Note for a Brother

谢谢弟兄的回复:

最近点背, 选了一门Exegesis on Eph, 没其他课选. (Of course, it’s under God’s providence) 上过第一堂课后才意识到教授是一个firm Arminianist, Dr. Brian J. Abasaciano, the president of SEA. I was requested to write a response on the issue of election as a course assignment. Abasaciano had a debate with Thomas Schreiner on the issue of “Corporate Election”. You may find his articles here.

Abasaciano first proposed a new primary/secondary scheme of the relationship of corporate-individual election, and in this scheme, there is an either/or relationship between corporate and individual election. In his own words “either the corporate focus of election determines the identity and benefits of the individual based on participation in the group, or the individual focus of election determines the identity and benefits of the group based on the individuals who have been grouped together according to their similar individual characteristics/status.”

From this starting point he argues the primacy of corporate election from OT, NT and 1st century Judaism. Then he draw some conclusion like this: In the election, God only elect the covenant head and never elect any specific individual in the way as traditional Calvinist claimed (unconditional election). Individual only benefits from God’s election by exercising his/her faith.

不知弟兄有没有时间, 如可能的话, 我有些问题想请教.