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Explorations in Biblical Theology
Election and Free Will: God’s Gracious Choice and Our Responsibility
Election and Free Will helps those who believe in a Reformed view of predestination to better understand their faith. It traces Scripture's teaching on election through the Bible and explains biblically the doctrine of free will. It tackles objections to predestination and concludes with applications of this neglected biblical teaching.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 21, 2013
Written after "Why I am not a Calvinist" and "Why I am not an Arminian", this book is even more gracious and balanced. Highly recommended.
November 12, 2017
Robert A. Peterson has written this book with enough detail to satisfy the curious and light enough as to not get bogged down in detail. When he writes about the Arminian view, he avoids the caricatures, straw men, and rhetoric that is sometimes associated with books on this controversial topic.
Because this book is written for a less theologically adept audience, some material is absent that helps complete the picture of the debate.
I would recommend this for any college student, pastor, or well-versed layman.
Because this book is written for a less theologically adept audience, some material is absent that helps complete the picture of the debate.
I would recommend this for any college student, pastor, or well-versed layman.
May 29, 2019
The author gives a strong defense of the doctrine of election. He also graciously refutes Arminians' position.
June 6, 2025
Good read!
March 6, 2015
Solid job on a sometimes-controversial subject. Peterson is perhaps the most workmanlike systematician out there today. He isn't fancy, and is rarely profound, but you don't need to be when you're job is to systematize beautiful Scriptural truths.
After the required chapter on the doctrine of election through church history, Peterson looks at every text he can in Scripture that addresses the topic. They basically break down into three categories: corporate (Israel/church), individual (the elect foreknown before the foundation of the world), and messianic (Jesus' election as the anointed one). Again, nothing elaborate, just a good survey of the relevant texts.
It's his last few chapters that really bring home the bacon. Chapter 8 addresses free will--that of Adam and Eve, that of unregenerate sinners, that of the redeemed, and that which we will enjoy in the new heavens/earth. He then asks a seemingly simple question: why are we saved? Peterson points to four answers: because we trust Christ as savior, because we're born again by the Spirit, because Christ died and rose for us, and because the Father elected us. Note that all four are true, but their temporal sequence matches their order of precedence: election is the primary reason, and because we were elected X died for us, and therefore the HS worked in our heart, and therefore we trust X for salvation. Mess this order up, and you mess up the biblical teaching on election.
You can also look at the other side: why are people condemned? They are condemned, in reverse order, because of the sins they commit, because of Adam's original sin, and because they were passed over by God (preterition). Again, the order is vital to understanding how God's election works. He doesn't elect or not elect us based on our faith or lack thereof; it's precisely the opposite. The rest of Chapter 8 demonstrates how both God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are held as valid in Scripture. He then looks at various schemes that fail in understanding the relation between the two: fatalism, hyper-Calvinism, Arminianism.
Chapter 9 is a comprehensive summary of the Biblical story of election, and then Chapter 10 concludes in a remarkable way--Peterson shows how the objections to election are actually areas that election applies to the faith of a believer. Let me explain. For instance, some say election is unfair or arbitrary, but in fact Scripture says it is a reason to praise God. Some say it fosters elitism; Scripture says it should foster thanksgiving and humility. Some say it retards evangelism; Scripture says it incentivizes it (I love Acts 18:9-10). Some say it leads to fatalism; Scripture says it should lead to perseverance and service. Some say it is defeatist; Scripture says it inspires confidence in God. Some say it leads to struggling with assurance; Scripture says it leads to assurance of God's love (just read John 10:27-29). I thought this chapter was a great finish to a well-done book.
After the required chapter on the doctrine of election through church history, Peterson looks at every text he can in Scripture that addresses the topic. They basically break down into three categories: corporate (Israel/church), individual (the elect foreknown before the foundation of the world), and messianic (Jesus' election as the anointed one). Again, nothing elaborate, just a good survey of the relevant texts.
It's his last few chapters that really bring home the bacon. Chapter 8 addresses free will--that of Adam and Eve, that of unregenerate sinners, that of the redeemed, and that which we will enjoy in the new heavens/earth. He then asks a seemingly simple question: why are we saved? Peterson points to four answers: because we trust Christ as savior, because we're born again by the Spirit, because Christ died and rose for us, and because the Father elected us. Note that all four are true, but their temporal sequence matches their order of precedence: election is the primary reason, and because we were elected X died for us, and therefore the HS worked in our heart, and therefore we trust X for salvation. Mess this order up, and you mess up the biblical teaching on election.
You can also look at the other side: why are people condemned? They are condemned, in reverse order, because of the sins they commit, because of Adam's original sin, and because they were passed over by God (preterition). Again, the order is vital to understanding how God's election works. He doesn't elect or not elect us based on our faith or lack thereof; it's precisely the opposite. The rest of Chapter 8 demonstrates how both God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are held as valid in Scripture. He then looks at various schemes that fail in understanding the relation between the two: fatalism, hyper-Calvinism, Arminianism.
Chapter 9 is a comprehensive summary of the Biblical story of election, and then Chapter 10 concludes in a remarkable way--Peterson shows how the objections to election are actually areas that election applies to the faith of a believer. Let me explain. For instance, some say election is unfair or arbitrary, but in fact Scripture says it is a reason to praise God. Some say it fosters elitism; Scripture says it should foster thanksgiving and humility. Some say it retards evangelism; Scripture says it incentivizes it (I love Acts 18:9-10). Some say it leads to fatalism; Scripture says it should lead to perseverance and service. Some say it is defeatist; Scripture says it inspires confidence in God. Some say it leads to struggling with assurance; Scripture says it leads to assurance of God's love (just read John 10:27-29). I thought this chapter was a great finish to a well-done book.
December 30, 2013
The supposed dichotomy of election and free will has been the source of much tension and division throughout church history (which is also a good indicator that answers to these questions are not readily or easily found). Peterson’s attempt here is to show that Scripture teaches both divine sovereignty and human responsibility, and to explore where (and on whom) the Word places its emphases. The result is an astute and informative resource, cemented in Scriptural foundations.
January 12, 2013
An easy read. Written on the popular level, but well grounded in Biblical theology. A very fair and accessible book. Maybe not always perfectly precise, but the precision is sacrificed to accessibility, and this seems a wise choice given the stated nature of this series. A great book for a first introduction to this topic or a Bible study.
November 1, 2015
Fairly rudimentary although possibly the most readable resource for election. It is irenic and charitable towards those who disagree. The advanced theologian will not gain much from this volume although it would be good for laity or church level training.
April 12, 2016
This was a great book on part of the Doctrine's of grace. Understandable and thoroughly Biblical. Would definitely recommend to the average Christian even the already Reformed Christian looking for a good refresher.
December 22, 2015
Highly recommend this book. Not a complicated read but I still read it small bits at a time. A definite "must read".
December 8, 2014
This is a highly accessible book for anyone interested in this topic. Definitely a resource for the "lay-theologian" to keep on their shelf.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews