Grace Abounds: A Holistic Case for Universal Salvation

This text is a rigorous but approachable contribution to the literature on Christian universalism. Influenced primarily by the Orthodox tradition from ancient and modern figures, Coates exquisitely weaves through the Scriptures, later tradition, and the contemporary philosophical landscape in constructing a holistic universalist argument that shares an ecumenical openness to draw upon the insights of other Christian traditions. Coates sheds new light upon contentious topics between universalists and non-universalists, such as the eschatology in Paul’s letters, the reception of universalism at early church councils, and philosophical debates over free will and God’s justice. Coates also lends voice to many under-researched topics related to universalism, such as the Harrowing of Hades and the development of afterlife traditions in the Old and New Testaments. Permeated by a commitment to the gospel message, a clear theme underlies Grace Abounds: God has revealed himself as absolute love through the coming of Jesus Christ. Both theologically savvy readers for or against universalism and novice readers just now arriving at the debate will surely find something to appreciate in this carefully and thoroughly argued text.

Hunter Coates is an emerging Orthodox scholar and the author of Conspiracy and the Subject: A Lacanian Enterprise (2023). He has also written several articles on Christology, Mariology, and social theory.