Argument Library
Curated catalog of theological claims with egalitarian and provisionist counter-responses, organized for debate preparation.
...more
33 claims
Curated catalog of theological claims with egalitarian and provisionist counter-responses, organized for debate preparation.
...moreTheological claims organized by proposition — each entry states the opposing argument and the egalitarian or provisionist response.
'Chosen Before the Foundation of the World' — Unconditional Election? (Ephesians 1:4-5)
God unconditionally elected specific individuals to salvation before the foundation of the world. "He chose us" refers to God's sovereign, uncondition…
'Dead in Trespasses' — Total Inability Requiring Monergistic Regeneration? (Ephesians 2:1-5)
Spiritual death means total inability. Just as a physically dead person cannot respond to stimuli, a spiritually dead person cannot respond to the gos…
'It Does Not Depend on Human Desire or Effort' — Monergism? (Romans 9:16)
Romans 9:16 proves that salvation has nothing to do with human will or effort. God's mercy is entirely sovereign and unconditional. Man's will plays n…
'My Sheep Hear My Voice' — Perseverance of the Elect? (John 10:27-28)
"My sheep" is a fixed group predetermined by God. They hear and follow because God irresistibly causes them to do so. The passage proves unconditional…
'No One Can Come to Me Unless the Father Draws Him' — The Classic Calvinist Proof Text (John 6:44)
John 6:44 proves irresistible grace because: (1) No one CAN come — total inability; (2) the Father must DRAW — this is effectual calling/regeneration;…
'Those He Foreknew He Predestined' — The Golden Chain of Salvation (Romans 8:28-30)
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'All That the Father Gives Me Will Come' — Unconditional Election? (John 6:37)
John 6:37 is the premier Calvinist proof text for unconditional election. The argument runs: (1) The Father "gives" certain people to Jesus; (2) all w…
'For God So Loved the World' — World as Elect or All Humanity? (John 3:16)
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'I Should Lose Nothing' — Eternal Security Through Unconditional Election? (John 6:38-40)
Calvinists argue that John 6:39 proves eternal security through unconditional election — God gives certain people to Jesus, and Jesus loses none of th…
'No One Can Come Unless the Father Draws' — Irresistible Grace? (John 6:43-45)
Calvinists argue that John 6:44 proves irresistible grace: (1) No one can come to Jesus unless drawn by the Father; (2) the drawing is irresistible; (…
'Not Willing That Any Should Perish' — Who Are the 'Any'? (2 Peter 3:9)
1. **The context is about scoffers and the delay of judgment for the world, not the gathering of the elect.** Peter is explaining why the second comin…
'Propitiation for the Whole World' — Limited or Universal Atonement? (1 John 2:2)
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'The Flesh Profits Nothing' — Total Depravity Proof? (John 6:63)
Some Calvinists use "the flesh profits nothing" to support total depravity — unregenerate man is "flesh" and therefore totally incapable of any spirit…
'The Grace of God Has Appeared to All People' — Universal or Limited? (Titus 2:11)
Additionally, the TG article "For whom did Jesus die?" catalogs 13 biblical descriptions of those for whom Christ died — the ungodly, sinners, the wor…
Adam's Sin and Universal Death — Federal Headship and Election (Romans 5:12-19)
Complementarian claim: Adam's federal headship proves that men are the spiritual representatives/authorities. Sin came through Adam because he was the…
Does 'God Desires All People to Be Saved' Mean All Without Exception? (1 Timothy 2:1-7)
Complementarians frequently treat 1 Timothy as a generic church governance handbook, extracting 2:12 as a timeless rule. But the inferential conjuncti…
'By Grace Through Faith, Not of Yourselves' — Is Faith a Gift? (Ephesians 2:8-9)
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'Christ Died for All' — Universal or Limited Atonement? (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
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'God Chose the Foolish Things' — Does Election in 1 Corinthians 1 Prove Unconditional Election?
If humans have free will to choose God, then salvation is partly a human achievement, and the one who chooses can boast over the one who does not. 1 C…
'God Gave Them Over' — Active Reprobation or Judicial Consequence? (Romans 1:24-28)
1. **The text explicitly states WHY God gave them over — because of their prior rejection.** "Because they exchanged the glory of God..." (v. 23); "be…
'God Has Mercy on Whom He Wills and Hardens Whom He Wills' (Romans 9:17-18)
1. **The text says God "desires" to harden — and James 4:6 reveals the principle behind that desire.** God opposes the proud and gives grace to the hu…
'He Tasted Death for Everyone' — Universal or Limited Atonement? (Hebrews 2:9)
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'I Will Draw All People to Myself' — Universal or Limited Drawing? (John 12:32)
1. **The text says "all men" (πάντας), not "all kinds."** There is no qualifier in the Greek. When Jesus means "types," He specifies — but here He use…
'I Would Have Gathered You... But You Were Not Willing' — Resistible Grace? (Matthew 23:37)
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'No One Can Come Unless Granted by the Father' — Effectual Calling? (John 6:64-65)
Some Calvinists connect v.65 back to v.63 ("the Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing") to argue that the inability to come to Jesus is rooted …
'One Mediator Between God and Man' — Universal Mediation? (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
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'The Gifts and Calling of God Are Irrevocable' — Israel and Election (Romans 11:25-36)
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'The Work of God Is to Believe' — Monergistic Gift or Responsive Act? (John 6:28-29)
Some Calvinists interpret "the work of God" as meaning faith is itself a gift from God — that God works faith in the elect, and belief is therefore mo…
'Turn to Me and Be Saved, All the Ends of the Earth' — Universal Invitation (Isaiah 45:22)
1. **A "sincere" invitation that the inviter has secretly ensured most recipients cannot accept is not sincere.** If God issues a universal command to…
Does 'God Commands All People Everywhere to Repent' Prove Universal Salvific Will? (Acts 17:30)
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God Hardening Pharaoh's Heart — Unconditional Reprobation? (Exodus 7:3)
1. **God's foreknowledge of Pharaoh's character preceded the hardening.** Exodus 3:19 — "I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, exce…
John 6:27 — Jesus' Command to Work for Eternal Food Implies Human Responsibility
Calvinists typically skip John 6:27 and begin their argument at John 6:37, where "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me" is taken as a proof te…
Judas the 'Son of Perdition' — Proof of Unconditional Reprobation? (John 17:12)
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