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Examined Doctrine

Tim Keller on Original sin & the human will

1950 – 2023 · PRESBYTERIAN (PCA)
STANDARD SCHOLARLY ACCOUNTAFFIRMS°
STANCE

Will in bondage; needs sovereign grace to be freed

THE POSITION

Total depravity.

WHY THERE IS NO QUOTATIONNo quotations. The published work is in copyright, so these positions are paraphrased rather than reproduced.

SCRIPTURE
EPHESIANS 2:1-3 · BSB

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

17 OTHERS HOLD THIS

AugustineVoddie BauchamCalvinJonathan EdwardsThe Church of Eleven22 Statement of FaithM. HeiserJosh HowertonSecond London Baptist ConfessionLutherJohn MacArthurJohn OwenJustin PetersJohn PiperR.C. SproulCharles Haddon SpurgeonWestminster ConfessionZwingli
Nature wounded but not destroyed; grace perfects itAQUINAS · ATHANASIUS · EPHESUS
Depraved, but prevenient grace restores ability to respondJACOBUS ARMINIUS · PHILIP MELANCHTHON · WESLEY
Free will substantially intact; God and man cooperateBASIL THE GREAT · CHRYSOSTOM · IRENAEUS
See all 27 figures on original sin & the human will →

ABOUT THIS FIGURE

Founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian, New York. Known for apologetics addressed to urban skeptics and for a notably winsome register.

READ ACROSS 9 LOCI, NONE QUOTED
Everything Tim Keller holds →
Cite this page

"Tim Keller on Original sin & the human will", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/keller/original-sin (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/keller/original-sin).

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