Seeking Recommendations for Reformed Baptist Works Comparable to Bavinck and Turretin

[zallang]

Hello everyone,

I hope this message finds you well. I have a deep admiration for the works of Herman Bavinck, particularly his "Reformed Dogmatics," and François Turretin’s "Institutes of Elenctic Theology." Their contributions to Reformed theology are both profound and foundational.

I’m curious to know if there are any robust Reformed Baptist works that stand on the same level as these two. Are there any Baptist theologians in history who have written extensively and deeply on these topics? I would love to hear your recommendations or insights!

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[davejonescue]

I believe Gill did a "Body of Divinity." Also, the new Reformed Systematic Theology is co-edited by Paul Smalley (who is a Reformed Baptist.) There is a work that is only on a single topic, and not from a Particular Baptist, but an Anglican, entitled "Antipaedobaptism," John Tombes, which is 4 volumes; but is highly regarded, I believe in the Reformed Baptist world. Sam Waldron did an Exposition of the 1689, which would be kind of a Systematic Theology, and Renihan has the 2 vol. "To the Judicious and Impartial Reader." RBS (Reformed Baptist Seminary) has 8 Courses in Systematic Theology, that were they to be transcribed, would most likely be a several volume set.

 

[No Other Name]

Reformed Baptist Systematic Theologies

For more systematic theologies from a non-baptist perspective, see Every Reformed Systematic Theology Online. ‘PoD’ means Print on Demand, which books are of a lower quality. . . 1600&…

reformedbooksonline.com

Myself, I never found these sources nearly as readable as Bavinck and Turretin and Calvin and Charnock and Vos and Beeke.

None of those are Reformed Baptist but their Westminster federalism is not too pronounced (save Calvin's Book IV Chapter 16 etc). Actually, come to think of it, Beeke's systematic simply presents the similarities and differences without much editorial commentary if I recall.

When it comes to covenant theology, I skip through these parts (or read to refresh myself on where the disconnect between our position and these theologians lies). And that is where I go to Nehemiah Coxe, John Owen and the 1689 contemporaries collected in Denault.

Historically, for whatever reason, Reformed Baptists did not write too many systematics after Gill wrote his Body of Divinity. Everyone loves Boyce's systematic, and I like it but I honestly cannot say that I refer to it much.

EDIT: The only Reformed Baptist systematic I refer to with any regularity is Keach's on Kindle. Just my two cents there.

 

[No Other Name]

PS

There is a forthcoming Reformed Baptist systematic theology I almost forgot to mention.

Matthew Barrett (author of None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God) is currently writing a systematic theology for Baker Academic. He is Reformed Baptist.

 

[zallang]

None of those are Reformed Baptist but their Westminster federalism is not too pronounced (save Calvin's Book IV Chapter 16 etc). Actually, come to think of it, Beeke's systematic simply presents the similarities and differences without much editorial commentary if I recall.

In that case, would the level of disagreement for a Reformed Baptist reading Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics be very low? Is the work a general and comprehensive exposition of Reformed theology, or does it have too much of a Westminster bias?

 

[dsanch1120]

You know, a simple solution to this issue is that if you go Presbyterian, you can claim all of them as your own

Augustus Strong's Systematic Theology may be an option, though I think I've heard he can lean modernist.

 

[TylerRay]

Hello everyone,

I hope this message finds you well. I have a deep admiration for the works of Herman Bavinck, particularly his "Reformed Dogmatics," and François Turretin’s "Institutes of Elenctic Theology." Their contributions to Reformed theology are both profound and foundational.

I’m curious to know if there are any robust Reformed Baptist works that stand on the same level as these two. Are there any Baptist theologians in history who have written extensively and deeply on these topics? I would love to hear your recommendations or insights!

Thank you in advance for your help!

Works like those of Turretin and Bavinck only arise in an academic context; they were full time academic theologians. The reality is that Baptists didn't have academic theologians until the 1800s (Gill is kind of an exception, in terms of the quality and scope of his work, though if I remember right, he didn't teach in an academic institution). Baptists didn't even have seminaries until the mid-1800s.

All that to say, the only real academic theologians the Baptist churches have produced have been in the last 150-200 years, and none of them have been the caliber of theologian that Turretin or Bavinck were.

 

[zallang]

EDIT: The only Reformed Baptist systematic I refer to with any regularity is Keach's on Kindle. Just my two cents there.

what is the name of the work?

 

[TheInquirer]

I love Turretin and Bavinck but am aware of the points of disagreement. I do exactly the same thing Brad does with covenant theology though it is very helpful to read P&R covenant theology from the primary sources when you are able to understand where the differences lie.

Men like Turretin, Van Mastricht, & Bavinck are very rare in church history. Since there is much in common between the 1689 LBCF, Westminster Standards, and the Three Forms of Unity, there is much to be gained by reading these men. I've tried to read Gill and Boyce (they are on my shelf) but they just don't compare when I do try to compare them (though I am often dealing with Doctrine of God topics and not that much in covenant theology).

It is worth remembering that, in reality, our differences are somewhat small when compared to our points of unity. Those differences are important and worth understanding, discussing, and appropriately defending, but they should be properly prioritized and not unduly overemphasized when compared to the whole body of Reformed theology. In other words, when considering Reformed, paedobaptist theologians of great reputation, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

 

[paranymph]

Gill is really the only comparable one in terms of depth and breadth.

In that case, would the level of disagreement for a Reformed Baptist reading Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics be very low? Is the work a general and comprehensive exposition of Reformed theology, or does it have too much of a Westminster bias?

Bavinck is one of my favorites. He comes from the Dutch Reformed tradition, not the Westminsterian. Major distinctives relate to his covenant theology and ecclesiology (church government & baptism). His doctrine of God and much else is wonderful.

Matthew Barrett (author of None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God) is currently writing a systematic theology for Baker Academic. He is Reformed Baptist.

People say Barrett is a Reformed Baptist but is that accurate? Does he hold to Covenant Theology? I don't believe he is part of a confessional 2LBC church.

 

[zallang]

Gill is really the only comparable one in terms of depth and breadth.

I heard that he does not adopt the federalism of 1689. Is that true?

He comes from the Dutch Reformed tradition, not the Westminsterian.

Well placed.

 

[paranymph]

I heard that he does not adopt the federalism of 1689. Is that true?

Gill's covenant theology is not the same as what's now called "1689 Federalism"-- the theology of Nehemiah Coxe. Gill held to the "one substance, two administrations" view.
Have you read James Renihan's exposition of the 2nd London Confession, To the Judicious and Impartial Reader? This will help you get an overview of both the the theology and the history of Particular Baptists.

 

[zallang]

Have you read James Renihan's exposition of the 2nd London Confession, To the Judicious and Impartial Reader?

I had never heard of it before. Thank you for the recommendation! I'll make sure to look it up and read it.

 

[Charles Johnson]

I’m curious to know if there are any robust Reformed Baptist works that stand on the same level as these two.

There simply are not. One can speculate on the reasons for that. (Is anti-paedobaptism inherently unsystematic? Is it because the baptists didn't have seminaries and institutions? Is it just a coincidence, and not indicative of anything at all?) But the reasons aside, there is not a baptist Francis Turretin or Amandus Polanus. The only parallel tradition that has works of a similar breadth and quality is Lutheranism, which has Gerhard and Chemnitz. I suppose one could include Roman Catholicism too, with Aquinas, Bonaventure, etc, but their works are more so systems of philosophy than biblical doctrine.

 

[clawrence9008]

Gill's covenant theology is not the same as what's now called "1689 Federalism"-- the theology of Nehemiah Coxe. Gill held to the "one substance, two administrations" view.

I'm curious: how does Gill arrive at his anti-paedobaptist stance considering his "one substance, two administrations" view of covenant theology? As a Presbyterian, I would see paedobaptism as a logical and necessary consequence of such a view. What was his reasoning? (hopefully this doesn't sidetrack the thread, I'm just curious).

 

[Ploutos]

In other words, when considering Reformed, paedobaptist theologians of great reputation, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I believe you meant to say, "Don't throw the professing believer out with the bath water."

I'll show myself out...

 

[No Other Name]

what is the name of the work?

It was the first one in the link I shared in my original reply.

Keach, Benjamin – Spiritual Melody, containing near three hundred sacred hymns Buy PoD 1691

This is virtually a systematic theology in poetry.

 

[paranymph]

I'm curious: how does Gill arrive at his anti-paedobaptist stance considering his "one substance, two administrations" view of covenant theology? As a Presbyterian, I would see paedobaptism as a logical and necessary consequence of such a view. What was his reasoning? (hopefully this doesn't sidetrack the thread, I'm just curious).

If we want discussion we probably need another thread. I can't say that I'm an expert on Gill, but see this article:

https://contrast2.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/some-comments-on-john-gills-covenant-theology/

 

[davejonescue]

It was the first one in the link I shared in my original reply.

Keach, Benjamin – Spiritual Melody, containing near three hundred sacred hymns Buy PoD 1691

This is virtually a systematic theology in poetry.

Monergism also has this title for free ePub download.

Spiritual Melody (eBook) | Monergism

by Benjamin Keachin ePub, .mobi & .pdf formatsContaining near Three Hundred Sacred HymnsBenjamin Keach’s Spiritual Melody is a remarkable collection of nearly

www.monergism.com

 

[No Other Name]

Monergism also has this title for free ePub download.

Spiritual Melody (eBook) | Monergism

by Benjamin Keachin ePub, .mobi & .pdf formatsContaining near Three Hundred Sacred HymnsBenjamin Keach’s Spiritual Melody is a remarkable collection of nearly

www.monergism.com

I got mine years ago.

@zallang

 

[Northern Crofter]

or does it have too much of a Westminster bias?

Bavinck, coming form the Dutch Reformed tradition, rarely refers to the Westminster tradition. I personally find the Dutch confessional expressions to be somewhat "softer" and so you will likely feel/find a lower level of disagreement as a Reformed Baptist reading Bavinck than you would reading someone from the Westminster family. I'm not sure I would say the disagreement would be "very low" as he regularly refers to the Dutch confessional standards, which, while I view them as "softer" than Westminster, are still very sound and robust in their covenantal theology.