Edwin H. Palmer

The author Edwin H. Palmer here provides a little but very helpful, beginner’s book that is extremely easy to read and easy to follow on the five points of the theology known as Calvinism. It’s a compressed systematically compressed manual of the scriptures explaining these doctrines of grace.

Palmer tells us at the very beginning of his book that there is much more to Calvinism than these 5 points, and that they were not invented by Calvin. It is also worth pointing out that they are a response to a submission to the Church of Holland and not an original statement by Calvinist believers. The historic Five Points of Calvinism are a summary of the Canons of Dort which were the judgment of the Synod of Dort (1618-1619), where the Reformed churches rejected the teaching of Arminianism.

Calvinism is divided into hundred of points, but Palmer’s book touches upon the five main points most commonly deemed the “doctrines of grace.” He deals with the acrostic “T.U.L.I.P.” which stands for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. Palmer also introduces the reader to the doctrine of reprobation included in chapter 7.

This book is great help to those who have been recently introduced to reformed theology. Palmer adds a series of discussion questions to the end of each section in order to prompt the reader to some needful mediations on material being covered. This is not a theologically deep book, as far as a systematic theology goes, but is a very good primer on the subject matter as its aim and purpose to help some newcomer understand the very basic tenants of Calvinism. Palmer’s methodology is sound. He raises the issues, then let’s Scripture prove his point. He exposits the passages he relies upon to bolster his argument, which is helpful. He isn’t teaching “against Arminians”–he simply wants to explain the subject matter. It not like he has an axe to grind but taking the form of teacher on Calvinistic theology. A wonderful study guide that I would recommend anyone.… (mais)