Gavin Ortlund

Gavin Ortlund
Born	(1983-06-30) June 30, 1983 (age 41)
Education	University of Georgia (BA) Covenant Theological Seminary (MDiv) Fuller Theological Seminary (PhD)
Occupation	President of Truth Unites
Spouse	Esther Ortlund
Children	5
Father	Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.
Relatives	Ray and Anne Ortlund
Theological work
Tradition or movement	Reformed Baptist
Notable ideas	Theological triage
Website	https://truthunites.org/

Gavin Rutherford Ortlund ^{[1] [ independent source needed ]} (born June 30, 1983 ^{[2] [3] [ independent source needed ]}) is an American Reformed Baptist theologian pastor,^{[ citation needed ]} and Christian apologist.^{[ citation needed ]} As of December 2024, Ortlund had authored at least eight books, over 40 academic articles and book reviews, and many tens of articles for popular religious venues. ^{[4] [ better source needed ][ independent source needed ]} He describes himself as President of Truth Unites, a ministry whose tagline is "promoting gospel assurance through theological depth". ^[5] As of December 2024, Ortlund was listed as Theologian in Residence at Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee, ^[6] and writes at TruthUnites.org. ^{[5] [ better source needed ] [7] [ dead link ‍][ independent source needed ]}

Early life and education

Gavin Rutherford Ortlund was born on June 30, 1983, ^{[1] [8] [9] [ independent source needed ]}) to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.,^{[ clarification needed ] [10]} his father, the founding pastor of Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee. ^[10] Gavin Ortlund is the grandson, on his father's side, of Ray and Anne Ortlund, noted earlier evangelical speakers and authors. ^[11] Ortlund earned a B.A. in religion and philosophy from the University of Georgia,^{[ when? ]} an M.Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary,^{[ when? ]} and a PhD in historical theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.^{[ when? ] [12] [ better source needed ][ independent source needed ]} Ortlund did a post-doctoral research fellowship at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, at the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding, where he conducted research on Augustine's doctrine of creation. ^{[4] [ better source needed ][ independent source needed ]}

Career

Preparation for ministry

Ortlund discloses in his writings that he came from and appreciated his Presbyterian background, writing

I was baptized as an infant in the Church of Scotland. After my family moved back to the United States, I was raised in various Presbyterian churches, eventually working at two Presbyterian churches during college and then attending a Presbyterian seminary. As I look back, I have nothing but gratitude for my time among Presbyterians; in fact, I often miss that world! ^{[13] [ independent source needed ]}

He goes on to write that he was "propelled... out of Presbyterianism" because of the doctrine of infant baptism (paedobaptism), and that after a period of intensive study, his "convictions had solidified against [it], and I (somewhat reluctantly) changed my church affiliation and was baptized [again] (dunked in a river, to be precise)." ^[13] He went on to receive his ordination from the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference.^{[ citation needed ]}

Career positions

Ortlund served as an associate pastor of Sierra Madre Congregational Church.^{[ when? ] [14] [ independent source needed ] [12] [ independent source needed ]} Next,^{[ when? ]} he became Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Ojai (ABCUSA), in Ojai, California, ^{[12] [ independent source needed ]} where he stayed until 2023.^{[ citation needed ] [15] [ full citation needed ]} As of December 2024, Ortlund was listed as a Pastor Emeritus, and as "Pastor to Pastors", at Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee. ^[16]

Public engagement

Ortlund has debated Trent Horn (a member of Catholic Answers) on several issues, including purgatory and baptismal regeneration. ^{[17] [18]} He has criticized John MacArthur and others for oversimplifying matters in deciding how churches in California ought to respond to governmental COVID restrictions, where others described his position as arguing that MacArthur had "prioritiz[ed] worship over [a more submissive posture that included considerations of] loving your neighbor, obedience to government and maintaining a good witness". ^{[19] [20] [21]}

Bibliography

Ortlund has written multiple books, including: ^{[4] [ independent source needed ]}

• Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals: Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future (2019).^{[ full citation needed ]} The message here is that church history and the history of Protestantism are important today.^{[ according to whom? ] [22] [ independent source needed ]}

• Finding the Right Hills to Die on: The Case for Theological Triage. (2020), Essential doctrines of the faith, non-essential doctrines, and prioritize doctrine.^{[ full citation needed ] [23] [ independent source needed ] [24]}

• In his book Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't: The Beauty of Christian Theism (2021),^{[ full citation needed ]} Ortlund argues that the idea of the existence of God is "more satisfying to both mind and heart" than naturalism.^{[ citation needed ]} Ortlund has written a commentary on the work of Anselm. ^[25] He has written on Christian unity, criticizing sectarianism as well as doctrinal indifference. ^{[26] [27]} Ortlund has opposed those who call for "an end to the Reformation". ^{[28] [29]}

• What it Means to be Protestant: The Case for an Always Reforming Church. Grand Rapids (2024), a defense of the Protestant tradition.^{[ full citation needed ]}

• Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness (2023), where Ortlund writes how humility is not an abstract virtue but a mark of gospel integrity.^{[ full citation needed ]}

• Retrieving Augustine’s Doctrine of Creation: Ancient Wisdom for Current Controversy (2020). How Augustine of Hippo might understand Genesis 1-3.^{[ full citation needed ]}

• Anselm’s Pursuit of Joy: A Commentary on the Proslogion (2020). Commentary on Anselm of Canterbury's Proslogion. ^[25]

• I and II Kings: A 12-Week Study. Knowing the Bible (Crossway, 2017), "A 12-week Practical Study Series on the Books of 1 and 2 Kings". ^{[30] [ full citation needed ]}

• Ortlund has defended the doctrine of divine simplicity and the Thomistic view of the beatific vision. ^{[31] [32] [33] [ independent source needed ]}

• Ortlund has defended the view that Noah's flood was a regional event and not a global event, arguing that such a position is consistent with "an effort to take seriously the meaning of the text, which involves what the original author meant the original readers to take from it in its original context." ^{[34] [ independent source needed ]} This claim has caused controversy within Evangelicalism and ignited accusations of theological liberalism, which he has denied. ^{[35] [36]}

• Ortlund has written many academic papers and online articles on a wide array of theological and Biblical topics. ^{[4] [ independent source needed ]}

• Ortlund maintains a YouTube channel, to present the theological and Biblical topics from his organization, Truth Unites. ^[37]

Teaching

Ortlund has been an assistant and adjunct teacher at: ^{[4] [ independent source needed ]}

• Western Seminary, 2024;^{[ citation needed ]}
• St. Anselm, Bethel College and Seminary, 2018, 2020;^{[ citation needed ]}
• Fellow, Credo; ^[38]
• Member, The Center for Pastor Theologians (St. Basil Fellowship);^{[ citation needed ]}
• Visiting Scholar at Reasons to Believe; ^{[12] [ independent source needed ]}
• Editorial Board, Themelios (2016-2021);^{[ citation needed ]}
• Evangelical Theological Society;^{[ citation needed ]}
• International Association for Anselm Studies;^{[ citation needed ]}

Personal life

Gavin Ortlund is married to his wife, Esther, ^[5] and they have five children. ^{[7] [ dead link ‍][ independent source needed ]}

Ortlund has brothers that include Eric Ortlund, a professor at Oak Hill College in London,^{[ citation needed ]} and Dane Ortlund, author of the popular Christian book Gentle and Lowly.^{[ citation needed ]}

Further reading

• Author Unknown (October 11, 2019). "Apologist and Pastor Gavin Ortlund on Whether or Not the Bible Supports Slavery". blackchristiannews.com. Retrieved May 4, 2022.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)^{[ dead link ‍]}
• Christian News Now Staff (August 4, 2020). "John MacArthur Appears on Fox News at Night; "We Are the Most Essential Reality in the World"". Christian News Now . Retrieved May 4, 2022.
• Robinson, Jeff (April 16, 2021). "Written to Christians or Almost Christians? Mohler and Schreiner Debate Warning Passages at TGC21". Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
• Dash, Darryl (August 3, 2021). 8 Habits for Growth: A Simple Guide to Becoming More Like Christ. Moody Publishers. ISBN   9780802499745.^{[ page needed ]}
• Lee, Justin (May 20, 2022). "Takeaways from the Debate over Tim Keller's "Third Way"". First Things . Retrieved August 14, 2022. In addressing the James R. Wood-David A. French debate, Ortlund tweeted, "[A]voiding tribalism and seeking winsomeness is NOT a strategy that can be discarded once we arrive in a ‘negative world,’ It is a biblical commandment" (as quoted here by Lee).
• Vincent, Benjamin (July 20, 2022). "Why We Shouldn't Practice Liturgy 'A La Carte'". Christianity Today . Retrieved August 9, 2022. Article discusses the Ortlund book, Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals: Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future.

References

1. Ortlund, Gavin Rutherford (October 2023). "Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Truth Unites . Retrieved October 31, 2024.^{[ independent source needed ]}
2. Ortlund, Gavin (2020). Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway. p. 6.^{[ independent source needed ]}
3. Ortlund, Gavin [@gavinortlund] (June 30, 2020). "37 today. I asked my daughter what age she thinks I am and her first answer was "70" and the next guess was "71." Not even trending in the right direction" (Tweet) – via Twitter.^{[ independent source needed ]}
4. Ortlund, Gavin R. (October 2023). "CV" (PDF). Truth Unites . Retrieved December 30, 2024.^{[ independent source needed ]}
5. Ortlund, Gavin (December 31, 2023). "About Gavin Ortlund". Truth Unites . Retrieved December 31, 2024.^{[ independent source needed ]} For the tagline, see the organisation's home page.
6. Immanuel Church Staff (December 30, 2024). "Meet Our Leaders / Leaders in Residence". ImmanuelNashville.com. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
7. Ortlund, Gavin (May 4, 2022). "Curriculum Vitae". Academia.edu. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.^{[ independent source needed ]}
8. Ortlund, Gavin (2020). Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway. p. 6.^{[ independent source needed ]}
9. Ortlund, Gavin [@gavinortlund] (June 30, 2020). "37 today. I asked my daughter what age she thinks I am and her first answer was "70" and the next guess was "71." Not even trending in the right direction" (Tweet) – via Twitter.^{[ independent source needed ]}
10. Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff (January 24, 2018), How Ray Ortlund Became Foster Father to a Generation of Church Planters , retrieved December 30, 2024
11. Ortlund, Ray (November 5, 2013). "Anne Sweet Ortlund, 1923-2013". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
12. Ortlund, Gavin (December 2024). "Gavin Ortlund / Visiting Scholar" (contributor/affiliate autobiography). Reasons to Believe (Reasons.org). Retrieved May 4, 2022.^{[ independent source needed ]}
13. Ortlund, Gavin (March 8, 2013). "Why I Changed My Mind About Baptism". The Gospel Coalition . Retrieved December 31, 2024.
14. Ortlund, Gavin (August 20, 2010). "An Annotated Bibliography on Hell". 9marks.org . Archived from the original (autobiographical author's blurb accompanying an article) on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024. [Relevant portion, in its entirety:]Gavin Ortlund is an editor at The Gospel Coalition, associate pastor at Sierra Madre Congregational Church, and PhD student at Fuller Theological Seminary in historical theology. You can find him on Twitter at @gavinortlund.^{[ independent source needed ]}
15. Ortlund, Gavin and Truth Unites Staff (December 30, 2024). Mega-Huge Update for Truth Unites. YouTube.com . Retrieved December 30, 2024.^{[ full citation needed ]}
16. Immanuel Church Staff (December 30, 2024). "Meet Our Leaders / Leaders in Residence". ImmanuelNashville.com. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
17. Horn, Trent (December 19, 2021). "Did the Church Fathers Believe in Purgatory? (Response to Gavin Ortlund)". Catholic Answers. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
18. Horn, Trent (March 29, 2022). "Rebutting Gavin Ortlund on Baptismal Regeneration". Catholic Answers. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
19. Klett, Leah MarieAnn (August 4, 2020). "John MacArthur Addresses Critics, Says Church is Not 'Spreading Anything But the Gospel'". The Christian Post. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
20. Ortlund, Gavin (August 2, 2020). "Should Churches in California Defy Government Restrictions? A Response to John MacArthur". TruthUnites.org . Retrieved December 31, 2024. Ortlund argued that "four biblical values that should inform our decision-making in this situation: / the importance of worship (Hebrews 10:25) / love for neighbor (Mark 12:31) / obedience to government (Romans 13:1-7) / maintaining a good witness (Colossians 4:5-6)".
21. Parke, Caleb (August 4, 2020). "California Pastor Defies Coronavirus Orders Despite Threat of Arrest: Newsom 'Not the Head of the Church'". Fox News. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
22. Ortlund, Gavin (May 8, 2010). "Publications" (personal website publications list). GavinOrtlund.com . Retrieved May 4, 2022.^{[ independent source needed ]}
23. Ortlund, Gavin (December 2024). "Gavin Ortlund" (contributor/affiliate profile/autobiography). The Gospel Coalition (TheGospelCoalition.org). Retrieved May 4, 2022.^{[ independent source needed ]}
24. Barcellos, Richard C. (October 12, 2020). Trinity and Creation: A Scriptural and Confessional Account. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN   978-1-7252-8034-2.
25. Ortlund, Gavin R. (2020). Anselm's Pursuit of Joy: A Commentary on the Proslogion. Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctv125jsqj. ISBN   9780813232751. JSTOR   j.ctv125jsqj. S2CID   219745556.
26. Smith, Brandon D. (April 23, 2020). "When Should Doctrine Divide, and When Should Unity Prevail?". Christianity Today. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
27. Ortlund, Gavin (May 12, 2020). "Gavin Ortlund: Which Hills to Die On?". Peaceful Science.
28. Ortlund, Gavin (October 31, 2019). "5 Myths about the Reformation". Crossway. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
29. Ortlund, Gavin. "Finding the Right Hills to Die On". UCCF Leadership Network. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
30. Ortlund, Gavin. "Knowing the Bible: 1-2 Kings". The Gospel Coalition.^{[ full citation needed ]}
31. Ortlund, Gavin (November 2021). "Will we see God's essence? A defence of a Thomistic account of the beatific vision". Scottish Journal of Theology. 74 (4): 323–332. doi:10.1017/S0036930621000739. ISSN   0036-9306. S2CID   246017433.
32. Ortlund, Gavin (October 2014). "Divine Simplicity in Historical Perspective: Resourcing a Contemporary Discussion: Divine Simplicity in Historical Perspective" . International Journal of Systematic Theology. 16 (4): 436–453. doi:10.1111/ijst.12068. See also this link for a possible additional web source.
33. Ortlund, Gavin (July 8, 2014). "What Difference Does Divine Simplicity Make?" (self-published blog). GavinOrtlund.com . Retrieved May 4, 2022.
34. Ortlund, Gavin (January 3, 2015). "Why a Local Flood?" (personal blogpost). Truth Unites . Retrieved May 20, 2022.^{[ independent source needed ]})
35. Quintanilla, Milton (February 27, 2024). "Theologian Claims Noah's Flood Was Regional, Not Global". ChristianHeadlines.com. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
36. Hallowell, Billy (February 26, 2024). "Noah's Ark Controversy: Theologian's Genesis Flood Claim Ignites Social Media Reaction". Faithwire. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
37. Ortlund, Gavin and Truth Unites Staff (December 30, 2024). Gavin Ortlund — @TruthUnites. YouTube.com . Retrieved December 30, 2024.
38. Credo Staff (December 30, 2024). "Credo Fellows" . Retrieved December 30, 2024.