Date

4-2013

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree

Master of Arts In Philosophical Studies (MA)

Chair

Gaylend Leverett

Primary Subject Area

Theology; Religion, General; Religion, Philosophy of; Philosophy

Keywords

Clark H. Pinnock, Exclusivism, Hermeneutics, Inclusivism, Special Revelation, Unevangelized

Disciplines

Christianity | Comparative Methodologies and Theories | Metaphysics | Philosophy | Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

This paper will offer a response to Clark H. Pinnock's hope for the unevangelized as seen in A Wideness in God's Mercy. Pinnock argues that God saves individuals based upon their faith not primarily their knowledge. Pinnock develops a concept called the faith principle which he uses to support his claims. Pinnock provides five examples of unevangelized persons who are saved through faith without knowledge of Christ. Through Pinnock's faith principle and these five examples he argues that the unevangelized do not need special revelation - knowledge of Christ. It will be argued that the five examples provided by Pinnock contain serious hermeneutical mistakes that invalidate his argument. It will be argued that no individual has ever been saved without special revelation. This will be proven through exposing the hermeneutical errors of Pinnock's five examples.

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