This book fills an important gap in the scholarship on Jacob Arminius (1559–1609), the Dutch theologian whose name is attached to the theological tradition that becomes known as Arminianism. Keith D. Stanglin and Thomas H. McCall have provided a valuable introduction to the thought and theology of Arminius and their text might best be described as an intellectual or theological biography. In this respect it complements well the older standard biography written by Carl Bangs. Arminius, of course, is best known for his rejection of the Calvinist doctrine of absolute or double predestination, but the value of this volume is that while it certainly examines and explains Arminius's position on predestination, it also provides a broader introduction to the theology of Arminius—including his views on such topics as the doctrine of creation, soteriology, providence, the trinity, and more. Stanglin and McCall are thoroughly familiar with the corpus of Arminius's works, both in Latin and in Dutch, and they are equally conversant with the recent scholarship on Arminius and his Calvinist opponents. Overall, the text provides a balanced approach to Arminius and is especially valuable for the way in which it lays out both points of agreement and disagreement between Arminius and the Reformed tradition. Occasionally the language may get too technical for those who are not familiar with the nuances of late sixteenth and early seventeenth century Reformed theology but this volume will serve as the standard introduction to Arminius and his theology for years to come.
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