Divine Election [Hardcover]

This dogmatic study addresses two perennial questions. First, how do we reconcile God's sovereignty with human freedom, not just in general, but particularly with respect to the Church's full understanding of God's plan of salvation as a work of grace? Second (and equally crucial) is the question of how we reconcile God's universal salvific will with the mystery of predestination, election, and reprobation. The author of this study does theology within the normative tradition of confessional Catholicism, and thus in the light of Catholic teaching. But this study is also an ecumenical work, indeed, a work in receptive ecumenism, and hence he listens attentively to the reflections and arguments not only of his fellow Catholic theologians (Matthias Joseph Scheeben and Hans Urs von Balthasar) but also theologians of the Evangelical and Reformed traditions (John Calvin, Herman Bavinck, Karl Barth, and G.C. Berkouwer). This book concludes with a Catholic synthesis regarding the doctrine of divine election in dogmatic and ecumenical perspective. A careful analysis, afresh approach, and a n honest attempt for mutual understanding are the basic characteristics of Echeverrias new book.The biblical notion of divine election is here described through the works of major catholic and reformed theologians in a highly accessible style. This book is a very welcome contribution to that ecumenicity that takes Bible, theology, and tradition serious, and that on the deep and rich topic of God's electing grace. --Herman Selderhuis, Theological University Apeldoorn; Director, Refo500 Professor Echeverria has an extraordinary command of both the Reformed and Catholic traditions. He puts that command to excellent use in this learned analysis of a critical theological question today--How are Christians to understand the mystery of divine election? --Gerald R. McDermott, Beeson Divinity School An exciting scholarly contribution to our understanding of God's election as well as to ful3t