--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The book [Saving Calvinism] argues in…" description: "\"The book [Saving Calvinism] argues in each case that the Reformed tradition is broader and deeper than we might think at first glance - not that there ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c0/oliver-d-crisp-12863_arguing_the-book-saving-calvinism-argues-in-each_1428357.jpg" --- # The book \[Saving Calvinism\] argues in each case that the… ![“The book [Saving Calvinism] argues in each case that the Reformed tradition is broader and deeper than we might think at first glance - not that there are people on the margins of the tradition saying crazy things we should pay attention to, but rather that there are resources within the…” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c0/oliver-d-crisp-12863_arguing_the-book-saving-calvinism-argues-in-each_1428357.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c0/oliver-d-crisp-12863_arguing_the-book-saving-calvinism-argues-in-each_1428357.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c0/oliver-d-crisp-12863_arguing_the-book-saving-calvinism-argues-in-each_1428357.jpg) > “The book \[Saving Calvinism\] argues in each case that the Reformed tradition is broader and deeper than we might think at first glance - not that there are people on the margins of the tradition saying crazy things we should pay attention to, but rather that there are resources within the "mainstream" so to speak, which give us reason to think that the tradition is nowhere near as doctrinally narrow as the so-called "Five Points of Calvinism" might lead one to believe.” [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that Reformed theology is richer and more expansive than its stereotypical narrow definition, offering broader resources within mainstream doctrine. **In simple terms:** Calvinism is broader than its five-point label suggests. Key Takeaway Explore the wider tradition. Themes theology tradition breadth Mood analytical inquisitive Type academic theological When to use this quote - church history - seminary studies - faith discussions Key Concepts doctrinal diversity historical context ecumenical dialogue Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of the tradition are most overlooked? - How can broader resources be integrated? A Different Perspective Simplifying traditions can overlook valuable nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Calvinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calvinism/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Saving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [ In many ways the book \[Saving Calvinism\] is trying to argue for a more popular audience things I've said in some more scholarly works,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/in-many-ways-the-book-saving-calvinism-is-trying-to-argue-for-a-more/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [For instance, there are many mainstream Reformed theologians that deny the doctrine of "limited" atonement (the "L" in TULIP, the acrostic for the Five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/for-instance-there-are-many-mainstream-reformed-theologians-that-deny/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [It is often reported that the Five Points of Calvinism are the conceptual hard-core of Reformed thought. That is very misleading. The Five Points…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/it-is-often-reported-that-the-five-points-of-calvinism-are-the/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ What I am trying to argue here \[Save Calvinism\] and in other works before this one is that the Reformed tradition as I have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/what-i-am-trying-to-argue-here-save-calvinism-and-in-other-works/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ Sometimes we can lose the wood for the trees. Some specific issues dealt with in the book \[Saving Calvinism\]: the scope of election (who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/sometimes-we-can-lose-the-wood-for-the-trees-some-specific-issues/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [The expansion I have in mind isn't the same as distortion. Of course, there are those who say their views represent Reformed thought, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/the-expansion-i-have-in-mind-isn-t-the-same-as-distortion-of-course/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ The book \[Saving Calvinism\] itself is not recommending that we move the borders, so to speak. It is recommending that we look at what… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/the-book-saving-calvinism-itself-is-not-recommending-that-we-move-the/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ The atonement chapter \[from the book Saving Calvinism\] shows how there are real riches in Reformed theology that most Christians today have no idea… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/the-atonement-chapter-from-the-book-saving-calvinism-shows-how-there/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ \[Jonathan\] Edwards definitely shows up in the book \[Saving Calvinism\]. He appears as one of the interlocutors in the chapter on free will, the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/jonathan-edwards-definitely-shows-up-in-the-book-saving-calvinism-he/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ In the chapter on the nature of the atonement \[in the book saving Calvinism\] I argue that it is a mistake to think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/in-the-chapter-on-the-nature-of-the-atonement-in-the-book-saving/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [Reformed theology so far transcends the mere five points of Calvinism that it is an entire worldview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/reformed-theology-so-far-transcends-the-mere-five-points-of-calvinism/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [One of the things we in the Reformed tradition are very good at is writing doctrinal theology!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/one-of-the-things-we-in-the-reformed-tradition-are-very-good-at-is/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [In the twentieth century the Reformed tradition was developed in several ways including additional confessions (Barmen, the Belhar Confession, the 1967 Confession of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/in-the-twentieth-century-the-reformed-tradition-was-developed-in/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [These days I'm often called a Deviant Calvinist, but I don't really think my views do deviate from the Reformed tradition, though in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/these-days-i-m-often-called-a-deviant-calvinist-but-i-don-t-really/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [The Reformed tradition at the beginning of the twenty-first century is different as a consequence of this - and different in nontrivial ways. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/the-reformed-tradition-at-the-beginning-of-the-twenty-first-century/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) ## More by Oliver D. Crisp > [ \[John Calvin's\] treatment of the person and work of Christ, of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, of prayer and liturgy,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/john-calvin-s-treatment-of-the-person-and-work-of-christ-of-the-holy/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [The alternative of hypothetical universalism, according to which Christ's work is sufficient for all but efficient only for the elect, was alive and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/the-alternative-of-hypothetical-universalism-according-to-which/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ What I am trying to argue here \[Save Calvinism\] and in other works before this one is that the Reformed tradition as I have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/what-i-am-trying-to-argue-here-save-calvinism-and-in-other-works/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [I think everyone who has an interest in Reformed theology, or just in Christian theology more generally, should read John Calvin Institutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/i-think-everyone-who-has-an-interest-in-reformed-theology-or-just-in/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [Christ's work is a kind of deterrent to us, and a way of upholding the justice of God's divine government of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/christ-s-work-is-a-kind-of-deterrent-to-us-and-a-way-of-upholding-the/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [These days I'm often called a Deviant Calvinist, but I don't really think my views do deviate from the Reformed tradition, though in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/these-days-i-m-often-called-a-deviant-calvinist-but-i-don-t-really/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ \[John Calvin\] writes clearly, directly, without artifice, and gets straight to the practical heart of the matter. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/john-calvin-writes-clearly-directly-without-artifice-and-gets/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [I do think that I have been fortunate to make friendships with other scholars, and form reading groups where ideas are exchanged and papers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/i-do-think-that-i-have-been-fortunate-to-make-friendships-with-other/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ In the chapter on the nature of the atonement \[in the book saving Calvinism\] I argue that it is a mistake to think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/in-the-chapter-on-the-nature-of-the-atonement-in-the-book-saving/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ Reading \[John\] Calvin is a breath of fresh air. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/reading-john-calvin-is-a-breath-of-fresh-air/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [There are constraints on what counts as "Reformed." It's more than a name or a label. It's about belonging to a particular theological stream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/there-are-constraints-on-what-counts-as-reformed-it-s-more-than-a/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ To my mind \[ Jonathan Edwards\] is an interesting figure because he is both a canonical Reformed thinker, and yet also someone that pushed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/to-my-mind-jonathan-edwards-is-an-interesting-figure-because-he-is/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ \[Jonathan\] Edwards definitely shows up in the book \[Saving Calvinism\]. He appears as one of the interlocutors in the chapter on free will, the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/jonathan-edwards-definitely-shows-up-in-the-book-saving-calvinism-he/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [The best Reformed theology isn't just about careful arguments for theologically sophisticated conclusions. It is about how to live the Christian life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/the-best-reformed-theology-isn-t-just-about-careful-arguments-for/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [ Here is the interesting twist:\[McLeod\] Campbell came to his views through reading Jonathan Edwards who suggested at one point in his ruminations on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/here-is-the-interesting-twist-mcleod-campbell-came-to-his-views/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) [Explore all 53 Oliver D. Crisp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The book [Saving Calvinism] argues in each case that the Reformed tradition is broader and deeper than we might think at first glance - not that there are people on the margins of the tradition saying crazy things we should pay attention to, but rather that there are resources within the \"mainstream\" so to speak, which give us reason to think that the tradition is nowhere near as doctrinally narrow as the so-called \"Five Points of Calvinism\" might lead one to believe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver D. 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