Uncovering Calvin s God: John Calvin on Predestination and the Love of God (Paperback)

Although God loves you is a common summary of the central message of Christian teaching and preaching a close reading of the Bible and attention to the Christian tradition will reveal passages of Scripture and Christian doctrines particularly John Calvin s doctrine of predestination that seem to undermine confidence in God s love for all people. For numerous theologians including many within the Reformed tradition the secret decree of Calvin s God to save some and condemn others seems to undercut completely one s assurance of salvation along with one s ability to trust in and worship God. However pastor and scholar John Calvin confidently spoke of God as a loving Father throughout his teaching and preaching. In Uncovering Calvin s God Forrest H. Buckner unearths Calvin s teaching about the God of love who reigns sovereign over predestination. Drawing upon sources from across Calvin s corpus Buckner examines Calvin s teaching on the knowledge of God and the doctrine of predestination to provide a more robust and cohesive understanding of Calvin s theology which Buckner then confirms through an extensive examination of Calvin s preaching in Geneva. He then offers a critical comparison of Calvin s approach with the teaching of Luther Zwingli Bullinger Arminius and Barth. Using Calvin s system as a starting point this book helps readers perceive the essentials and trade-offs of any doctrine of predestination that takes seriously both the Bible and the loving God revealed in Jesus Christ.