Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Historical Theology

Kevin Bauder on the Dissolution of Pillsbury

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Earlier this week Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, a fundamentalist college in Owatonna, Minnesota, published this announcement:

The Pillsbury Baptist Bible College Board of Trustees has announced that the college will cease academic activities on December 31, 2008. National economic conditions combined with deficits caused by declining enrollment have exhausted Pillsbury’s financial reserves, leaving the college without funds to complete the school year.

[Read more…] about Kevin Bauder on the Dissolution of Pillsbury

Carson’s 7-Minute Extemporaneous Overview of The Gospel Coalition

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In my recent post “D. A. Carson: ‘Making Sense of Suffering,'” I wrote this:

DAC also led a pastor’s session on “Preaching and Biblical Theology.”

After his hour-long address on biblical theology, DAC was asked to “say something about The Gospel Coalition” (59:24 to 1:06:10 in the MP3). Since people often ask, “What exactly is The Gospel Coalition?”, I turned DAC’s useful extemporaneous overview of TGC into this 7-minute MP3.

Related:

  1. from my recommended theological writings page: *The Gospel Coalition (D. A. Carson, Tim Keller, et al.): “Who We Are,” council members, foundational docs (preamble, confessional statement, theological vision for ministry), resources (including video interviews and video Q&A), and Themelios
  2. from my post “TGC Videos“: Introduction to The Gospel Coalition (In order of appearance: Carson, Dever, Ryken, Keller, Harris, Anyabwile, Mahaney, Carson, Keller, Piper)

Calvin on the Necessity of Exegesis, Dogmatics, and Preaching

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Gerald Bray summarizes John Calvin’s hermeneutic with six statements, concluding with this one (Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present [Downers Grove: IVP, 1996], 203-4, emphasis in original):

6. Biblical interpretation passes through three distinct but related phases. If any one of these phases is omitted, the text will not be interpreted properly. The three phases are exegesis (represented by his commentaries); dogmatics (represented by his Institutes); and preaching (represented by his sermons). . . .

Perhaps the best way to appreciate the necessity of holding these three things together in harmony is by looking at what happens if one of them is left out. [1] Exegesis and dogmatics without preaching are dry and academic; there is no application. [2] Exegesis and preaching with no dogmatics are subjective and contentless; a passage of Scripture will be interpreted without regard for its proper context in the Word of God as a whole. [3] Finally, dogmatics and preaching without exegesis are mere propaganda; they are not based on a proper assimilation of the facts. Only as all three are held together in proper balance can the message of Scripture be properly applied to the life of the church, and God’s people be edified as they are meant to be.

Kevin Bauder on Biblical Separation

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Kevin Bauder recently presented a ten-part seminar on “Biblical Separation” at International Bible College in Tempe, Arizona.

    1. Images of Christian Unity: The Flock and the New Humanity (9.16.2008)
    2. Images of Christian Unity: Body (9.16.2008)
    3. The Basis of Christian Unity and Jesus’ High-Priestly Prayer — Part 1 (9.16.2008)
    4. The Basis of Christian Unity and Jesus’ High-Priestly Prayer — Part 2 (9.16.2008)
    5. The Nature of the Gospel (9.17.2008)
    6. The Notion of Fundamentals and Levels of Doctrine (9.17.2008)
    7. Departures from the Gospel and Basic Separation (9.17.2008)
    8. The Whole Counsel and Levels of Christian Fellowship (9.18.2008)
    9. Discipline Offenses in the Church and Beyond (9.18.2008)
    10. The Problem of Indifferentism (9.18.2008)

      I have not listened to the MP3s yet (they are downloading as I type), but I would be surprised if this seminar is not a thoughtful, reasonable, respectful, logical argument for separation as held by historic fundamentalists. Kevin Bauder is a sharp thinker and gifted theologian. If you don’t have much exposure to fundamentalism or if the exposure you’ve had to it has been disappointing, you may be pleasantly surprised with Bauder. (Some of his writings are available here.)

      TGC Videos

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      The Gospel Coalition recently uploaded nine short videos.

      About The Gospel Coalition

      About TGC’s 2009 National Conference

      More info about the conference here. Register here.

      Kevin Bauder: “Baptist Church Cooperation”

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      Kevin Bauder just finished another thoughtful series of short essays: “Baptist Church Cooperation.”

      1. Introduction
      2. The Associational Principle
      3. The Service Organization
      4. The Approval System
      5. The Preachers’ Fellowship
      6. The Ecclesiastical Conglomerate
      7. The Ad Hoc Model
      8. The End of the Matter

      Note: Central Seminary emails these essays every Friday afternoon. You can join the mailing list (as well as access the archives) here.