R.C. Sproul’s Willing to Believe is an excellent overview of the history of debates over the perennial question of the role of the will in salvation, particularly focusing on discussions within Evangelicalism.  Nine chapters cover Pelagius, Augustine, Semi-Pelagians, Luther, Calvin, Arminius, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, and Lewis Sperry Chafer.

The book assumes a basic understanding of Church history, though anyone should be able to follow the arguments.  A glossary of Latin terms and lists of other works for those who want to dig deeper on different theologians are helpful.

Sproul is a convinced Augustinian/Calvinist and argues that much of the modern Evangelical church has departed from her Reformation heritage, yet he fairly represents theologians with whom he disagrees.  As he writes, “When a theological controversy arises, it is wise to back for a moment and ask, “What are the concerns?”  By focusing on the concerns of both parties in a dispute, we create an atmosphere in which both sides can be fairly heard.  Both sides often discover that they share common concerns but have different ways of dealing with them or stress different areas of importance.”  Sproul shows the concerns expressed by different sides of the debate.

The fair treatment and the clear explanation of the fine nuances involved in this complicated topic make this a helpful resource for pastors, teachers, theological students, and anyone wanting to understand the issue better.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.