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INTRODUCING PROVIDENCE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY |
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Providence Theological Seminary inaugurated resident night classes in Colorado Springs on September 4, 2007. A full curriculum was offered during the inaugural year of studies less the Biblical Languages. Instruction in the Biblical languages commenced with the fall semester of 2008. |
• Primary emphasis upon a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree for training gifted men for the pastoral ministry • Two bachelor level programs: • Bachelor of Divinity (B.Div.) degree • Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree • A Diploma in Theological Studies (DTS)
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DOCTRINAL DISTINCTIVES |
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New Covenant Theology; Doctrines of Grace; Baptist Ecclesiology |
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THE NEED |
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One of the greatest needs of the Church today is the teaching and proclamation of sound doctrine in the context of obeying the two greatest commandments: love of God and neighbor. The Apostle Paul charged Timothy to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 ). In light of this apostolic exhortation and focus upon the ministry of the Church in carrying out the Great Commission, Providence Theological Seminary is committed to the training of scholar-saints to become preachers and teachers of the Word of God witnessed by personal holiness in life, both in word and deed.
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Quotes* |
“The true minister of Christ knows that the true value of a sermon must lie, not in its fashion and manner, but in the truth which it contains.”
“The grandest discourse ever delivered is an ostentatious failure if the doctrine of the grace of God be absent from it.”
“Sound teaching is the best protection from the heresies which ravage right and left among us.”
"Brethren, if you are not theologians you are in your pastorates just nothing at all. You may be fine rhetoricians, and be rich in polished sentences; but without knowledge of the gospel, and aptness to teach it, you are but a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. Verbiage is too often the fig-leaf which does duty as a covering for theological ignorance."
*From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: Lectures to My Students |
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Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:16-20 ESV

James Renihan, the Dean of Reformed Baptist Studies in the Westminster Theological Seminary in California, wrote the Introduction of a book with the above title where he refers to those who are teaching "so-called New Covenant Theology" (p.3, italics his) as straying from Confessional paths into "novel ideas" (p.4). My thoughts follow.
As I read the Introduction and looked at the book's title in using the term "Covenant Theology" in contrast to "New Covenant Theology," it clearly shows that Renihan, who asserts that he, as a "full-blown adherent to Covenant Theology" from a "credo-baptist (i.e., believer's baptism) point of view" (p.2) is using a term, which other than on "credo-baptism," he openly admits that Paedobaptist theologians have historically used to explain its theological system in defense of infant baptism of covenant children. The questions that came to mind were these: "Which term, "Covenant Theology" or "New Covenant Theology" has better biblical sanction?" Is it not the latter? Does not the use of the term "Covenant Theology" lend itself to the one "Covenant of Grace" theological system which views the Covenant of Grace as one overarching covenant of biblical history having different administrations, especially as revealed in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? Does not the term "New Covenant Theology" emphasize that the New Covenant is "new" in the history of redemption not just a final administration of one Covenant of Grace? Does not the biblical term "New Covenant" teach that the final revelation of God to man is in His Son and that the Son is a "mediator of a better covenant which has been enacted on better promises" than the Old Covenant -an Old Covenant which was made "obsolete" by the New Covenant (cf. Heb. 8:6-13)? Indeed, does not the term "New Covenant Theology" have biblical precedence over the term "Covenant Theology"?
Application: Which term in itself is more open to introducing "novel ideas"? Which term has better biblical warrant? Do the Confessional paths of the Westminster Confession and the Second London Confession have precedence over understanding the contextual teaching of Scripture itself? Which covenant, the Old or the New, is the Church, the body of Christ, under? Which use of the term "Covenant Theology" or "New Covenant Theology" is more open to causing misunderstanding in explaining the Bible's teaching of God's covenants with man? Which term is explained more upon theological (deductive) reasoning? Which term is explained more accurately by the express (inductive) teaching of the Bible itself?
Further, I do not object to covenantal relationships existing between God and man "from Adam to Christ." Why? Because the Bible teaches that God has never communed with man outside of a covenantal relationship. Further, I believe that Romans 5:12-19 demands a covenantal relationship. And I have, for more than 25 years, objected to Covenant Theology's theologically deduced system which teaches one overarching Covenant of Grace. There is a "more accurate way to explain the way of God" (Acts 18:26). It is New Covenant Theology. The need is great. Selah. (GDL 1/13/06)
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Morning Reflections (January 13, 2006) on the Introduction to the Book
“Covenant Theology: From Adam to Christ”
GOD’S ETERNAL KINGDOM PURPOSE
“Thy Kingdom Come. Thy Will Be Done in Earth, as It Is in Heaven” (Matt. 6:10)
(Click to View Enlarged Graphic)
The following papers were presented at the Second Annual
PTS Doctrinal Conference in Colorado Springs, CO, August 2-5, 2011.
Audio Files are Available for Download
1 Corinthians 15 - Paul's Unified Explanation of the Resurrection
(open PDF)
by Zachary S. Maxcey
Biblical Foundations of a Pre-Fall Covenant
(open PDF)
by Zachary S. Maxcey
Insights Related to New Covenant Theology
From Revelation Commentaries
of the Early Church
(open PDF)
by Francis X. Gumerlock
New Covenant Theology:
Is There Still A Role For The Imperatives?
(open PDF)
by David Gilliland
When The Deliverer Comes From Zion
(open PDF)
by Gary D. Long
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Is Premillennialism Consistent
With New Covenant Theology?
Using eight biblical arguments, this paper will demonstrate that premillennialism is
not consistent with the tenets and hermeneutics of New Covenant Theology.
(open PDF)