Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 32:4 (Dec 1989)
Article: Millard J. Erickson: Baptist And Evangelical Theologian
Author: David S. Dockery

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JETS 32:4 (December 1989) p. 519

Millard J. Erickson:
Baptist And Evangelical Theologian*

David S. Dockery**

The evangelical movement in America during the past four decades has basically been a transdenominational movement. Billy Graham and Carl F. H. Henry are more evangelical than Baptist. The same can be said for many others. J. Dobson is more of an evangelical than a Nazarene, M. Noll more of an evangelical than a Presbyterian, and R. Sider more of an evangelical than a Brethren. Some have even questioned if one can be an evangelical and be a loyal denominationalist. Millard J. Erickson, by contrast, has not only become the most outstanding writing theologian in the evangelical world but also has remained a loyal Baptist.

Erickson’s heritage is firmly rooted in Baptist life. This heritage, inherited from his Swedish grandparents, combined with his early attraction to “new evangelical” theologians like Henry, B. Ramm and particularly E. J. Carnell, has resulted in a new model for evangelical theologians.1 The new model is certainly evangelical but is simultaneously rooted in denominational commitments. In this article we shall examine the context out of which Erickson’s theology has developed. We shall focus our attention on his major contributions to Baptist and evangelical theology—namely, his concern for theological method and his articulation of the doctrine of Scripture. Other matters of significance in Erickson’s theology will be surveyed, followed by a brief analysis and evaluation.

I. Shapers Of Erickson’s Theology

In 1963 Erickson finished writing his doctoral dissertation on the theology of Henry, Ramm and Carnell. He revised it and published it under the title The New Evangelical Theology (Westwood: Revell, 1968). Although since that time Erickson has authored or edited ten books, numerous articles and reviews, as well as several book chapters for symposiums, it is his first book and his impressive three-volume Christian

* This article is adapted from the forthcoming volume on Baptist Theologians, edited by David S. Dockery and Timothy F. George (Nashville: Broadman, 1990).

** David Dockery is assistant professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

JETS 32:4 (December 1989) p. 520

Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1983–1985), which has become the standard systematic theology text in many colleges and seminaries, that have elevated Erickson to the front rank of evangelical theologians. His theological interests are many as evidenced not only by his previous work but also by his current projects focusing on third-world theology, p...

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