Editorial -- By: Anonymous
Journal: Journal of the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies
Volume: JIRBS 01:1 (NA 2013)
Article: Editorial
Author: Anonymous
JIRBS 1 (2014) p. 5
Editorial
With prayerful hope that our Lord Jesus Christ will bless our labors, we introduce the first fascicle of the Journal of the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies. This is a project of the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies, under the supervision of the Trustees and Dean of the Institute.
One may ask, ‘Why another journal?’ There are several reasons that may be given. Firstly, at present there is no comparable publication being issued. We deeply appreciate the longstanding work of other theological periodicals and read many of them with much benefit. But none of them fill the niche we envision for our new academic journal. What is that niche? It is the support and explanation of ‘one of the most important of all Baptist Confessions,’1 the Second London Confession of Faith (often known simply as the 1689 Confession). The members of the editorial staff as well as all of the supervisory board are committed to this Confession, believing that its longstanding testimony to the truth of the Gospel deserves continued support. It is our expectation that the articles published here (and God willing, in the future) will conform to the doctrines expressed in that noble Baptist symbol.
In the second place, several of us have been very much encouraged by the gifts and graces of the rising generation of Reformed Baptist pastors and scholars. We have great hopes for the future and the contributions they will make in support of Christ and his gospel. We hope that this journal will provide a forum for their work, and perhaps be a means of introducing their labors to the church and academy. Our desire is to present articles side-by-side written by contemporary men both older and younger. This issue demonstrates this combination, incorporating material from young scholars such as James Dolezal, Stefan Lindblad and Samuel Renihan alongside those of Ronald Baines, Richard Barcellos and James Renihan.
Thirdly, we are convinced that there are important matters affecting the church and the ministry which ought to be addressed from a confessional Reformed Baptist perspective. It is critical for
JIRBS 1 (2014) p. 6
pastors to think deeply about both doctrine and practice, and this journal may be a means of assisting that process. There are at least two ways to look at this. If the elder’s task is to protect his people from being tossed about by every wind of doctrine–and the Christian world is at the center of a tornado today–he must be equipped for these tempests. Perhaps we will be able to serve as advanced warning and provide some protection against these gales. On the other hand, he needs help growing in his understanding of the faith once deli...
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