Calvinism Defended:

The Early Church and Calvinism

By

John Orlando

This is the 24th section of the e-mail exchange I had with Bill, an individual who objected to Calvinism.  Click here to go back to the table of contents, or here to go to the full 88 page exchange. 

Bill Writes:  The early church knew nothing of Augustine’s theology. 

My Response:  Really?  Do the teachings of Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John qualify as the early church?  If so, then it is clear that they not only knew of Augustine’s theology, but were the “inventors” of it.  But, since I know who you mean when you say the early church, your facts are (again) simply not correct, which I will demonstrate below. 

Bill Writes:  Do a little research into the theology of the early church and you won’t find: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.

My Response: Dr. Michael Horton, in his book “Putting Amazing Back Into Grace” has done precisely that (a little research, and come up with far different conclusions than you have).  Here are some quotes that he provides that directly contradict your assertions (highlights/emphasis in the quotes are mine): 

·        Total Depravity: Justin Martyr (AD 150):  “Mankind by Adam fell under death, and the deception of the serpent; we are born sinners…No good thing dwells in us…for neither by nature, nor by human understanding is it possible for men to acquire the knowledge of things so great and so divine, but by the energy of the Divine Spirit…Of yourselves it is impossible to enter the kingdom of God…He has convicted us of the impossibility of our nature to obtain life…Free will has destroyed us; we who were free are become slaves and for our sin sold…Being pressed down by our sins, we cannot move upward toward God; we are like birds who have wings, but are unable to fly.”  (Horton, p. 234-235).  Horton goes on to quote Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Eusebius. 

• Unconditional Election:  Clement of Rome (AD 69):  “Let us therefore approach Him in holiness of soul, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him, with love towards our gentle and compassionate Father because He has made us an elect portion unto Himself…There was given a declaration of blessedness upon them that have been elected by God through Jesus Christ our Lord…Jesus Christ is the hope of the elect.”  (Horton, p. 237).  Horton goes on to provide quotes by Ingatius, Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Irenaeus (“The tower of election being everywhere exalted and glorious.”), Clement of Alexandria, Barnabas, and Cyprian.

• Limited Atonement:  Cyprian (AD 250):  “All of the sheep which Christ hath sought up by His blood and sufferings are saved…” (Horton, p. 245).  Tertullian (AD 200):  “Christ died for the salvation of His people…for the church.”  (Horton, p. 245).  Julius (AD 350):  “The Son of God, by the pouring out of His precious blood, redeemed His set apart ones; they are delivered by the blood of Christ.”  (Horton, p. 245).  Horton goes on to quote Hilarion, Justin Martyr, etc.

•   Irresistible Grace: Irenaeus (AD 180):  “Not of ourselves, but of God, is the blessing of our salvation…Man, who was before led captive, is taken out of the power of the possessor, according to the mercy of God the Father, and restoring it, gives salvation to it by the Word; that is, by Christ; that many may experimentally learn that not of himself, but by the gift of God, he receives immortality.”  (Horton, p. 249).  Horton also quotes, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Arnobius, Anathansius (“To believe is not ours, or in our power, but the Spirit’s who is in us, and abides in us.”), George of Nazianzum (“To will is from God.”), etc,

• Preservation of the Saints:  Clement of Alexandria (AD 190):  “Such a soul [of a Christian] shall never at any time be separated from God…Faith, I say, is something divine, which cannot be pulled asunder by any other worldly friendship, nor be dissolved by present fear.”  (Horton, p. 252).  Horton also quotes Clement of Rome and others.

 After these things, Horton then goes on to provide various creedal statements, two of which (The Councils of Orange and Valence) occur prior to the schism between East and West, which both clearly affirm what would later be called “Reformed” teaching.

             Alas, however, the early church fathers, and the creeds, etc., are not our final authority. Rather, it is the Word of God that is the sole infallible source for faith and practice, and it is to that which I make my appeal.  I have provided the above merely to demonstrate that your statements are false.

Home Page