Category Archives: Soteriology

Salvation 2.0: Part 3.19 The Principalities and Powers

David Bentley Hart’s argument insists that a good God making a good Creation from  nothing (ex nihilo) must bring his Creation to a good end. Perpetual conscious torment (PCT) of  rational beings — humans — is not a good end. … Continue reading

Posted in Salvation 2.0, Soteriology, Uncategorized | 31 Comments

Salvation 2.0: Part 3.18: David Bentley Hart’s “God, Creation, and Evil,” Part 11

So, to wrap up, I don’t buy the Universal Reconciliation Argument. Neither do I agree with the traditional Perpetual Conscious Torment of the damned position. Rather, I’m sold that Edward Fudge is right in teaching Conditionalism, that is, that the … Continue reading

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Salvation 2.0: Part 3.17: David Bentley Hart’s “God, Creation, and Evil,” Part 10

Available Light So this inevitably brings up the question of “available light” — the theory that God saves those who’ve never heard of Jesus, at least, those who are good people. I debated this question with Al Maxey back in … Continue reading

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Salvation 2.0: Part 3.16: David Bentley Hart’s “God, Creation, and Evil,” Part 9

Pre-resurrection Gentiles, again If I’m right that the sinned-against deserve justice from God, then we have to admit that, so far as the scriptures reveal, there is no justice pre-Jesus. If the evil people of the pre-Jesus Gentile world simply … Continue reading

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Salvation 2.0: Part 3.15: David Bentley Hart’s “God, Creation, and Evil,” Part 8

Has Paul prophesied that the Jews will eventually be saved? The hard question is whether God has promised that the Jews will enter the Kingdom sometime  in the future. N.T. Wright says no — It is at this point, of … Continue reading

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Salvation 2.0: Part 3.14: David Bentley Hart’s “God, Creation, and Evil,” Part 7

The fate of the Jews Now, I suppose I should address whether the Jews are a special case. And the great theologians differ. But I think we can lay a few principles down pretty clearly, even if we can’t answer … Continue reading

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Salvation 2.0: Part 3.13: David Bentley Hart’s “God, Creation, and Evil,” Part 6

Justice vs. forgiveness Ah, but there is a problem with Wright’s thesis. The saved — Christians — will have the opportunity to forgive those who’ve sinned against them, thereby releasing themselves from the hold that the sin of others has … Continue reading

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Salvation 2.0: Part 3.12: David Bentley Hart’s “God, Creation, and Evil,” Part 5

N. T. Wright on God’s solution for evil I read N. T. Wright’s Evil and the Justice of God a few years ago, and I was disappointed. I just didn’t find the answers very satisfying. After all, I’m a chronic-pain suffering … Continue reading

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Salvation 2.0: Part 3.11: David Bentley Hart’s “God, Creation, and Evil,” Part 4

The fate of those without God before the Resurrection of Jesus This may be overkill, but the question few people address in these sorts of discussions is the fate of Gentiles before the resurrection. Some of these people were doubtlessly … Continue reading

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Salvation 2.0: Part 3.10: David Bentley Hart’s “God, Creation, and Evil,” Part 3

When I first advised Richard Beck that I’d be critiquing Hart’s article, he asked me this — As far as any advice I’d offer you as [you] take on that task is to give your readers a clear and specific answer … Continue reading

Posted in Salvation 2.0, Soteriology, Uncategorized, Universalism | 12 Comments