About the Book
For over fifty years, the writings of Stanley K. Fowler, long-time professor of theological studies at Central Baptist Seminary, Toronto, Ont., and then Heritage College & Seminary, Cambridge, Ont., have informed and clarified theological issues for Baptists in Ontario, Canada and beyond. This key "theologian in service of the church" has made his mark on students, pastors and lay people alike with the clarity of his writing, his prescient theological acumen and his love for the church. The writings in these volumes span his time as a Masters student, a ThD student, a pastor and a theological professor (1969-2021).
Using careful biblical exegesis to address issues facing the church-such as baptism, local church autonomy, public ethics, divine sovereignty and human freedom and divorce and remarriage-Dr. Fowler has sought to equip Christians to serve the Lord well in the present day.
In this two-volume collection of his works, the editors have strived to provide a comprehensive record of Dr. Fowler's writings so the church can continue to learn from his insightful handling of the Word of God and enter deeper into relationship with the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ.
Review :
In this collection of essays Dr. Stan Fowler offers serious, substantive theological engagement with some of the central, if perennially controversial, doctrines of the church-election and perseverance, divine sovereignty and human freedom, faith, justification and assurance, among others-along with a range of contemporary issues in moral theology. While many theologians avoid entering the fray of discourse on popular issues of doctrinal controversy, Dr. Fowler enters, candidly, ever charitably, ever measured. Doing so from a Reformed Baptist perspective, he demonstrates a commitment to reading Scripture with the church catholic, with close and careful readings of authors ancient and modern alike, from Augustine and Anselm to T.F. Torrance and Karl Barth. While charitable with each, he exhibits throughout a Berean-like commitment to evaluate all theological claims by the rule of Scripture "to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11). The result is clear, historically attuned, theologically rich expressions of the Christian faith for contemporary Christians. Read this collection of essays and it will be easy to understand why Dr. Fowler is lauded as a pastors' theologian.
Lyndon Jost (PhD)
Associate pastor, Christ Church Toronto; director of the Reformed House of Studies, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
These volumes of writings by Stan Fowler are a tribute to his influence on many students over the years and his wider influence in the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Canada. It will be extremely useful to future historians who want to understand the theology of Baptists in Canada during the period of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The church needs more theologians like Stan Fowler, who seek to do theology well for the church.
Craig A. Carter (PhD)
Research professor of theology, Tyndale University, Toronto
What a gift this collection is. With theological care and precision, Fowler's writings are deeply rooted and ecumenically zealous as he carefully defines contested issues and explores the insights of not only his Baptist tradition but many other Christian voices. One needn't agree with each of his conclusions, soteriologically or ethically, to deeply benefit from the model he offers for engaging contested questions: Fowler's work is refreshingly thoughtful and biblical, wide-ranging and incisive, full of kindness and clarity.
Jessica Joustra (PhD)
Associate professor of religion and theology; director of the Albert M. Wolters Centre for Christian Scholarship, Redeemer University, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Dr. Stanley K. Fowler is one of the most articulate and thoughtful theologians I know. I felt the precision and power of his competence in a debate I held with him decades ago as I tried to defend a particular hermeneutical and eschatological view I held at the time. After the kind but thorough decimation of my arguments, we became friends, and later colleagues. This collection of essays very much reflects his careful thinking, his ability to see multiple sides of an issue and allow room for different thinking, and quietly, gently and firmly articulate his own position in the spirit of ongoing conversation and reflection within the Christian community. These essays and articles, while some are historically rooted in the times in which they were written, need to be read by all who wrestle seriously with the issues they address. Stan is truly "a theologian in service of the church."
David G. Barker (ThD)
Professor emeritus of biblical studies, Heritage College & Seminary, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
