Olivia W’s Reviews > Universal Salvation?: The Current Debate > Status Update

It took me a lot of mental energy to follow many of the formal philosophical and logical arguments, which is a really good thing. I needed the mental workout. My general takeaway is that there is a lot of room for universalist interpretations of the Bible, although I struggle to remember a specific argument that stood out. If you are limited on time, the closing chapter is a phenomenal summary of the main argument.

New vocabulary:
Irenic: aiming at peace. Can refer to attempts to reconcile different sects or denominations within Christianity
Arrogate: to take or claim something without justification
Apokatastasis: the restoration of creation to perfection. Can refer specifically to the restoration of all souls to God

I wish several authors would do away with the term "over against".

Slow but steady progress! One of the contributing writers mentions " a more or less continuous tradition of universalism on the penumbra of Christianity". Never thought I would hear penumbra used in a theology book but here we are.

"Most universalists, however, argue that a correct reading of scripture is to interpret the damnation passages in a way compatible with, what they consider to be, the overriding thrust of the New Testament: the universal victory of God." Page 169

Page 157 "A justice that could be universally waived would not *be* justice, and a mercy which could not be unilaterally waived would not be mercy."

"... This means that the only plausible way to reject universalism is to say that we are not forever free to accept the offer of salvation. At some point, either the offer is withdrawn, or we lose the freedom to accept it." pp. 140-141