The Freedom of the Will is a work by Christian reformer, theologian, and author Jonathan Edwards which uses the text of Romans 9:16 as its basis. It was first published in 1754 and examines the nature and the status of humanity’s will. The book takes the classic Calvinist viewpoint on total depravity of the will and the need of humanity for God’s grace in salvation. Although written long before the modern introduction and debate over Open Theism, Edwards’ work addresses many of the concerns that have been raised today over this view. Edwards responded that a person may freely choose whatever seems good, but that whatever it is that seems good is based on an inherent predisposition that has been foreordained by God.
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Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) was an American revivalist preacher, philosopher, and Congregationalist Protestant theologian. Like most of the Puritans, he held to the Reformed theology. Edwards is widely regarded as ‘one of America’s most important and original philosophical theologians’. Edwards’ theological work is broad in scope, but he was rooted in Reformed theology, the metaphysics of theological determinism, and the Puritan heritage.
