Dave's bio

My name is David Shedden, but for the purposes of this blog you can call me Dave or Shed. (The other David got in first!) I am 30 years old. I am neither a professional theologian nor a professional anything else. I worked in an office shuffling paper for a few years in my 20s. I am now, however, preparing for Christian ministry in the Church of Scotland. Next academic year I will be doing a ThM at Princeton Theological Seminary. I will also be on placement at this church in Princeton. If you need to know anything else about me just ask.

I have been intrigued by the discussions so far. Alas, I will not begin reading our set text until September. However, I do like being provocative, and I tend to ask questions rather than answer them. As I see it two themes have stood out so far in the posts - the purpose or definition of systematic theology, and the role of Scripture or a doctrine of Scripture in systematic theology.

Here's my provocative opening blast: systematic theology is dead, and has been dead for at least 50 years, probably more like 150 years. This is not to say that reading or writing books with the title Systematic Theology is wrong or silly. It just means we need to be aware that there is no entity or body of knowledge or discipline rightly called systematic theology. Christian theology is Christian theology - whether it is biblical or systematic seems fairly meaningless to me - and the current patterns in evangelical scholarship seem to support this. For example, the current discussions about how to interpret Paul's teaching on justification demonstrate the massive shift towards biblical theology as the dominant form of Christian expressions of doctrinal belief.

Every Christian has their own working theology. As such, I hope that reading through Culvert will help me to refine and correct my understanding of God in Christ. Theology is about knowing God, and knowing God, as far as I understand the New Testament, is about knowing Christ. If I was going to write a theology it would be Christological from start to finish. I think recent conservative ST's have been far too concerned with method and epistemology. As a result they have been weak on developing Christian theological ideas that can speak into the 21stC world. What does the incarnation mean for the genetic revolution that we are living through? More to the point, what does the genetic revolution mean for our doctrine of Jesus Christ, the God Man? These are just two of a number of questions that I rarely find addressed in my reading of theology, especially evangelical theology.

A Systematic Theology of Scripture Lacking in Culver

Mary and I are reading Culver and Grudem in parallel each night. I've read Culver's introduction and now Mary is reading it while I read Grudem's introduction, then we'll swap again, etc.

One thing has really struck me about Culver's ST: there is no separate section dealing with God's Word. The Doctrine of Scripture is fundamental truth that really should be dealt with in an ST. We shouldn't just say, "Well, I believe in Scripture; now, let's see what it has to say about everything else." Scripture has so much to say about itself that is fundamental to Christian belief.

We are to begin officially in the Autumn/Fall, but I think it is fair to say this in the preparatory phase.

Is Theology a Science?

I think this is a good topic to discuss. Perhaps we need to provide definitions of 'science'? What benefits are there to refering to theology as a science? What drawbacks are there?

I will include a quote from John Frame (RP members do not go mad):

The best way to define theology, in my view, is as the application of the whole Bible to the whole of human life. Theology is not an attempt to articulate our feelings about God (Schleiermacher), but neither is it merely an attempt to state the objective truth, or to put the truth in “proper order” (Hodge), for Scripture already does those things perfectly well.

Frame's complete article can be found here.

Daniel's bio

Hello. My name is 'Daniel' and I am a Culverite. I have a day job, and am another person that isn't a professional theologian. I live about 30 minutes' drive (or a 30-minute drive) from Crawford.

I have four main interests: theology, philosophy, pedantry, and trivia. By an amazing coincidence, I have a blog for each of these. I also contribute to a blog on casuistry.

Crawford described me in an e-mail to the Culverites as 'generously Anglican'. I'm more pleased at being associated with the word 'generously' than with the word 'Anglican' (though I realize that it doesn't follow from the fact that I am generously Anglican that I am generous and Anglican). But I am a member of a local church that is a member of the Church of England. You shouldn't assume that I agree with everything that the Church of England does or believes. I do, however, agree with the beliefs, aims, and desires of my local fellowship.

I'm looking forward to learning from Prof. Culver and the Culverites.

Why Study a Systematic Theology?

With so much else that we could spend our time doing, why study a (another?) systematic theology? This is a fundamental question that we need to ask, given all our commitments and the brevity of our lives.

Any answers?

"...redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5)

Qualities of good systematic theology

Which qualities do you look for in a good systematic theology?

I'm interested in clear writing, without which little will be understood; a demonstration of exegesis, to be sure of the Biblical case for the relevant concept; an interaction with relevant material, especially, but not exclusively, within the evangelical camp; and a sense of the importance of the ideas under discussion.

What would you add to the list?

Theological priorities?

While we're waiting for others to post brief bios, let's think about theological priorities. Am I the only reader of systematic theologies to turn to eschatology first?

David's Bio

Greetings Culverites. My name is David Terwilliger and I got turned on to your endeavors yesterday by Jim Basinger.I am glad there is a little lag time to getting the discussion fully up and running. It will allow me the time to get caught up with the "Culverites". Nevertheless, I am anxious to get into it and have the opportunity to stretch my brain.

Philip's Bio

Just so that Timothy doesn't feel lonely as the only 'non-professional' theologian I am also taking part in the Culverites blog.My name is Philip S. Taylor. I have been a Christian for about 17 years being graciously saved under the preaching of Sam Workman at the age of 15. I am husband to Jayne and father to Hannah. I love both of them like crazy. I am a member of a large evangelical church in the greater Belfast area.I am a Research Fellow in the School of Computer Science at Queen's University Belfast and previoulsy worked for nearly six years as a senior software engineer in Nortel Networks.I enjoy listening to alternative country, blues, and 70's rock. I just cannot appreciate classical music ... yet.Currently, my favourite systematic theologies are Wayne Grudem's Systemtatic Theology and Wilhelmus a Brackel's The Christian's Reasonable Service. I also love reading puritan books aloud.I also love the Journal of Biblical Counseling and most of the books pumped out by CCEF.I am currently reading James in my personal/family devotions and have got stuck on verse 2. As a periodic sufferer of depression I often experience a distinct lack of joy.I don't pray often enough nor with enough trust and can be incredibly selfish and lazy at times.Bio ended.

Allen's Bio

Greetings Fellow Culverites...

My name is Allen Mickle. I am the Interim Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. I have the B.R.E. from Heritage College, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada and the M.Div. and Th.M. (New Testament) from Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, Allen Park, Michigan, USA. I am planning on beginning my Ph.D. in Historical Theology from the University of Wales Lampeter in conjunction with Toronto Baptist Seminary under Dr. Michael Haykin.

I look forward to studying Culver. He studied under Dr. Alva McClain of Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana, USA just like my Systematic Theology professor, Dr. Rolland McCune, did. I am a dispensational, calvinistic, independent, separtistic, Baptist.

Looking forward to interacting with you all. God bless.

Your Fellow Servant in Christ Jesus,

Allen Mickle

Jim's Bio

I'm rector of All Saints' (Episcopal) Church, Anchorage, Alaska. Married with 3 children (28, 25, 16). I am an Anglican evangelical, American style. I have been deeply influenced over the years by Dick Lucas/Proc Trust. There is no better Bible expositor than Dick. The first time I heard him exposit the Bible, I realized how much work I had before me if I were to do what Dick did. If you haven't heard one of Dick's sermons, or one of the many talks/sermons by David Jackman, you need to. You'll find loads of good stuff there.

I heard of Culver's systematics last year. I bought it, and it seems to me what Dick Lucas is to exposition, Robert Culver is to systematics. I have also enjoyed reading several of Culver's other books, each of which is wonderful. I'm not sure, however, if he can convince me to become premil. (I'm amil).

I've been involved in promoting the evangelical cause in the Episcopal church for many years, although at this present moment, you wouldn't know it - given the leftwards direction of PECUSA.

CG's bio

Greetings, everyone. You can read my bio on my blog. Basically, I'm a writer and university teacher in the UK. I'm also younger than Timothy, have the same number of wives but fewer children, and many fewer books.

I'm looking forward to the conversation!

(And, not being as photogenic as TD, you'll forgive me if I don't post a picture!)

Welcome to the Culverites

'The Culverites' are an on-line reading group working through Dr Robert Culver's Systematic Theology (2005). We'll be posting regularly from autumn 2006 onwards (dv). The time delay gives us a chance to get a head-start in reading, but is also designed to allow Dr Culver himself to participate in the group. This is an opportunity to study a major systematic text in conversation with its author. Please join in the conversation!