I’ve probably read this essay slowly about a half-dozen times:
John Piper. “Are There Two Wills in God?” Pages 107–31 in Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace. Edited by Thomas R. Schreiner and Bruce A. Ware. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000.
It’s an incredibly helpful guide.
I’ve even preached its essence a few times (e.g., in 2008: MP3 | outline).
So I’m delighted that Piper has expanded the essay into a short book:
John Piper. Does God Desire All to Be Saved? Wheaton: Crossway, 2013.
It’s only 62 pages, and you could read it carefully in about three hours. And it’s available as a free PDF.
This little book significantly revises the essay. Piper wrote a new introduction, divided the essay up into four chapters, and then worked through it from beginning to end as if it were a draft. He ended up tweaking something in just about every sentence, added many new sentences and paragraphs, and updated old wordings and illustrations. The original essay is about 9,000 words; the book is almost 17,000 words.
I just slowly read the book, and I’m glad I did. Meditating on God’s two wills leads me to exult in his greatness.
I haven’t read this yet (although I’ve read the first essay… also slowly… several times). Does this expansion include direct responses to the criticisms of his approach?
I’m not sure what criticisms you have in mind, but there are some pretty extensive footnotes throughout in which he interacts with Howard Marshall, Clark Pinnock, Roger Olson, and others.