The eighth volume of The Confessional Presbyterian journal is well under way. We have tried to have mini themes in the past, but this year the issue will more largely follow a Princeton theme as this year marks the 200^th anniversary of that seminary’s founding. I’m also pleased to announce that we have expanded the editorial staff by three. Nick Batzig and Jeff Waddington are joining Jim Cassidy and Nick Willborn in editing the articles section.

Nick Batzig is the organizing pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA), in Richmond Hill, Ga., a suburb of Savannah, Ga. Nick attended Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and is enrolled in the Th.M. program at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Nick is pursuing a Th.M. in the subject of “The Third Use of the Law in the Reformed Confessions and Catechisms.” Prior to receiving the call to plant a church in Richmond Hill, Nick served as an intern at Tenth Presbyterian Church, in Philadelphia, and interim pastor of Christ the King PCA in Conshohocken, PA. He is married to his beautiful wife, Anna, and has three amazing sons, Micah, Elijah and Judah. Besides being a contributor to Feeding on Christ, Nick is also a regular panelist on Christ the Center and writes for several other blogs on the Reformed Forum. Nick has been a regular contributor to Tabletalk Magazine. Nick also has articles and reviews in The Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, Modern Reformation, and Reformation21. Nick’s 2009 (University of Glasgow/Yale University) lecture on “Edwards, Maclaurin and the Transatlantic Concert” was published in the 2011 Dunedin Press Jonathan Edwards and Scotland.

Jeff Waddington is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and currently serves as teacher of the congregation at Calvary Church of Amwell in Ringoes, NJ. Jeff received his MDiv degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 2000 and is a PhD candidate in historical and theological studies (apologetics) and is writing a dissertation on Jonathan Edwards’ theological anthropology and apologetic practice. Jeff is married to his lovely wife Ruth (since 14 July 1990) and has two daughters, Suzannah (a sophomore at Houghton College) and Carolynne (a high school freshman). Jeff serves as the secretary of the Reformed Forum and is a panelist on Christ the Center and a contributor to the Feeding on Christ website. Jeff has been a published writer since 1986, contributing articles and book reviews to such publications as the Westminster Theological Journal, Confessional Presbyterian, Modern Reformation, Themelios, and Reformation21. Jeff assisted William Edgar and K. Scott Oliphint with the editing of the two volume set Christian Apologetics: Past and Present. He has also contributed a chapter to the book Reforming or Conforming? Post-Conservative Evangelicals and the Emerging Church and contributed to and co-edited with Lane G. Tipton Resurrection and Eschatology: Theology in Service of the Church: Essays in Honor of Richard B. Gaffin, and has a chapter in a forthcoming festschrift for David Wells.

In addition, joining Lane Keister editing reviews (for 2013 D.V.), will be the Rev. Gabriel Fluhrer, who is the organizing pastor of Shiloh Presbyterian Church, a mission work of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, in Raleigh, NC.

We continue to offer a full set of the last seven years of issues at a substantial discount. See the here.

The inaugural 2005 issue of The Confessional Presbyterian journal is out of print. Complete sets are no longer available to order, but sets of volume 2 (2006) forward are available.

The editors and publisher would like to thank all who continue to have an interest and support for The Confessional Presbyterian. We now have seven issues and seven years behind us and are working on our eighth. Currently full sets of the journal (7 issues 2005-2011) can be obtained at a great sale price of $75 US ($135 International). We no longer list volume 1 for sale individually, and have reserved all remaining copies of that 2005 inaugural issue for set sales. When those are gone, complete sets will no longer be available. See here to order. See the author index for complete listing of material covered in these seven issues.

It is hard to believe this is the seventh year for The Confessional Presbyterian journal; and the amount of material we have been pleased to present currently extends to six issues (2005–2010) amounting to about 1,700 double column pages. We have presented a wide range of material including original research in different topics, including on the Westminster Assembly and Standards.

The 2011 issue is available in our online store. The contents are as follows:

Articles
3.    Holy Communion in the Theology of John Knox
By Glen J. Clary
25.    John Knox and the Reformation by the Rev. Dr. James Begg
By Iain Wright
41.    The Early Reformation in Scotland
By W. Duncan Rankin
47.    Reformed Presbyterian Criticism of the 1859 Ulster Revival’s Impact on Worship and Church Order
By Daniel Ritchie
65.    1812–1822: The Development of Princeton’s Polemic
By Allen Stanton
77.    The Calvinistic Soteriology of Jonathan Dickinson
By Gary Steward
87.    An Introduction to T. V. Moore through his Essay on Juvenile Delinquency
By Barry Waugh
99.    The Basis and Practice of Christian Mission to Jews 1520–1860
By Rowland S. Ward
111.    The Benediction in Corporate Worship
By Ryan M. McGraw
123.    The Abrahamic Covenant and the Kingdom of God
By Jeong Koo Jeon
139.    On the Shoulders of Giants: Van Til’s Appropriation of Warfield
and Kuyper
By Jeffrey C. Waddington
147.    The Modal Transcendental Argument for God’s Existence
By David Reiter
153.    The Lord and His Messengers: Toward a Trinitarian Interpretation of Malachi 3:1–4
By Camden M. Bucey

164    Reviews & Responses: Michael Horton, The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way (Wes Bredenhof) 164 ■ Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Remythologizing Theology: Divine Action, Passion, and Authorship (James E. Dolezal) 167 ■ Response: “On the Scope and Scopus of ‘Always Reforming,’ A Response to James Dolezal” (Kevin Vanhoozer) 172 ■ Surrejoinder to Kevin Vanhoozer (James E. Dolezal) 175 ■ Paul Helm, Eternal God: A Study of God Without Time, 2nd ed. (Patrick Arnold) 178 ■ Willem J. Van Asselt, et al., Scholastic Discourse: Johannes Maccovius (1588–1644) on Theological and Philosophical Distinctions and Rules (Wes White) 183 ■ T. V. Moore, The Last Days of Jesus (C. N. Willborn) 185 ■ Paul C. Gutjahr, Charles Hodge: Guardian of American Orthodoxy (James Cassidy) 187 ■ J. Knox Chamblin, Matthew: A Mentor Commentary (W. Gary Crampton) 190 ■ Eric L. Johnson, Foundations for Soul Care: A Christian Psychology Proposal (Daniel F. Patterson) 195 ■ J. V. Fesko, Last Things First: Unlocking Genesis 1–3 with the Christ of Eschatology (Ryan McGraw) 200 ■ W. Gary Crampton, From Paedobaptism to Credobaptism: A Critique of the Westminster Standards on the Subjects of Baptism (J. V. Fesko) 203 ■ Response (W. G. Crampton) 206 ■ Surrejoinder to Dr. Crampton’s Response (J. V. Fesko) 210 ■ Douglas Bond, The Mighty Weakness of John Knox and D. M. Lloyd-Jones and Iain Murray, John Knox and the Reformation (Lane Keister) 211 ■
213    Psallo: Psalm 116
216    In Translatiōne: The Preface to the Constance Hymnbook by Joannem Zwick
230    Antiquary: The James Durham MSS Part II
232    Bibliography
253    The Editors and Contributing Editors
.    In Brief: T. V. Moore’s Twenty Hints for a Happy Family (97) ■ In Brief: Robert Baillie on the Chiliasm of Archer, Burroughs and Goodwin (110) ■ In Brief: Thomas Goodwin on God’s Blessing His People (122)

Take advantage of subscribing or renewing as soon as possible for the low rate of $18.oo postage paid. Once the issue is published the rate will rise to the regular retail rate (USA) of $25.00, postage paid. Renew and subscribe online at cpjournal.com.

Chris Coldwell, General Editor & Publisher
James J. Cassidy and C. N. Willborn, Editors, Articles
Lane Keister, Editor, Reviews & Responses

It is hard to believe this is the seventh year for The Confessional Presbyterian journal; and the amount of material we have been pleased to present currently extends to six issues (2005-2010) amounting to about 1,700 pages. The editors are at work on the 2011 issue; stay tuned to our news page for details. Meantime I thought I would review some of the material we have been able to present over the last six years, and here I would notice one of the ongoing departments of the journal.

Antiquary is one of the regular features of The Confessional Presbyterian. As the title implies it affords exploring the ‘antiquities’ (old books and MS, etc.) relating to Presbyterianism. Below is the listing of the entries for the past 6 issues (2005-2010). Each entry to date has had its unique difficulties and rewards in researching; but the most recent entry on Westminster Abbey Library had many challenges to overcome. The result I believe uncovers some new and interesting facets of one of those aspects Dr. S. W. Carruthers would call the “every day work” of the Westminster Assembly. One particular item that may afford future research was the uncovering and transcribing of a MS list of books taken from Archbishop Laud’s library for use by the Assembly in their debates. Full sets of the journal are still available (currently on sale at $75 a set postage paid, USA; $110 International). To purchase issues see the online store: http://www.cpjournal.com/products-page/

Antiquary: “The Traditional Form of The Westminster Standards.” The Confessional Presbyterian 1 (2005). This is a companion piece to the article in the same issue: “Examining the Work of S. W. Carruthers: Justifying a Critical Approach to the Text of the Westminster Standards & Correcting the 18th Century Lineage of the Traditional Scottish Text.”

Antiquary: “T. & J. Swords. Part One. Printers During the Federal Period to Doctors, Scientists, Friendly and Calliopean Clubers, and other New York Literati, as well as High Churchists, and the Occasional Presbyterian.” The Confessional Presbyterian 2 (2006).

Antiquary: “T. & J. Swords. Part Two. Two Large Presbyterian Works (Miller’s Brief Retrospect and the 1799 first edition of the ARP standards).” The Confessional Presbyterian 3 (2007).

Antiquary: “T. & J. Swords. Part Three: The ‘High Churchism’ Controversy.” The Confessional Presbyterian 4 (2008).

Antiquary: “The James Durham MSS Held by Glasgow University Library.” The Confessional Presbyterian 5 (2009).

Antiquary: “Westminster Abbey Library: And Other Theological Resources of the Assembly of Divines (1643–1652).” The Confessional Presbyterian 6 (2010).

News Update. We are pleased to announce that The Confessional Presbyterian has two new editors. The Rev. James J. Cassidy and  the Rev. Dr. C. N. Willborn have agreed to take on the task of overseeing the large Articles section of the journal. Both have been enthusiastic contributors since the journal’s inception, and join the Rev. Lane Keister who took up the editor duties of the Reviews section in 2009. We believe the assembling of this fine team of editors will ensure this publication continues offering quality material on issues of concern and interest from a confessional Presbyterian and Reformed point of view. Chris Coldwell continues in the capacity of general editor and publisher.

James J. Cassidy. Jim is a pastor of Calvary Church (OPC), Ringoes, N. J., and is currently in the Ph.D. program at Westminster Theological Seminary, focusing on the study of Systematic Theology. He is a contributor at the Reformed Forum. Jim provided the following articles for past issues of The Confessional Presbyterian: “Critical-Realism & the Relation of Redemptive Act to Revelatory Word” (2006); “Francis Turretin and Barthianism: The Covenant of Works in Historical Perspective” (2009).

C. N. “Nick” Willborn. Nick is Senior Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA), Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Adjunct Professor of Historical Theology, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Dr. Willborn has written for many books and journals. His writings include: “Adoption: A Historical Perspective with Evangelical Implications,” in Sanctification: Growing in Grace (2002); “The Diaconate: God’s Office of Temporal Affairs,” in Confessing Our Hope (2004); “The ‘Ministerial and Declarative’ Powers of the Church and In Thesi Deliverances,” in The Confessional Presbyterian (2005); “Presbyterians in the South and the Slave: A Study in Benevolence,” in The Confessional Presbyterian (2007); “Gilbert Tennent” in Colonial Presbyterianism (2007); “Biblical Theology in Southern Presbyterianism” in The Hope Fulfilled (2008); “Eschatology and the Westminster Standards in The Confessional Presbyterian (2008); and “The Deacon: A Divine Right Office with Divine Uses,” in The Confessional Presbyterian (2009). Nick is currently writing a critical biography (the first) of the Southern Presbyterian theologian, John L. Girardeau.

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We are still accepting article and review submissions for 2010. If you would like to make a submission for publication please review the submissions page.



News Update. I would like to thank all the subscribers who have made these now five volumes of  The Confessional Presbyterian journal possible. The 2009 issue should be in the hands of all subscribers by this point, and I am very grateful for the positive reception it has received thus far, and look forward to putting together a 2010 issue. If you subscribed more than a few weeks ago and have yet to receive your 2009 issue, please let us know.

The special offer to obtain the five volumes of the journal now in print for only $55 USA ($76 foreign) expires at the first of the year (see the online store). A kind underwriter made this offer possible which has been very successful with many taking advantage to pick up full sets.

We are accepting article and review submissions for 2010. If you would like to make a submission for publication please review the submissions page.

Also at this time we are making a select number of articles available for purchase in PDF format from older issues. The first entry available is Matthew Winzer’s  review of Nick Needham’s Westminster & Worship (from The Westminster Confession into the 21st Century, 2, ed. J. Ligon Duncan [Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 2005]), which appeared in the 2008 issue.  See Articles Available for Purchase. We will continue to offer some older material for free as well.

The Confessional Presbyterian journal has been accepted for indexing in the American Theological Library Association Religion database (ATLA).

The 2009 issue is expect to go to press in the Fall and we anticpate a fine collection of material that should be of great interest to the Reformed community. You may subscribe to receive the issue when it comes out at the online store. Back issues are available as well.

The fourth installment of The Confessional Presbyterian journal is finally completed and will begin going out to subscribers beginning this coming week. I apologize for the long delay. As previously noted, work is underway for on the 2009 issue. To obtain the 2008 and back issues see the online store.

With the 2008 issue at the printer, journal staff are already at work on the fifth outing of The Confessional Presbyterian for 2009, and so far the issue looks to be very promising. Two things worth noting at this time which are in the works are what we trust will be a significant article on Larger Catechism 109 by Dr. David VanDrunen of Westminster Seminary in California, and perhaps a watershed entry on the Westminster Assembly and the Judicial Law. Regarding the former, it is very common for there to be exception taken to the Larger Catechism’s prohibitions of artistic renderings and/or mental images of Christ, and we have been interested in obtaining a significant entry on this topic for the journal since its founding. As to the latter, your editor has completed the source material section which runs a lengthy 50 pages in journal format, and the analytical half will be undertaken by the Rev. Matthew Winzer of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Mr. Winzer has a significant Review/rebuttal to Nick Needham’s work on Westminster and “Singing of Psalms” in the 2008 issue and has shown himself to be a deft handler of matters involved in ascertaining the “Intent” of Westminster.

Other items of interest that should appear include material on John Calvin (appropriately, given 2009 is the quincentenary of his birth), and an article regarding common exceptions taken to the Westminster Standards’ Sabbatarianism. Other interesting items are planned; and we look forward to what else may materialize via submission this year. The Confessional Presbyterian subsists for material on the willing and much appreciated endeavors of others. To submit an article for consideration for 2009, please contact the editor; if you have a review of material that you think would be of interest, please contact the journal’s review editor, Mr. Lane Keister. Before attempting to contact us or submitting any material, please do read the Submissions page.

The Confessional Presbyterian began and remains an ambitious publication endeavor. It began in 2005 with a ‘modest’ issue of 184 pages, and has grown in size each year and the 2008 issue will be 312 pages. The contents for 2005-2008 would fill four 500 page standard size books. It is a large and expensive journal to produce and we rely on our subscribers’ ongoing interest and support to continue. If you have yet to subscribe, or to renew your subscription, you may do so online at the Subscription Store. There are currently several special pricing offers on back issues.