Best Books on Prevenient Grace
Prevenient grace is the Arminian and Wesleyan teaching that God's grace works on every sinner prior to conversion to restore enough freedom of will that they are able to freely accept or resist the gospel. Reformed theology rejects this as insufficient, holding instead that saving grace is effectual and particular rather than a universal enabling grace given to all. This category presents both the leading Arminian case for the doctrine and the strongest Reformed responses to it.
Start Here
basic
40 Questions About Arminianism
Top pickJ. Matthew Pinson · 2022
An accessible question and answer guide to Arminian theology, including prevenient grace.
Willing to Believe: The Controversy over Free Will
R.C. Sproul · 1997
A readable Reformed historical survey of the free will debate from Augustine to today.
Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism
David L. Allen and Steve W. Lemke, eds. · 2010
An accessible Baptist critique of Calvinism that argues for an enabling, resistible grace.
Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities
Roger E. Olson · 2006
A clear, sympathetic explanation of classical Arminianism with prevenient grace at its core.
Go Deeper
intermediate
John Wesley's Scriptural Christianity: A Plain Exposition of His Teaching on Christian Doctrine
Top pickThomas C. Oden · 1994
A systematic presentation of Wesley's own teaching, including his doctrine of prevenient grace.
The Potter's Freedom
James White · 2000
A sharp Reformed rebuttal of the moderate Calvinist and Arminian case against sovereign grace.
The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace
Kenneth J. Collins · 2007
A scholarly but readable account of grace in Wesley's own theological system.
Christian Theology, Volume 1
H. Orton Wiley · 1940
The standard 20th century Wesleyan-Arminian systematic theology, foundational to the tradition.
For Study
advancedChristian Theology, Volume 2
Top pickH. Orton Wiley · 1941
The volume where Wiley's Wesleyan systematic theology treats grace and salvation in full depth.
Sufficient Saving Grace: John Wesley's Evangelical Arminianism
Herbert Boyd McGonigle · 2000
A scholarly monograph tracing Wesley's mature, biblically grounded case for prevenient grace.
The Works of James Arminius: The London Edition
Jacob Arminius · 1986
The primary source writings of Arminius himself, essential for serious historical study.
Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace
Thomas Schreiner · 2000
Includes rigorous scholarly essays directly refuting the doctrine of prevenient grace.
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A tiered reading guide of the best books on Prevenient Grace.