clarification of what the doctrine does and does not teach, how it arises both out of specific texts and the broader arch of biblical theology, the affect that affirming or denying the doctrine will have on the rest of a theological system, and how that relates to pastoral practice. I highly recommend the book, though it is not for the faint of heart. It is also worth purchasing for the sake of one or two essays that answer specific questions. Like "Death of Death" by Owen, I would not regard anyone who is not willing to work through this book as someone who is serious about understanding what the Reformed doctrine of definite atonement teaches.

[The Theology · Rating 5 out of 5]

www.TheTheologyNerd.com


From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective is a new compendium of essays on limited atonement. Rather than the vocabulary of limited atonement, this book has opted for the more generous terminology of definite atonement. David Gibson and Jonathan Gibson edited this fine volume. Published by Crossway, this is a weighty volume coming in at 700 plus pages. It is a sound defense of the Calvinistic doctrine of definite or particular atonement, assessing the discussion from many different vantage points – historical, biblical, theological and pastoral. We particularly have enjoyed the pastoral resource that this book includes. Authors range from Michael Haykin, David Hogg, and Thomas Schreiner to Stephen Wellum, Sinclair Ferguson, and John Piper. There is an equal distribution of Baptists and Presbyterians as well as from both sides of the Atlantic.

The title comes from the great hymn “The Church’s One Foundation” which includes these words: “From Heaven He came and sought her, to be His holy bride; with His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.” Setting the tone for the entire volume, the premise is further laid out in the very first chapter on theological methodology. “The doctrine of definite atonement states that, in the death of Jesus Christ, the triune God intended to achieve the redemption of every person given to the Son by the Father in eternity past, and to apply the accomplishments of his sacrifice to each of them by the Spirit. The death of Christ was intended to win the salvation of God’s people alone.” Every other chapter, each in its unique manner, seeks to amplify and explain this premise.

From Heaven He Came and Sought Her is a very thorough treatment of this subject – one of the fullest that is available. It can be read through cover to cover or you can pick out the essays that direct your study best. One word is necessary here: this tome is not for the faint of heart. Light bedtime reading it is not. In some cases, you might need a dictionary nearby and, in other cases, you may need to read in absolute silence. There is a definite density in some chapters. Every section is well done, but they all assume more than a novice level of reading. We would recommend reading it when you are alert. Keep a notebook, pens, and highlighters at hand to make important notes. The more you work with this volume, the more useful it will become. Record your questions and come back to them later. You might find that some chapters bear reading and rereading to gain the most facility with the material, but we assure you that your time is being well spent.

We found second chapter on the patristics to be one of the most gripping. There is apparently deep and detailed support to be found for limited atonement among the church fathers. While that support is not always in direct citations, we need to see allusion and implication. Michael Haykin makes us keenly aware of that testimony. He uses the writings of John Gill as a kind of launching pad. Gill points us to where those sources are located and Haykin mines the depths of those riches. If you read nothing else, this chapter is worth the price of the book.

We mentioned the density of the reading. One of the most difficult sections for many readers will be “Definite Atonement in the Bible.” In this section, some of the authors presuppose a level of familiarity with Greek and Hebrew that all readers may not possess. We are familiar with the original languages, but the sections utilizing Hebrew were a bit dicey to say the least. With that said, if you make the effort it will pay off. Even the usage of original languages does not make the material unusable. It just required us to dig into our resources a little further. For us, it sparked a review of Hebrew syntax and vocabulary and that, in itself, is actually a very good thing.

Henri A.G. Blocher builds what amounts to a systematic theology of definite atonement. This is another chapter that you might want to keep on hand for reference time and time again. Historical and biblical theology are weighed together to support the doctrine. Many topics and terminologies are explained – everything from the sufficiency of the atonement to the so called “well-meant offer of the Gospel.” In about 40 pages, this author unpacks a great deal of biblical and theological information, providing a valuable starting point in a discovery of this doctrine.

In the final chapter, John Piper expounds upon the necessity of the definite atonement in our preaching. He sees that as a requirement to glorify God. Piper states “In conceiving a universe in which to display the glory of His grace, God did not choose ‘plan A.’ The death of Christ was not an afterthought or adjustment. For this the universe was planned. Everything leading to it, and everything flowing from it, is explained by it.” So in Piper’s explanation, to have anything other than a definite atonement would be for God to have a “plan B.” God had purposed things to be definite in terms of the atonement and that purposing has been before the foundation of creation itself. Therefore, this definite atonement must be presented in our preaching.

The book includes a number of finely assembled appendices: an extensive bibliography as well as index of biblical references, index of names, and an index of subjects. All considered, these additions make this an outstanding research volume to anyone who desires to study this topic for themselves. Naturally, with all these positives, there have to be some drawbacks. We have already talked about the level of reading, though this is not in actuality a negative; it is something that the reader needs to take into account. If you are looking for some light, fluffy reading, this is likely not the book for you. However, if you feel up to the task, this might actually be another strength to the volume. Also, there seems to be a fair bit of stress placed upon the “well-meant offer of the Gospel.” Depending on your view of Calvinism, that might be acceptable or it might be more problematic. We are not here issuing a judgment on that idea other than to draw your attention to its inclusion here. One may be able to be solidly reformed on both sides of that issue, but we felt it worth mentioning.

All in all, this is a valuable addition to scholarship on the definite atonement of Christ. It views the definite application of the atonement as the way in which God receives the greatest glory. No matter your vantage point, there is much here to digest. Historical, theological, biblical, and pastoral issues are carefully weighed by a very capable and scholarly group of theologians. We cannot recommend this work highly enough.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of essays pertaining to the subject of definite atonement, or limited atonement. Each writers brings their own flair to the work as all of them seek to focus on the historical, systematic, and Biblical aspects of the issue at hand. While every essay is different they at time repeat one another when referring to the works from history. While I don’t think I’d recommend this book as a straight read through, I do believe there is some treasure here. The pastoral essays where some of my favorite, and showed how the doctrine of definite atonement should impact the hearts of believers. This is a resource I plan to return to.

[Noah McMillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very thorough and persuasive account of the Biblical doctrine of definite atonement. I think it would be very persuasive to anyone of the 4 point Calvinist or Hypothetical Universalist viewpoints because of how much is shared in common in the background, particularly the idea of unconditional election. However, it may not be as persuasive to the Arminian who does not share many key assumptions. What was enlightening to me was the idea that the Amyraldian (4 point Calvinist) scheme effectively turns God’s election into a plan B rescue attempt since the general atonement is ineffective to save anyone in itself.

[Thomas Creedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb.

Late to this particular party, but this is a fantastic book. Highlight for me was probably Dan Strange's chapter. Though Sinclair Ferguson and Garry Williams ran him close.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tome, in every sense of the word, but its size ought not to be a discouragement for pastors and serious readers of theology. However, this work is probably not for every church library. The title is taken from Samuel Stone’s hymn The Church’s One Foundation, the last two lines of the first verse:

From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.

This book seeks to answer in a comprehensive way the question “For whom did Christ die?” from the Reformed/Calvinistic perspective. The work seeks to be a corrective for all the wrong ideas and attitudes the come from the “L” (limited atonement) in the acronym “TULIP.” As a Calvinist I would agree that “limited” conjures up ideas of a stingy God and that the term “definite atonement” is much more to the point. There are twenty-three essays by twenty-one authors representing a cross section of present-day Reformed scholarship.

The book seeks to deal with “four interrelated aspects of the doctrine: its controversies and nuances in church history, its presence or absence in the bible, its theological implications, and its pastoral consequences.” (p.37)

"The doctrine of definite atonement states that, in the death of Jesus Christ, the triune God intended to achieve the redemption of every person given to the Son by the Father in eternity past, and to apply the accomplishments of his sacrifice to each of them by the Spirit. The death of Christ was intended to win the salvation of god’s people alone." (p. 33)

This is a work to be savored, like a fine wine with all its complexities. I would say that J. Alec Motyer's chapter (10) "Stricken for the Transgression of My People: The Atoning Work of Isaiah's Suffering Servant" [Isaiah 52:13-53:12) is worth the price of the book. [This is particularly striking as I write this review during Lent in 2014.] The two final chapters by Pastor/Teachers Sinclair Ferguson and John Piper deal pastorally with the subject, something this pastor appreciates.

I believe this quotation from Editor David Gibson captures the aim of the book: “Definite atonement is beautiful because it tells the story of the Warrior-Son who comes to earth to slay his enemy and rescue his Father’s people. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, a loving Bridegroom who gives himself for his bride, and a victorious King who lavishes the spoils of his conquest on the citizens of his realm.” (p. 17)

Should one need a more nuanced review I would send you to the reviews by Aaron Denlinger and Tom McCall at Reformation21: http://www.reformation21.org/articles....

I agree with Tom McCall when he states “both adherents to DA [definite atonement] and opponents of the doctrine stand to benefit from this book.” As a reformed pastor I found this work to be a great addition to my library. It is a thorough-going treatment of Definite Atonement not seen since the Puritan John Owen’s “The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.”

[Rebecca Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Heaven He Came consists of 23 essays by 21 authors, plus a foreword by J. I. Packe—an interesting choice since Packer also wrote the now-classic introduction to a reprint of John Owen’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, the only other work in history that could also be considered a definitive study of definite atonement. The overarching aim of this volume is

to show that history, the Bible, theology, and pastoral practice combine together to provide a framework within which the doctrine of definite atonement is best articulated … (page 37).

Accordingly, the essays are grouped into four sections corresponding with these categories. Contributors include Michael Haykin, Paul Helm, Carl R. Trueman, Tom Schreiner, Robert Letham, Stephen Wellum, Sinclair Ferguson, and John Piper, to list some of the authors you may know.

The strengths and weaknesses of this book both come from it’s nature as a collection of individual essays. Each author is an expert on his subject—historians write the history, biblical scholars make the biblical arguments, and so on—making this a stronger book than it would be if it were written by a single author.

But it’s also because it’s made up of individual essays that there is so much repetition. The justification for calling the doctrine definite atonement instead of limited atonement, for example, is repeated several times. And in my judgment, there was entirely too much included on the subject of hypothetical universalism. According to my count, ten of the essays used two or more pages to argue against one version or another of this view of the atonement.

Along with the repetition, there is a bit of disagreement. For instance, Jonathan Gibson interprets “Savior” in the first half of that famous phrase in 1 Timothy 4:10 as non-spiritual salvation: “God,” he explains, “preserves the lives of all people now in the present age, and especially of believers in the life to come.” Tom Schreiner, on the other hand, dismisses this interpretation because, “there is not a single instance in the Pastorals where the word group refers to anything besides spiritual salvation.” I think these differences make the book stronger by showing the authors’ agreement on the doctrine of definite atonement came by way of honest individual thought rather than group-think, but some may find them disconcerting.

I haven’t regretted buying and reading From Heaven He Came for a second. It’s the kind of book a theology geek like me loves best. Whether you’ll enjoy it as much as I did depends on how interested you are in the doctrine of definite atonement—how and why it came to be formulated as it is, and why it’s important.

(You can read my full (and rather long) review here.)

[Roger Leonhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

How often do you find a book on definite atonement? I can probably count on one hand how many I have found on the subject in the last twenty years. Not only seeing a book like this published, but also the size and caliber of the writing made one reader, if I may say, giddy with delight! This book has been needed for years. There has not been a detailed volume on definite atonement of this magnitude since Owen's "Death of Death". Not only is it detailed, it is also very accessible to the average reader.

Now that my voice is lower by a few octaves, I would like to talk about the contents of the book. Here, we not only have a volume on the doctrine itself, we also have its history, its theology, and its use in pastoral practice. Not to mention a great Bibliography at the end. At 704 pages, who could ask for more?

The four sections are divided as follows:

1. Definite Atonement in Church History
2. Definite Atonement in the Bible
3. Definite Atonement in Theological Perspective
4. Definite Atonement in Pastoral Practice

The first section takes us through names such as Augustine, Calvin, Beza, and the like. We see that even though many did not specifically teach the doctrine, they did build the foundation for which the doctrine would be built. If they had lived at a later time, it would probably have lead to the same.

The second section leads us through the bible. We see what scripture teaches concerning who Jesus died for. Did he die to save or just to make men savable? Did the Father have one desire and Jesus and the Holy Spirit another? What about the texts that proclaim that Jesus died for all?

This section and the next are the meat of the book.

The third section concerns Theology. It shows that definite atonement logically fits with the other doctrines of the bible. There is no contradiction with the central doctrines of the word.

The last section takes a look at the pastoral benefits that come with the doctrine. How can we have assurance that we are of the elect? What about the unevangelized? Who gets the glory for Salvation?

I eagerly awaited reading this book and it did not disappoint.

I would considered this one of the top two books I have read this year.

I highly recommend it and give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book, free of charge, from Crossway and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is beyond me how anyone can read Ephesians 1, Romans 8:29-30, Romans 9 and many other passages and deny that the Bible teaches unconditional election. It would therefore logically seem to follow that Jesus died only for the elect. And there are certainly passages that do suggest this. But there are also passages which suggest that Jesus died for everyone. This 700 page book defends the belief that Jesus died only for the elect. Their case is very compelling and almost convincing. The problem is a handful of passages which seem to demand some kind of universal intent for Jesus' death (cf. 1 John 2:2; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; 4:10; 2 Cor. 5:14-20). While their case for a definite or limited atonement is very strong their explanation for these passages seems possible but still not persuasive.

I have been struggling with this issue for decades and guess I will until I get to heaven. It seems to me more Biblical to somehow affirm that there is both a universal and limited design for Jesus' death. The medieval formula says it best: "Jesus death was sufficient for the world but efficient only for the elect."
I believe that Jesus' death on the cross was intended both to provide an objective sacrifice that was sufficient to pay for every sin that would ever be committed. However I also believe that it was ultimately intended only to ever be applied to those whom God draws to salvation through His process of unconditional election. Jesus' death is objectively, universally sufficient for every sin, but ultimately limited in its subjective application.

[Darrin Tolar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"From Heaven He Came and Sought Her" is a collection of essays that present the doctrine of Definite Atonement in its Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral perspectives. "The doctrine of definite atonement states that, in the death of Jesus Christ, the triune God intended to achieve the redemption of every person given to the Son by the Father in eternity past, and to apply the accomplishments of his sacrifice to each of them by the Spirit." This is one of the best treatments of the subject that I have ever read. The authors provide arguments with a view of the whole counsel of the Word of God and interact with objections raised by Arminians, Amyraldians, and Hypothetical Universalists. They take a biblico-systematic approach and show its relation to other doctrines such as eschatology, election, union with Christ, Christology, Trinitarianism, covenant, etc. They demonstrate that the work of God in salvation is indivisibly Trinitarian, both in purpose and in action. They also show how Christ's work as High Priest in both the atonement and intercession cannot be divided. Very highly recommended!
Two of the chapters can be read online:
"Sacred Theology and the Reading of the Divine Word"
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold...
and
"“Problematic Texts” for Definite Atonement in the Pastoral and General Epistles by Thomas R. Schreiner"
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold...

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, the 660+ pages of this volume have taken me a long time to read. It's an overwhelming academic treatment of Definite Atonement. I appreciated reading about the history of the debate over this issue and, the section where the authors are dealing with the various references that seem to argue against definite atonement was really insightful and helpful. Some of the book seems to be so technical and academic that I would be concerned that the majority of readers would not want to read the text. I found myself at times having to re-read paragraphs and a couple of the authors would break out into Latin, which I guess is the way that, in academic circles, you want to really drive home your point and show that you are academically savvy. But for me, the Latin lines were meaningless and distracting. I would guess that my Classical Christian Education friends would probably say at this point, "That's why you should have taken Latin," but the truth is, I can read English and those translations of the Latin into English made the same point. Overall, this academic treatment was very fascinating to read. There were many good chapters to read, very helpful in understanding the core issues of the debate, and a great took for academic minded readers to get insight into the third point of the TULIP acrostic (though the book is about Definite Atonement). I'm guessing that it will most likely only be read by those within the academic world but a helpful resource nonetheless.

[Jesus Salgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

This most debatable point among the 5 points (Limited Atonement) is defended in this book. From exegetical work and from throughout church history limited atonement is proven to be biblical and consistently taught and this book proves that.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough, compelling case for the doctrine of definite redemption. Rich in historical theology, strong in exegesis, and trenchant in theological insight. Moreover, it dealt with many modern voices that oppose the doctrine such as Karl Barth, T. F. Torrance, and Mark Driscoll. The main draw back is that, because this book centered on this one doctrine and explicated and defended it at great length, there was definitely a repetitious feel to it. Another main criticism is that it dealt primarily with the strongest arguments against definite redemption, such as hypothetical universalism, Barthian critiques, etc., but somewhat lacking was engagement with Arminian critiques of the doctrine. While for scholarly purposes, this makes sense, but for the servant of the church, the Arminian stance is the one more likely to present itself. Despite this, I would highly recommend this work for its depth, breadth, thoroughness, and, indeed, its persuasiveness.

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal book on the doctrine of definite atonement. I was skeptical at first glance, I ordered it on kindle through a review program and it is a large book, and I was afraid it would be out of my league with its treatment of the doctrine of atonement.

It actually is very well written, it gets "heady" at times, but is a slam dunk case for definite atonement. Most calvinists will read this and agree, and love having this one in their bookshelf for reference. I would recommend that anyone interested in reading about doctrine pick this one up.

If you are looking for a light read on calvinist doctrine, this might not be the one for you...pick up Doug Wilson's Easy Chair Hard Words instead.

But if you want to wade into the deep, beautiful waters of God's particular redemption of His people, this book is well worth the effort.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is certainly the best book on limited atonement ever written. For 600+ pages, a litany of evangelical scholars hit all the right buttons. They discuss the historical development of the doctrine. They discuss it in the Old and New Testaments, not shying away from addressing "problematic" passages, like 1 John 2:2. They discuss is in theological perspective--how it relates to election, incarnation, penal substitution, the new covenant, etc. They discuss its pastoral implications: Sinclair Ferguson and John Piper's concluding 2 chapters are perhaps the best of the book (Ferguson on the assurance that limited atonement brings; Piper on how to preach the doctrine for the glory of God).

The book is best read in chunks. I read a chapter daily for the last month or so. But if you care about a sticky theological subject, get it, and read it.