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The Doctrine of Prevenient Grace in the Theology of Jacobus Arminius

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The Doctrine of Prevenient Grace in the Theology of Jacobus Arminius Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2017 The Doctrine of Prevenient Grace in the Theology of Jacobus Arminius Abner F. Hernandez Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Hernandez, Abner F., "The Doctrine of Prevenient Grace in the Theology of Jacobus Arminius" (2017). Dissertations. 1670. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1670 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT THE DOCTRINE OF PREVENIENT GRACE IN THE THEOLOGY OF JACOBUS ARMINIUS by Abner F. Hernandez Fernandez Adviser: Jerry Moon ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: THE DOCTRINE OF PREVENIENT GRACE IN THE THEOLOGY OF JACOBUS ARMINIUS Name of researcher: Abner F. Hernandez Fernandez Name and degree of faculty adviser: Jerry Moon, Ph.D. Date completed: April 2017 Topic This dissertation addresses the problem of the lack of agreement among interpreters of Arminius concerning the nature, sources, development, and roles of prevenient grace in Arminius’s soteriology. Purpose The dissertation aims to investigate, analyze, and define the probable sources, nature, development, and role of the concept of prevenient or “preceding” grace in the theology of Jacobus Arminius (1559–1609). Sources The dissertation relies on Arminius’s own writings, mainly the standard London Edition, translated by James Nichols and Williams Nichols. However, I also frequently consulted the original Latin edition of his works when needed to clarify some translations. Secondary sources played an important role in the narrative of Arminius’s world, life, and ministry as well as for the background of prevenient grace. I also consulted secondary sources to check, balance, and support my own reading of Arminius on prevenient grace. Conclusions Arminius placed prevenient grace rather than human free will at the center of his soteriology and developed this doctrine primarily in continuity with Reformed and Protestant theological precedents and frameworks rather than uniquely Catholic sources and views. For Arminius, prevenient grace is the working of the Holy Spirit that precedes any kind of human participation or acceptance in salvation. Prevenient grace works unavoidably, restoring and healing human freedom of will; only then does it work in a resistible way in the working of salvation. Although there is a special connection between the internal working of the Holy Spirit and the external preaching of the Word, prevenient grace as the working of the Holy Spirit is not limited to this event. The Holy Spirit works apart from the preached word, in ways inscrutable to the human mind. The role of prevenient grace in regeneration and faith, and the relation between prevenient grace and divine foreknowledge also support the conclusion that prevenient grace is the organizing principle of Arminius’s soteriology. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE DOCTRINE OF PREVENIENT GRACE IN THE THEOLOGY OF JACOBUS ARMINIUS A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Abner F. Hernandez Fernandez June 2017 © Copyright by Abner F. Hernandez Fernandez 2017 All Rights Reserved THE DOCTRINE OF PREVENIENT GRACE IN THE THEOLOGY OF JACOBUS ARMINIUS A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Abner F. Hernandez Fernandez APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Faculty Adviser, Director of PhD/ThD Program Jerry Moon Tom Shepherd Professor of Church History Martin Hanna Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Associate Professor of Historical Jiří Moskala Theology John Reeve Assistant Professor of Church History Chair, Department of Church History Nicholas Miller Professor of Church History Keith Stanglin Date approved Professor of Historical Theology Austin Graduate School of Theology To Keila, Jasiel, and Josias In hope that I always remember that you are the treasures of my life iii TABLE OF CONTENT LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ ix Chapter 1. INTORDUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 Background to the Study ............................................................................... 1 Statement of Scholarship ............................................................................... 6 Problem Statement ......................................................................................... 17 Research Questions ....................................................................................... 17 Purpose Statement ......................................................................................... 18 Thesis Statement ............................................................................................ 18 Scope and Deliminations ............................................................................... 18 Justification .................................................................................................... 19 Methodology and Outline .............................................................................. 22 2. THE LIFE AND WORK OF JACOBUS ARMINIUS ....................................... 27 Historical Introduction ................................................................................... 27 The Social, Religious, and Intellectual World of Arminius .......................... 29 The Social World of Arminius ................................................................ 29 The Religious World of Arminius ........................................................... 35 The Theological World of Arminius ....................................................... 41 Central Theological Concepts ........................................................... 44 The Wider Context of Arminius’s Theological World ...................... 47 Jacobus Arminius: The Person ...................................................................... 51 Early Years: Family and Patrons ............................................................. 51 Student Life: Theological Influences ...................................................... 57 Theological Writings ......................................................................... 59 Professional Life: Pastor and Professor ................................................... 61 The Final Days: Controversies and Death ............................................... 70 Images and Self-Image of Arminius .............................................................. 72 Arminius’s Theological Method .................................................................... 83 Summary and Conclusion .............................................................................. 87 3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE DOCTRINE OF PREVENIENT GRACE ................................................................................................................ 92 Introduction ................................................................................................... 92 The Beginning of the Christian Concept of Prevenient Grace ...................... 93 Saint Augustine of Hippo ........................................................................ 93 Prevenient Grace in the Theology of the Medieval Church .......................... 105 Prevenient Grace after the Pelagian Controversy: The Second Council of Orange ............................................................................. 106 The Medieval Theologians and the Council of Trent .............................. 114 Prevenient Grace in the Theology of the Protestant Reformation ................. 131 Martin Luther ........................................................................................... 132 John Calvin .............................................................................................. 135 Phillip Melanchthon ................................................................................ 137 The Role of Human Will ................................................................... 140 The Previent Grace of God ................................................................ 141 Radical Reformers ................................................................................... 146 Summary and Conclusion .............................................................................. 150 4. PREVENIENT GRACE IN ARMINIUS’S THEOLOGY I ............................... 154 Introduction ................................................................................................... 154 Prevenient Grace: The Need for Regeneration .............................................. 154 The Human Beings in Need of Prevenient Grace: Original Sin and Total Depravity .................................................................................. 156 The Nature of Prevenient Grace ...................................................................
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