27 January
By
On
In Theology

Dr Rowland Ward is minister of Knox Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia, Melbourne  This is his address as Moderator of Synod 1996.   I suppose there might be the thought in the minds of some that the subject of the Trinity is hardly the one that is suitable to our present need. It might be regarded as of absolutely no practical value.1 Or another might say, “This is ‘high’ doctrine, difficult for even the best minds. Is not a rousing call to faithfulness and service the need of the hour?” But faithfulness to whom? and service for what end? As ministers and elders we areRead More →

22 March
By
On
In Book Reviews, Theology

A NEW SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH By Robert L. Reymond (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998), xxxvi + 1210pp., hbk., $AU75 approx.   Reviewed by Rowland S. Ward, Reformed Theological Review, August 2001 Considering that some 60 systematic theologies have been published in the last 20 years, another volume is not surprising. However, this book is both substantial in size and orthodox Reformed in content. Reymond taught theology at Covenant Seminary, St Louis for more than 20 years and more recently at Knox Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Reymond’s work challenges the market niche occupied for more than a generation by Louis Berkhof. Berkhof’sRead More →

26 July
By
On
In Book Reviews, Theology

by Stephen Westerholm (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004) lge. pbk., xix & 448 pp. US$35. This Review by Rowland S. Ward appeared in The Confessional Presbyterian 1 (2005) Another contribution to Pauline studies from the associate professor of biblical studies at McMaster University is to be welcomed. In this case it is the revision and expansion of his Israel’s Law and the Church’s Faith, published in 1988. It has all the hallmarks of Westerholm’s work: wide-reading, clarity, humour and informed orthodoxy. It deserves a wide readership. As the quotation marks around ‘Lutheran’ in the book’s title suggest, Westerholm is not arguing that Paul was a LutheranRead More →

12 December
By
On
In Theology

On 4 September 2002 I attended a lecture at Whitley Baptist College, Melbourne at which Dr Clark Pinnock, recently retired professor at McMaster University, USA, was the lecturer. Perhaps happily the attendance was only about 30. His subject was open theism, the view that God gives up some power to his creatures so that they can have room to be. Pinnock is one of several major figures in the openness of God debate. It is a major issue in the USA at present, and will undoubtedly have influence here too. The Australian Presbyterian ran several good articles on the subject in their August 2002 issue.Read More →