The Relationship between divine foreknowledge and human salvation : a comparative study between Millard Erickson, Richard Rice, and Norman Gulley

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between two main doctrines in Christian theology. The study seeks two establish the relationship between divine foreknowledge and human salvation in the theologies of three contemporary theologians namely, Millard J. Erickson, Richard Rice, and Norman R. Gulley. To be able to accomplish its task the work uses a descriptive comparison after describing the theologies of each of the subjects. The present work is structured in six Chapters. After the introductory chapter, Chapter 2 describes Erickson. Chapter 3 describes Rice. Chapter 4 describes Gulley. Chapter 5 contains a descriptive comparison of the views of Erickson, Rice, and Gulley. Chapter 6 contains the summary and conclusion of the findings. In the process of data collection the present work used primary sources. After the process of research, it is evident that Erickson, Rice, and Gulley have a very significant contribution in the theological discussion of divine foreknowledge and human salvation. Their theologies are directly shaped by their methods and presuppositions in such a way that their conclusions, in reference to the subject in study, can be predetermined just by understanding their background and methods of doing theology. The results demonstrated that one’s construction of God has a direct effect in how he/she perceives God’s action in history. Erickson, Rice, and Gulley agree through their theological construction that the Bible teaches divine foreknowledge and that it is because God has the knowledge of the future that the provision of salvation is made sure.