Provisionism
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Provisionism[edit]
Provisionism (also called Traditionalism, Traditional Southern Baptist soteriology, Historical soteriology[1], or simply Provisionism[2]. The term "provisionism" refers to a particular soteriological viewpoint held by many Historical Baptist churches that emphasizes the teachings of the Apostles found in the Bible regarding God's love and provision of salvation for every individual as opposed to Calvinism's soteriological views[3], which emphasize that God loves and has made provision of salvation only for the limited "elect," those chosen unconditionally before the foundation of the world, while all others are chosen by God for reprobation.
Etymology[edit]
Provisionism from provision (n.)
late 14c., provisioun, "foresight, prudence, care;" also "a providing beforehand, action of arranging in advance" (at first often in reference to ecclesiastical appointments made before the position was vacant), from Old French provision "precaution, care" (early 14c.), from Latin provisionem (nominative provisio) "a foreseeing, foresight, preparation, prevention," noun of action from past-participle stem of providere "look ahead"
Theology[edit]
By Christian theological standards, the terms Provisionism and Provisionist are novel. Only recently have these labels been formally defined and applied. Dr. Leighton Flowers, a Baptist Traditionalist, is credited with coining the phrase. It is derived from Dr. Eric Hankins' Southern Baptist Traditionalist Statement.[2] The word Provisionism was developed to give a basis for the extensive theological distinctions, but united soteriology, beyond that of merely the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), because not all Provisionists hold to the Baptist Faith and Message or consider themselves to be linked with the SBC.
Some initially referred to this viewpoint as "Traditionalist" to set it apart from the more recent resurgence of Calvinistic beliefs[1]. However, because of some of this label's shortcomings, others prefer the term "Provisionism." A Provisionist, or someone who adheres to Provisionism, often embraces a Wesleyan-Arminian understanding of free will and salvation, with the minor exceptions of eternal security. The central tenet of provisionalism is that everyone who hears God's call for reconciliation is able to respond positively to be reconciled to Him since the gospel or God's Word is sufficient in itself via the power of the Holy Spirit (John 6:63; Hebrews 4:12).
The ideas of Total Depravity and Limited Atonement are two areas in which Provisionist doctrine and Calvinism are most distinct from one another. According to the Calvinistic theology of Total Depravity, everyone on Earth is so completely powerless to respond to God's own revelation that they are totally unable to even want salvation without God first regenerating them. However, Biblical Depravity, in contrast, asserts that all individuals are sinners who bear responsibility for their sin and who must respond to God's universal appeal for men to repent (Titus 2:11). Provisionism rejects calvinistic view of Total Depravity.
Similar to the abbreviation TULIP, which helped promote Calvinism's precise soteriological distinctions, Provisionists devised another acronym to help others remember theirs[4]:[edit]
P – People Sin: which separates all from fellowship with God. (Rom 3:23; 6:23)
R – Responsible: (able-to-respond) to God’s appeals for reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:19-20; Jn 5:40; 12:48; 20:31; Matt 23:37)
O – Open Door: for anyone to enter by faith. Whosoever will may come to his Open Arms. (Eph 1:13; Rom 10:21; 2 Pet 3:9; 1 Tim 2:4; Jn 3:16; Matt 11:28)
V – Vicarious Atonement: provides a way for anyone to be saved by Christ’s blood. (Rom 4:5; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 3:18)
I – Illuminating Grace: provides clearly revealed truth so that all can know and respond in faith. (Titus 2:11; Rom 1:16-2:16; 11:32; 2 Cor 4:3-6; Jn 12:32)
D – Destroyed: for unbelief and resisting the Holy Spirit. (2 Thess 2:10; Jn 3:18; Acts 7:51; Rom 4:5)
E – Eternal Security: for all true believers (Rom 8:38-39; Eph 1:13-14; Jn 20:31)
Christians have frequently disagreed over the specifics of how human free will and God's absolute sovereignty in salvation interact. Even while some Christians may not agree with the biblical interpretation of Provisionism, its principles fall squarely within the boundaries of orthodox Christian theology.[5]
The earliest Church Fathers actually taught "the absolute freedom of the human will... in which there was a cooperation between grace and free will," according to Calvinistic scholars who have admitted that they did not teach the Calvinistic concept of election.[6]
Among the Early Church Fathers are:[edit]
-Jesus Son of God (4 BC – AD 30 or 33)
- Apostle Paul (5 – 64/65 AD)
-Clement of Rome (AD30-100)
-Ignatius (AD30-107)
-Barnabas (AD100)
-Justin Martyr (AD 110-165)
-Irenaeus (AD120-202)
-Tatian (AD110-172)
-Tertullian (AD145-220)
-Clement of Alexandria (AD153-217)
-Origen (AD185-254)
-Hippolytus (AD170-236)
-Novatian (AD210-280)
-Archelaus (AD277)
-Alexander of Alexandria (AD273-326)
-Lactantius (AD260-330)
A list of contemporary scholars that reject the Calvinistic reading of the Bible[7]:[edit]
Howard Marshall
Doug Stuart
Scott McKnight
David Baker
William W. Klein
Robert Shank
David A. DeSilva
Bill T. Arnold
John Oswalt
Brian Abasciano
Craig Keener
Gerald O. McCulloh
Russell Henry Stafford
Geoffrey F. Nuttall
Dale Moody
Jerry Walls
Angel M. Ruiz
Joseph Dongell
Donald M. Lake
A. Skevington Wood
Vernon C. Grounds
Terry L. Miethe
Fritz Guy
Robert Picirilli
F. Leroy Forlines
Matthew Pinson
Stephen Ashby
George Bryson
Michael Brown
Bruce Reichenbach
William G. MacDonald
James D. Strauss
Paul R. Eddy
William J. Abraham
A. Philip Brown II
Gene L. Green
Gareth Lee Cockerill
James Leonard
Chrarles Edward White
Anthony Chadwick Thornhill
Aaron Sherwood
B.J. Oropeza
David Lewis Allen
Steve Lemke
Adam Harwood
Paige Patterson
Malcolm Yarnell
Bruce A. Little
Robert W. Wall
G. Walter Hansen
Philip H. Towner
William G. MacDonald
James Strauss
Paul Walker
Timothy Hill
Jason Daniel Swaggerty
Philip Towner
John Wenham
Gary Habermas
Nigel Turner
Michael Brown
J. W. MacGorman
E. Y. Mullins
Herschel Hobbs
W. T. Conner
Fisher Humphreys
Bert Dominy
Ken Keathley
You can learn more about the "Provisionist" soteriological viewpoint by reading the following articles, statements, and resources:[edit]
- Dr. Flowers’ book “The Potter’s Promise.”
- Dr. Flowers’ book “God’s Provision for All.”
- The Baptist Faith & Message
- Read: Got Questions.com
- Read this “The Corporate View of Election.”
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hankins, Eric (2016). Anyone Can Be Saved: A Defense of "Traditional" Southern Baptist Soteriology. Wipf and Stock. ISBN 1498285155. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Flowers, Leighton. "What is Provisionism?". SOTERIOLOGY 101.
- ↑ "The Five Points of Calvinism" (PDF).
- ↑ "Provide Chart". SOTERIOLOGY 101.
- ↑ "QUESTION - What is Provisionism?". GotQuestions.com.
- ↑ "Who supports the Non-Calvinistic interpretation?". SOTERIOLOGY 101.
- ↑ "SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY". SOTERIOLOGY 101.
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