Here are some suggestions for the Arminian defense from some of their better proponents:
Charles Finney: 'Finney's Lectures on Systematic Theology', Ed. J.H.Fairchild, Grand Rapids:Eerdmens, 1953
John Miley: 'Systematic Theology', 2 Vols (1892-94). Hendriksen, 1989. * This is probably the best defense of traditional Arminianism ever written. So says B.B. Warfield.
Thomas Oden: 'Systematic Theology', 3 Vols: 'The Living God'; 'The Word of Life'; 'Life in the Spirit'. HarperCollins 1987-1992. * Oden often sounds more Reformed in some of his writings but writes from what he describes as a 'Ancient Ecumenical-Vincentian-Anglican-Wesleyan' perspective.
Richard Watson: 'Theological institutes', 2 Vols. G. Lane and P. Sandford, 1843. * Watson is Methodist.
H. Orton Wiley: 'Christian Theology', 3 Vols. Nazarene Publishing House, 1940-43. * Wiley is from the Church of the Nazarene.
Jack Cottrell: 'What the Bible says about...
...God the Creator' Joplin Mo. College Press, 1983
...God the Ruler', 1984
...God the Redeemer', 1987
Sorry if these are a little bit to much for an intro to the subject but if people are really going to take it seriously then they'd need to challenge themselves with these Arminian works (even if they are ultimately unconvincing).
Also, I.Howard Marshall's 'Kept by the Power of God, Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 1995. This was the book that made Clark Pinnock move from the Reformed faith to Arminianism (and eventually to Open Theism).
Keith
Pastoral Worker and MDiv Student, PCI
Ballymoney, Northern Ireland
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