Response to Whomever He Wills: Part II by David Allen

UPDATE: Note: four parts are now available. Check out the links at the bottom of the post...

We linked to Dr. David Allen's introductory remarks concerning the newest release by Founders Press, Whomever He Wills, edited by Drs. Matthew Barrett and Thomas J. Nettles. Since Allen's opening remarks were posted, Dr. Fred Zaspel, author of the book's Preface which Allen critically engaged in his introductory remarks, has offered a brief response to Dr. Allen   >>>

In Part 2 (which will be offered in several increments due to length), Dr. Allen engages the chapter dealing with the "L" as in T.U.L.I.P., a given since this chapter purports to respond to Allen's chapter in Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism.¹ Written by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary PhD candidate, David  Schrock, the chapter is entitled "Jesus Saves, No Asterisk Needed: Why Preaching the Gospel as Good News Requires Definite Atonement," Dr. Allen offers what promises to be a detailed critique of Schrock's contribution.

A few selective quotes from Allen's rejoinder

• "Amyraldians and Hypothetical Universalists...affirm that while the sufficiency of the provision is equally for all, the intention to apply it is not... One has to wonder whether Schrock understands the positions of Amyraldianism and Hypothetical Universalism, both legitimate positions within Reformed orthodoxy"
• "Schrock makes another significant mistake when he asserts that all these views above borrow “the theological capital of definite atonement” (78). This is historically anachronistic since the limited atonement view developed in history within the Reformed camp after the hypothetical universalist position."
• "Schrock... asserts “Textual proof for definite atonement begins with the straightforward statements that Christ died for a particular people” (79). He lists Matt. 1:21; Titus 2:14; Acts 20:28; and Ephesians 5:25-27... . concerning these texts, not a single one states Christ died only for the group mentioned in context... When Paul says in Galatians 2:20 that “...I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me,” are we to infer that Christ died only for Paul?"

Read the entire piece by Dr. Allen--"A Selective Review and Critique of Whomever He Wills (Part 2A)" 

Read Part 2B

Read Part 2C

Read Part 2D

¹I encourage everyone who has a definite interest in the Calvinist/non-Calvinist discussion in the Southern Baptist Convention to purchase, if possible, both these volumes and read the chapters comparatively