death and the afterlife

what is limited election?

the view that only a few Christians will be saved

what is unlimited election?

the view that all people are called to salvation but not all are saved

what is single predestination?

the view that God chooses those who go to Heaven

what is double predestination?

the view that God chooses those who go to Heaven and those who go to Hell

which theologist believes in single predestination?

augustine “confessions”

why does augustine believe in single predestination?

original sin makes humans unable to save themselves
salvation depends entirely on God’s grace and sovereign choice (prevenient grace) which enables a person to have faith and turn towards God, and God provides subsequent grace to help them continue in faith
therefore, God predestines some people to salvation while those who are not saved are condemned because of their sinful state (not double predestination)

what is a scripture and a quote from it which supports augustine’s views on single predestination?

Ephesians 2 - “and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God”

which theologist believes in double predestination?

calvin “institutes”

why does calvin believe in double predestination?

if God actively chooses some people for salvation, then logically He must also have decided not to save others
the five points of calvinism - TULIP (total depravity → humans cannot save themselves + unconditional election → God chooses some for salvation) - salvation is intended for only the elect and is guaranteed by God’s grace

what is a scripture and a quote from it which supports calvin’s view on double predestination?

Ephesians 2 - “dead in your transgressions and sins” (total depravity)
nobody can save themselves, God elects some for salvation, those not chosen remain sinful

which two theologians believe in free will / conditional election?

arminius and swinburne

why does arminius believe in free will / conditional election?

God is loving and just and would not predestine people to damnation
God chooses people for salvation based on His foreknowledge of who will have faith
five points of arminianism (free will, conditional election, universal atonement, resistablegrace, fall from grace) - prevenient grace is offered to all, allowing us to freely choose or reject salvation

which scripture and a quote from it supports arminius’ view in free will / conditional election

Luke 23 - "today you will be with me in paradise”
the thief is saved after freely expressing faith in Jesus, suggesting salvation depends on human response to God’s grace rather than being predetermined

why does swinburne believe in free will / conditional election?

moral responsibility and genuine love require real choice
salvation must be conditional on human response, predestination is wrong as it would make God responsible for people’s choices (if people are predestined not to believe, and then punished for not believing, God would not be just)

which two theologians support universalism?

hick and rob bell

why does hick support universalism?

soul-making theodicy - life is a process of spiritual development, salvation is a journey towards God
this can continue beyond death, as some people may not be ready for God at death
eternal hell would be disproportionate to finite human sins
everyone will eventually freely choose God and be saved

why does rob bell support universalism?

love wins
God’s omnibenevolence is unconditional, it does not make sense for Him to give up on people forever
judgement is restorative rather than purely punitive and hell is a present state of separation from God, not final or eternal
people can resist God but His love is so powerful that it can ultimately heal everyone, everyone turns to God eventually

how does rob bell believe that hell is a present state of separation from God?

Mt 5: Gehenna is translated as “hell” but it originally referred to a waste valley outside Jerusalem associated with fire and judgement
bell argues that Gehenna is better understood as a warning about destructive consequences in this life, not eternal torture after death → references to fire are symbolic