New Releases: Book Reviews & Notices
The Baptism of Disciples Alone
By Fred Malone
320 pp.
ISBN 0-9713361-3-XThis book sets out to prove that the Bible authorizes only credobaptism, the baptism of disciples alone. It will be of great help to those who desire a better understanding of the Baptist position for credobaptism versus paedobaptism. The book is hardcover and is published with the help of the Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America.
An Excerpt from the Author?s Preface
As a former Presbyterian minister, I baptized two of my infants. I was sincere. It was meaningful. I believed that paedobaptism was biblical. However, I was sincerely and biblically wrong.
Now, I am convinced that the baptism authorized by the Bible is the baptism of disciples. In fact, I believe the Bible authorizes the baptism of disciples alone. This position may also be called credobaptism, from the Latin verb credo, meaning believe or trust. Other designations are believer?s baptism, confessor?s baptism, or professor?s baptism, all synonyms describing the baptism of disciples alone. Hoping to be gracious toward my paedobaptist friends and mentors, the purpose of this book is to prove that the Bible authorizes only disciple?s baptism. This book is also written, however, to help parents, pastors and laymen better understand the Baptist position for credobaptism versus paedobaptism so they can decide which local church to join and serve in.
Founders Study Guide Commentary
Curtis Vaughan
Dr. Vaughan is a scholar and a churchman. He has long been a favorite at Southwestern Seminary. I highly commend his commentary on James.
Dr. Kenneth Hemphill
National Strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth (SBC)
Former President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX
Dr. Curtis Vaughan? is one of the most profoundly loved New Testament scholars Southern Baptists have ever had. When one reads his exposition of James? it is not difficult to understand why he is so honored. The remarkable ability of Dr. Vaughan to take the difficult and the obscure and make it understandable and even gripping is disclosed herein. Do not miss this precious book.
Dr. Paige Patterson, President
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Wake Forest, North Carolina
The Reformed Baptist Theological Review (RBTR) Volume 2 now available!
This is the inaugural issue of The Reformed Baptist Theological Review (RBTR). A word of explanation, therefore, is fitting. RBTR finds its roots in a desire to have contemporary Reformed Baptists, who are committed to the Second London Confession of Faith of 1677/89 (2nd LCF), articulate their beliefs in a scholarly, yet pastoral manner. A survey of the theological literature of our day finds little confessional Reformed Baptist literature available at this level. Many fine books have been written by contemporary, confessional Reformed Baptists, for which we are grateful. Scholarly and critical works, however, are far and few between. RBTR is designed to help fill that gap from a journal standpoint.
Debating Calvinism: Five Points, Two Views
Debating Calvinism breaks all the rules in the context of today's evangelical church. This is as close to a real debate as you can get, though, in written format it does not allow the kind of cross-examination that is needed. Both authors present seven positive presentations, making for a total of fourteen chapters. In each, the other responds and interacts repeatedly. Both provide an introduction and a conclusion to the book, and each person has identical limitations based on word-counts. Hence, at least from the aspect of space, the debate is fair. This book will definitely prove, yet again, that God's truth must be established on the basis of the exegesis of the text of Holy Scripture, and that everyone must be very careful to examine their traditions in that light.―Alpha & Omega Ministries
Five Points, Two Views From the publisher: A centuries-old belief system is put to the test as two prominent authors examine and debate the subject of Calvinism from opposing viewpoints. James White, author of The Potter's Freedom, takes the Calvinist position. Dave Hunt, author of What Love Is This (now out of print), opposes him. The exchange is lively and at times intense as these two articulate men wrestle over what the Scriptures tell us about God's sovereignty and man's free will. This thought-provoking, challenging book provides potent responses to the most frequently asked questions about Calvinism.―The Discerning Reader
The biblical truth and importance of the final and unique authority of Scripture is vital to the Christian life and to the health of the Church. James White's Scripture Alone is a passionate and accessible re-introduction to this significant subject. While liberals deny it and sectarians undermine it, every Bible-believing Christian ought to want to comprehend and warmly embrace what the great Protestant Reformers called "sola Scriptura." James White invites the reader into this glorious subject and shows him the way.?J. Ligon Duncan III, PhD
The denial that the New Covenant is strictly relevant to the Church comes from a movement that dominates much of American Christianity. That movement or system of interpretation is commonly known as Dispensationalism. It is, perhaps, most well known as that system of interpretation popularized by The Scofield Reference Bible.
This system, in its classic statement, denies that the New Covenant is fulfilled in (or is the Constitution of) the Church. Before this assertion is proven, it needs to be briefly clarified. This must be done because there may be a few who complain that, by claiming Dispensationalism denies the New Covenant is fulfilled in the Church, it is being misrepresented.
Are the defining Baptist attributes liberty of conscience and the competency of the human soul? Or are Baptists a confessional people with their identity tied to a set of objective biblical doctrines that they have believed and clearly articulated through the centuries?
The Church is the reflection of God's Son. That's why leadership of the Church is of utmost importance. The Church is how the great hope?eternity with God in Christ?is to be seen. In the time between Christ's ascension and His return, Christians in covenant with one another?loving and caring, encouraging and sharing, correcting and bearing over the years?present the clearest picture of God's love that this world can see. Dr. Phil A. Newton, Author & Pastor of South Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, TN.
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