What are great books on baptist theology?

[d0c markus]

What are great books on baptist theology?

I need to learn the fundamentals of your church, what are the best books i can read from your denominations scholars?

Thanks

 

[pressingon]

It's not a book, but one summary outlining Southern Baptist theology can be found under the Baptist Faith and Message link on the Southern Baptist Convention website. Since I haven't reached the magic posting number, I can't post the link. You can do a simple web search on Southern Baptist Convention to get to the site though (a search Baptist Faith and Message may take you directly to the page, I haven't checked the search to be sure).

Note that in the Southern Baptist Convention, individual churches are autonomous; all SBC churches do not necessarily agree with every one of these beliefs. In general though, it's a pretty good summary.

Other Baptist denominations may have similar summaries of their beliefs; you'd have to check their websites.

 

[FreeinChrist]

http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp


Here is a statement.

 

[d0c markus]

Thanks guys. Is there a detailed systematic theology concerning those points?

 

[FreeinChrist]

http://www.baptiststart.com/baptist_distinctives.htm


This is a nice article.
I used to attend Southern Baptist Churches but didn't like the politics at the National conference level (and a few other things).

For Baptists who hold to reformed theology, stuff by Spurgeon is good.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Thanks guys. Is there a detailed systematic theology concerning those points?

For Reformed Baptists, Wayne Grudem's 'Systematic Theology'.

 

[d0c markus]

For Reformed Baptists, Wayne Grudem's 'Systematic Theology'.

My roomate has this book, i read some really good theology in it so i plan to buy it. What exactly is the difference between reformed baptist and baptist?

 

[FreeinChrist]

My roomate has this book, i read some really good theology in it so i plan to buy it. What exactly is the difference between reformed baptist and baptist?

Baptists who are Calvinist are 'Reformed Baptists'. I was using the term generally because there have been Calvinists and nonCalvinists in every Baptist church I have attended - so I used it of Baptists who hold to Reformed theology.

There are specific Reformed Baptist churches though. They are no different other than they are Calvinists.

This article may explain Baptists.
http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/christ/esp/baptist.html

I believe the SBC, in particular, has strayed from the separation of church and state one though. Did you know the first pledge of Allegiance (US) was written by a Baptist minister? He worte it with "to my flag". The Daughters of the American Revloution and the male counterpart pushed for the "to the flag of the United States of America", and the "under God" part was added in 1954 by congress. The original writer was very much for the separation of church and state.
John Bunyan, who wrote Pilgrim's Progress, was a Baptist.
That book would be a good one for showing the theology and thinking of Baptists.

 

[Propadeutic]

There are three recent Baptist systematic texts:

Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology: Overall conservative, with a tendency to look for middle ground on a lot of issues.
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: More conservative than Erickson, 5-point Calvinist and associated with Third Wave/Vineyard revivalism. He has the best definitions and concise descriptions of doctrinal positions that I've seen.
James Leo Garrett, Systematic Theology: I'm less familiar with this one.
Norman Geisler has also begun releasing a Systematic Theology, but only a couple volumes are out so far.

The most recent Baptist commentary from a moderate (as in left-leaning) perspective is by Dale Moody. It represents the views of the CBF more than of the present SBC.

The best Southern Baptist writing theologian was John Dagg, remembered for his Manual of Theology. James P. Boyce's Abstract of Systematic Theology is also a classic. Finally, E. Y. Mullins' Axioms of Religion represents the turning point from the SBC's largely Calvinistic beginnings to the wider variety of positions that has existed since the 20th century.

Be looking for Thomas R. Schreiner to come out with a Biblical Theology some time in the next ten years. He teaches at Southern and is largely in accord with the views of George Ladd.