Arminianism and Calvinism Books: A Starter List
Posted by Chuck Grantham on June 8, 2008
Over at the Theologer Forums someone asked for recommendations for books critiquing Calvinism. With the caveat that I haven’t really read very much in this area, here are the recent books I find on my bookshelves on the subject:
1. Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue by Clendenen and Waggoner
2. Grace, Faith, Free Will by Robert E. Picirilli
3. Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities by Roger Olson
4. The Quest For Truth by F. Leroy Forlines
5. The Sovereign Grace of God by James R. White
6. The Potter’s Freedom by James R. White
I’m sure my readers can- and likely will- add another two dozen “must read” books to my short list. But this is my little starters on an ancient controversy.
Iyov said
Have you read the Clendenen and Waggoner book? (I ask because it seems from Amazon that it just came out). Could you give a mini-book review? Thanks!
Chuck Grantham said
Iyov: I just bought it at a Lifeway store Thursday, so I’ve not done more than read the first two essays and skim the others. I like the format of a general topic with an essay each from a Calvinist and non-Calvinist SBCer. I think it accurately portrays the necessarily mixed and sometimes confusing (this theological term or that one means exactly what?) views the SBC membership has on these questions. I don’t think the essays will change the minds of either side, but it makes a good start toward mutual understanding and consistently calls for brotherly discussion on these issues.
Is that useless enough for you?
Scripture Zealot said
Thank you very much for starting this list. (I was the person who asked.) If you know of any web sites with similar info please let me know.
Jeff
Chuck Grantham said
Jeff,
If you haven’t already, try Arminian Perspectives. His right sidebar has a list of Arminian websites and a list of books, including those I mentioned and more.
Nathan Stitt said
Excellent, thank you.
Calvinism and Arminianism | Scripture Zealot said
[...] For books related to this subject: Arminianism and Calvinism Books: A Starter List [...]
Charles Cameron said
I write to draw your attention to my article,
Charles M. Cameron, “Arminius-Hero or Heretic?” The Evangelical Quarterly 64.3 (1992): 213-27.
The article concludes:
In our theology of salvation, we must take care to preserve the dual emphasis of Scripture on both grace and faith: ‘By grace you have been saved through faith’ (Eph. 2:8). It is not ‘grace without faith’, and it is not ‘faith apart from grace’. Salvation is by not ‘grace without faith’, and it is not ‘faith apart from grace’. Salvation is ‘by grace through faith’. We are ‘kept by the power of God through faith’ (1 Pet. 1:5). It is not ‘the power of God apart from faith’, and it is not ‘faith independently of the power of God’. We are ‘kept by the power of God through faith’. In seeking to maintain the biblical balance between grace and faith, we may―perhaps surprisingly―find in Arminius, a theologian from whom we can learn much. He does not fit easily into the Calvinist Arminian patterns of theological pigeonholing. He challenges us to think more deeply about the gospel, which is greater than all our systems. He invites us to have confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ without becoming overconfident in any particular interpretation, such as inflexible ‘Calvinism’ or superficial ‘Arminianism’.
To find the full article, go to http://www.theologicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/arminius_cameron.pdf
Best wishes.
Charlie
Troy C said
I have heard that Grace Unlimited ed. by Clark Pinnock is a very well rounded resource.