Are All People Saved? | Book Review

Reviewed by Thomas Scarborough

A great deal of recent Christian theology has originated in Germany and the Netherlands. For this reason, many students of theology have some familiarity with these languages. With this in mind, this is a book which (you guessed it) is only available in German and Dutch. However, it would represent a worthwhile opportunity to brush up on these languages. It is written by the Chief Translator of the New Genovese Translation [Neue Genfer Uebersetzung]. While the subject is one on which it would seem hard to find much detachment, this book would seem to come close -- although it does adopt a particular stance. It examines the issues in detail and with care, then suggests probabilities, rather than making dogmatic pronouncements. It has three major sections: Exegetical, Theological, and Personal.

WHAT IS THE AUTHOR'S MOTIVATION?

I shall begin at the end of the book, namely with the Personal. The author began as a convicted universalist -- yet seriously considered whether one might not find common ground between "enemy camps". At the same time, he sought to be true to the New Testament Greek text from within. He saw, at first, a "huge and irresolvable tension" in the text. On the one hand, he observed "a chain of passages that clearly spoke of eternal punishment" -- on the other, passages which "just as clearly bore witness to the redemption of all creatures". He provisionally came to the conclusion that this was a Biblical mystery [Antinomie] which "surpasses human thought" -- in much the same way that e.g. Christ's dual nature or the doctrine of the Trinity represent mysteries beyond our understanding. However, true mysteries "require both statements in order to properly describe the reality. Both are true -- or rather, they are only true together". Instead, he found "two lines which repel in eternity". Finally he entered the risk of "plunging into a vacuum" to examine all the relevant passages unconditionally. This was further favoured by "negative observations on the deportment [Verhalten]

of the advocates of universalism". Rather than this referring to their "being Christians", it is intended to reflect his unease over a sense of superiority on their part, a lack of will to tackle texts with critical openness, and a reticence to reveal their true beliefs within the Church.

WHAT ABOUT THE "ALL" PASSAGES?

The primary focus of the Exegetical section is six "all" passages of the New Testament, to which the author devotes six brief chapters -- e.g. "God has bound all men over to disobedience, so that he may have mercy on them all." (Rom. 11:32). Further passages are relegated to a single chapter. The author emphasises that it is not his intention to achieve "an exhaustive exegesis" -- rather to motivate readers to further thought. It would be difficult to summarise the book's dense exegesis here, except to note that it is presented in a readable and well-paced way. Perhaps it would be most useful to focus on his treatment of the word "all". He points out that the New Testament definition is not necessarily the same as that of a modern dictionary. Does "all" refer to "all without exception", or does it refer to all ethnicities (not only Jewish), as represented e.g. in Gal. 3:28? In his view, there is repeated intimation in the Scriptures of the latter. Besides this apparent Jewish/Gentile inclusiveness, he points to the New Testament's use of the word "all", which would frequently seem to be non-standard -- e.g. Acts 19:10 or Col. 1:23. Further, he routinely emphasises the vital importance of the context. This having been said, he considers that it is "not yet excluded" that "every single person . . . should find mercy" -- yet it would not seem probable on the basis of the text.

THEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The author deals briefly yet comprehensively with major theological considerations, taking a sweeping overview of (inter alia) God's love, His omnipotence, the (supposed) spoiling of heaven through hell, and perspectives on sin, judgement, and punishment. The "heart of it for adherents of universalism", he writes, is "God's love". "This thought initiates their conversations, it lies at the core of their books. If God is love in person, He could not possibly permit even one of His creatures to suffer forever." This should be convincing, he writes, "if one knew nothing more." One would construct "beautiful thoughts" as to "how this God of love should be and act", and this is "appealing to our hearts". However, we do know more. Such an image of God "is precisely a God-image, an image/idol [Abbild], not the primordial image". In fact, if it were left to our own discretion, we should expunge a great many passages from the Bible in general "so that our image of God should not be troubled". Therefore one should not elevate "the love of God to the all-deciding factor, the premiss, the definitive presupposition for all Bible reading". Even so, he writes, "it is difficult for me to explain the tension between eternal judgement and Jesus' grace. But should I have to? I would return only to my own imaginings."

SYNTHESIS

The author points out in his preface that the book is based on certain presuppositions. He takes the Greek text as a given, he clearly believes in the unity of that text, and he believes in a God who is eternally the same. From this point of view, the book might be of most interest to those who share such presuppositions. He points out that his knowledge and experience of universalism is largely confined to German Pietism -- however, the book would seem to broadly represent the whole, with the notable exception of contemporary theological movements. The overall impression is one of a serious attempt to come to terms with the text from within, with both personal conviction and transparency, and a relatively undogmatic presentation. In the 24 years since it was first published, this small book (128 pages) has become something of a European classic.

CITATION OF REFERENCES

Symank, Andreas. Werden Alle Menschen Gerettet? Ueberlegungen Zur Lehre Der Allversoehnung. Riehen, Switzerland: Immanuel Verlag. ISBN 3952115703.

Symank, Andreas. Worden Alle Mensen Gered? Gedachten Over De Leer Der Alverzoening. 's Gravenhage: Boekencentrum.