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A. H. Newman on Calvinism and religious liberty

pic source The year 2017 marks the 500th year since the Protestant Reformation was launched by Martin Luther's legendary nailing of his 95 theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517. And while John Calvin was only 8 years old when Luther began the protestant religious revolution, Calvin's theology became the standard expression of Reformed theology. Some attribute to Calvin and Calvinism the development of our broad American liberties including "anti-statism, the belief in transcendent principles of law as the foundation of an ethical legal system, free... Read more →

Esteemed Southern Baptist Historian, Thomas J. Nettles on the formation, decline, and comeback of the Southern Baptist Convention

source In 2014, Thomas J. Nettles retired as professor of historical theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he had taught since 1997. Dr. Nettles' theological instruction spanned a full 38 years in the classroom of various theological institutions including Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Nettles is considered by many to be one of the foremost Baptist historians alive today. Beginning early in the 1980s, two of his books, one of which was co-authored by the late L. Russ Bush, ranked... Read more →

Zwingli on the fate of Baptists--"Drown the dippers!"

source Melancthon smiled when Servetus was put to death by Calvin. When the magistrates of Zurich consulted Zuinglius on the fate of some poor Baptists, " Drown the dippers" —said the Reformer. --"Historical Sketch of the Baptist Denomination" Midland Association, England, 1832 Save Save Read more →

Anabaptists not Reformers unloaded the theological dead wood of medievalism

Below is an excerpt from a 1918 historical essay by Rufus M. Jones (1863-1948), Quaker Christian and then Professor at Haverford College. Published in Harvard Theological Review, "The Anabaptists and Minor Sects in the Reformation" remains an enlightening read on the rise of Anabaptism during (and even before) the days when reformers like Luther, Calvin and Zwingli were considered the leading lights of protest against the Roman Catholic Church. Concerning the Magisterial Reformers, even though they did what Jones describes as a "monumental piece of work" in changing the course... Read more →

Ron Vietti and Jim Crews' critics on Exposing Calvinism

Ron Vietti and Jim Crews (Vegas Campus) are co-pastors at Valley Bible Fellowship in Bakersfield, CA. Being the largest church in town, their recent exposé on Calvinism caused some Calvinists to experience complete meltdown. Vietti predicted with amazing accuracy the chatter splatter he would personally receive because of the stance he would take. But rather than focus on what some of the more hackneyed critics had to say, I'd like to turn our attention to an open letter written by Chad Vegas,1 Lead and Founding Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church... Read more →

Brenda B. Colijn on A Parable of Calvinism

Dr. Brenda B. Colijn is Professor of Biblical Interpretation and Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. Dr. Colijn offered an interesting parable in her paper "A Parable of Calvinism"1 wherein she challenges the Calvinistic understanding of the well-meant offer of the gospel to all human beings. Coming from an Anabaptistic theological framework, I think she makes a valid point in critiquing standard Calvinistic explanations given and accepted by Reformed believers. Below is Colijn's "parable of a cruise ship." Consider: The kingdom of God is like a cruise ship... Read more →

Hassell & Hassell: Primitive Baptist historians on Calvin's murder of Servetus

Christ and His Apostles did not persecute; neither does the true church of Christ. The Protestant persecutions of each other, and of Catholics, and of “Anabaptists,” were derived from Rome, and were in direct and horrid contradiction of the Protestant principle of freedom of conscience. Calvin’s condemnation and execution of the almost “Anabaptist” and the AntiTrinitarian, Michael Servetus (1553), though then approved by his brother Protestants, is a sad and ineffaceable blot upon his character — the bloody deed producing only evil, utterly condemned by the entire spirit of the... Read more →

James White and Historical Hooey (Part 2)

Below I've embedded the video entitled "Calvin and Servetus: Dan Barker Twists History" uploaded and posted by Alpha & Omega Ministries. Calvinist apologist, James White, makes a series of historical assertions concerning the circumstances surrounding John Calvin and Michael Servetus in response to atheist, Dan Barker, implicating Barker in twisting history. About 4 minutes and 10 seconds into the video, White begins his criticism mainly as a series of rhetorical questions raised against Barker's commentary on the legendary trial of Servetus at Geneva in 1553, commentary played from an audio... Read more →

James White and Historical Hooey: Interlude

In the first part of "James White and Historical Hooey," I showed two visible flaws in James White's argumentation methods. First, I demonstrated White's egregious habit of making his arguments into scornful contempt for his opponent rather than serious critique of the ideas under consideration. I put it this way: "I've never, in my sixty years on this earth, encountered another human being so coldly, consistently, and belligerently set on verbally and morally assaulting other people as liars, deceivers, frauds, imbeciles, idiots, and overall nincompoops as James White." White routinely... Read more →

James White and Historical Hooey (Part 1)

James White UPDATE: James White responded to this piece (perhaps emotionally reacted is a better description. In fact, White appears so emotionally distraught over the post below, he wouldn't even link to it.). And, I must thank him for offering yet another layer to the pile of evidence for my contention that James White routinely specializes in vicious verbal and moral assaults against those who offer public critiques of his considerable errors. Apparently, according to White, I now suffer from some form of derangement. So be it. Perhaps I do.... Read more →

John Calvin: a Real Evangelical Cover-up

James White is the director of Alpha & Omega Ministries, a small and apparently struggling1 apologetics ministry located in Phoenix, Arizona. I listened fairly regularly to White several years ago but grew tired of what I perceived to be a narcistic infatuation with his personal accomplishments not to mention his patently unique apologetical method of making those with whom he disagreed out to be liars.2 Going back several years, James White has persistently harassed and morally denigrated Ergun Caner and anyone--including reputable scholars, local church pastors, capable apologists, Southern Baptist... Read more →

From Heaven He Came And Sought Her: A Review by David Allen

I recently made note of a new book release by Crossway entitled From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective. The 700+ page volume is purported to be the definitive volume on T.U.L.I.P. Calvinism's most vulnerable petal, Limited Atonement. Some of neo-Calvinism's brightest theological lights are among the contributors, theological lights including Henri A. G. Blocher, Michael A.G. Haykin, Paul Helm, Robert Letham, Thomas R. Schreiner, Sinclair Ferguson, and Carl Trueman. Dr. David Allen, Dean of the School of Theology, Professor of... Read more →

Conversation on Calvinism by two Southern Baptist theologians: Matthew McKellar and Malcolm Yarnell

Dr. Matthew McKellar serves as Associate Professor of Preaching and Chair of the Preaching Department at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. McKellar joined the faculty at Southwestern in 2009 after having served as a senior pastor for 28 years. His current research interests include preaching Old Testament narrative texts and the exposition of the parables of Jesus. Dr. Malcolm Yarnell serves as Professor of Systematic Theology, Director of the Oxford Study Program, Director of the Center for Theological Research, and Chair of the Systematic Theology Department at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.... Read more →

19th Century Southern Baptist theologian James Petigru Boyce--'infants dying in infancy are regenerate'

“It follows from the facts in these last two statements, that a corrupt nature makes a condition as truly sinful, and guilty, and liable to punishment, as actual transgressions. Consequently, at the very moment of birth, the presence and possession of such a nature shows that even the infant sons of Adam are born under all the penalties which befell their ancestor in the day of his sin. Actual transgression subsequently adds new guilt to guilt already existing, but does not substitute a state of guilt for one of innocence”... Read more →

Princeton Calvinist icon B.B. Warfield--'question of infant salvation non-negotiable for sustaining systematic theology'

source “No system of theological thought can live in which it [the doctrine of infant salvation] cannot find a natural and logical place.” --B.B. Warfield, "Two studies in the history of doctrine: Augustine and the Pelagian controversy: the development of the doctrine of infant salvation" 1897, The Christian Literature Company (online text here) Read more →

Christian Index editor pushes for answers from Calvinism Advisory Committee about babies burning in hell

Below is the most recent editorial by Christian Index editor, Gerald Harris.1 Entitled "A New Kind of Calvinism" Dr. Harris shares his perspective on the committee report released prior to the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention by Executive Committee President Frank Page. In addition Harris recalls his concern over one aspect of the committee report, a concern he expressed during the official Q/A at the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention. Harris rightly asked about the committee's affirmation that "most Southern Baptists believe that those who die before they are capable of moral... Read more →

Roger Olson: an Interview Revisited: Part 4

Today I offer the final installment on the interview series with Dr. Roger Olson, Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics, Truett Theological Seminary, Waco, TX. We talked in this final section on many issues raised in his latest book, Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities. I trust your understanding of Arminiansim has deepened as a result. Let's begin: Do you think the historic debate between God’s Sovereignty and human Free Will is where emphasis should be placed in discussions between Calvinists and Arminians, or are there other more significant discussions to... Read more →

Roger Olson: an Interview Revisited: Part 3

Today, we continue our Interview with Dr. Roger Olson, Professor of Theology, Truett Theology Seminary, Waco, Texas. This is part three of a four part series. Professor Olson is both an accomplished theologian in the Arminian tradition as well as a renowned historian of Christian Theology. His many books include The Story of Christian Theology, Who Needs Theology?, The Mosaic of Christian Belief, 20th-Century Theology, Pocket History of Theology, and under discussion today, his latest book, Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities. Welcome Dr. Olson... Professor, what does Classic Arminianism teach... Read more →

Roger Olson: an Interview Revisited: Part 2

Below is the continuation of the interview I had with Arminian theologian, Roger Olson, in 2006. Part 3 will be posted later this week (my questions are emboldened). Dr. Olson, in the Introduction to Arminian Theology: Myths & Realities, you write: “The thesis of this book is that Arminianism is at a disadvantage in this controversy because it is so rarely understood and so commonly misinterpreted both by its critics and its supposed defenders.” But Dr. Olson, I hear so often that Arminianism is rampant in America’s pulpit--usually by Calvinist... Read more →

Roger Olson: An Interview Revisited: Part I

Due to my backlogged schedule, I simply can't get around to blogging presently. Hence, I'm reposting some worthy pieces from the past (they remain virtually the same, errors and all!). (image source) I first posted this phone interview I had with Roger Olson in October, 2006. Dr. Olson is Foy Valentine Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University, Waco, Texas. Dr. Olson blogs at patheos.com. I chose to break up the interview into bite-sized chunks offering, I believe, more opportunity for interaction. I... Read more →

What Is Wrong With the Young, Restless and Reformed Movement? An Interpretive Essay by Dr. Paul Owen

Below is a solicited essay by Dr. Paul Owen. Dr. Owen is Professor of Greek and Religious Studies at Montreat College in North Carolina, where he has taught since 2001. Founded in 1916, Montreat College is the only liberal arts college in North Carolina that holds membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Dr. Owen’s academic articles and book reviews have been published in numerous venues, including the Calvin Theological Journal, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Journal for the Study of the... Read more →

Francis Turretin vs. Jesus Christ on the World of John 3:16

Thus far, we've looked at John Owen and Arthur W. Pink's rendition of the word "world" in John 3:16. While some have logged on either denying it matters what the biblical text actually says (see here), others have falsely but desperately and incredibly claimed I'm putting words in the author's mouth (e.g see here, here). What no one has demonstrated thus far is, how either Owen or Pink's rendition of KOSMOS ("world" in John 3:16) as the world of "believers only" (or world of the "elect") is deduced from the... Read more →

Why all the buzz? Further thoughts on the present Calvinism conversation by Earl Blackburn

Below is the final of four entries on the purported Calvinism issue posted on March 12, 2013 in The Message, Louisiana Baptists' state paper. Editor Kelly Boggs generously sent all four articles to me so non-subscribers could access the important articles dealing with the unfortunate situation developing at Louisiana College. The three prior articles are linked at the end. The final piece appearing in The Message is penned by Louisiana pastor, Earl Blackburn. Blackburn serves the Heritage Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA, a Founders-friendly church affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist... Read more →

What is Calvinism? everything you need to know about Calvinism...and then some by Peter Lumpkins

Well it took long enough! The truth is, I've been so busily assisting others in getting their literary stuff published, I've continued to place on the back burner something from my own bean pot. Hence, I took a few days off to cook up this little piece which I think will help church folk understand the Calvinism issue. Below are a few words from the opening: “So, what do I desire to accomplish in this little book? Recall the subtitle—everything you NEED to know about Calvinism ... and then some.... Read more →

Born Guilty? A Southern Baptist View of Original Sin by Adam Harwood

Free Church Press announces a new and exclusive teaching series on biblical, theological, ethical, and ecclesial themes significant for Southern Baptists. The series will target people in the pew rather than those who have a theological background. While we believe all church leaders--including pastors and other staff leaders--will benefit from the series, the goal is to educate the millions of Southern Baptists who neither have theological or biblical degrees nor desire to wade through long, technical works to gain a reasonable grip on the essence of a particular subject. Thus,... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists: Part 6B: Augustine's Critics and Legacy by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford This is the final installment of Dr. Gifford's series on Augustine and Southern Baptists. I want to thank him for lending us his scholarship and pursuing this series at SBC Tomorrow. Be assured that the engagement in the comments did not accurately reflect either the number of readers Gifford's series had nor the significance of the series for future discussions about Original Sin, imputed guilt, original guilt, total depravity, free will, divine sovereignty, determinism, or any number of other subjects usually under the head of philosophy of... Read more →

The 2013 John 3:16 Conference is almost here

In November, 2008, the First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia hosted an insightful conference called The John 3:16 Conference, an event promising a scholarly evaluation of the recent Calvinist Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention >>> Past president of the Southern Baptist Convention and Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Jerry Vines, led the scheduled event at Woodstock. And, it did not disappoint. Subsequent to the conference, B&H Academic published the papers and sermons delivered in 2008 in a book entitled Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists: Part 6A: Augustine's Critics and Legacy by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford This is the last installment of my series on Augustine. I wanted to say at the outset of this post that I really appreciate all of you who took the time to read it. A great big thank you to Peter for graciously posting it on his blog. I also want to thank Ben Simpson, Ken Hamrick, and David Allen for helpful suggestions and feedback. Thanks to Christiane and Lydia for insights and links. Thanks also to Eric Hankins, Malcolm Yarnell, and Adam Harwood for kind words... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists Part 5: Augustine's Exegetical and Hermeutical Method by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford This next-to-last post will examine the exegetical and hermeneutical method Augustine employs in constructing his teachings on grace and providence. Before I begin, I want to state my deep indebtedness to Donato Ogliari and his fine work Gratia et Certamen [Grace and Struggle]. Most of the real research in this section is his and I have only summarized it. One may wonder why this section comes later in this series of posts than his assumptions and the examination of the sources of those assumptions. It should be... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists Part 3B: Infralapsarian Humanity by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford A further difficulty in Augustine's thinking has been aptly pinpointed by John Rist. He writes, "The problem, as Augustine would rephrase it, is not, 'Why does God not save everyone?'; but 'Why does God save anyone?'; for we are all justly condemned. The problem would not be God's justice, but God's mercy which would seem unjust, or at least at the expense of justice".17 Ogliari continues, We must admit that, even though Augustine tried to reduce the brutality of a mechanical and infallible non-predestination of the non-elect,... Read more →

Augustine and Southern Baptists Part 3A: Infralapsarian Humanity by Dr. Jim Gifford

Dr. Jim Gifford This will be the third in the series of blog posts on Augustine's views on nature and grace, as concerns the development of his deterministic views of providence.* Sorry it has taken me a little longer to get this one to Peter, but I had a family emergency last week that required a trip back to the motherland (West "By God" Virginia). Please continue to keep my family in your prayers. The second presupposition in Augustine's thinking (after his overemphasis on divine omnipotence) is his infralapsarian view... Read more →

Monergism.com snubs two Southern seminary professors' book by Peter Lumpkins

Drs. Peter J. Gentry (PhD, University of Toronto), professor of Old Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and director of the Hexapla Institute, and Stephen J. Wellum (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and editor of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, just released their latest volume, Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants, to high-five accolades from a broad swath of pleased supporters within the Reformed community >>> According to the cover, Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner,... Read more →

James White critiques Ronnie Rogers' book, “Reflections of a Disenchanted Calvinist” by Peter Lumpkins

UPDATE: As expected, James White responded to this piece on his follow-up "Radio Free Geneva" podcast. Well, let me be clear: it really wasn't a response to this piece so much as an acknowledgment of it. During the first few minutes, he talks about "almost forgetting" about old "Petey" (And, we want to assure James White we've not forgotten about him, either!) Then, he and Rich Pierce ridiculed the video I put up because of the number of views, etc. comparing my traffic to his. What a hoot! Like giddy,... Read more →

The Anabaptists—“being puritan before puritanism was cool” by Peter Lumpkins

"The Anabaptists.—It should be here stated that the first martyrs for religious liberty during the reign of Elizabeth are found, not among the Brownists, but among the hated, maligned, and much-suffering Anabaptist. The history of that remarkable sect has yet to be written, and when justice has been done to them a memorable and heroic chapter will have been added to the history of the world. The Anabaptists were Puritans before Puritanism had sprung into recognized existence, and held substantially all that the Puritans afterwards contended for…"1 1Puritanism in the... Read more →

Tom Nettles and the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

In part I, we rehearsed the historical relationship Dr. Tom Nettles, professor of historical theology, at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has had with Founders Ministries since its inception in 1982. Nettles still sits on the board of directors for Founders Ministries. Nor has Dr. Nettles been rhetorically shy about stating in forceful language precisely how he sees those Traditional Baptists who deviate from what Director of Founders Ministries, Tom Ascol, has called "historic Southern Baptist Orthodoxy." Nettles wrote: >>> Southern Baptist beginnings were self-consciously and vigorously Calvinistic. This is... Read more →

We're down to 2 Point Calvinism by Peter Lumpkins

This week was an interesting week on SBC Tomorrow. On Wednesday, we offered a piece on Andrew Broaddus (1770-1848), a legendary figure in his own time... >>> A strict Baptist of the south, Broaddus remained a positive influence for evangelical Christianity all over the region. The famed Calvinist, J.B. Jeter, a friend and supporter who preached Broaddus' funeral homily, hailed him as the most formidable foe against whom Alexander Campbell contended on the historic Baptist side of the Campbellite controversy, a controversy which wreaked havoc on 19th century Baptists. Yet,... Read more →

Tom Ascol, Regeneration, and the Baptist Faith and Message by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Tom Ascol, Director of Founders Ministries, is presently doing a lengthy series1 of responses to the recent Traditional Statement (TS) released by Dr. Eric Hankins, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Oxford, MS. As indicated here and elsewhere many times since the initial TS release, Hankins' statement of faith generated a sizeable amount of criticism—both sober and vitriolic in nature--particularly but predictably from Baptist Calvinists. Even Al Mohler publicly lamented the document's creation and content; and thankfully, Mohler represented the more sober criticism to date even if TS supporters understandably took... Read more →

Calvinists recruit W.A. Criswell to their cause by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Tom Ascol is Director of Founders Ministries, the largest network of Calvinists affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Founders Ministries maintains that since Southern Baptists have “lost the gospel”, it apparently will be up to like-minded Calvinists like themselves to assist us in finding the gospel* >>> *I remain very much aware I broke my own ususal standard in posting such a long piece. I only hope I have not presumed upon my readership for whom I am always thankful... Of course, their understanding of the gospel is summed... Read more →

Al Mohler and Hyper-Calvinism vs.The Traditional Statement and Semi-Pelagianism by Peter Lumpkins

I’m told one of the high-lights of the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina was the formal exchange between Drs. Al Mohler and Paige Patterson on the biblical doctrine of election. Entitled “Reaching Today's World Through Differing Views of Election” each speaker took a different perspective on biblical election, Calvinistic and non-Calvinistic respectively. Especially enlightening are Al Mohler’s words defending Five Point Calvinism against the charge of Hyper-Calvinism >>> Some Background First Some billed the exchange between Mohler and Patterson as a dream come true while... Read more →

Reformed Theology coming under more published scrutiny by Peter Lumpkins

The publication of Whosoever Will (edted by Drs. David Allen and Steve Lemke) was the result of The John 3:16 Conference held at the Woodstock First Baptist Church November 6-7, 2008. Contra some Southern Baptist Calvinists' unwavering confidence, the scholarly contributions in Whosoever Will demonstrated that Reformed theology is not the only, viable theological kid on the block. In fact, the composite thrust of the contributors to Whosoever Will makes it fairly clear that strict Calvinism as a system must be abandoned for a more robust biblicism >>> Since the... Read more →

Al Mohler: "Calvinism is the shape of our future" by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, Dr. Al Mohler spoke to the annual meeting of Baptist state convention editors and made this plain but provocative remark concerning the theological future of Southern Baptists >>> "Calvinism is the shape of the future, because the options otherwise don’t very much exist" When will Southern Baptists finally admit we're facing an inevitable head-on collision with aggressive Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention? More in an upcoming post... With that, I am... Peter Read more →

The Calvinists are here: a guest editorial by Gerald Harris

UPDATE: the word is LifeWay is preparing a detailed response to Gerald Harris' essay and is scheduled to post this evening on Baptist Press. I'm anticipating precisely what facts in the essay LifeWay intends to dispute. ======================= Below is the current editorial in The Christian Index, the Georiga Baptist Convention's state paper. Dr. Gerald Harris has served as editor of The Christian Index since May 2003. We happily publish by permission Dr. Harris' latest editoral, "The Calvinists are here" >>> SBC Tomorrow welcomes Gerald Harris as guest contributor* John Calvin... Read more →

Calvinists react to Jerry Vines interview (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

Calvinists react to Jerry Vines interview Part I may be found here. Part II is below and focuses on Joshua Breland's piece on Jerry Vines >>> Part II A brief rejoinder to Breland’s “lengthy response” to Jerry Vines may be helpful. First, Breland criticizes Vines because “citing Calvinism as the reason for current division within the SBC is not helpful to the discussion.” Why? Because, according to Breland, since “Calvinism neither walks nor talks” but is a mere “system of theology”, Breland concludes “ Calvinism is not creating division in... Read more →

Calvinists react to Jerry Vines interview (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

SBC Today, the rising star among Southern Baptist blogs, has continued a helpful series of posts interviewing well-known personalities throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. Mentionables include Jim Richards, Fred Luter, Brad Whit, Bryant Wright, Mac Brunson, Emir Caner, Ergun Caner, Johnny Hunt, Frank Cox, Steve Rummage, Hayes Wicker, Frank Page, and the most recent, Jerry Vines >>> Like many of the Conservative Resurgence leaders including Adrian Rogers and Paige Patterson, Jerry Vines remains a household name among those Southern Baptists who marched arm-in-arm through the 20 year+ battle over the... Read more →

A. H. Newman on the "Radical Reformers" by Peter Lumpkins

The eminent church historian, Albert Henry Newman (1852–1933) was one of the founders of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. An accomplished scholar recognized by a broad, prestigious society of reputable historians, Newman wrote several standard works on Christian history including Baptist history >>> In 1894, A History of the Baptist Churches in the United States was released and enjoyed several subsequent reprints. In an introductory section entitled "Relation of Baptists to Other Bodies of Christians" Newman had this to say concerning our Baptist roots in the Reformation: Baptists have, for the... Read more →

New Blog at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary by Peter Lumpkins

Just to show you how 'out of it' I've been for the last several weeks so far as keeping up with SBC affairs, I missed the launch of Southwestern seminary's blog--Theological Matters--theological insights from Southwestern >>> We welcome Southwestern's insights and anticipate valuable contributions from the faculty who are the authors on the blog. How ideal if all six SBC seminaries logged helpful material for us. Perhaps Southern Baptist bloggers would have fared far better had we had their scholarly insights sooner. Even so, I want to profile a 5-part... Read more →

Southern Baptists Move Away from Rigid Calvinism: The Influence of F.H. Kerfoot: by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Franklin Howard Kerfoot (1847-1901) though not a name widely recognized in Baptist circles today was, during the latter quarter of the 19th century, a formidable leader among Southern Baptists. He served as pastor, denominational leader and seminary professor. Dr. Kerfoot was born a Virginian but died a Georgian. After serving in the Confederate Army for a short period, he enrolled in Columbian College in Washington D.C. and excelled in his studies such that, in only three years, he received his M.S. and L.L.B. which normally took six. Afterward, Kerfoot... Read more →

Professor Roger Olson: An Interview Part Two

Dr. Olson, in the Introduction to Arminian Theology: Myths & Realities, you write: “The thesis of this book is that Arminianism is at a disadvantage in this controversy because it is so rarely understood and so commonly misinterpreted both by its critics and its supposed defenders.” But Dr. Olson, I hear so often that Arminianism is rampant in America’s pulpit--usually by Calvinist apologists. What do you make of that? Well, it’s a misunderstanding. What’s rampant in America’s pulpit and pews are not Arminians but semi-Pelagians. But what has happened is... Read more →