Chart on the Unevangelized
Five Views on the Destiny of the Unevangelized Dr. John Sanders
All five of these views agree that Jesus is the only Savior.
Four Forms of Exclusivism |
Inclusivism |
Restrictivism (Ecclessiocentrism) |
Universal Opportunity Before Death |
Postmortem Evangelism |
Universalism |
Inclusivism |
Definition:God does not provide salvation to those who fail to hear of Jesus and come to faith in him before they die. |
Definition:All people are given opportunity to be saved by (1) God’s sending the gospel (e.g. by angels or dreams) or (2) at the moment of death or (3) by middle knowledge. |
Definition:The unevangelized receive an opportunity to believe in Jesus after death. Must accept the gospel to be saved. |
Definition:All people will in fact embrace the gospel of Jesus. No one is damned forever since God has “no permanent problem children.” |
Definition:The unevangelized may be saved if they respond in faith to God based on the revelation they have. (Only view that says knowledge of Jesus is not necessary for salvation.) |
Key Texts:John 14:6Acts 4:121 John 5:11-12 |
Key Texts:Daniel 2Acts 8 |
Key Texts:John 3:181 Peter 3:18-4:6Ephesians 4:8-10 |
Key Texts:Romans 5:181 Corinthians 15:22-281 John 2:2 |
Key Texts:1 Timothy 4:10Acts 10:34-35John 12:32 |
Proponents:AugustineJohn CalvinJonathan EdwardsCarl HenryRonald NashFundamentalists and conservative evangelicals |
Proponents:James Arminius (1)J. Oliver Buswell Jr. (1)Norman Geisler (1)John Henry Newman (2)Ladislaus Boros (2)Donald Lake (3)William Lane Craig (3)Doug Geivett (3) |
Proponents:Clement of AlexandriaGeorge MacDonaldDonald BloeschGeorge LindbeckStephen DavisGabriel Fackre |
Proponents:Gregory of NyssaF. E. SchleiermacherG. C. BerkouwerThomas TalbottKarl Barth (“hoped” for it)Many Eastern Orthodox |
Proponents:Justin MartyrThomas AquinasJohn WesleyC. S. LewisClark PinnockDominant view in Roman Catholicism and mainline Protestantism |
Hi there Dr Sanders, I would like to enquire if you have any citation by G.C. Berkouwer indicating that he was a proponent of universalism. As far as I am aware, he was a strong critic of Karl Barth’s view of election which the former believed lead to universalism. It would seem strange then that he is classified as a universalist.
Joshua,
Berkouwer may not have liked Barth’s approach, but he did affirm a hopeful universalism. see he The Return of Christ (1972), pages 387-423.