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19th century Baptist scholars Albert Arnold and David Ford on infants dying in infancy--'grace in Christ secures salvation of all with no personal sins to answer for'

In their commentary on Romans 5:18, 19th century Baptist New Testament scholars Albert Arnold and D.B. Ford write: “A few words in regard to the future condition of those dying in infancy. We scarcely need an apostle to tell us that a condemnation and death has been visited upon them on account of sin not their own; hence on account of Adam's transgression. A part of this penalty they, in common with us all, must suffer. The great trouble respecting their case has reference to the evil that is in... Read more →

Southern Baptist theologian E. C. Dargan on John 3:16 as 'simple illustration of man's free choice'

“For God's love is as great as his ways are wonderful. With that same authoritative tone unchanged, and even a higher claim asserted, with that mysterious doctrine of a new birth unrepealed, and presenting a simple illustration of man's free choice, the Heavenly Teacher comes to the grand culmination. He states the most glorious and important truth ever proposed to man's acceptance: "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." O ruler among the... Read more →

Baptist theologian Alvah Hovey -- 'all infants dying in infancy regenerated'

“At this point it may be proper to notice the relation of the propitiatory death of Christ to children who die in infancy. So far as now appears, such children are put in no practical relation to the atonement, unless it be by the secret and renewing work of the Spirit. Assuming, as we must, that this life is the only period of grace for mankind as sinners, and that the death of Christ was in some way for all our race, it follows that dying infants are regenerated by... Read more →

Baptist theologian E. H. Johnson--'Scripture does not state dying infants are saved but justifies such an inference'

E. H. Johnson was a well-known Baptist pastor and theologian in the latter quarter of the 19th century. According to one archived newspaper report, Johnson pastored churches in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. He also served successfully as interim pastor, once following his friend and colleague, James M. Pendleton at the historic Upland Baptist Church in Upland, Pa. In 1882, Johnson became professor of systematic theology at Crozer Theological Seminary, Chester, Pa. While teaching at Crozer, he wrote his An Outline of Systematic Theology which went through five editions (1895).... Read more →

Influential 19th Century Baptist Andrew Broaddus--'infants saved by virtue of the death of Christ'

According to Baptist Calvinist, J.B. Jeter, Andrew Broaddus (1770-1848) remained a Baptist legend in 19th century Virginia. Broaddus’ rhetorical skills and keen intellect apparently made him a theological "genius" of sorts (p.45). Jeter's description of Broaddus surely places him in the position of being one of the most influential Baptists during the first half of the 19th century. In his Sermons and Other Writings, Broaddus indicated concerning infant baptism and infant salvation: “If there were no other way of saving infants but by the gospel and its ordinances, they would... 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 →

Baptist scholar Alexander Carson--'by the Gospel no infant can be saved'

Certainly; if there were no way of saving children but by the Gospel, this conclusion [i.e. that infant salvation would be impossible] would be inevitable. The Gospel saves none but by faith. But the Gospel has nothing to do with infants, nor have Gospel ordinances any respect to them. The Gospel has to do with those who hear it. It is good news; but to infants it is not news at all. They know nothing of it. The salvation of the Gospel is as much confined to believers, as the... 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 →

19th Century Southern Baptist scholar P. H. Mell--'infants are saved but not by the Gospel'

Patrick Hues Mell (1814-1888) is said to have "held more official positions in Baptist life at every level than any other Southern Baptist in history," holding the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention a staggering 26 terms. Mell is considered a strict Calvinist on virtually anybody's terms and by some an "original founder" of the Southern Baptist Convention. Below is a selection from Mell's book, Baptism In Its Mode and Subjects published by the Southern Baptist Publication Society, Memphis Tennessee (1854). Speaking of the nature of the Great Commission being... Read more →

Southern Baptist Publication Society--‘The human being that dies in infancy will be saved but not through faith’

“Through Abraham the blessing descends upon all who have Abraham's faith, and upon no others. All who die in infancy, we have reason to believe, are saved; but as infants have no faith, they are not entitled to membership in visible churches” (italics original here and below p.22) “If one asks, Who are the children of the covenant, the true reply is, The children of Abraham. If it is asked, Who are the children of Abraham, the true reply is, They that have Abraham's faith. As infants cannot believe, they... Read more →

Southern Baptist historian George W. Purefoy--'that infants are incapable must be obvious to every unprejudiced and reflecting mind'

Reflecting upon the Great Commission from our Lord in Mark 16:15-16 and Matthew 28:19-20, Baptist pastor and historian George W. Purefoy wrote: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,” &c. Here the baptism of none is recognized but of those that are taught and believe. Infants are incapable of being taught, of believing, or of observing the things that Christ had commanded; consequently, by the Savior’s commission, they are excluded from baptism. This must be... Read more →

Georgia Baptist Association--'not principally held and preached among us that God damns infants'

At the request of the Georgia Baptist Association, one of the leading Baptists in the south, Jesse Mercer, compiled a History of the Georgia Baptist Association first published in 1838. In Part 2 entitled "Queries Propounded and Answered" Mercer qualifies the sources for the section from which the question below is taken stating the "Queries and Answers [were found] upon an old sheet of paper, which appears to be a part of the Minutes of some of the first Sessions of the Association; but as this document has no date,... Read more →

19th Century Baptist theologian J.M. Pendleton on infant salvation--'unaccountable infants saved without faith not by faith'

"It will be said by those who oppose the views of Baptists—for it has been said a thousand times—that if infants are not to be baptized because they cannot believe, they will not be saved because they cannot believe. If the salvation of infants depends on their faith, they cannot be saved. They are incapable of faith. They are doubtless saved through the mediation of Christ, but it is not by faith. Our opponents fail egregiously to accomplish their object in urging this objection to our views. They must intend... Read more →

Baptist theologian Millard Erickson on infants dying in infancy--'difficult to maintain them as sinful, condemned, and lost'

"While the status of infants and those who never reach moral competence is a difficult question, it appears that our Lord did not regard them as under condemnation. Indeed, he held them up as an example of the type of person who will inherit the kingdom of God (Matt. 18:3; 19:14). David had confidence that he would again see his child who had died (2 Sam. 12:23). On the basis of such considerations, it is difficult to maintain that children are to be thought of as sinful, condemned, and lost."1... Read more →

Southern Baptist scholar John Broadus on infants dying in infancy--'No question those dying in infancy are saved'

John Broadus (1827–1895), second president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, unequivocally asserted his view of all infants dying in infancy in his classic commentary on Matthew's gospel amidst his exposition of 19:14--"But Jesus said, 'Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'” Broadus concludes: "No question is here made that those dying in infancy are saved. They are saved through the atonement of Christ and the work of the Spirit, but this must... Read more →

Puritan Calvinist Issac Watts on the state of dying infants--'annihilation on one hand and resurrection on the other'

pic source Puritan minister Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748) was pastor of a large Congregational church in London and perhaps best known as the "Father of English Hymnody" Watts wrote over 750 hymns, including "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," "I Sing the Mighty Power of God," "Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed," and "Joy to the World," many hymns of which are still favorites in the Baptist Hymnal. Watts also wrote a book on formal logic which used at Oxford for over... Read more →

Baptist Confession of 1679--'all little children dying in infancy saved by the grace of God'

The following statements are taken from An Orthodox Creed, a confession of faith composed by British Baptists in 1679. The confession can be read in its entirety on the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary website (//link). “Neither do we believe, that Infants dying in Infancy without Baptism, go to Purgatory or Limbus Infantum, as they erroneously teach” (XXVIII. Article, Of the right Subject and Administration of Holy Baptism) “Nor are little Infants, that cannot examine themselves, nor give Account of their Faith, nor understand what is signified by the outward signs... Read more →

English Baptist C.H. Spurgeon--'[it's] a wicked calumny that we hold the damnation of little infants'

"Among the gross falsehoods which have been uttered against the Calvinists proper, is the wicked calumny that we hold the damnation of little infants. A baser lie was never uttered. There may have existed somewhere, in some corner of the earth, a miscreant who would dare to say that there were infants in hell, but I have never met with him nor have I met with a man who ever saw such a person"1 C.H. Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume VII, Sermon #385, "Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace."... Read more →

London Quarterly Review, Sir Charles Lyell's second visit to America, and the demise of old school Calvinism

In 1849, The London Quarterly Review published a synopsis of Sir Charles Lyell's two volume set entitled A Second Visit to the United States, in the Years 1845-6. In it Lyell noted churches "of every religious denomination: Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, Free-Will Baptists, Universalists, Unitarians, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and Quakers, all living harmoniously together. The late Governor or the State was a Unitarian: and as if to prove the perfect toleration of churches the most opposed to each other, they have recently had a Roman Catholic Governor.' —vol. i. p. 48."1... Read more →

Texas Southern Baptist Joseph W.D. Creath--'Baptist position since days of Christ is all infants dying in infancy are saved'

Few Southern Baptists have ever heard of J. W.D. Creath much less know him as a Baptist hero. Undoubtedly, eternity will reveal many of this unsung Baptist's efficacious labors for the Kingdom of Christ. Cathcart's Baptist encyclopedia describes Creath as "the most apostolic man in Texas."1 Born in Virginia in 1809, educated at Virginia Baptist Seminary (at the time of Cathcart's writing, it was Richmond College), and after pastoring for several years in his home state, was appointed by the Domestic Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention as a... Read more →

Calvinists and Pelagius agreed on the status of infants dying in infancy?

It appears some modern day Calvinists express a similar agnosticism toward infants dying in infancy as did Pelagius. When pushed by Augustine, Pelagius said, “Where they are not, I know; where they are, I know not” (//link). While Augustine's nemesis was certain infants were not in hell, he offered no firm answer as to where they were. On the other hand, while some Calvinists do not want to say some infants dying in infancy go to hell, neither will they affirm whether some or all infants go to heaven. They... Read more →

Saint Augustine--'first to teach infant damnation'

pic source "It was Augustine who first taught the damnation of infants (see Baptism, II.,1, § 3); but their sufferings, though eternal, are of the mildest character (De peccatorum meritis, i. 16); indeed, it seemed to him doubtful whether they were punished at all. The Roman Church, accepting Augustine's conceptions of the necessity of baptism to salvation and of the mildness of the punishment of those infants who died unbaptized, agreed with him that they were sent to hell and assigned to them a distinct place in it, the limbus... 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 →

Southern Baptist theologian and statesman E.Y. Mullins--'denominations generally--except Baptists--much perplexed over salvation of infants dying in infancy until recent years'

Mullins writes: "...Baptists have been the only adequate interpreters of the Reformation. … "The denominations generally, except Baptists, have been much perplexed over the salvation of infants dying in infancy, until recent years. Our Confession of 1660 contains a distinct article declaring that all infants dying in infancy are saved. I quote Article 10, p. 112: 'That all children dying in infancy, having not actually transgressed against the law of God in their own persons, are only subject to the first death, which comes upon them by the first Adam,... Read more →

No Southern Baptist should be 'in limbo' over Infants dying and going to Hell! by Ron F. Hale

Dr. Gerald Harris, the editor of the Christian Index, asked a pressing question in a recent editorial concerning the report of the Calvinism Advisory Team.1 He asked, "What Southern Baptists are there who do not believe that those who die before they are capable of moral action go to heaven?" His query is based on a section in the report that says, "We agree that most Southern Baptists believe that those who die before they are capable of moral action go to heaven through the grace of God and the... Read more →

19th Century Southern Baptist pastor and denominational statesman R.B.C. Howell--'all children dying in infancy are saved with an everlasting salvation'

"We repudiate the doctrine of infant baptism, and of infant damnation. We denounce all their accompaniments, and consequences. If God is just and good, if reason deserves respect, if the Gospel is true, if the merits of Christ are efficacious, if the Holy Spirit is not bound by the control of men, and tied down to forms and ordinances, then all children dying in infancy, irrespective of any relation with the church, and without regard to baptism or any other ordinance, are saved with an everlasting salvation, by the grace... Read more →

'frightful dogma'...'abominable heresy'--Baptist Calvinist Richard Fuller on infant damnation

"A fourth reason why infant baptism ought to cease. It reflects injuriously upon God, and tarnishes the glory of the atonement. It originated in the frightful dogma of infant damnation; and still connives at and fosters that abominable heresy. It nourishes, also, that other heresy to which men are so prone, which detracts from the fulness and freeness of the atonement; for it insinuates that we must do something, or our children cannot be saved” (italics original) --Richard Fuller, Baptism, and the Terms of Communion; An Argument, 1850, p.171 Read more →

Will "Infant Damnation Presbyterians" spawn "Infant Damnation Southern Baptists"? Part 2

In Part 1, I reprinted an article from The Baltimore Sun, May 26, 1908, an article reflecting the turmoil between Presbyterians who desired to change the Westminster Confession because it taught the eternal damnation of some infants and those Presbyterians who insisted the Confession should remain as it was originally written. One of the leaders was J.B. Mack, a well-known Presbyterian pastor, theologian, church planter and evangelist appointed by the Synod of Georgia. Below is an article written by Mack and originally published in The Atlanta Constitution, December 23, 1900.... Read more →

Philip Schaff--'Baptists and Quakers were first to teach salvation of infants apart from baptism'

“The Baptists and Quakers were the first organized Christian communities which detached salvation from ecclesiastical ordinances and taught the salvation of unbaptizecl infants and unbaptized but believing adults.” --Philip Schaff, The Oldest Church Manual Called The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, 1886, pp.56-57 Read more →

'it is most just, exceeding just'--Jonathan Edwards on the damnation of infants

"[I]t is most just, exceeding just, that God should take the soul of a new-born infant and cast it into eternal torments" J. Edwards, The "Miscellanies," Entry Nos. a–z, aa–zz, 1–500, entry N I'm indebted to John J. Bombaro who pointed me in the direction of a clear, concise statement of Edward's position on God's justice in damning infants to eternal torment in Bombaro's unpublished doctoral dissertation for King's College, the University of London, entitled "Beautiful Beings: The Function of the Reprobate in the Philosophical-Theology of Jonathan Edwards" (2001). Read more →

Scripture silent on slavery and infant damnation

“Let no man oppose this movement by forbidding the holding of slaves, until he can produce divine authority for the prohibition” --J.L. Dagg, Southern Baptist Calvinist theologian in The Elements of Moral Science (1860, pp.346-347) “Let no man oppose infant damnation by forbidding the belief of burning babies in hell, until he can produce divine authority for the prohibition” --apparently, at least some Southern Baptist leaders entertain similarly this view Read more →

Will "Infant Damnation Presbyterians" spawn "Infant Damnation Southern Baptists"? Part 1

Below is an article printed in The Baltimore Sun, May 26, 1908. The article reflects the turmoil among Presbyterians who desired to change the Westminster Confession because it taught the eternal damnation of some infants and those Presbyterians who insisted the Confession should remain as it was originally written. According to Dr. J.B. Mack, a well-known Presbyterian theologian and evangelist in the south, those who wanted to retain the Confession as it was written by Westminster divines were called “I.D.P.’s” standing for “Infant Damnation Presbyterians” and those desiring to change... 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 →

Interview on The Janet Mefferd Show pertaining to the sexual abuse of children

On Monday, I had an opportunity to speak with Christian Talk-show host, Janet Mefferd, about the resolution against the sexual abuse of children passed at this year's Southern Baptist Convention. For those of you who did not listen in, below is the brief interview1: As I indicated in the interview2 I have no plans to allow this issue to drop. Already, I have verbal interest or commitment from pastors or churchmen/churchwomen in several states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and of course... 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 →

Interview on The Janet Mefferd Show

I'm scheduled for an interview by Janet Mefferd on The Janet Mefferd Show this afternoon at 4:15 (EST) to talk about the resolution on the sexual abuse of children. For interested readers who can't tune in, I'll post a link to the brief discussion once it's available. Read more →

Resolution on Sexual Abuse of Children adopted with amendment

Below is the vetted version of the resolution on sexual abuse of children I originally proposed. In blue text is an amendment I offered reinserting what I felt was a valid concern toward convention leaders and employees of the Southern Baptist Convention and their relationships with organizations and/or individuals with disturbing policies and practices in protecting our children. How timely for Southern Baptists to not only endorse a statement strongly encouraging pastors and churches to openly and forthrightly handle abusive situations with children, thus demonstrating that protecting our children is... Read more →

The Calvinism Advisory Committee report online...

The committee Frank Page put together to consider how to approach the continued conflict Calvinism has become in the Southern Baptist Convention has published its report. Entitled TRUTH, TRUST, and TESTIMONY in a TIME of TENSION: A Statement from the Calvinism Advisory Committee, the reader may find it in the current online edition of SBC Life. For your convenience, I posted a link below so the reader may download it as a PDF file. I do not want to comment on the report itself before carefully reading it first. But... Read more →

Resolution on Sexual Abuse of Children by Peter Lumpkins

I've never proposed a resolution before. Truth is, I've not written one either. But if this issue is not a valid subject about which Southern Baptists should publicly express a strong voice, I'm not sure what qualifies as an issue we should address. For all its flaws, I just submitted the following resolution to the Resolutions Committee for the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Houston, Texas. As with all resolutions, it has but a small hope it will make it out of committee deliberations. I fully understand this dynamic.... Read more →

Contemporary Reformed authors on John 3:16: Joel Beeke

I've been posting some classic Calvinistic authors' renderings of KOSMOS in John 3:16. Thus far, we've considered: John Owen: KOSMOS = "his elect throughout the world" Arthur W. Pink: KOSMOS = "believers"1 Francis Turretin: KOSMOS = "the elect of every nation" John Gill: KOSMOS = "the Gentile elect of every nation" One thread which ties the above strict Calvinists together pertains to the way they all understand KOSMOS in John 3:16. While Greek language experts carefully catalog multiple usages of KOSMOS in the New Testament as all the authors above... 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 →

Arthur W. Pink vs. Jesus Christ on the World of John 3:16

Here's our Lord Jesus in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (NASB) Here's Arthur W. Pink, strict Calvinist1 and famed Reformed Baptist author, in his rendition of John 3:16: “For God so loved believers, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”2 Do you think Pink has a point in substituting "believers" for "world" in John 3:16? 1Note:... Read more →

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

Here's our Lord Jesus in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (ESV) Here's John Owen, the theological darling of many contemporary Baptist Calvinists, in his rendition of what Jesus said in John 3:16: "God so loved his elect throughout the world, that he gave his Son with this intention, that by him believers might be saved" (The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, p.214) For some reason, there... Read more →

Calvinists and the World of John 3:16: Take Two

I was looking for something else when I ran across this piece I first posted on September 12, 2006. After scanning it, I thought it'd be good to offer a Take Two. Enjoy... ============================================================= In Jesus’ private conversation with Israel’s star Pharisaic pupil, He uttered words that would become the measure by which no other verse in Scripture so encapsulates the basic message of the Gospel: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have... Read more →

More verbal abuse and implications of "heresy" by Baptist Calvinists

UPDATE: one of James White's supporters, Micah Burke, put up a post in response to my piece below. Entitled "Peter Lumpkins doesn't know who he's responding to," Burke suggests my critical commentary below is misdirected toward James White. Instead he claims my criticism presumably should have been directed toward Al Mohler since "Nearly 99% of the quote [the quote below I transcribed from White's broadband broadcast] is actually Al Mohler's own words" (italics and link original). What a rip-roaring revelation! I'd never thought of that! Of course, Burke (he apparently... Read more →

Baptist Press reports on the 2013 John 3:16 Conference

Baptist Press posted a good summary article on The 2013 John 3:16 Conference held at North Metro First Baptist Church March 21-22. It rightly cast the differences between the earlier conference as a planned response to each of the five-points Calvinism (T.U.L.I.P.) and this year's conference: "This year's event focused on six key questions pointing to theological differences between the conference's speakers and those Southern Baptists who identify with Calvinism or the Reformed tradition. The sessions included both professorial and pastoral presentations by Baptist college and seminary leaders as well... Read more →