| Praised, maligned, and misunderstood, the effects of Old Princeton Seminary have towered over theological discussion for a century. From the time God raised up this school in 1812 until 1929, the Princeton theologians were the stalwarts of experimental, Calvinistic theology. The founders of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary consciously adopted the Princeton Plan as the foundation of instruction for the seminary. Therefore, it is our pleasure to devote our 2012 Spring Theology Conference (the 200th anniversary of Princeton’s founding) to an assessment of Princeton and the practical lessons for the church today. Our aim is to shape the discussion in a practical way that will benefit all who attend. |
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‘From 1812 to 1929, Princeton Theological Seminary represented a coherent, continual effort to teach and practice what the Princetonians believed was historic Reformed Christianity… They taught theology as they found it in the Bible, and as they received it from Augustine, Calvin, Turretin, and, especially, the Westminster Standards. Their lives proved that they were not only scholars teaching the faith-they were Christians living it.’
~ David B. Calhoun ~
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| Be sure to sign up early for this popular annual conference and save. Early Bird registration cut-off is Friday, February 3rd, 2012. |
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| Tuesday : March 13 |
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| 9:30 – 11:00 |
Open House at GPTS |
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| 11:00 – 1:00 |
Registration Table and Bookstore Open at WRPC |
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| 11:15 – 12:15 |
Prospective Student Luncheon at GPTS |
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| 1:00 – 2:15 |
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- Princeton Beginnings (Archibald Alexander)
- Dr. James M. Garretson
- Former pastor of congregations in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Church in America and author of A Scribe Well-Trained: Archibald Alexander and the Life of Piety and Princeton and Preaching: Archibald Alexander and the Christian Ministry.
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| 2:20 – 3:35 |
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- Samuel Miller’s Pastoral Theology
- Mr. Andrew Webb
- Pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
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| 3:35 – 4:00 |
Break |
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| 4:00 – 5:15 |
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- Princeton and the Old Testament
- Dr. Benjamin Shaw
- Academic dean and associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Greenville Seminary.
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| 5:15 – 5:40 |
Question and Answer |
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| 5:40 – 7:00 |
Catered Dinner |
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| 7:00 – 8:30 |
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- Scripture, Inerrancy, and the Role of Reason
- Dr. Paul K. Helseth
- Professor of Christian Thought at Northwestern College, St. Paul, Minnesota, and author of Right Reason and the Princeton Mind: An Unorthodox Proposal.
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| Wednesday : March 14 |
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| 9:00 – 10:15 |
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- Princeton and Missions
- Dr. Tony Curto
- Associate professor of Practical Theology in Missions and Apologetics at Greenville Seminary, and Missionary Evangelist for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to Ethiopia.
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| 10:15 – 10:35 |
Break |
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| 10:35 – 11:55 |
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- Ecclesiology: The Hodge / Thornwell Exchange
- Dr. C.N. Willborn
- Adjunct professor of Church History at Greenville Seminary and pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
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| 12:00 – 1:30 |
Catered Lunch |
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| 1:30 – 2:45 |
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- 19th Century Crosscurrents: Hodge, Finney & Nevin
- Dr. Darryl Hart
- Visiting professor of History at Hillsdale College in Michigan. He has taught at Wheaton College, Westminster Seminary, Westminster Seminary California.
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| 2:50 – 4:05 |
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- Princeton and Evolution/Creation
- Dr. Fred Zaspel
- Pastor at Reformed Baptist Church in Franconia, Pennsylvania. He is the author of The Theology of B.B. Warfield: A Systematic Summary.
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| 4:05 – 4:35 |
Break |
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| 4:35 – 5:20 |
Question and Answer |
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| 5.20 – 7:00 |
Dinner Break |
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| 7:00 – 8:30 |
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- Biblical Rationale for a Reformed Seminary
- Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, Jr.
- President of Greenville Seminary and Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology.
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| Thursday : March 15 |
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| 9:00 – 10:15 |
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- Theological Assessment of B. B. Warfield
- Dr. Carl Trueman
- Professor of Historical Theology and Church History and academic dean/vice president for academic affairs at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.
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| 10:15 – 10:35 |
Break |
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| 10:35 – 11:50 |
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- Machen and the End of Old Princeton
- Dr. Darryl Hart
- Visiting professor of History at Hillsdale College in Michigan. He has taught at Wheaton College, Westminster Seminary, Westminster Seminary California.
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| 11:50 – 12:20 |
Question and Answer |
January 27, 2012
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Dr. David M. VanDrunen
Dr. Godfrey has asked me to write a response to Dordt College president Carl Zylstra’s recent review of my book, Living in God’s Two Kingdoms: A Biblical Vision for Christianity and Culture. Given the very negative tone of the review and the fact that Dordt College and my institution (Westminster Seminary California) both claim to be Reformed institutions and serve overlapping constituencies, I agreed to do so. Zylstra’s review is very disappointing, not because he does not like my conclusions—that is his right and the right of every reader—but because of his complete lack of engagement with the arguments I make in support of my claims, his misleading descriptions of what I say, his ad hominem jabs, and his treating me as an enemy of himself and his institution. I will respond briefly to these features of Zylstra’s review and offer a few comments on an issue he emphasizes: Christian education.
My first point, then, concerns the lack of substantive engagement with my book. Book reviews can take many forms, but some things that every review should do, however briefly, is identify the main claims of the book, describe the arguments by which the author supports his claims, and offer an analysis of the quality of these arguments. Zylstra doesn’t provide any of these. A reader of his review will not learn what the “vision for Christianity and culture” is that I try to provide or why I think this vision is biblical. Zylstra never describes what I mean by the “two kingdoms” doctrine. He does not even mention my detailed discussions of the creation and fall in Genesis 1-3, the successive biblical covenants (with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the church), the significance of Christ as the “Last Adam,” the Sermon on the Mount, and many other biblical themes that are central for questions of Christianity and culture. Likewise, Zylstra does not provide me, as author of the book, any indication of where my extensive biblical arguments have gone wrong. I know that he dislikes my book, but I have no idea where exactly, in his judgment, my interpretation of Scripture has erred. Readers of his review will learn much about Zylstra’s opinions, but exceedingly little about the book he’s supposedly reviewing.
January 27, 2012
Short URL Abraham Kuyper, Calvinism, Christ and Culture, Christ and Education, Christ and Politics, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant Theology, culture wars, Dordt College, Dr. Carl Zylstra, Dr. David VanDrunen, Kuyperianism, Living in God's Two Kingdoms, Living in God's Two Kingdoms: A Biblical Vision for Christianity and Culture, Natural Law & Two Kingdom Friday, Neo-Calvinism, neo-Kuyperianism, Old School Presbyterian, OPC, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Pastoral Ministry, Presbyterian, Reformed, Reformed and Presbyterian churches, Reformed and Presbyterian tradition, Reformed Theology, Rejoinder to Dr. Carl Zylstra—President of Dordt College, The Reformed Church, Two Kingdom Theology, Two Kingdoms, VALIANT FOR TRUTH, Valiant for Truth blog, Westminster Seminary – California, Westminster Standards Calvinism, Christian Life, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant Theology, Kuyperianism, Neo-Calvinism, OPC, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Pastoral Ministry, Presbyterian, Reformed, Reformed Theology, Systematic Theology, Two Kingdoms
A number of Ref21 readers have emailed and asked me to comment on the Elephant Room. To be honest, Frank Turk, over at TeamPyro, has expressed what thoughts I do have but better than I could have done so.
One thing is worthy of general comment, however: it is a classic example of the current celebrity culture in evangelicalism but perhaps not in quite the way one might expect. One thing that is so striking about the rise of celebrity in the wider world is that it has been accompanied by the rise of the myth of the polymath. Thus, a pop star who can write a song that becomes a hit also becomes a person who is consulted about things like gay rights, Third World Debt and global warming. They are no more qualified (and in some cases much less qualified) than you or I to offer such advice; but we are never asked because we have not written a pop hit or starred in a movie. We now see this phenomenon in the evangelical world: fame and a big church make you competent to speak all over the theological map.
The questions posed to Jakes indicate the problem rather dramatically. Of course, all pastors are by necessity generalists and cannot be highly proficient in all areas; and that is fine 99% of the time. But when we are talking Trinitarianism with a very skillful communicator, we need somebody who is thoroughly versed in the area and who knows how to probe below superfical pat answers. We also need a venue and a mode of discourse appropriate to the complexities of the matter.
January 27, 2012
Short URL Acts 29, Celebrity Preacher Driven Conferences, Celebrity Preachers, Cult of Personality Preacher, culture wars, Dr. Carl R. Trueman, Emerging Church, Evangelicalism, Harvest Bible Chapel, James MacDonald, Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill, Missions, Modalism, Old School Presbyterian, OPC, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Pragmatism, Presbyterian, prosperity gospel, Ref 21, Reformation 21, Reformed, T.D. Jakes, The Elephant Room Conference 2, The Elephant Room Conferences, The Gospel Coalition, The Potter's House, Trinitarianism, Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia Reformed, Reformed Theology, Confessions, Calvinism, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, OPC, Confessional, Presbyterian, Pastoral Ministry, Pragmatism, Celebrity Preachers, Cult of Personality Preacher, Emerging Church, Missional
Alliances close comments, churches open them.
That conclusion is hard to avoid after recent developments in the PCA and at the Gospel Coalition. The PCA sponsored an enclave of fifty officers, a “Meeting of Understanding,” to discuss challenges and differences within the denomination. The rationale for the meeting was akin to marriage counseling. Spouses who live and work together have differences and the way to overcome them is through better communication. (I wonder if that would be Mark Driscoll’s advice since it sounds overly feminine, as in girls want to talk, guys reach for the remote).
Meanwhile, the Gospel Coalition (doing a pretty good imitation of the Presbyterian Church, USA’s apologetic acceptance of Pearl Buck’s resignation) said so long to James MacDonald. At the blog of D. A. Carson and Tim Keller (who appear to be the co-arch allies), MacDonald’s departure received these warm words:
James MacDonald publicly announced his resignation as a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. James was one of our founding members, and we would like to thank him and Harvest Bible Chapel warmly and publicly for their years of service and support. As the reason for his departure, James notes that he “has very different views on how to relate to the broader church.” He added, “I believe their [TGC's] work will be assisted by my absence, given my methodological convictions.” We acknowledge that James feels called of God into these spheres, and we wish him well in his far-reaching endeavors, and many years of ministry both faithful and fruitful.
January 27, 2012
Short URL Reformed Theology, Dr. Darryl G. Hart, Old Life Theological Society, PCA, Tim Keller, Cult of Personality Preacher, Mark Driscoll, Missional, Evangelicalism, Pastoral Ministry, Pragmatism, Dr. D. G. Hart, Emerging Church, Celebrity Preachers, Celebrity Preacher Driven Conferences, The Gospel Coalition, James MacDonald, Acts 29, D. A. Carson, PCA's “Meeting of Understanding", “Meeting of Understanding”, The Elephant Room Conference 2 Old Life Theological Society, PCA, Celebrity Preachers, Cult of Personality Preacher, Emerging Church, Missional, Christian Life
What does God say about sex?
January 27, 2012
Short URL 7th Commandment, adultery, Calvinism, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant Theology, culture wars, Pastor Adam Kaloostian, Pastor John Sawtelle, Pastor Movses Janbazian, Pastoral Ministry, Reformed, Reformed Audio, Reformed Theology, Sinners and Saints Radio, Ten Commandments, The Law of God, The Law of God – 7th Law, The Reformed Church, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Three Forms of Unity, URC Learning, urcna, Westminster Seminary – California, Westminster Standards, What does God say about sex? Calvinism, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant Theology, Pastoral Ministry, Reformed, Reformed Podcasts, Reformed Theology, Resourses, URCNA
Reblogged from Pilgrimage to Geneva:
New Horizons Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears Reviewed by OPC Pastor Brenton Ferry. Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears are coauthors of Vintage Jesus (2008), Death by Love (2008), Vintage Church (2009), and now Doctrine. Breshears is on the faculty at Western Seminary, where Driscoll was trained. Driscoll is cofounder and pastor of Mars Hill Church, and cofounder of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network and Resurgence Literature. All three entities work together to …
Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
Reviewed by OPC Pastor Brenton Ferry.
Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears are coauthors of Vintage Jesus (2008), Death by Love (2008), Vintage Church (2009), and now Doctrine. Breshears is on the faculty at Western Seminary, where Driscoll was trained. Driscoll is cofounder and pastor of Mars Hill Church, and cofounder of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network and Resurgence Literature. All three entities work together to contextualize the Christian faith in contemporary (youth) culture.
This book represents the doctrinal side of that contextualization program. It sets Driscoll’s vision apart from the type of contextualization espoused by current leaders of the emergent church movement, insofar as the latter embrace postmodernity’s disdain for dogmatism. (more…)
January 27, 2012
Short URL Acts 29 Network, Calvinism, Celebrity Preachers, Charismatics, church, Confessional, Confessions, Contextualization, covenant, creation, cross, Cult of Personality Preacher, culture wars, Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe, Emerging Church, Evangelicalism, experimental Calvinism, fall, Heterodoxy, image, incarnation, kingdom, Leadership Network, Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill, Mega Church, Missional, Modern Reformed Movement, Multi Site Churches, New Calvinism, New Horizons, OPC, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Pastor - CEO model, Pragmatism, Presbyterian, resurrection, Rev. Brenton Ferry, revelation, Revivalism, stewardship, Systematic Theology, The Resurgence, Trinity, universalism, worship Calvinism, Celebrity Preachers, Charismatic, Christian Life, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant Theology, Cult of Personality Preacher, Emerging Church, experimental Calvinists, Missional, New Horizons, OPC, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Pastoral Ministry, Pragmatism, Presbyterian, Purpose Driven, Reformed, Reformed Theology, Resourses, Revivalism
Use coupon code REFDOGSALE
Sale ends 1/29!
January 26, 2012
Short URL Bible Software, Calvinism, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant of Grace, Covenant Theology, Herman Bavinck, Herman Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics, Logos, Logos Bible Software, Pastoral Ministry, Reformed, Reformed Theology, Systematic Theology, The Reformed Church Bible Software, Calvinism, Christian Life, Confessional, Covenant Theology, Herman Bavinck, Reformed, Reformed Theology
Can Christians support the death penalty and war
January 26, 2012
Short URL 6th Commandment, Calvinism, Can Christians support the death penalty and war?, capital punishment, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant Theology, culture wars, Pastor Adam Kaloostian, Pastor John Sawtelle, Pastor Movses Janbazian, Pastoral Ministry, Reformed, Reformed Audio, Reformed Theology, Sinners and Saints Radio, Ten Commandments, The Law of God, The Reformed Church, Thou shalt not kill, Three Forms of Unity, URC Learning, urcna, Westminster Seminary – California, Westminster Standards Bioethics, Calvinism, Christian Life, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant Theology, Pastoral Ministry, Podcasts, Reformed, Reformed Podcasts, Reformed Theology, Resourses, URCNA
In recent decades a large number of evangelicals (and some Reformed folk) have left the evangelical faith for some version of Eastern Orthodoxy. Recently the CBS news program “60 Minutes” claimed that the Eastern Orthodox church is only unbroken tradition in Christianity. In the latest episode Office Hours asks Mike Horton to tackle these questions and more.
Office Hours talks with Dr. Michael Horton about what Eastern Orthodoxy is, why some evangelical and Reformed Christians are tempted to convert to Eastern Orthodoxy, and how we should respond.
January 26, 2012
Short URL by grace alone through faith alone, Calvinism, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant Theology, Dr. Michael Horton, Dr. R Scott Clark, Eastern Orthodoxy, faith, gospel, Justification, Office Hours, Office Hours Season 3, Pastoral Ministry, Podcasts, Reformed, Reformed and Presbyterian churches, Reformed Podcasts, Reformed Theology, Reformed VS Eastern Orthodoxy, The Lure of Eastern Orthodoxy, The Reformed Church, The White Horse Inn, urcna, Westminster Seminary – California Calvinism, Christian Life, Confessional, Confessions, Dr. Michaell Horton, Justification, Pastoral Ministry, Podcasts, Reformed, Reformed Podcasts, Reformed Theology, Resourses, URCNA, White Horse Inn
Abortion, euthanasia and suicide: what does prohibition from murder have to say about the value of human life?
January 25, 2012
Short URL Reformed, Reformed Theology, Confessions, Calvinism, Ten Commandments, Westminster Seminary – California, Confessional, The Reformed Church, Covenant Theology, culture wars, Westminster Standards, Pastoral Ministry, urcna, Three Forms of Unity, Reformed Audio, Pastor John Sawtelle, Pastor Adam Kaloostian, Pastor Movses Janbazian, Sinners and Saints Radio, The Law of God, URC Learning, 6th Commandment, Thou shalt not kill, Abortion, euthanasia, suicide, What does prohibition from murder have to say about the value of human life? Bioethics, Calvinism, Christian Life, Confessional, Confessions, Covenant Theology, Pastoral Ministry, Reformed, Reformed Podcasts, Reformed Theology, Resourses, URCNA
