EVANGELICAL UNIVERSALISM: THE PUREST EXPRESSION OF THE GOSPEL - true Christian universalism is biblical universalism and evangelical ubiversalism

EVANGELICAL UNIVERSALISM

EVANGELICAL RESTORATIONISM, more commonly called "Evangelical Universalism, is the belief that the holy scriptures teach us that in the end all sentient beings will be holy and happy. This teaching, often referred to as the "Wider Hope" has had many proponents throught the ages.

In fact there are those who argue that it was the prevailing viewpoint of the Church for its first 500 years. Whether true or not, it is certain that many have held the view down through the ages, and today there is a growing resergence of the teaching among conservative bible believing evangelicals. Although no organized denomination of evangelical universalists exists today we may be found sprinkled throughout the various evangelical denominations.

Proponents of the "Wider Hope" theology, also called "Universalists" or "Universal Restorationists", included Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Marcellus of Ancyra, Titus of Bostra, Gregory Nazianzen, Evagrius, Didymus, Diodorus of Tarsus, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Fabius Manus Victorinus, Gregory of Nyssa and countless others in the ancient church.

Early church father , Basil the Great (AD 329-379) writes,"The mass of men (Christians) say that there is to be an end of punishment to those who are punished." This testimony as to the state of opinion at that time is very illuminating!

During the middle ages we find the Scottish theologian, John Scotus Eregina, (c. AD 800-880) and Johan Tauler (AD 1300-1361), espousing universalism.

In the 17th through 19th century we have the Anabaptists of Germany, and Many English clergy and philosophers such as Dr. David Hartley, who wrote the "Observations on Man," Elhanan Winchester, John Wesley Hanson, Hannah Whitall Smith, and Olympia Brown, Bishop Thomas Newton, Sir George Stonehouse, William Law, John Henderson, James Brown, D.D., Rev. R. Barbauld, and Rev. John Brown. English Libertarians, Rev. Theophilus Lindsey, Rev. Joseph Priestly, L.L.D., Rev. John Simpson, and Rev. Messrs. Kenrick, Wright, Estlin, Belsham, Carpenter, Aspland, Grundy, Scott, and Fox Harris were all universalists. James Relly began to preach Universalism in the city of London about 1750 followed by Rev. John Murray in America in 1770. Evangelist Adolph E. Knoch and Bible scholar William Barclay were universalists as were many famous Americans like Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale and U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and many more.

There are many others who, although not expressly universalist, still believed salvation is possible "after" death and that possibly all would be saved. Most notable among these are biblical scholars F. W. Farrar and Arthur Custance. Still others, although not believing in universalism, believed that salvation is possible after death. Among these was that great reformer, Martin Luther.

It is evangelical or biblical universalism that we promote and defended on this website and not the liberal anti-biblical form such as that associated with the unitarian universalists.

Contrary to false charges from our critiques we do not teach that God forgives sin without the blood of Christ. We insist that only through faith in Christ may any be saved. We do not deny that there will be many who must first suffer the pains of hell before they ascent to heaven. We simply deny that hell is of endless duration and that there is no possibility for the lost in hell to ever be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, repent and receiving Christ.

Contrary to critical opinion, we hold to the plenary, verbal inspiration of Scripture. We teach that the Bible alone is the standard for all faith and practice.

ABOUT THE WEBMASTER

The webmaster, Rev. William Brennan, is an ordained minister and graduate of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (MDiv) and a former presbyterian minister. He has modified his thought from traditional reformed presbyterian theology in favor of the more biblically consistant doctrines of universal restorationism. He has served as an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church and more recently by ordination from St. Luke Evangelical Christian Ministries.

His transition from calvinist to evangelical universalist was a natural result of his efforts to seek to be consistant and faithful to scripture. The catalyst which led him to finally embrace UR was a careful investigation into the error of hyper-calvinism. He came to realize that it was their theology which mandated their lack of Christian charity. Man, as God's image, always seeks to mold himself after the nature of his God. Thus the hyper-calvinist, who believes God hates most of humanity, will also exhibit these same qualities. In general, one who believes God to be harsh and unforgiving will likewise be harsh and unforgiving. We are not better than our God.

Rev. Brennan is presently working on a systematic theology from the universalist tradition as well as a number of other smaller works including a universalist theodicy, a primer on hyper-calvinism for the layman and numerous other tracts and essays all of which will eventually appear on this site, God willing.

Although Rev. Brennan believes evangelical universalism to be the most accurate and biblical expression of the gospel, he offers the caviate of his own fallibility as a caution. The doctrine set forth on these pages is subject to all of the web master's frailty and weakness.


	EVANGELICAL UNIVERSALISM EVANGELICAL RESTORATIONISM, more commonly called "Evangelical Universalism, is the belief that the holy scriptures teach us that in the end all sentient beings will be holy and happy. This teaching, often referred to as the "Wider Hope" has had many proponents throught the ages. In fact there are those who argue that it was the prevailing viewpoint of the Church for its first 500 years. Whether true or not, it is certain that many have held the view down through the ages, and today there is a growing resergence of the teaching among conservative bible believing evangelicals. Although no organized denomination of evangelical universalists exists today we may be found sprinkled throughout the various evangelical denominations. Proponents of the "Wider Hope" theology, also called "Universalists" or "Universal Restorationists", included Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Marcellus of Ancyra, Titus of Bostra, Gregory Nazianzen, Evagrius, Didymus, Diodorus of Tarsus, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Fabius Manus Victorinus, Gregory of Nyssa and countless others in the ancient church. Early church father , Basil the Great (AD 329-379) writes,"The mass of men (Christians) say that there is to be an end of punishment to those who are punished." This testimony as to the state of opinion at that time is very illuminating! During the middle ages we find the Scottish theologian, John Scotus Eregina, (c. AD 800-880) and Johan Tauler (AD 1300-1361), espousing universalism. In the 17th through 19th century we have the Anabaptists of Germany, and Many English clergy and philosophers such as Dr. David Hartley, who wrote the "Observations on Man," Elhanan Winchester, John Wesley Hanson, Hannah Whitall Smith, and Olympia Brown, Bishop Thomas Newton, Sir George Stonehouse, William Law, John Henderson, James Brown, D.D., Rev. R. Barbauld, and Rev. John Brown. English Libertarians, Rev. Theophilus Lindsey, Rev. Joseph Priestly, L.L.D., Rev. John Simpson, and Rev. Messrs. Kenrick, Wright, Estlin, Belsham, Carpenter, Aspland, Grundy, Scott, and Fox Harris were all universalists. James Relly began to preach Universalism in the city of London about 1750 followed by Rev. John Murray in America in 1770. Evangelist Adolph E. Knoch and Bible scholar William Barclay were universalists as were many famous Americans like Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale and U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and many more. There are many others who, although not expressly universalist, still believed salvation is possible "after" death and that possibly all would be saved. Most notable among these are biblical scholars F. W. Farrar and Arthur Custance. Still others, although not believing in universalism, believed that salvation is possible after death. Among these was that great reformer, Martin Luther. It is evangelical or biblical universalism that we promote and defended on this website and not the liberal anti-biblical form such as that associated with the unitarian universalists. Contrary to false charges from our critiques we do not teach that God forgives sin without the blood of Christ. We insist that only through faith in Christ may any be saved. We do not deny that there will be many who must first suffer the pains of hell before they ascent to heaven. We simply deny that hell is of endless duration and that there is no possibility for the lost in hell to ever be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, repent and receiving Christ. Contrary to critical opinion, we hold to the plenary, verbal inspiration of Scripture. We teach that the Bible alone is the standard for all faith and practice. ABOUT THE WEBMASTER The webmaster, Rev. William Brennan, is an ordained minister and graduate of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (MDiv) and a former presbyterian minister. He has modified his thought from traditional reformed presbyterian theology in favor of the more biblically consistant doctrines of universal restorationism. He has served as an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church and more recently by ordination from St. Luke Evangelical Christian Ministries. His transition from calvinist to evangelical universalist was a natural result of his efforts to seek to be consistant and faithful to scripture. The catalyst which led him to finally embrace UR was a careful investigation into the error of hyper-calvinism. He came to realize that it was their theology which mandated their lack of Christian charity. Man, as God's image, always seeks to mold himself after the nature of his God. Thus the hyper-calvinist, who believes God hates most of humanity, will also exhibit these same qualities. In general, one who believes God to be harsh and unforgiving will likewise be harsh and unforgiving. We are not better than our God. Rev. Brennan is presently working on a systematic theology from the universalist tradition as well as a number of other smaller works including a universalist theodicy, a primer on hyper-calvinism for the layman and numerous other tracts and essays all of which will eventually appear on this site, God willing. Although Rev. Brennan believes evangelical universalism to be the most accurate and biblical expression of the gospel, he offers the caviate of his own fallibility as a caution. The doctrine set forth on these pages is subject to all of the web master's frailty and weakness.
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