The Salvation of the Unevangelized: A Comparative Analysis of the views of Clark H. Pinnock and Millard J. Erickson
type: CreativeWork
description: Problem and Purpose This dissertation addresses the problem of the ongoing disagreement among evangelical theologians, as represented by Clark H. Pinnock and Millard J. Erickson, concerning the issue of the salvation of the unevangelized. This disagreement continued even though both scholars focused on special revelation and general revelation as sources for information leading people to receive salvation. This approach failed to resolve the disagreement even after decades of heated theological debates indicating a need for a different approach to this soteriological problem. While other researchers have documented Pinnock’s and Erickson’s views on the salvation of the unevangelized, their motivations and the milieu of ideas in the evangelical community that influenced these developments have not been adequately described. The purpose of this dissertation is twofold: (1) to critically investigate, describe, analyze, and evaluate Pinnock’s and Erickson’s inclusivist and agnostic models; and (2) to propose a nuanced and improved inclusivist model. Method The method for this research includes the following. Chapter 1 includes an introduction and historical background to the issue of the salvation of the unevangelized. Chapters 2 and 3 present a descriptive survey and analysis of the writings of Pinnock and Erickson, respectively. This is done through examining two factors: (1) the development of their views and (2) how the doctrine of God, Christology, pneumatology, and soteriology influenced their views. Chapter 4 compares, contrasts, and evaluates Pinnock’s and Erickson’s views on the salvation of the unevangelized. It also proposes a model for the possibility of salvation among the unevangelized that builds on the strengths and avoids the weaknesses of Pinnock’s and Erickson’s models. Chapter 5 presents a summary of this dissertation and its conclusions and provides recommendations for further study. Conclusions This study has found that even though both interlocuto…
abstract: Problem and Purpose This dissertation addresses the problem of the ongoing disagreement among evangelical theologians, as represented by Clark H. Pinnock and Millard J. Erickson, concerning the issue of the salvation of the unevangelized. This disagreement continued even though both scholars focused on special revelation and general revelation as sources for information leading people to receive salvation. This approach failed to resolve the disagreement even after decades of heated theological debates indicating a need for a different approach to this soteriological problem. While other researchers have documented Pinnock’s and Erickson’s views on the salvation of the unevangelized, their motivations and the milieu of ideas in the evangelical community that influenced these developments have not been adequately described. The purpose of this dissertation is twofold: (1) to critically investigate, describe, analyze, and evaluate Pinnock’s and Erickson’s inclusivist and agnostic models; and (2) to propose a nuanced and improved inclusivist model. Method The method for this research includes the following. Chapter 1 includes an introduction and historical background to the issue of the salvation of the unevangelized. Chapters 2 and 3 present a descriptive survey and analysis of the writings of Pinnock and Erickson, respectively. This is done through examining two factors: (1) the development of their views and (2) how the doctrine of God, Christology, pneumatology, and soteriology influenced their views. Chapter 4 compares, contrasts, and evaluates Pinnock’s and Erickson’s views on the salvation of the unevangelized. It also proposes a model for the possibility of salvation among the unevangelized that builds on the strengths and avoids the weaknesses of Pinnock’s and Erickson’s models. Chapter 5 presents a summary of this dissertation and its conclusions and provides recommendations for further study. Conclusions This study has found that even though both interlocuto…
author: Mwashinga, Christopher R.
keywords: Salvation, Unevangelized, Clark Pinnock, Millard Erickson, Inclusivism, Exclusivism, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
date published: 2025-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T00:54:19Z
provider: Andrews University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Andrews University