Tulip: The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light of Scripture

by Duane Edward Spencer

Book Overview

Tulip is a popular acronym for the five points of Calvinism--total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance. These five points are not only concisely explained in the light of the Bible but are also helpfully contrasted to the corresponding five points of Arminianism, which originally prompted the Calvinistic five-point statement at Dort. Concluding the book are brief charts summarizing the differences...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801081610
• ISBN13: 9780801081613
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group (MI)
• Length: 77 Pages
• Weight: 0.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 4.3" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 16 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 11 and higher

Customer Reviews

Great Learning Tool

Bought this book as a kind of introduction to my deeper understanding of Christianity. It had great material and I highly recommend it.

Good, if one sided, introduction

As can easily be deduced from the other reviews of this book, Duane Edward Spencer has charged headlong into a theological minefield with his effort here to succinctly outline the 5 points of Calvinism. I found this book to be a solid introduction to explaining the 5 points, as well as providing the Scriptural support that is regularly called upon to defend the 5 points. I am frankly startled that the negative reviews of this book are so seething, given that the purpose of this book is to explain the 5 points in summary fashion and citing what Spencer believes is Biblical support. If that is the purpose of the book, and since the negative reviews of this book have little to do with critiquing whether Spencer adequately achieved this purpose, I'm not sure the negative reviews are a good reflection of whether the author achieves what he sets out to do here. This book is a succinct introduction to the theology of Calvinism, and I think the author does a good job of presenting Calvinism in an honest light. Whether someone personally agrees with Calvinism is a separate issue. My review is based on whether Spencer does a good job or not of honestly presenting Calvinism to the reader. I believe he does, and does it well.This book is definitely a summary. The book is less than 100 pages, and devotes between 10-15 pages to each of the 5 points. These chapters, in a succinct and precise way, explain each point, the Biblical passages that Calvinists believe support each point, and there is also a discussion of the Arminian point that the Calvinist point is responding to. Clearly, the reader should recognize that this book is not even close to exhaustive of the myriad of issues that separate Arminianism and Calvinism, and does not delve into many of the nuances that have been the source of ongoing debate and friction for centuries between the two camps. But the book is not intended to do that. What this book is trying to do is to give a reader who wants to get their feet wet on Calvinist theology a way to do so.I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 for a few reasons. First, the negative reviewers of this book do make one valid point in saying that Arminianism, as presented in this book, is not given its full due. The author rightly feels compelled to offer a summarized view of the 5 points of Arminianism since the 5 points of Calvinism were drafted as a direct response to the 5 points of Arminianism. Therefore, it is appropriate and necessary that in order for the reader to get a deeper understanding of the origins of the 5 points of Calvinism, one must have some knowledge of what these 5 points were/are responding to, which would be the 5 points of Arminianism. I found Spencer's summary of the 5 points of Arminianism to be too summary oriented, and not totally explaining the rationales and Scripture passages that Arminians tend to rely on to support their view. So in that respect, the comparison between the 5 points of both camps is not as g

Tulip: The Five Points of Calvinism....

This is a great book because it is concise, easy to ready and understand. It covers the Synod of Dort which I have not seen get very much coverage in other books. I ordered 10 copies the first time and have given all but two copies away to friends that are searching for the truth.

Well organized, well balanced discussion. The best yet.

A superb look at the issues surrounding the debate. Perfect for the reader who does not want a 500 page treatise on the issue. I highly recommend it to anyone seriously interested in this topic. Presents a clear, biblical argument for "Calvinism", while fairly pointing out the arguments from the opposition, and presenting a strong rebuttal to them. This book opened my eyes to the truth of the Bible. This book is NOT for the person who thinks with their emotions, and cannot approach scripture with clear, deductive, deliberation.

Truthful Insight into the Biblical Doctrine of Grace

The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light of Scripture, by Duane Edward Spencer presents in wonderful detail the arostic principles behind the acronym TULIP. Dr. Spencer references the Scriptures (KJV) over and over again to uncover God's Salvation Plan for mankind through TULIP (Total Depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irrestistible Grace, Perseverance of the Saints.) I would HIGHLY recommend this short and concise book to anyone interested in the studying the Bible.