Norman Geisler’s sublapsarian Calvinistic soteriology : a critical analysis from a reformed perspective

Abstract

Evangelical theologian Norman L. Geisler is a prolific Christian theologian, philosopher, apologist, and educator, whose influence has substantially impacted American evangelicalism and beyond. Geisler has authored over one hundred works, is the founder of an evangelical seminary and a university, and has served as a professor at numerous evangelical seminaries and universities. In addition, he is a former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, a founding member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, and a founder and first president of the International Society of Christian Apologetics. Geisler claims to affirm a moderate Calvinistic soteriology, yet he seems to diverge from traditional forms of Calvinism. No critical study has yet evaluated his theology to see how it aligns with classic Reformed Calvinistic thought. This thesis offers a thorough analysis, critique, and evaluation of Geisler’s soteriology from a Reformed perspective and clarifies the extent of his continuity with any forms of traditional Calvinistic soteriology.