Author: Allen, David
Genre: Theology - Soteriology
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Rick Shrader‘s Review:
David Allen writes an important and timely book comparing Calvinism and non-Calvinism’s view on Romans 8 and 9. His view is that the NT does not present individual election but corporate election of Israel or of the church. He writes:
“Thus, election in the New Testament does not refer to individuals predestined to be saved. Instead, election and predestination refer to the final salvation glorification of those who are already in Christ. In first century Jewish thought, as in earlier Jewish tradition, election was understood corporately and nationally. There was no theological framework for individual election unto personal salvation let alone conditional election. If Romans one through eight is primarily addressed to Jewish believers, it is unlikely that Paul would introduce an alien concept such as unconditional election in Romans eight. Indeed the linguistic and thematic connections between Romans eight and nine suggest Paul is thinking in Jewish, covenantal terms. Even with respect to the choice of Jacob over Esau in Genesis, the text of Scripture is clear: God’s choice had to do with service, not salvation: ‘the elder shall serve the younger’ (Gen. 25:23)” (p. 83).