Theology for Every Person (3 Volumes)

A few years ago, the good people at LifeWay asked me to propose a set of systematic theology books. They allowed me to choose to focus either on the academy or on the people in the churches. I chose to focus on the churches as the primary audience, and from my proposal we together worked up a series entitled "Theology for Every Person." The three volumes are intended to help everyone realize that God calls each person to know and love him with all of one's heart, soul, mind, and strength. These three volumes, when taken together, cover the basic and most important details of systematic theology for the college and seminary classroom.

Volume 1: God

The first volume in the series is entitled God and was published in 2024. This book helps the reader enter the conversation of talk about God. The overarching theme is that of a journey into knowing God. The major doctrines considered are God, revelation, and theological method. I have written about these doctrines in numerous academic works. The academic details are summarized and simplified as much as possible without losing their meaning. My hope is that the reader will be delighted to enter the conversation with and about our Creator. You can find the book on sale with the publisher, B&H, or at a major retailer, such as Amazon.

Volume 2: Word

The second volume of Theology for Every Person is entitled Word and was published in 2026. This book helps the reader continue their journey into knowing God by focusing on the second Person of the Trinity, the eternal Word or Son of God. After two chapters on the Person of the Father are two chapters focused on the Person of the Word. Chapters five and six then consider the doctrines of creation and providence, while the next three chapters focus on who human beings are as created in the image of God yet as sinful. The final four chapters consider the work of Jesus Christ, centered in the cross but inclusive of his resurrection, ascension, heavenly session, and eternal reign. You can find the book on sale with the publisher, B&H, or at a major retailer, such as Amazon. 

Volume 3: Spirit

The third volume will be entitled Spirit and is expected to be published in 2028. It will consider the doctrine of the Person of the Holy Spirit, as well as the doctrines of the Kingdom of God, salvation and the Christian life, the church, and the last.

Endorsements

I appreciate how pastor theologians like the late Steve Gaines, as well as Andy Brown, Mark Forrest, Ryan King, and Darin Wood, alongside academic theologians like Glenn Butner, Rick Durst, Adam Harwood, Michael Haykin, and Kenneth Keathley, have kindly endorsed both these volumes. 

Video Sessions

I have taught portions of these books in various churches, testing them out on the laity, and been surprised by the great responses. I have also taught each chapter in the classroom to University and Seminary students, and many before gatherings of Pastors, Ministers, and Missionaries seeking a refresher course in theology. 

Recently, the First Baptist Church of Midland, Texas, led by Dr. Darin Wood, recorded three such sessions delivered to ministers who came from all over West Texas, including as far as El Paso. You are welcome to sit in on those sessions by videos located here:

• Session 1: Theology is for Every Person 
• Session 2: Is God Trinity? 
• Session 3: What Must We Say of the Trinity? 

May the readers be edified and the Lord be glorified by all three volumes of Theology for Every Person.

Is Nicene Trinitarianism Biblical and Necessary?

The question of both the biblical basis and the necessity of affirming the theology affiliated with the Council of Nicaea has again become a matter of discussion.

Having spent some time studying this issue, and having published my examinations in both monograph and essay form, I wish to go on record, again, of affirming Nicene Trinitarianism is both biblically grounded and necessary for Christian teachers who wish to be recognized as orthodox. (Michael A.G. Haykin, a longtime colleague of mine in historical theology, today corroborated my thoughts.)

While I have interacted only somewhat formally with the modern theology known as Eternal Functional Subordination, it seems increasingly likely the churches and their responsible theologians will be required to address these teachings more formally. May the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ, who participates without any limit whatsoever in the divine nature, will, and authority equally with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, guide his people as they do so.

The following works trace my understanding of the biblical doctrine of the Trinity and of various historic responses:

• Malcolm B. Yarnell III, God the Trinity: Biblical Portraits, especially the Epilogue
• Malcolm Yarnell and Karen Yarnell, “Trinity and Authority” (5 part blog series), especially Part 5
• Keith S. Whitfield, ed., Trinitarian Theology: Theological Models and Doctrinal Applications, chapter 2 is my proposal, chapter 5 is my response to Ware on the one hand and to Emerson and Stamps on the other
• Matthew Y. Emerson et al, ed., Baptists and the Christian Tradition: Toward an Evangelical Baptist Catholicity, chapter 3, “Baptists, Classic Trinitarianism, and the Christian Tradition”
• Stephen Copson, ed., Trinity, Creed and Confusion: The Salters’ Hall Debates of 1719, chapter 6, “The Point in Question at Salters’ Hall: Baptists Contending for Trinity, Scripture and Freedom”

If you wish to see my lectures on the matter, please feel free to sign up for the Master's elective and/or research doctoral seminar which I teach on “God the Trinity” at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The PhD seminar will next be offered in Spring 2022.