Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 14:2 (Fall 2023)
Article: Towards A Baptist Dogmatics
Author: Steven A. McKinion

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Towards A Baptist Dogmatics

Steven A. McKinion

Christine E. Thornton
&
Keith S. Whitfield

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

Abstract: In June 2021, a gathering of Baptist theologians convened in Wake Forest, North Carolina, to delve into the distinct approach to dogmatics within the Baptist tradition. This academic initiative aimed to establish the core principles guiding theological discourse among Baptists. Baptist dogmatics places a significant emphasis on active engagement with the gospel, Scripture, tradition, and the faith-oriented community. Dogmatics, as a field of theological exploration, operates on the foundational belief that theology inherently serves the ecclesiastical body through its interactions with Scripture, tradition, and rational contemplation. The primary objective of dogmatics is to meticulously unfold the nature of God as revealed through Jesus Christ, a revelation drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. This revelation is coupled with the intention to equip adherents to embody their faith in practical ways. The authors put forth four guiding markers—historical, ecclesial, covenantal, and confessional—to chart the course of this theological endeavor. These markers are firmly rooted in a shared affirmation of the gospel, interwoven covenantal connections, and a dedicated allegiance to the paramount authority of Scripture. Consequently, the Baptist framework of dogmatics aspires to eloquently express and exemplify the Christian faith within the context of the congregational community, extending an open invitation to the wider world to partake in the transformative understanding of God through the figure of Christ.

Key Words: Baptist theology, dogmatics, dogmatic theology, evangelical theology, systematic theology, theological method

In June 2021, a group of Baptist theologians gathered in Wake Forest, NC, to explore the possibilities of engaging the discipline of dogmatics in a distinctively Baptistic manner. As a part of this venture, we commenced collaboration on a book project, titled Confessing Christ.1 The

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vision for this gathering arose from the conviction that dogmatics uniquely serves the church and its witness because it explains the Christian faith holistically from both biblical and theological perspectives. The discipline of dogmatics, as a subset of systematic theology, explores the coherence of the faith by the church, within the church, and for the church.

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