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About the Book

"Everyone who believes in God at all believes that He knows what you and I are going to do tomorrow."
–C. S. Lewis

This understanding of God's foreknowledge has united the church for twenty centuries. But advocates of "open theism" are presenting a different vision of God and a different view of the future.

The rise of open theism within evangelicalism has raised a host of questions. Was classical theism decisively tainted by Greek philosophy? How should we understand passages that tell us that God repents? Are essentials of biblical Christianity–like the inerrancy of Scripture, the trustworthiness of God, and the Gospel of Christ–at stake in this debate? Where, when, and why should we draw new boundaries–and is open theism beyond them? Beyond the Bounds brings together a respected team of scholars to examine the latest literature, address these questions, and give guidance to the church in this time of controversy.

Contributors include:
• John Piper
• Wayne Grudem
• Michael S. Horton
• Bruce A. Ware
• Mark R. Talbot
• A. B. Caneday
• Stephen J. Wellum
• Justin Taylor
• Paul Kjoss Helseth
• Chad Brand
• William C. Davis
• Russell Fuller

"As a pastor, who longs to be biblical and God-centered and Christ-exalting and eternally helpful to my people, I see open theism as theologically ruinous, dishonoring to God, belittling to Christ, and pastorally hurtful. My prayer is that Christian leaders will come to see it this way, and thus love the church by counting open theism beyond the bounds of orthodox Christian teaching."
 —From the Foreword by John Piper

First Edition 2003
Crossway Books (Wheaton, Illinois)

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Table of Contents

Foreword by John Piper
Introduction by Justin Taylor

Part One – Historical Influences
1. The Rabbis and The Claims of Openness Advocates 
by Russell Fuller
2. Genetic Defects or Accidental Similarities? Orthodoxy and Open Theism and Their Connections 
to Western Philosophical Traditions by
 Chad Owen Brand

Part Two – Philosophical Presuppositions and Cultural Context
3. True Freedom: The Liberty That Scripture Portrays As Worth Having 
by Mark R. Talbot
4. Why Open Theism Is Flourishing Now
 by William C. Davis 


Part Three – Anthropomorphisms, Revelation, And Interpretation
5. Veiled Glory: God’s Self-Revelation In Human Likeness—A Biblical Theology Of God’s Anthropomorphic Self-Disclosure 
by A. B. Caneday
6. Hellenistic or Hebrew? Open Theism And Reformed Theological Method 
by Michael S. Horton

Part Four 
– What Is At Stake In The Openness Debate?
7. The Inerrancy of Scripture by Stephen J. Wellum
8. The Trustworthiness of God and the Foundation of Hope 
by Paul Kjoss Helseth
9. The Gospel of Christ
by Bruce A. Ware 


Part Five 
–
 Drawing Boundaries And Conclusions
10. When, Why, And For What Should We Draw New Boundaries? 
by Wayne Grudem
11. Grounds For Dismay: The Error And Injury Of Open Theism by 
John Piper

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Translations

Portuguese
Publisher: Editora Vida
Purchase: Livraria Evangelica Rema
ISBN: 85-7367-949-2

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Related Resources

• Denying Foreknowledge of Human Choices and Undermining the New Covenant (article)
• God Does Not Repent Like a Man (article)
• The Repentance of God (article)
• Does God Make Mistakes? (article)
• Is the Glory of God at Stake in God’s Foreknowledge of Human Choices? (sermon)