Can an orthodox Christian, committed to the historic faith of the Church and the authority of the Bible, be a universalist? Is it possible to believe that salvation is found only by grace, through faith in Christ, and yet to maintain that in the end all people will be saved? Can one believe passionately in mission if one does not think that anyone will be lost forever? Could universalism be consistent with the teachings of the Bible? This book argues that the answer is 'yes' to all of these questions. Weaving together philosophical, theological and biblical considerations, the author shows that being a universalist is consistent with the central teachings of the Bible and of historic Christian theology. This new edition answers critics of the first edition and reflects on the furore caused by Rob Bell's venture into this theological minefield with Love Wins. It is ideal for people who may have read or heard of Love Wins but want to read an in-depth treatment of the subject by an author who has read all the relevant scholarly literature, and engages sensitively with all the exegetical and theological arguments. The new edition also provides discussion starters for leaders using the book for church study groups.

Author Biography

The controversial arguments in this book resulted in the first edition being released under the pseudonym of Gregory MacDonald. At that time, the author, Robin Parry, was Editorial Director of Paternoster. Robin is now an Editor at Wipf and Stock Publishers. He is author of books on Old Testament ethics, Trinitarian worship, and a commentary on Lamentations.