Dan Chapa

Owen's Argument Chapter 7 Section 6 P1: the strict connection between Christ’s offering and His intercession gives assurance to those who believe Christ offered for them P2: Arminians think Christ may offer for those whom He does not intercede. C1: Under Arminian thinking, those who believe Christ offered Himself to the Father for them have no assurance. Scripture supporting P1: “Who is he that condemneth ? “It is Christ that died,” (Romans 8:34) http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/deathofdeath.i.vii.vii.html Refutation The conclusion does not follow, because a strict connection between Christ’s offering and His intercession is not the only way to explain that fact that those who believe that Christ died for them have assurance. They have assurance because: Christ intercedes for those who believe. So it’s true that everyone who believes Christ offered for him has assurance, its not true because of P1. C1 should read: C1*: Under Arminian thinking, those who believe Christ offered Himse...

Owen's Argument - Chapter 7 Section 5 P1: In John 17 Christ both offered and interceded P2: Christ intercedes for the elect alone C1: therefore, Christ offered for the elect alone Scripture quoted in support of P1: I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12) http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/deathofdeath.i.vii.vii.html Refutation P1 & P2 are true but the conclusion does not follow. Just because Christ offered for everyone He intercedes for does not mean He intercedes for everyone He offers for. Christ's offering is the basis for His intercession, so of course Christ talks about both in John 17.

Owen's Death of Christ - Chapter 7 Section 4 In this section Owens relies on arguments he makes in chapter 3. As such, his argument here lacks a full explanation in chapter 7. So I will bypass it and perhaps come back to chapter 3 latter. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/deathofdeath.i.vii.vii.html

Recap of Owen's Argument - Chapter 7 Section 3 P1: Christ's intercession is not vocal or supplication, but rather a presentation of Christ Himself P2: The presentation of Christ to God is joined with the offering of Christ to God C1: Therefore, intercession is joined with the offering of Christ to God Scripture supporting P1: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:12-14) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24) http://www...

Here is Owen’s primary argument: P1: A High Priest wouldn’t be fulfilling his duties if he offers a sacrifice on someone’s behalf, but didn’t intercede for them P2: Christ is a faithful High Priest, fulfilling His duties C1: therefore, Christ does not make an offering for someone without also interceding for them. Scripture support for P1: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 2:1-2 I support of his argument, he makes another: P3: Christ offered His blood to God at the entrance of the holy place P4: Christ entered the holy place by His blood to intercede for the elect C2: Therefore, offering and intercession are two parts of the same tabernacle function Scripture support for P3 & P4: But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest o...

Chapter 7 Section 1 Owens Argument #1 P1: intercession is inseparably connected with oblation P2: Christ’s intercession is made for the elect alone C1: Therefore, Christ’s oblation was made for the elect alone Scripture support for P1: “By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities,” . “He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors; Isaiah 53:11-12 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:32-34 http://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/deathofdeath.i.vii.vii.html Refutation P1 & P2 are valid, the conclusion does not follow. Just because Christ died for everyone that He intercedes for does not mea...

Often Calvinists appeal to John Owen’s the Death of Death in the Death of Christ as the definitive work on the atonement. By simply mentioning the name they have thereby proven that Christ did not die for everyone, but rather for the elect alone. I intend to address some of Owen’s arguments. The Death of Death in the Death of Christ is a difficult read. It’s massive, complex and quite detailed. Owen’s style is as much rhetorical as it is argumentative, which makes for volume. As such, Owen’s work is not as accessible to today’s reader as perhaps it could have been. So my strategy is to distill his arguments down to simple syllogism and then address them. I will not quote Owen’s text at length. It’s just too bulky and awkward. I will however, provide links back to the section I am addressing. I plan on starting at chapter 7. Chapter VII. "Containing reasons to prove the oblation and intercession of Christ to be one entire means respecting the accomplishment of the same proposed end...