Best Seminary?

goretorade · #1 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 07:03 PM

1. What in your opinion is the best reformed seminary and why?
2. What would be your second choice and why?
3. What seminary would advise to avoid?

Ivanhoe · #2 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 07:59 PM

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

You have men like Al Mohler, Bruce Ware, and Russell Moore who do not dichotomize the faith.

Israelite · #3 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goretorade

What seminary would advise to avoid?

Liberty Mountain for obvious reasons, and any seminary that would teach dispensationalism.

bened · #4 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 08:19 PM

DTS, though not reformed, is a solid evangelical seminary.

One could do a lot worse.

And, no, I didn't attend there.

Ivan · #5 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spear Dane

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

You have men like Al Mohler, Bruce Ware, and Russell Moore who do not dichotomize the faith.

Wow, you took the name right out of my mouth, Jacob! If I were a young man called to the ministry this would be my choice and I'm a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (although it has vastly improved since I graduated)!

In addition to the professors you named there are also Michael Haykin, Don Whitney, Thomas Schreiner, Tom Nettles, and Stuart Scott.

Dr. Mohler is developing one of the finest seminaries in the world.

elnwood · #6 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 09:32 PM

All this brings up an interesting question. At what point is diversity in seminary good and when is it bad? Complete uniformity is not good because it doesn't expose you to different positions and diversity helps you defend your own position, and yet you don't want to be exposed to rank heresy either.

swilson · #7 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 09:41 PM

Biola has become extremely liberal; even having borderline heretics teaching there....

How is Southwestern Baptist Seminary?

Romans922 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elnwood

All this brings up an interesting question. At what point is diversity in seminary good and when is it bad? Complete uniformity is not good because it doesn't expose you to different positions and diversity helps you defend your own position, and yet you don't want to be exposed to rank heresy either.

When you choose a seminary, it is probably wise to choose one that is not diverse. You want to get the education and teaching to prepare you for your work as a pastor. In that training you want to go deep in areas. If you chose a diverse seminary you would be skimming the top of your teaching and not really going as deep as you could.

With this in mind, you have to chose and be guided in what seminary would fit you best, probably one that has good doctrine obviously and one that will prepare you adequately for the office of pastor as well as lead you to a great church to test your gifts while at seminary.

This is obviously my opinion....

PuritanCovenanter · #9 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 09:44 PM

Welcome to the Midwest Center for Theological Studies

Ivanhoe · #10 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romans922

Quote:

Originally Posted by elnwood

All this brings up an interesting question. At what point is diversity in seminary good and when is it bad? Complete uniformity is not good because it doesn't expose you to different positions and diversity helps you defend your own position, and yet you don't want to be exposed to rank heresy either.

When you choose a seminary, it is probably wise to choose one that is not diverse. You want to get the education and teaching to prepare you for your work as a pastor. In that training you want to go deep in areas. If you chose a diverse seminary you would be skimming the top of your teaching and not really going as deep as you could.

With this in mind, you have to chose and be guided in what seminary would fit you best, probably one that has good doctrine obviously and one that will prepare you adequately for the office of pastor as well as lead you to a great church to test your gifts while at seminary.

This is obviously my opinion....

True, but an overly uniform seminary wouldn't be able to expose its students to serious counter-arguments against their positions. In other words, they leave themselves open to being blind-sided in minisitry. If any are interested, PM me for examples.

bened · #11 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spear Dane

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

You have men like Al Mohler, Bruce Ware, and Russell Moore who do not dichotomize the faith.

Wow, you took the name right out of my mouth, Jacob! If I were a young man called to the ministry this would be my choice and I'm a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (although it has vastly improved since I graduated)!

In addition to the professors you named there are also Michael Haykin, Don Whitney, Thomas Schreiner, Tom Nettles, and Stuart Scott.

Dr. Mohler is developing one of the finest seminaries in the world.

Southern has truly emerged as a top-shelf seminary.

And that's coming from a Southwestern (MDiv) and New Orleans (DMin) man.

To answer the question about SWBTS today, my understanding is that it's still a good seminary. Though Patterson and his public persona can be an embarrassment at times.

Thing is, it no longer can ride the gravy train of being the lone conservative option for southern baptist students. Southern's and Southeastern's faculties have eclipsed SWBTS' in reputation.

All of the southern baptist seminaries are good and have their strengths. All except for Southern, obviously, are conservative but definitely not reformed. Southeastern and especially its president Danny Akin, have seemed to do a good job of fairly represented the reformed perspective in southern baptist life albeit from a modified calvinistic perspective.

That said, and if providence allows and you're thinking southern baptist, go to Southern.

Kevin · #12 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 11:17 PM

my fav...(best value for your buck...)

Haddington House Trust

Me Died Blue · #13 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romans922

You want to get the education and teaching to prepare you for your work as a pastor. In that training you want to go deep in areas. If you chose a diverse seminary you would be skimming the top of your teaching and not really going as deep as you could.

This reminds me of one of the many positive factors that has made Westminster Seminary California stand out to me as I've been doing a preliminary comparison of seminaries: It certainly has the uniformity to go very deep in areas, since it is solidly Reformed. Yet within the boundaries of Reformed theology, it arguably offers a more diverse exposure than most other Reformed seminaries, since it is pretty evenly divided between the Continental Reformed and Presbyterian traditions - and that with respect to curriculum, history, subscription of professors, and church membership. And I'm sure most would agree that the different histories and doctrinal nuances of the Continental Reformed and the Presbyterians can only deepen and benefit from each other.

PastorFaulk · #14 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swilson

Biola has become extremely liberal; even having borderline heretics teaching there....

How is Southwestern Baptist Seminary?

I'm Biased towards SWBTS and SBTS.

In regards to SWBTS, though Dr. Patterson is not reformed, the seminary in recent years has reestablished itself on the foundation Scripture. It also has many quality professors who hold to Calvinistic views. Greg Welty, Kevin Kenedy, ect. I came to SWBTS a flaming Armenian, who dabbled in open theism and had a soft spot for women in the pastorate. I left SWBTS a 4 1/2 point Calvinist who saw what scripture said, not culture in regards to God's design for the family and the church. This change of heart was based on professors dealing with scripture holistically and Christologicaly. I came from Howard Payne University, where open theism was taught as truth, and the whole of Scripture was interpreted through individual passages. SWBTS taught me to look at specific passages by learning what the whole of scripture states. Is that clear as mud?

bookslover · #15 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swilson

Biola has become extremely liberal; even having borderline heretics teaching there....

Examples?

ReadBavinck · #16 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Me Died Blue

This reminds me of one of the many positive factors that has made Westminster Seminary California stand out to me as I've been doing a preliminary comparison of seminaries: It certainly has the uniformity to go very deep in areas, since it is solidly Reformed. Yet within the boundaries of Reformed theology, it arguably offers a more diverse exposure than most other Reformed seminaries, since it is pretty evenly divided between the Continental Reformed and Presbyterian traditions - and that with respect to curriculum, history, subscription of professors, and church membership. And I'm sure most would agree that the different histories and doctrinal nuances of the Continental Reformed and the Presbyterians can only deepen and benefit from each other.

No seminary is perfect, but I heartily recommend Westminster Seminary California. There are many great things about Westminster: the student body, the administration, the curriculuum, the location (btw, my apt. complex has been offering seminarians discounted rent lately!), but I think the thing I'm most happy about are the professors.

This faculty is top notch in terms of the quality of their work, their care for the students, and their devotion to Christ and his Church. Additionally, I think you will be hard pressed to find a reformed faculty as united as WSC's.

PM me if want to talk more some time.

lwadkins · #17 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 09:21 AM

Someone do me a favor and expand the "TR" acronym that keeps being thrown around.

Romans922 · #18 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 09:32 AM

I'd love to but it is thrown around so much that it really has no clear definition.

Many people would call me TR however based on another's definition I am not 100% TR. It depends on how you define it.

TR - stands for Totally or Truly Reformed
it stands in contrast to
BR - Barely Reformed

I believe it to be a demeaning term and/or a pridefully used term (depending on how you use it obviously).

Kstone1999 · #19 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 09:34 AM

I am in my first year at RTS Chralotte, and have been very pleased so far. Douglas Kelly, in my opinion, is a great theologian and a great preacher. I have been impresed with all of the professors to this point. I did visit, Southern and RTS Jackson. Im very happy with my choice, although I dont think anyone could go wrong at Jackson or Southern.

ADKing · #20 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 09:51 AM

In my opinion the two best seminaries at present are Northwest Theological Seminary Northwest Theological Seminary - Christocentric Confessional Reformed Biblical Theology and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

LockTheDeadbolt · #21 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 10:11 AM

If you're interested in such things, a more globally-oriented missions-focused school would be Trinity (TEDS) up in Illinois, and is worth consideration. I believe it's associated with the Evangelical Free church.

D.A. Carson laid out the pros and cons at TEDS for me once. He pointed out that the faculty are very diverse doctrinally (Arminians and Calvinists, cessasionists and charismatics, egalitarian and completmentarian, etc.) so it would be impossible to interact with straw-men in such an environment, since Professor So N. So down the hall represents that viewpoint. The school is also very diverse in its international student and faculty representation. However, some (lazy) students become convinced no resolution of certain doctrinal issues is possible, since the faculty at TEDS can't come to any final agreement amongst themselves on such issues, and they eventually settle for some watered-down moderate bastardization (my word, not Carson's) of both relevant positions ("Calminianism," anyone? Possibly "Arvinisim"?).
However, the language study is top-notch (Carson teaches there, for goodness' sake), and much of the work being done by Carson, VanHoozer, et al, regarding properly relating and even unifying biblical and systematic theological categories is being done right there.

Anyway, just a coupla cents...

jawyman · #22 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 10:23 AM

As a current student of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary I recommend my seminary. The incredible, in-depth teaching styles of Dr. Joel Beeke and Dr. Gerald Bilkes are unparalleled. Also, being taught experiential preaching is like no other style. We have also been blessed recently with Dr. David Murray of Scotland accepting a professorship. We are of course taught Scripture alone, but we receive a most solid Reformed education. Most brothers here confess the Three Forms of Unity or the Westminster Standard, so there is no fear of any false teachings or contrary doctrines among us.

An aside notes is that the cost of PRTS are very reasonable for the solid education you will receive here.

lwadkins · #23 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 10:25 AM

Ahh, thank you Mr. Barnes

greenbaggins · #24 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 10:51 AM

I wonder that no one has yet mentioned three seminaries I would be extremely comfortable with: Mid-America Theological Seminary, Greenville Theological Seminary, and New Geneva Theological Seminary. All three are solidly Reformed, with great scholars at each.