Archive for April 25th, 2011
Forensic Crispianism and TULIP Calvinism’s Doctrine of Imputation in Relation to the Double-Payment Dilemma
Preamble:
This essay will be a little cumbersome so please bear with me. My language here blends in some casual and some technical, at no point am I intending to be pejorative in some of my expressions.
Because I know many are not familiar with my research and interests, I will insert some definitions. For any one with questions, or challenges I will more than willingly address them. I am aware that not every statement I shall make will be understandable and coherent to every reader. All I ask is that any questioner be prepared to have a true “conversation.”
The following is not presented as a bullet-proof essay which absolutely nails down the subject matter. I am aware that some of the following arguments may have vulnerabilities. It must be realized that one cannot say everything all at once every time on a given subject. My goal is to be suggestive with the hope of motivating further discussion, thought, and investigation. I also grant that there may be some yet unknown (to me) premise(s) in Owen’s theology which harmonizes and resolves the sort of problems I am highlighting.
Let me begin by defining my terms.
1) By TULIP Calvinism I mean that form of Calvinism which has been called “high” Calvinism. That label dates back to the 17thC. High Calvinism is essentially the same as what we now call Protestant Scholastic Calvinism. I use the ‘TULIP’ to describe this broad range of Calvinist thought.
2) Dort’s emphasis in its discussion of the extent of the satisfaction is the assertion that Christ did indeed die effectually for some, namely the elect. Thus Dort sought to only establish this simple positive assertion. This was opposed to the Arminian thesis, that Christ died for no one especially and effectually, but that he died for all men with equal ineffectual intentionality.