The Journal of the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies is published to explain and support the theology of Holy Scripture as it is summarized in the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith.

Journal of the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies 2014 (JIRBS)

Religion & Spirituality

Renihan, Dr. James M.

Christian Books & Bibles

RBAP

Hercules Collins, a leading pastor among the seventeenth-century English Particular Baptists, understood the potential benefits of the Heidelberg Catechism for the people under his pastoral care. In order to provide them with an accessible version within his own system of church practice, he edited the Heidelberg and published it in 1680 under the title An Orthodox Catechism. (from the Foreword)

An Orthodox Catechism

Hercules Collins

This book deals with something that you may have never even heard of, the doctrine of divine impassibility. Impassibility is not a word often used in sermons. Even when people are studying systematic theology, impassibility tends to receive a small amount of attention. So what is it? And why is this important? Divine impassibility is defined as follows: God does not experience emotional changes either from within or effected by his relationship to creation. This is a scriptural truth, and a very important part of our system of theology. In chapter two of our Confession, “Of God and the Holy Trinity,” we read the following in paragraph 1: The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions. But is this doctrine important? Yes. This is the doctrine of God. If there is a part of theology about which we should be especially careful and sensitive, it should be the doctrine of God. God is "without . . . passions"? If you are thinking, “I’m not really sure what that phrase means,” then you are not alone. It has become increasingly clear that many in our day are lacking study and knowledge in this area. Given these factors, we can conclude that we need teaching on this subject. It would be a mistake to jump straight into asserting the doctrine of divine impassibility and defending it. It is one piece in a system of doctrine. It stands upon and connects to many other facets of the doctrine of God. So what we need to do in our study is to build up to it. By doing so, we will appreciate not only the doctrine itself, but also just why it cannot be tampered with. So, to start from the ground up, we need to go where the doctrines grow, the Holy Scriptures.

God without Passions: A Primer

Renihan, Samuel

The book is structured as follows. The Introduction presses home the importance of the doctrine of divine impassibility. Readers will be challenged to recognize that tinkering with divine impassibility as classically understood has implications that always end up compromising other fundamental articles of the Christian faith. The main argument is contained in seven parts. Part I addresses vital issues of prolegomena. Prior to providing a positive explication of the doctrine, we outline our theological method. Chapter 1 discusses the theological grammar of the doctrine of divine impassibility. Important concepts such as biblical metaphysics, act and potency, and the analogy of being are discussed. These are basic and crucial concepts to understand at the outset. Chapter 2 offers an introduction to the hermeneutical method employed throughout. These two chapters together reflect our commitment to the traditional language of classical theism and the hermeneutics of the Reformed tradition as articulated in the English Reformed Confessions of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. As readers will become aware in reading the subsequent sections, the issue of method is crucial and foundational in this discussion. Part II (chapters 3-7) covers the Old and New Testaments. Though all potential passages of Scripture are not discussed, the most important texts on the subject of divine impassibility are addressed. The order of these chapters reflects our hermeneutical method: we consider texts on the nature of God first, texts which speak of immutability and impassibility next, concluding with those texts that appear to indicate some sort of passibility in God. Each testamental section ends with a brief conclusion. Part III (chapters 8-9) surveys the history of the doctrine of divine impassibility. We seek to demonstrate that what was once a catholic doctrine has become muddied as scholars of various theological traditions have reformulated, modified, and in some instances rejected classical theism’s commitment to divine impassibility. Part IV (chapters 10-12) offers a systematic-theological approach to the subject. It assumes Parts I-III and builds upon them. Careful discussion is provided on such issues as the relationship of divine impassibility to the essence and attributes of God, the divine affections, and the incarnation of the Son of God. Our goal is for readers to realize the significance of divine impassibility in relation to many other essential doctrines of the Christian faith. It is part of the system of doctrine contained in our Confession; tinkering with impassibility has far-reaching ramifications. Part V (chapter 13) offers an overview of the doctrine of divine impassibility as contained in the Second London Confession of Faith (1677/89). This confessional document asserts the same doctrine as the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) and the Savoy Declaration (1658) on the issue of divine impassibility. The place of the doctrine in the Confession as well as its relationship to other confessed truths is presented. Part VI (chapter 14) seeks to explicate the practical theology of divine impassibility. It draws out implications of the doctrine under the topics the saving knowledge of God, the Christian life, worship, and pastoral ministry. Part VII (chapter 15) offers closing comments and a list of affirmations and denials in light of the entire study. Additionally, we have included two appendices, containing book reviews of contemporary attempts to modify the classical doctrine of divine impassibility. Foreword by Paul Helm. Endorsements by James Dolezal, J. V. Fesko, Ryan McGraw, and Fred Sanders.

Confessing the Impassible God: The Biblical, Classical, & Confessional Doctrine of Divine Impassibility

Renihan, James M.

Baines, Ronald S.

This volume of essays is offered in honor of Dr. James M. Renihan. Because he is a historical theologian, most of the essays cover issues in that field of study. But because he is much more than a historical theologian, colleagues and friends of Dr. Renihan were asked to contribute essays covering the various branches of the theological encyclopedia. The efforts here reflect the contributors’ esteem for their brother and the impact he has had in a wide range of theological inquiry and praxis. Contributors include: Joel Beeke, James Dolezal, J. V. Fesko, Robert Godfrey, Mike, Micah, and Sam Renihan, Sam Waldron, Austin Walker.

By Common Confession: Essays in Honor of James M. Renihan

The documents transcribed here record the process of early Particular Baptist associationalism. Each General Assembly published a Narrative of its acts, and several supporting documents were also released. The 1677 Confession of Faith (2LCF) was promoted, a defense of the necessity of financial support for pastors printed, a Catechism authorized, and other subordinate but important papers ordered. All of these documents are incorporated here, so far as is known some of them for the first time in print since the seventeenth century.

Faith and Life for Baptists: The Documents of the London Particular Baptist Assemblies, 1689-1694

A theological journal committed to confessional Reformed Baptist theology

Journal of the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies 2016 (Jirbs)

a theological journal committed to confessional Reformed Baptist theology

Journal of the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies 2017

The Journal of IRBS Theological Seminary is published to explain and support the theology of Holy Scripture as it is summarized in the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith.

Journal of IRBS Theological Seminary 2018

This book, written for the person in the pew, is a helpful guide to understanding the ordinary means of grace. The book seeks to make the confessional position clear and to demonstrate it through the pages of the Scriptures. Written as a scriptural survey of the various ordinary means of grace, the book details the idea of what is meant by “ordinary means of grace” and it walks through the ministry of the Word, the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and prayer, with a chapter dedicated to each. Finally, there is a concluding chapter which includes a discussion on the weekly rhythm the Scriptures reveal for the nourishment of the people of Christ. Endorsed by Tom Ascol, Liam Goligher, James Renihan, and Carl Trueman

Green Pastures: A Pimer on the Ordinary Means of Grace

Davidson, J. Ryan

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