239. Danny Olinger on Geerhardus Vos

In this episode, we welcome Reverend Danny Olinger to discuss his book Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Presbyterian. Who was Geerhardus Vos (1862-1949), and why does he matter? The “Father of Reformed Biblical Theology”, and one of the great Reformed exegetes of Scripture since the Reformation – Vos has played a pivotal role in systematizing and organizing both the method of “the history of special revelation” and the use of the method in reading the Bible as an inspired and organic whole. From a defense of Mosaic authorship, to an underrated systematic theology, to the deepest exposition of the eschatology of both the Psalter and the Pauline corpus to date – Vos was a consistent reminder of what theology is ultimately about: God – even communion with the Triune God in Christ Jesus. What is Biblical Theology, or as Vos preferred “The History of Special Revelation” – and how does it differ from and work with Systematic Theology? Why was 1 Corinthians 15.45 such a key text throughout the work of Vos? Listen in as Reverend Olinger also takes us through this and more, including an often forgotten doctrinal debate over Supralapsarianism – as well as the much more famous controversy over the work and trial of “Vos’s counterpart in biblical theology at Union Seminary”: Charles Briggs. Though a teacher and supporter of J. Gresham Machen, we will ask about why Vos did not follow him to either Westminster Theological Seminary or the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. That being the case, as one will hear, there has been no theologian or scholar who has been more influential on the identity of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, either at its organization or even today – including a particular emphasis on “the deeper Protestant conception”, “heavenly-mindedness” and the pilgrim identity of the Church.

Book: Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Presbyterian

Other resources by Rev. Olinger:

- A Geerhardus Vos Anthology: Biblical and Theological Insights Alphabetically Arranged

- History of a Pilgrim People: The Historical Writings of Charles G. Dennison

- Church and His Church-Bride: Meredith G. Kline’s Biblical-Theological Reading of the Book of Revelation

Some resources by Geerhardus Vos:

- “The Prospects of an American Theology”

- The Mosaic Origin of the Pentateuchal Codes

- Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments

- “The Nature and Aims of Biblical Theology”

- The Pauline Eschatology

- The Eschatology of the Old Testament, edited by James T. Dennison Jr.

- The Kingdom of God and the Church

- The Self-Disclosure of Jesus

- Grace and Glory: Sermons Preached at Princeton Seminary

- Reformed Dogmatics. translated and edited by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

- Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation: The Shorter Writings of Geerhardus Vos, edited by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

- Natural Theology, translated by Albert Gootjes

Other resources:

Redemptive Historical Preaching by Charlie Dennison

E.g. Habakkuk; Pattern of New Testament Authority; Archive

- “Some Thoughts on Preaching”

Reformed Forum: Vos Group (and here)

E.g. “The Nature and Attributes of God”; “God’s Relation to Time and Eternity”

Kerux: A Journal of Biblical Theology

- “Geerhardus Vos: Life Between Two Worlds” by James Dennison

- “Reason, History and Revelation: Biblical Theology and the Enlightenment” by William D. Dennison

- “The Redemptive-Historical Hermeneutic and Preaching” by William D. Dennison

"Geerhardus Vos, A Pioneer of Biblical Theology at Old Princeton Seminary"; Part Two by Ardel Caneday

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

Resurrection and Redemption: A Study in Paul’s Soteriology by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.

Paul’s Two-Age Construction and Apologetics by William D. Dennison (also here, and here)

The Last Adam: A Theology of the Obedient Life of Jesus in the Gospels by Brandon Crowe

The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til by Lane Tipton

Uncovering the Theme of Revelation in Romans 1: 16-3:26 by Marcus Mininger

In Search for the City on a Hill by Richard Gamble

The Presbyterian Controversy: Fundamentalists, Modernists, and Moderates by Bradley Longfield

Defending the Faith: J. Gresham Machen and the Crisis of Conservative Protestantism in Modern America by D. G. Hart

The Modernist Impulse in American Protestantism by William R. Hutchison

Mormons and the Bible by Philip L. Barlow

Scourby: Genesis, Romans, 1 Corinthians