“Calvinism” in “Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1859-2009)”- excerpts from the book by Dr. Gregory A. Wills, Part 1
[It is my intention to write a series of posts giving a few selected passages from Dr. Gregory A. Wills‘ new book Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1859-2009). These passages, from pages 90-97 and 542-543, are focused on “Calvinism” at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) and within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) as a whole.]
Part 1: “Calvinism” at SBTS and in the SBC at the founding of Southern Seminary (from pages 90-91).
The theology that [SBTS founder James P.] Boyce relied upon was Calvinism. It was the doctrine of the seminary’s Abstract of Principles and the prevailing theology of Baptists in the nineteenth-century South. A significant number rejected the doctrine of “limited atonement”,” and the rest did not make belief in it a condition of fellowship. But the churches and associations generally refused fellowship with pastors or churches that rejected other aspects of Calvinism.
Leave a Reply