David L. Allen, the author of The Extent of the Atonement, “serves as the Dean of the School of Theology, Professor of Preaching, Director of the Center for Expository Preaching, and holds the George W. Truett Chair of Pastoral Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.”
In this book David Allen makes a case for an atonement that is universal
in its extent. He further asserts that universal atonement has been the
majority view of Christians throughout all church history. Following the
introduction, Allen’s book is divided in three parts: “The Extent of the
Atonement in Church History,” from early church to the modern era; “The Extent
of the Atonement in the Baptist Tradition,” from the English General and
Particular Baptists to Baptists in America and Southern Baptists in particular;[i] “The Extent of the Atonement:
a Critical Review,” which is about 110 pages of detailed review of the book
From
Heaven He Came and Sought Her. I really appreciate the chronological
arrangement of historical sections. Since I don’t own From Heaven He Came and Sought Her, the last third provides the
least interest to me. Allen concludes with “Why Belief in Unlimited Atonement
Matters.”
I originally resisted the idea of purchasing the
book, considering the topic and cost – but relented when I understood this
would be a good historical reference work. Allen sets out with a focus and
difficult task, realizing “space prohibits the citations of quotations in full
context” he nevertheless “attempted to give enough context where possible to
minimize mischaracterization and to maximize objectivity.” He focuses on primary
source material which “must be consulted whenever possible...We must objectively
listen to historical theology, and the only to do this is to read carefully the
primary sources and those who have
engaged the primary sources...I will be referencing numerous quotations as evidence
of a particular author’s view on the extent of the atonement...I have
attempted, where possible, to use quotations only from primary sources.” (p. xvi )
His focus on primary source material yields odd results at times. With Richard
Furman he states that Furman changed his view from limited atonement to
unlimited atonement with no quotations, merely footnoting a reference to Winds
of Doctrines by Wiley W. Richards. On Jesse Mercer, rather than
citing Mercer giving his own view of the atonement, he quotes Mercer talking
about the views of others regarding the atonement. Nevertheless, over the whole
range of the book, there are lots of quotes from primary sources.
While David Allen is scholarly and thorough, he is
not without bias, stating, “My ultimate goal in this work is simple: to
demonstrate historically, and then biblically and theologically, why universal
atonement is a more excellent way...” At times this view may cause him to see
some Christians as closer to his viewpoint, while researchers with opposite
bias may see them as closer to their viewpoint. Such is life. This also
explains his focus on the unlimited sufficiency of the atonement over the
limited efficacy of the atonement (that is, some hold both these points in
tension and Allen categorizes them on “his side”). In my opinion, this produces
a strange conglomeration of a category that embraces everything from 4-point
Calvinism to Universal Salvation and all points in between. This nevertheless
fits within the overall purpose of Allen’s tome.
With Jeff
Johnson I can agree that “regardless of whether we agree or disagree
with Allen’s critical conclusions, I believe we will all agree that he has
written a valuable book.”
[i] Allen is a Southern
Baptist, which explains his focus on the atonement theology in the Southern
Baptist Convention.
No comments:
Post a Comment