Of the many reasons I love teaching at Southeastern (and hope to do so ad multos annos) is our President’s vision for the institution and for theological studies. He is determined to forge a path for our faculty and students whereby theology is riveted to the Christian Scriptures, but also to worship, obedience, and mission. In the first case, we must allow our theology to arise from God’s authoritative word, which testifies to his Son … [Read More]
Doing Theology as a Servant of Jesus (2): Theology Aims at the Head, the Heart, and the Hands
One of the benefits of marriage is that it brings a theologian down to earth. During the first years of my marriage to Lauren, my patient wife had to listen to hours of my theological bloviations, which I delivered with the oratorical verve of Will Ferrell and a great deal of unsuccessfully suppressed self-satisfaction. After I had finally given birth to the entirety of my “train of thought” (on creational ontology, revelational epistemology, or some … [Read More]
Doing Theology as a Servant of Jesus (1): The Most Exciting Endeavor of All
I will never forget my first day of Systematic Theology. (The year was 1996. Think Billy Ray Cyrus. America Online. Super Nintendo. Doc Martens. Et, as they say, cetera). I had decided to take Systematic during my first semester and the opening class period would be the first experience I would have in a seminary environment. I sat on a row with J. D. Greear, Keith Errickson, Micah Patisall, and Chris Thompson. As Dr. Patterson … [Read More]
Book Notice: “Invitation to Biblical Interpretation” by Andreas J. Köstenberger
Zut Alors. I will never catch up with Andreas Köstenberger. Every time I publish an article, he publishes four books. (In fact, one should never compare one’s CV with his, for fear that one will descend into a state of weltschmerz. Don’t say I never told you.) Speaking of which, Dr. Köstenberger recently published Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology (Kregel, 2011). This work promises to be a … [Read More]
A H Strong on Metaphysics and Mosquitoes
At the turn of the 20th century, Augustus H Strong (1836-1921) was the premiere Baptist theologian among northern Baptists, and he remains one of my favorites to read. This morning I was reading his discussion of whether or not this is the best of all possible worlds, and I came across a number of quotes that he had collected (Systematic Theology, 406). How one answers this question, Strong opines, often determines whether he is an optimist … [Read More]
Sending Santa to Amazon: Top Sixteen Books to Buy as Christmas Gifts
There are three types of people in our country. There are, first of all, those who are able to read but do not read books. An AP-Ipsos poll recently revealed that 25% of Americans do not read books, while other polls have put the number higher, at around 50%. It is not that these Americans cannot read or that they do not accumulate knowledge. (No country’s citizens—and I mean none—bring more gravitas and enthusiasm to … [Read More]
Q&A 18: What does the spiritual and intellectual makeup of a Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary graduate look like?
Question: What does the spiritual and intellectual makeup of a Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary graduate look like?
Reply:
The easiest way to answer that question is he or she looks like a Great Commission Christian. In other words, they have a consuming passion to make disciples of all the people groups scattered around the world teaching them to be faithful to all that Jesus has taught. In that context, a Southeastern graduate will hopefully be a person … [Read More]
Q&A 15: What are your thoughts about perserverance of the saints?
Question: What are your thoughts about perseverance of the saints?
Reply:
This is the one area where all Southern Baptists agree! PTL! The doctrine affirms that those that God saves He protects and preserves their salvation to the very end. Sometimes this doctrine is also known by the phrase “eternal security.” There are many scriptures I believe that affirm this. Perhaps the clearest is John 10:27-29 which states, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know … [Read More]
Q&A 14: What are your thoughts about irresistable grace?
Question: What are your thoughts about irresistible grace?
Reply:
“Irresistible grace” is as unfortunate a term as is “limited atonement.” A far better way to describe this teaching is “effectual calling.” Those who affirm effectual calling believe that those who are predestined by God to be saved are effectually/effectively called to salvation. This seems to be the clear teaching of Romans 8:28-30 for example. They are not forced to come but they freely and willingly do … [Read More]
Q&A 13: What do you think about limited atonement?
Question: What do you think about limited atonement?
Reply:
This is the issue within Calvinism that causes the strongest emotional response. And, that is easy to understand. Let me say first of all that the phrase “limited atonement” is unfortunate. A far better way of identifying what classic Calvinist mean by this doctrine is “particular redemption” (or “definite atonement”). I have never been persuaded for the truth of this position though I do understand and respect the … [Read More]
