[Personal Review] Stephen Wellum, Systematic Theology (2024)

Coming from a line of Baptist ministers—from my father to my grandfather—I have observed and curiously sought a distinctively Baptist systematic theology. Part of my observations is that many Baptist ministers, theologians, and church leaders in the Philippines were easily persuaded by other denominations’ systematics, covenant theology, dispensationalism, and other concrete theological underpinnings. I can easily express these observations because I have experienced such persuasion resulting in theological envy. Though I had read several systematics written by Baptist theologians like Millard Erickson, Christopher Morgan, Wayne Grudem, and Rhyne Putman, there is an inadequacy of Baptist distinctives.

At the end of my MDiv journey, I came across the Reformed Covenant Theology, which I enthusiastically embraced as an alternative to what had been taught in my earlier Christian journey, called pop-dispensationalism. As I explored the depths of covenant theology more deeply, it caused me to challenge my Baptist church polity and theological positions, especially believer’s baptism. Indeed, with a long line of historicity, a clear framework, and coherent theological principles, I was prepared to let go of my Baptist heritage. However…

In retrospect, it was providential that I bought and started reading Stephen Wellum and Peter Gentry’s Kingdom Through Covenant. It was through that work that helped me understand the unfolding and progressive covenantal story of the Bible. From then forward, I found delight and clarity in the distinction between circumcision and believers’ baptism, the regenerated church, and the entire Baptist polity. It does reflect why the first Baptists in London came up with their confessional statement (1644/6).

I am grateful to Dr. Stephen Wellum for his works, Kingdom Through Covenant and Progressive Covenantalism—plus the handout during his lecture at Third Avenue Baptist Church in 2020—which offered a coherent biblical-theological understanding of the covenants that aligned with Baptist theology. Moreover, his recent publication has put all these pieces into one systematic theology. Wellum’s Systematic Theology: From Canon to Concept (2024) is “unashamedly Baptist,” and he is “convinced that a proper view of the covenants and God’s new covenant work in Christ requires an uncompromising commitment to Baptist distinctives and convictions.” His ‘Systematic Theology’ offers a tremendous alternative covenantal understanding—progressive covenantalism—to classic Reformed covenant and dispensational theology. And I do significantly affirm this view.

Since this is a personal review and testimony, I want to clarify that a covenantal understanding of the Bible is significantly needed to read and interpret the Scriptures. But the covenantal theme is not the “only” way and/or approach to reading the Scriptures. I firmly believe there is a multi-theme approach to reading the Scriptures. This view is essential to put in here for clarity purposes.

#WellumSystematicTheology