eBook Richard Baxter And Conversion ePub

This book was a required textbook for my Historical Theology class. I have not read any book on Richard Baxter before. This lucid and important work, by Professor Tim Beougher (Professor of Historical Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), provides a rich and comprehensive analysis of Richard Baxter's life, his theology, and his writings on conversion, preaching the gospel, and church practice.

Richard Baxter (1615-1691) is vitally important in church history because among the 17th century Puritan theologian-practitioners, Baxter has provided many important works that deal specifically with conversion.

Puritan studies are enriching because they not only provide deep spiritual insights about godly living in obedience to the Word of God, but they offer rich insights about genuine conversion and the correct preaching of the gospel as well.

Contents of this Book:

Foreword by J.I. Packer
Introduction

1. The Life and Ministry of Richard Baxter
2. The Theological Foundation for Conversion
3. Controversy regarding Justification
4. The Process of Conversion
5. Presenting the Gospel
6. Conversion and the Church

Conclusion
Endnotes
Bibliography

The most interesting chapters to me were the ones on the theological foundation for conversion and the controversy regarding justification. In his treatment of Baxter's theology, Beougher mentions that even though Baxter was "eclectic" in his theology, he was heavily influenced by Scripture and by the political method of Hugo Grotius (esp. De Satisfactione). There is much discussion on whether Baxter was Amyraldian, especially in his belief in "hypothetical universalism." Baxter initially held to the concept of limited atonement but later revised his view to embrace unlimited atonement (pp. 50-58). Another controversial issue was Baxter's belief in two justifications: the first when a person believes in Christ and second during the Day of Judgment (p. 61).

One area that I wished Dr. Beougher addressed more completely in the book was Baxter's concept of Total Depravity. It seems to me that the logical starting point of theological discussion (whether it be Calvinist or Arminian) is the concept of Total Depravity. Baxter believes in "common grace" and holds to unlimited atonement as well. Does this mean that Baxter is "Arminian"? Dr. Beougher does not think so.

In chapter 4 dealing with the Process of Conversion, Beougher addresses Baxter's view of the means of conversion (the Word of God) and channel of conversion: faith and repentance. In chapter 6 (Conversion and the Church), Beougher deals in detail Baxter's views of the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and the church's role in church discipline.

I learned a lot about the Puritan concept of conversion from reading this important and comprehensive work. I'm glad that this book was assigned as required reading. For readers who wish to study more about Puritan concepts of conversion and the presentation of the gospel, this book is a good place to start. Dr. Beougher provides a lucid, comprehensive, and practical treatment of conversion. You'll be enriched by the life of Richard Baxter and be challenged in a positive way by his treatment of theology and his concepts of conversion. Richard Baxter is a godly theologian-minister who practiced what he preaches. We are so enriched by his godly life, his passion for evangelism, his love for the Christian church and his insights on conversion. Highly recommended!

Everything was delivered as advertised.

I picked this up because I've gotten so much out of reading Richard Baxter's devotional literature. Having read the criticism of Neonomism I wanted to find out in more detail what exactly Baxter believed. I found the book interesting and a relatively quick read. In other words, I didn't have to struggle for the text to hold my interest.

Of particular interest to me was how similar Baxter's view of Justification is to N.T. Wright's. The 'double justification' particularly. If Baxter had been able to read E.P. Sanders on Israel's view of their being righteous simply by following the ceremonial aspects of Torah, I wonder if that would have moved him even closer to Wright's theology.