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Universal Salvation: A Reply to Mr Bettis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

Marilyn McCord Adams
Marilyn McCord Adams
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Michigan
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Extract

In his article ‘A Critique of the Doctrine of Universal Salvation’, J. D. Bettis criticises the argument that all men will be saved because ‘God's love is both absolutely good and absolutely sovereign’ (p. 330). I would like to argue that either some of Bettis's criticisms are confused, or else that he is not using ‘love’ in anything like its ordinary sense. I will not attempt a full defence of universalism here, however. In particular, I will not try to defend it against the sort of criticisms Bettis says an Arminian might raise (p. 336).

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Articles
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Religious Studies , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , September 1971, pp. 245 - 249
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

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References

page 245 note 1 Religious Studies, Vol. 6, No. 4, 12 1970, pp. 329–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

page 249 note 1 The endurance of God's steadfast love and goodness is constantly recited in the Old Testament as an assurance that trust in him is warranted. For example, see Psalms 25: 6, 89: 2 & 14 & 28, 100: 5, 103: 17–18, 106: 1, 107: 1, 118: 29 & 90, 136: 3–26; I Chronides 16: 34; I Chronicles 5: 13, 7: 3, 6; Isaiah 54: 9; Jeremiah 33: 11. The point is often expressed in hymns. For example, Joseph Hart's verses:

v. 1 'How good is the God we adore.

Our faithful, unchangeable friend;

Whose love is as great as his power,

And neither knows measure or end.

v.2: ‘Tis Jesus the first and the last,

Whose Spirit shall guide us safe now.

We'll praise him for all that is past,

And trust him for all that's to come.’

God's faithfulness to his promises and unchanging purpose are likewise cited as assurance: e.g. I Samuel 15: 29; Psalms 9: 10, 18:30, 33: 11, 105: 8–11, 111:9, 119: 89–91; Jeremiah 32:40; Hebrews 6: 16, 19. This point is likewise often expressed in hymns.