At the 2022 Evangelical Theological Society meeting in Denver, Reformed theologian J. V. Fesko offered a historical-theological critique of John Piper’s book, What is Saving Faith? Fesko argued that Piper failed to understand how the Reformed tradition articulated the relationship between love and faith. That is, according to Fesko, “Piper makes inaccurate appeals to various theologians” and should therefore revise his historical work. Fesko attempts to demonstrate this charge by exploring how Piper (mis)uses material from John Calvin, John Owen, Francis Turretin, and Jonathan Edwards.
Whether or not Fesko is right in his critique of Piper is very important to my own research on the relationship between love and faith. Several years ago, I wrote my dissertation on how Jonathan Edwards included love in the nature of justifying faith. Edwards believed love was the “most essential and distinguishing” thing in saving faith. More specifically, my work aimed to show that when Edwards places love (defined as a disposition or affection by Edwards) within faith, he is consistent with the Reformed tradition. However, if Fesko’s critique of Piper is right, and Piper has misused and misunderstood the tradition, then perhaps I have made a mistake, too. If, as Fesko has argued, the Reformed tradition is saying something other than what Piper (and therefore Edwards) argues, then my own work needs revising.
Therefore, I have revisited my work, closely read Piper, looked at the arguments of Fesko, and re-engaged the Reformed authors as needed in order to evaluate Fesko’s critique. In so doing, it seems Fesko’s critiques fall short.
Therefore, this paper will demonstrate the following: First, Fesko has not paid close enough attention to the broader context of the quotes Piper uses to support his own work. Second, Fesko has created categories that are unheard of in the Reformed tradition (i.e. two ontologically distinct faiths: sanctifying vs. justifying). Third, Fesko has not considered other writings of Calvin, et al that support Piper’s thesis.
This paper will show that Piper has understood and used the Reformed tradition correctly. Therefore, Piper is right to see an affectional element in the nature of faith within the writings of the Reformed tradition.