17
Nov
2011

The Marrow of Modern of Divinity

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17 Nov 2011

I’ve come to believe that one of the  most significant theological controversies the modern church must acquaint itself with is the controversy surrounding the Marrow of Modern Divinity. The issues concerning Law and Gospel, legal and evangelical repentance, and the free offer of the Gospel to the unconverted are all bound up with the Marrow Controversy. Thomas Boston, and Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine are among the more well known Marrowmen. You can find Christian Focus’ newly reprinted edition of the Marrow of Modern Divinity (with Boston’s Notes and introductions by Phil Ryken and William Vandoodewaard) here. I would also be remiss if I did not recommend Sinclair Ferguson’s outstanding lectures on the Marrow. You can find them here. You can also find other helpful lectures here and here. Perhaps the most careful treatment of the Marrow controversy in print is William Vandoodewarrd’s The Marrow Controversy and Seceeder Tradition. Please spend the time familiarizing yourself with the Marrow theology.

About Post Author

Nick Batzig is the senior pastor of Church Creek PCA in Charleston, SC and an associate editor for Ligonier Ministries. Prior to serving at Church Creek, Nick was a pastor at Wayside PCA on Signal Mountain, TN. Formerly, Nick served as the founding pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Richmond Hill, GA and as the editor of Reformation21 and the Christward Collective--sites of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. He frequently writes for Tabletalk Magazine, Reformation 21, He Reads Truth, and the Christward Collective. Nick was also the host of East of Eden, a podcast devoted to the Biblical and Systematic Theology of Jonathan Edwards. You can friend him on Facebook here and follow him on Twitter @nick_batzig

7 Responses

  2. Nicholas T. Batzig
    Reply

    Joe, I was greatly influenced by Marrow theology during my early days of seminary. Whenever I read Boston or the Erskines, the theology just resonated with what I read in the word. I am thankful, in a weird way, that the controversy occurred. How’s the church plant going?

  3. Joe Holland
    Reply

    Early on I decided to make Boston the Puritan I specialized in. You’re right that the Marrow is illustrative of all his work (even though he didn’t write it). The plant is doing well. It’s the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in ministry.

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