It’s time to throw out all theologians. God is the best communicator and does not need a theologian to explain back to Him what he said. Peter said that some of Pauls writings were hard to understand, but Peter never said they were impossible.
We are not saved by the Atonement. But it was NECESSARY. If I could make that not just capitalized but in italics, multicolored and flashing with trumpets sounding, I would. And there was only one lamb that could do that. Because He was sinless. He tasted death for everyman. “Look the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” said JTB. When he took the cup at Calvary (he did’t pass the cup), Jesus said not His will but the Father’s will. He nailed sin to the cross. All sin.
We are not saved by Repentance. But repentance is NECESSARY. If we don’t repent, what exactly are we being saved from?
We are saved by faith alone in Jesus alone according to Scripture alone. Not according to a theologian or some “ism”. Not ANY theologian or ANY ism. Going to eat at a Taco Bell doesn’t make us chalupas.
Reformed doctrine “sounds” right, but it isn’t Biblical. Thats the key. There is not one single passage, understood IN CONTEXT that supports Calvinism. (same key).
No person is predestined to heaven or hell. (Look at the four times predestination is mentioned in the Bible)
What exactly is a believer predestined to?
No person is elected to salvation. Election (or chosen) is to God’s purposes. For the believer it’s to live for God’s purposes for them. For those who reject God’s free offer (free gift), its for other purposes
That’s the correct definition of election. Nowhere in the Bible is it used for salvation. Now reread Romans 9 and Ephesians 1 and 2.
For the Reformed or Calvinist like Augustine and Calvin its…
Christian, I appreciate your heart for Scripture and your desire to honour God's Word above human systems. Your passion for biblical truth is evident and commendable.
However, I'd gently suggest that even as you reject "theologians," you're doing theology yourself—systematically organizing biblical truths about salvation, election, and God's purposes. This isn't wrong; it's what believers have always done. The Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip, "How can I understand unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:31), and God gave the church "pastors and teachers" for building up the body (Ephesians 4:11-12).
While I agree Scripture is our ultimate authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17), claiming there's "not one single passage" supporting Reformed doctrine seems to dismiss centuries of faithful scholarship. Consider Romans 9:16: "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." Or Ephesians 1:4-5: "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world...predestining us for adoption as sons." These passages, read carefully in context, have led many godly scholars to Reformed conclusions.
On election, while you're right that it often refers to purpose, Romans 11:7 speaks of "the elect" obtaining what Israel failed to obtain, suggesting more than just service roles. Similarly, 2 Timothy 2:10 mentions "the elect" whom Paul endures suffering for "that they also may obtain salvation."
I don't ask you to accept Calvinism, but perhaps we could hold our interpretive conclusions more humbly? As you noted, even Peter found Paul's writings "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:16). If an apostle found Scripture challenging, shouldn't we approach difficult passages with charitable consideration of other believers' careful study?
Let's unite around the gospel essentials while showing grace in secondary matters, "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) even when we disagree on complex theological questions.
Yes Alistair, speak the truth in love, but let’s not forget to speak the truth.
But let’s finish the verse…
“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect,
that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
2 Timothy 2:10 ESV
So who is the “elect” Paul is telling Timothy about?
Israel, the chosen, elected nation obviously.
Do you see the word “also”
Paul was teaching Timothy how to setup a church and what was important and what was not. False teachers like judaizers were to be made aware of.
In the church in Ephesus there were Jews that were Christians along with Gentiles that believed. See Acts 18 and 19
If you and I had a thousand dollars for every time a Calvinist cut short a Scripture to provide a pretext for a proof text, we’d both pay off our mortgages.
If you take the wrong fork in the road, you can travel for miles in the wrong direction. That applies to centuries of Biblical scholarship also.
So many people are discovering the errors (wrong turns) of Calvinism.
The book of Romans was not written to us but for us. Paul is writing to Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians. Once we understand who are the recipients of this letter around 57AD we can better understand the ONE interpretation, we can then find applications to our lives in 2025.
Romans 9 is about nations or families (same thing here Biblically). Paul is absolutely not talking about individuals. Here is what Saul of Tarsus was quoting. Saul/Paul was trained by the best, and he knew what he was talking about.
“Jacob” mentioned in Romans 9 by Paul is ISRAEL (think “Jacob’s troubles”)
Similarly, when Paul is mentioning Esau, he talking about EDOM.
Maybe this will help…
““I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’” Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!””
Malachi 1:2-5 ESV
Do you see how Esau is Edom the Nation?
So what did Edom do?
“The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord. If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night— how you have been destroyed!— would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out!”
Obadiah 1:1-6 ESV
Edom attacked Israel while they were being punished by God and were temporarily being taken captive. Here again , Esau is Edom. Do you see it?
Further context (we need context, not a single theologian that develops a theology of their own - CONTEXT)…
“And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.””
Genesis 25:23 ESV
Context is the key, and Calvinism always misses the context. But theologians? They have plenty.
This is God’s plan going forward for ALL nations and families…
“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””
Genesis 12:2-3 ESV
Edom the family/nation was cursed because they dishonored Israel (Jacob)
And that plan is STILL in effect. Why won’t Israel just go away? Because it is written. The land was promised forever. And as prophesied, Israel is returning to restore the promised land.
Salvation is solely of God, no one can save themselves. But God offers the free gift of salvation to all. Regarding Ephesians 1 AND 2. God did not hate before he created. Again, if Calvinists just understood who Paul was writing to…
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:”
Ephesians 1:1 ESV
Paul is writing to people that were already saved.
Every time you see the words “we, us, our, ours, your, etc”
Just substitute “To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:” Calvinism goes away.
“he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”
Ephesians 1:5 ESV
Who’s the “us”?
“he predestined US for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”
Ephesians 1:5 ESV. The “us” are the saints.
We need more teachers that rely on Scripture alone, not on their own theology.
Stop studying Calvinism, he murdered Servetus after all.
Luther hated Jews
The reformers never reformed infant baptism (never found in Scripture) or that the church (the Catholic church originally) replaced Israel.
Notably, some Calvinists understood that both were wrong. God is not the author of confusion.
Start by ditching all theologians and do theology with how the Bereans did it. Search the Scriptures daily
“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”
The elect here are the chosen of Israel, but SOME of the Israelites were saved by faith. NOT BY BEING ELECTED while others are not elected and eternally damned before birth. The nation (think leadership and those who tried to attain salvation by works not by faith. They stumbled over Jesus.
PLEASE reread Romans 9:30 - 10:4 without ANY Calvinism in your head, and you’ll stop using any theologian as your authority ever.
Great article! I found Nathan Busenitz’s Book long before Luther really helpful on this
It’s time to throw out all theologians. God is the best communicator and does not need a theologian to explain back to Him what he said. Peter said that some of Pauls writings were hard to understand, but Peter never said they were impossible.
We are not saved by the Atonement. But it was NECESSARY. If I could make that not just capitalized but in italics, multicolored and flashing with trumpets sounding, I would. And there was only one lamb that could do that. Because He was sinless. He tasted death for everyman. “Look the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” said JTB. When he took the cup at Calvary (he did’t pass the cup), Jesus said not His will but the Father’s will. He nailed sin to the cross. All sin.
We are not saved by Repentance. But repentance is NECESSARY. If we don’t repent, what exactly are we being saved from?
We are saved by faith alone in Jesus alone according to Scripture alone. Not according to a theologian or some “ism”. Not ANY theologian or ANY ism. Going to eat at a Taco Bell doesn’t make us chalupas.
Reformed doctrine “sounds” right, but it isn’t Biblical. Thats the key. There is not one single passage, understood IN CONTEXT that supports Calvinism. (same key).
No person is predestined to heaven or hell. (Look at the four times predestination is mentioned in the Bible)
What exactly is a believer predestined to?
No person is elected to salvation. Election (or chosen) is to God’s purposes. For the believer it’s to live for God’s purposes for them. For those who reject God’s free offer (free gift), its for other purposes
That’s the correct definition of election. Nowhere in the Bible is it used for salvation. Now reread Romans 9 and Ephesians 1 and 2.
For the Reformed or Calvinist like Augustine and Calvin its…
No election, no salvation.
But for Paul and the Biblical definition its…
No salvation, no election (for God’s purposes)
Christian, I appreciate your heart for Scripture and your desire to honour God's Word above human systems. Your passion for biblical truth is evident and commendable.
However, I'd gently suggest that even as you reject "theologians," you're doing theology yourself—systematically organizing biblical truths about salvation, election, and God's purposes. This isn't wrong; it's what believers have always done. The Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip, "How can I understand unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:31), and God gave the church "pastors and teachers" for building up the body (Ephesians 4:11-12).
While I agree Scripture is our ultimate authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17), claiming there's "not one single passage" supporting Reformed doctrine seems to dismiss centuries of faithful scholarship. Consider Romans 9:16: "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." Or Ephesians 1:4-5: "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world...predestining us for adoption as sons." These passages, read carefully in context, have led many godly scholars to Reformed conclusions.
On election, while you're right that it often refers to purpose, Romans 11:7 speaks of "the elect" obtaining what Israel failed to obtain, suggesting more than just service roles. Similarly, 2 Timothy 2:10 mentions "the elect" whom Paul endures suffering for "that they also may obtain salvation."
I don't ask you to accept Calvinism, but perhaps we could hold our interpretive conclusions more humbly? As you noted, even Peter found Paul's writings "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:16). If an apostle found Scripture challenging, shouldn't we approach difficult passages with charitable consideration of other believers' careful study?
Let's unite around the gospel essentials while showing grace in secondary matters, "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) even when we disagree on complex theological questions.
Grace and peace
Yes Alistair, speak the truth in love, but let’s not forget to speak the truth.
But let’s finish the verse…
“Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect,
that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
2 Timothy 2:10 ESV
So who is the “elect” Paul is telling Timothy about?
Israel, the chosen, elected nation obviously.
Do you see the word “also”
Paul was teaching Timothy how to setup a church and what was important and what was not. False teachers like judaizers were to be made aware of.
In the church in Ephesus there were Jews that were Christians along with Gentiles that believed. See Acts 18 and 19
If you and I had a thousand dollars for every time a Calvinist cut short a Scripture to provide a pretext for a proof text, we’d both pay off our mortgages.
If you take the wrong fork in the road, you can travel for miles in the wrong direction. That applies to centuries of Biblical scholarship also.
So many people are discovering the errors (wrong turns) of Calvinism.
I’d turn around if I was you.
The book of Romans was not written to us but for us. Paul is writing to Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians. Once we understand who are the recipients of this letter around 57AD we can better understand the ONE interpretation, we can then find applications to our lives in 2025.
Romans 9 is about nations or families (same thing here Biblically). Paul is absolutely not talking about individuals. Here is what Saul of Tarsus was quoting. Saul/Paul was trained by the best, and he knew what he was talking about.
“Jacob” mentioned in Romans 9 by Paul is ISRAEL (think “Jacob’s troubles”)
Similarly, when Paul is mentioning Esau, he talking about EDOM.
Maybe this will help…
““I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’” Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!””
Malachi 1:2-5 ESV
Do you see how Esau is Edom the Nation?
So what did Edom do?
“The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord. If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night— how you have been destroyed!— would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out!”
Obadiah 1:1-6 ESV
Edom attacked Israel while they were being punished by God and were temporarily being taken captive. Here again , Esau is Edom. Do you see it?
Further context (we need context, not a single theologian that develops a theology of their own - CONTEXT)…
“And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.””
Genesis 25:23 ESV
Context is the key, and Calvinism always misses the context. But theologians? They have plenty.
This is God’s plan going forward for ALL nations and families…
“And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””
Genesis 12:2-3 ESV
Edom the family/nation was cursed because they dishonored Israel (Jacob)
And that plan is STILL in effect. Why won’t Israel just go away? Because it is written. The land was promised forever. And as prophesied, Israel is returning to restore the promised land.
Salvation is solely of God, no one can save themselves. But God offers the free gift of salvation to all. Regarding Ephesians 1 AND 2. God did not hate before he created. Again, if Calvinists just understood who Paul was writing to…
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:”
Ephesians 1:1 ESV
Paul is writing to people that were already saved.
Every time you see the words “we, us, our, ours, your, etc”
Just substitute “To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:” Calvinism goes away.
“he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”
Ephesians 1:5 ESV
Who’s the “us”?
“he predestined US for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”
Ephesians 1:5 ESV. The “us” are the saints.
We need more teachers that rely on Scripture alone, not on their own theology.
Stop studying Calvinism, he murdered Servetus after all.
Luther hated Jews
The reformers never reformed infant baptism (never found in Scripture) or that the church (the Catholic church originally) replaced Israel.
Notably, some Calvinists understood that both were wrong. God is not the author of confusion.
Start by ditching all theologians and do theology with how the Bereans did it. Search the Scriptures daily
“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”
Romans 11:1-2, 7, 11, 28, 32 ESV
The elect here are the chosen of Israel, but SOME of the Israelites were saved by faith. NOT BY BEING ELECTED while others are not elected and eternally damned before birth. The nation (think leadership and those who tried to attain salvation by works not by faith. They stumbled over Jesus.
PLEASE reread Romans 9:30 - 10:4 without ANY Calvinism in your head, and you’ll stop using any theologian as your authority ever.
Grace and Peace.