Matthew Barrett
the doctrine of sin, and so on, I don’t want students to learn those doctrines merely
Matthew is the author of several books,
for head knowledge, as important as that
including Salvation by Grace, and he
is. I want them to be able to connect the
is the founder and editor of the online
dots between those doctrines and the
theological magazine, Credo. He gained
Christian life.
his MDiv and PhD from Southern Baptist
biblical understanding of the trinity
was senior pastor at a Baptist church in
shape the way we worship God and pray
California. He teaches systematic theology
to God? It drastically changes how we
and church history at Oak Hill.
relate to God as Father, Son and Holy
One of the things that drew me to Oak ‘I am not preaching in class, but there are times when I get passionate and excited, because the light-bulb goes on and you realise, wow, this seemed at first like a really academic discussion, but it’s enormously practical. So there are times when I do get a little preachy, even if I am not preaching the whole time!’ Matthew Barrett
Hill was that students don’t just study
Spirit. How does our understanding of the
different subjects, as if they’re in a science
cross of Christ as an atonement impact
lab, but instead are asking: How does
our assurance that we are Christians? It
what I’m studying make a difference for
does in a significant way. Whether or not
us as Christians? How do we live out
Christ actually paid the price for our sin
these theological benefits?
has everything to do with whether or not
My hope is that every student will either be a pastor-theologian, or if they are not technically a pastor, then whatever their
we can be confident that we truly are one of God’s children. So in my modules, we really spend time
ministry may be, they will approach it in a
not only fleshing out the theology, but
theological way. So what does that mean?
showing how it relates to godliness, the
In the classes I teach at Oak Hill, where
Christian life, the church and practical
we are covering the trinity, the atonement, 32
So, for example, how does an orthodox,
Theological Seminary in Kentucky, and
ministry.