Wednesday, October 10, 2012

John Owen's Argument for Limited Atonement (Syllogism)

Either Christ died for:
1. All of the sins of all people
2. Some of the sins of all people
3. All of the sins of some people

However,

1. If Christ underwent punishment for all of the sins of all people, then no one will be in Hell.
2. Some people will be in Hell.
Therefore 3. Christ did not undergo punishment for all of the sins of all people.

1. If Christ underwent punishment for only some of the sins of all people, then all people will be in Hell.
2. Not all people will be in Hell.
Therefore 3. Christ did not undergo punishment for some of the sins of all people.

1. If some people will not be in Hell, then Christ underwent punishment for all of the sins of some people.
2. Some people will not be in Hell.
Therefore 3. Christ underwent punishment for all of the sins of some people.

Owen anticipates a response:
1. Christ underwent punishment for all sins
2. Unbelief is a sin
Therefore 3. Christ underwent punishment for the sin of unbelief

2 comments:

  1. UnknownOctober 11, 2012 at 6:27 AM

    You just have to love Owen!

    ReplyDelete
  2. LoganOctober 11, 2012 at 9:55 AM

    That's a good summary. I read "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ" a while back and was stunned. Most theologians start by blasting with their heavy artillery and then clean up afterward. Owen began by firing the cannons and continued in resounding volley upon resounding volley until I could scarcely see how Arminianism had survived the centuries since.

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