Predestination and Justification: Two Theological Loci(Peter Martyr Library)

Predestination and justification are two of the most distinctive and familiar doctrines associated with the Protestant Reformation. Martyr, an influential Protestant theologian and biblical exegete of the sixteenth century, engages advocates and detractors alike in his most extensive discussions of these controversial theological topics, drawn from his monumental commentary on the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans. The great value of these two treatises is that they provide a vital if unheralded Protestant perspective on what were two of the most controverted doctrines of the Reformation era -- not only between Roman Catholics and Protestants, but also among the Reformed, Lutheran, and Anabaptists as well.

Table of Contents:
Abbreviations Used in This Volume General Editors’ Preface Translator’s Preface Translator’s IntroductionPart One: Locus on Predestination Prolegomena Should Predestination Be Taught? Does Predestination Exist? Article 1: The Nature and Definition of Predestination The Nature of Predestination The Definition of Predestination The Definition of Reprobation Article 2: The Cause of Predestination The Fourfold Cause of Predestination Are Foreseen Good Works the Cause of Predestination? Testimony from the Church Fathers Contra Pighius Article 3: The Effects of Predestination Is Grace Universal? Is Grace Sufficient? Arguments to the Contrary Article 4: The Necessity of Predestination Is Necessity Imposed upon Us? Does Necessity Hinder Free Will? Does Foreknowledge Cancel God’s Justice? Part Two: Locus on Justification Prolegomena Justification Faith Works Proposition 1: Justification Is Not by Works Proof from Paul’s Letter to the Romans Proof from Paul’s Other Letters Proof from Other Scriptures Objections to Proposition 1 Proof from the Church Fathers Proof from Church Councils Proposition 2: Justification Is by Faith Proof from Paul’s Letter to the Romans Proof from Paul’s Other Letters Proof from Other Scriptures Objections to Proposition 2 Proof from the Church Fathers Proof from the Church Councils Proposition 3: Justification Is by Faith Alone Contra Richard Smith Proof from the Church Fathers About the Editor and Translator Scripture References Classical Patristic, and Medieval References Index

About the Author :
James was assistant professor of systematic and historical theology at Westmont College (1987–89); lecturer in philosophy and history, Villanova University (1986–87); and contributing editor at Christian History Magazine (1986–89). Since 1993 he has been professor of historical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, and in 2002 was appointed vice president. Publications include (with Charles E. Hill) of The Glory of the Atonement in Biblical, Theological, and Historical Perspective (2003); coeditor (with Emidio Campi and Peter Opitz) of Peter Martyr Vermigli: Humanism, Republicanism and Reformation, Travaux d’Humanisme et Renaissance, 365 (2002); coeditor (with J. Patrick Donnelly and Joseph C. McLelland) of The Peter Martyr Reader (1999). He is the author of Peter Martyr Vermigli and Predestination: The Augustinian Inheritance of an Italian Reformer, Oxford Theological Monographs (1998); coeditor (with Heiko Augustus Oberman) of Via Augustini: The Recovery of Augustine in the Later Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, Studies in Medieval and Reformation Thought, vol. 48 (1991). Since 1996, he has served as a general editor (with Joseph C. McLelland and J. Patrick Donnelly) of the Peter Martyr Library series and senior editor of Ad Fontes: Digital Library of Classical Theological Text (with Alister E. McGrath, Richard A. Muller, and Herman Selderhuis).

Review :
Thus it is a treat to have Vermigli’s writings made available for modern scholars and others interested in the works of this sixteenth-century Reformed theologian. Indeed, we enthusiastically commend the work of the editors, translators, and publishers in making available in this format Vermigli’s numerous writings, some of which for the first time. Mid-America Journal of Theology