Greatest Baptist Theologian of the 20th C

He is probably too young to be considered, but James Emory White is very sharp. His writings first appeared in the late 20th century- late 80's into the 90's. He is very popular among younger Pastor's today, but his theological depth is revered by young and old(er).

 

Hey Major B,

Where in Mayfield? I stayed and worked in Fancy Farm for a while.

For what it is worth I would think that it is difficult to identify one man that is the greatest theologian.

For this reason perhaps Brother Mark stated as he did the studying preaching pastor is the greatest.

Then, those who have dedicated their lives to educate those studying preaching pastors who are moved to increase their education.

The error comes in when we begin to look toward the ph.d's rather than the witness of the Spirit in the preaching.

I have dealt with some lay members and a few trained preachers, who assume because I am uneducated in Theology, my calling is less sincere than a man who has devoted a portion of his life to that study.

That is an extreme on the other side.

I am in agreement with Brother Mark on this question in both his posts. We should be mature enough, education or not, we ought to have been educated at the feet of Christ and have first learned the ability to speak and receive what is spoken in an humble mind.

Otherwise, we become as sounding brass, loud, but no substance.

Bro. Dallas Eaton

 

Actually what I wrote was, "no influential textbooks." I don't deny that Pink had influence. But frankly, I believe that influence would be almost exclusively among those Baptists of Calvinistic bent. Strong, however, through his systematic theology, theologically influenced all branches of Baptists. And that's my two yen worth!

 

Just curious and off topic - is that unusual for Mid-America Seminary? I looked at their site and it mentioned "We believe that a New Testament church is a voluntary association of baptized believers in Christ who have covenanted together to follow the teachings of the New Testament in doctrine, worship, and practice." I noticed no mention of the universal church.

In what I assume is the intent of the question, I think I will answer B. H. Carroll. He seems to have been influential in several directions among Baptists. I don't think I've been overly impressed with one much above another as far as the 20th century goes. If you were asking 19th, I might say John Leadley Dagg - and John Gill for the 18th.

But I tend to agree with Brothers Mark and Dallas, except I might even say just those who have faithfully studied and lived the Bible whether pastors or not. I think of a preacher who just passed away. He was well educated and even taught Hebrew in seminary for awhile, until he gave up the position rather than give up his convictions. He ministered to his people faithfully and pretty much unnoticed by the world at large, yet the preachers who studied under him - quite a few,and not just in seminary, but in his churches - are out in the highways and hedges carrying on the work of the Lord. I know a 92 yr. old Baptist deacon who finished high school (only 11 grades back then & no kindergarten), never went to college or Bible school, worked hard all his life and studied the Bible at night. I worked with him on a public job almost every day for 15 years. He was not perfect, but he lived what he believed and taught. I learned more from him than any teacher, preacher or theologian I've ever known. And, blessing on blessing, there was another Baptist deacon who worked with us who was also true to his talk in his walk.

I think it is the multiplication of individual after individual just like these who have the real down to earth impact on us and our faith. Nevertheless, I do not discount the work of others more visible.

"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."

 

Discussions like this almost invariably center around well known figures who were either seminary/university professors or writers (and usually men who were both). That assumes that the "greatest theologian" of a certain period will be from among the popular and well known acedemians.

Whatever else you might say about the "theologians" of the 20th century - even the supposedly conservative ones - most of them laid up in bed with infidels and modernists and thus facilitated the wholesale theological rape of the Baptist denomination.

Baptist acedemia went into the 20th century debating the inerrancy of the Scriptures and came out debating the rightness or wrongness of sexual perversion. That ought to tell you a little about the whole ungodly and sordid affair.

Mark Osgatharp

 

Actually what I wrote was, "no influential textbooks." I don't deny that Pink had influence. But frankly, I believe that influence would be almost exclusively among those Baptists of Calvinistic bent. Strong, however, through his systematic theology, theologically influenced all branches of Baptists. And that's my two yen worth! </font>[/QUOTE]Elmer Towns is no calvinist, and he said that Pink's Exposition of John was the best commentary ever done on that book. J.I. Packer, Montgomery Boice, John MacArthur, and others freely quote Pink.

Also one could add about 30 titles all told that Pink wrote, including The Attributes of God, The Atonement, The Sermon on the Mount, The Holy Spirit, The Interpretation of the Scriptures, Exposition of Hebrews, The Life of Elijah, the 7-volume Gleanings series, etc.

[ January 03, 2006, 11:39 PM: Message edited by: Major B ]

 

You need to quit reading those liberals. I don't know of any leading SBC theologian today who "debates" homosexuality's sinfulness, nor, for that matter any independent.

Piper, Mohler, Patterson, Whitney, Erikson, Grudem, MacArthur, Stanley--the list could go on--no one I read teaches this. What the CBF and ABC do is of no concern, because there are individual states with more conservative Baptists than all their members put together.

 

I have heard the name, but Charles Blair probably knows more than me--he's been around here since the late 50's, and was the VP at Mid Continent years ago.

 

Packer, MacArthur and Boice are all Calvinists, and none are Baptists, proving my point. That leaves us with Elmer Towns, hardly an expert on theology, IMO. Hmm, is that now 4 yen?

 

W.A. Criswell said that Mac most certainly was a Baptist, albeit by another name.

What other Baptist theologians are freely quoted by highly influential conservative theologians outside Baptist confines?

The problem with Pink for academics is that they hate the fact that he made heavy theology accessible for the common folk.

 

Well, as much as I like Criswell, his word is not final for me. I'd have to hear Mac himself say he was Baptist, and he ain't gonna do that! Personally, I think his ecclesiology is far from Baptist, but maybe that's just me.

As far as Pink being quoted by influential theologians, I still believe that would only be Calvinist theologians. To me, the OP points to someone influential among all Baptists. To my knowledge, Pink has very little influence among IBFers, and I doubt if he has across-the-board influence amond SBCers, either.

John R. Rice also "made heavy theology accessible for the common folk," but he sold a lot more books than Pink.

 

Packer, MacArthur and Boice are all Calvinists, and none are Baptists, proving my point. That leaves us with Elmer Towns, hardly an expert on theology, IMO. Hmm, is that now 4 yen? </font>[/QUOTE]John,
I wonder why you feel this way about Elmer Towns? I will admit I do have a positive bias due to my personal opinion of Dr. Towns, but disregarding this, he is still a strong theologian. He was the Co-founder of Liberty University and his books are used to teach most of the undergrad theology and Bible classes (the general ed religion courses). I would assume if Dr.Towns is a sub-par theologian then most LU undergrads will be as well. I hope this is not the case and I would urge you to read some of his work if you have not done so. God bless.

 

Okay, Brice, I'll have to flip here. Thanks for the information. Sorry, I didn't know those things about Dr. Towns. Comes of being a little isolated over here in Japan, I guess (my only excuse ). All I've read by him is his book on church growth years ago--I forget the title.

God bless all.

 

Okay, Brice, I'll have to flip here. Thanks for the information. Sorry, I didn't know those things about Dr. Towns. Comes of being a little isolated over here in Japan, I guess (my only excuse ). All I've read by him is his book on church growth years ago--I forget the title.

God bless all. </font>[/QUOTE]John,

Thank you for the consideration you gave my post. I sat under Dr. Towns for 3 different classes at LU, so I am definitely biased, but I have a great deal of respect for him. In reading your posts, I notice that we probably see a few things differently, but I have a lot of respect for you and your opinion as a brother in Christ. Anyway, thanks again for the thoughtfulness in your response and God bless.

 

Pete gets my vote too.

 

I didn't say that all the acedemic "theologians" endorsed perversion any more than I said that they all questioned the inerrancy of the Scriptures.

What I said is that in Baptist acedemia these issues were debated and they were. The very fact that so called "Baptist" schools would allow such debates to go on in the name of "acedemic freedom" demonstrates the moral and spiritual poverty of the system.

And while I gladly acknowledge that the Southern Baptists have made great strides in this area, they are by no means in the clear. The historically Southern Baptist colleges and universities are severing, or attempting to sever, their ties with the SBC right and left (one of the latest casualties is Mercer which has become alienated because it allows gay activism on campus).

On top of that, the so called "moderates" - read Baptist infidels - are still in control of two major historic Baptist state organizations - Virginia and Texas. So don't tell me that they all just went away.

As for the northern Baptists, they are full steam ahead with modernism.

Mark Osgatharp

 

Then Rice is out as well.