How would you view the Systematic theology JO Buswell?

Buswell’s Systematic Theology text was my very first.

In the early days of dispensationalism there was a peaceful coexistence between Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism, without any major contention.

“Mr Baptist of the 19th century”, JR Graves, whose greatest work was “The Work of Christ in the Covenant of Redemption—Developed in Seven Dispensations” (1883) demonstrates this.

The two systems peacefully coexisted in the Niagara Conferences and (perhaps) the Nyack Conferences of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when there was a Presbyterian premillennialism presence.

Of these, Donald Barnhouse, Oliver Buswell and AA MacRae were the most distinguished Presbyterian premillennialists, each associated with a form of dispensationalism.

Oliver Buswell wrote a Systematic Theology that was cutting edge for its time, yet conservative in tone... something all systematic theology texts should strive to be.

Every older Systematic Theology text will be dated, (they are written to deal with important topics of their time). So Buswell’s text is dated yet it has some historical value and holds a place on my shelf.




Rob

 

Looking over some notes:

Buswell is frequently quoted in other Systematic Theology texts.
If you have Logos Bible Software, a simple search of “Buswell” should bring up many references.

• His ST text is one of those well referenced in Grudem’s text under “Evangelical Systematic Theologies”
• As a Presbyterian he positioned himself with infant baptism
• He was a Mid-Tribulationist
• He believed in Israel’s national salvation and holds to a literal future earthly kingdom
• He maintained the traditional Covenantal Viewpoint that the Church existed in the Old Testament
• He proposed a figurative Day/Age interpretation of the early chapters of Genesis
• Regarding the imputation of sin, Buswell held the Federal View of Adam’s headship, he is the federal head or the representative of the entire human race (as do Charles Hodge and Louis Berkhof)

Rob