"As the very first commencement of every good thing, so likewise the progress, continuance and confirmation, nay, even the perseverance in good, are not from ourselves, but from God through the Holy Spirit" — James Arminius
Loraine Boettner Defending the Negative Inference Fallacy
“Furthermore, when it is said that Christ gave His life for His Church, or for His people, we find it impossible to believe that He gave Himself as much for reprobates as for those whom He intended to save. Mankind is divided into two classes and what is distinctly affirmed of one is impliedly denied of the other.” (Loraine Boettner – The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, pp. 68-69, emphasis mine)
Kind of like when Hebrews 10:30 says, “The Lord will judge his people?”
One thought on “Loraine Boettner Defending the Negative Inference Fallacy”
Additionally it is wisdom to recognize the vast majority of Calvinist arguments are not actually LOGICAL arguments – but in fact SEMANTIC arguments – in which a term is being equivocated or has been given an amorphous meaning.
Boettner’s quote:
Mankind is divided into two classes and what is distinctly affirmed of one is impliedly denied of the other.
We can apply this quote to Calvinism’s “Double-Predestination” issue which Calvinists argue against.
But I think it wisdom also to recognize that Calvinism evolved via Augustine’s synchronization of Gnostic/NeoPlatonist doctrine. And one of the prevalent constituents contained within is “Moral Dualism”. Augustine called this “Antithesis” and stated it as “pleasant to contemplate”. Jon Edwards enunciates it as “evil must needs be or else the glory of divine goodness could scarce shine forth”.
In Augustine’s Gnostic system good and evil are “Co-Equal”, “Co-Necessary”, and “Co-Complimentary”.
We notice so many things in Calvinism appear in “good-evil” pairs. Hence the term “double” predestination. And thus we should learn to discern the prevalence of DOUBLE-THINK in Calvinist statements.
In order to hide the evil component of that “Dualism” Calvinists become skilled at DOUBLE-SPEAK. Hence Calvinist arguments are predominantly SEMANTIC arguments.
Arminian Perspectives 
Additionally it is wisdom to recognize the vast majority of Calvinist arguments are not actually LOGICAL arguments – but in fact SEMANTIC arguments – in which a term is being equivocated or has been given an amorphous meaning.
Boettner’s quote:
Mankind is divided into two classes and what is distinctly affirmed of one is impliedly denied of the other.
We can apply this quote to Calvinism’s “Double-Predestination” issue which Calvinists argue against.
But I think it wisdom also to recognize that Calvinism evolved via Augustine’s synchronization of Gnostic/NeoPlatonist doctrine. And one of the prevalent constituents contained within is “Moral Dualism”. Augustine called this “Antithesis” and stated it as “pleasant to contemplate”. Jon Edwards enunciates it as “evil must needs be or else the glory of divine goodness could scarce shine forth”.
In Augustine’s Gnostic system good and evil are “Co-Equal”, “Co-Necessary”, and “Co-Complimentary”.
We notice so many things in Calvinism appear in “good-evil” pairs. Hence the term “double” predestination. And thus we should learn to discern the prevalence of DOUBLE-THINK in Calvinist statements.
In order to hide the evil component of that “Dualism” Calvinists become skilled at DOUBLE-SPEAK. Hence Calvinist arguments are predominantly SEMANTIC arguments.
Blessings!