Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Equipping preachers, pastors, & churchmen for Christ's Kingdom

Faculty News: Dr. Shaw to Move to Reformation Bible College

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Longtime Professor of Hebrew & Old Testament Dr. Benjamin Shaw has accepted an invitation from Reformation Bible College (RBC) in Sanford, FL to become their newest Professor of Old Testament. To read RBC’s news release, click here.

Dr. Shaw began teaching at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (GPTS) in 1991, having previously taught at Wofford College and Duke University. Dr. Shaw has his PhD from Bob Jones University, ThM from Princeton Theological Seminary, and MDiv from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Dr. Shaw will teach full-time at GPTS for one more semester this Fall before moving to RBC between the Fall and Spring semesters.

“Dr. Shaw and Mrs. Shaw have been a great blessing to our students for many years,” says GPTS President Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, Jr. “They have demonstrated warm hospitality and friendship in many ways and on many occasions, both related to the Seminary and in connection with local churches. The entire Seminary community of faculty, staff, students, and trustees will greatly miss the Shaws, though we are excited for how the Lord will continue to use them at a sister institution, Reformation Bible College.”

The Seminary offers an accelerated degree program to eligible RBC students who desire to pursue advanced theological education in preparation for gospel ministry.

The Seminary intends to find a new Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament to replace Dr. Shaw in the coming months. Toward that end, the Seminary’s Board of Trustees has appointed a committee made up of faculty members and overseen by the Board. Dr. Shaw will continue to be a part of the Seminary family as GPTS and RBC share faculty resources in the future.

Dr. Shaw comments, “I have really enjoyed and benefitted from my almost 30 years of teaching at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and this new position at Reformation Bible College presents a new opportunity that I am eager to pursue.”

Dr. Shaw is author of several academic articles on Old Testament Biblical Studies, contributor to several anthologies on matters pertaining to Old Testament and applied theology, and a commentary on Ecclesiastes entitled, Ecclesiastes: Life in a Fallen World (Banner of Truth Trust, 2019). For a partial listing of his published writings, visit gpts.edu/faculty-staff/shaw.

GPTS Prayer Points 8(1) – March 2019

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Curt Straeter delivers his Senior Sermon in chapel during the Fall semester in this still from the Seminary’s new promotional video, due to release later this Spring.

Our second PrayerPoints dispatch of 2019 is now available in printable-PDF format here.

This document is designed to be a resource to our friends around the world. We compose it with church prayer meetings in mind.

In this second edition of 2019, we are requesting prayer for the following:

  • Our “Amazing Grace” Spring Theology Conference speakers, Dr. Ian Hamilton, Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, Jr., Dr. Ryan McGraw, Dr. L. Anthony Curto, Dr. Jonathan Master (Cairn University), Pastor Daniel Hyde (Oceanside URCNA), Pastor Phil Proctor (Sterling Orthodox Presbyterian Church), and Pastor Jeff Kingswood (Grace ARP).
  • Our Seminary faculty, staff, and students, who are laboring diligently in preparation for next week’s conference.
  • Our guests to the conference as they travel to the Upstate and join us for a week of preaching, teaching, fellowship, and singing.
  • Our Admissions Team (and especially Mr. Jonathan Bartlett) as we host 10 prospective students for GPTS EXPLORE next Monday and Tuesday, leading into the Conference.
  • Our Advancement Team as we host our 2019 Spring Scholarship Banquet on March 14, benefiting our International Student Scholarship Fund (which is 40% funded so far this fiscal year).
  • Faculty Spotlight on Dr. C.N. “Nick” Willborn, who teaches Church History and pastors Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, TN.
  • Recent graduates and current seniors who have received calls to congregations around the country: Mr. Stephen Richman, Mr. Stephen Spinnenweber, Mr. Bennie Castle, and Mr. Rick Appleton. Pray especially for Mr. Spinnenweber, Mr. Castle, and Mr. Appleton as they continue to work through their respective presbyteries exams.

Thank you for praying for our faculty, staff, and students.

GPTS PrayerPoints 7(1) – January 2019

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Our inaugural PrayerPoints dispatch of 2019 is now available in printable-PDF format here.

This document is designed to be a resource to our friends around the world. We compose it with church prayer meetings in mind.

In this first edition of 2019, we are requesting prayer for the following:

  • Our 25 Spring Semester course offerings and 12 instructors
  • Faculty Spotlight on two of our adjunct instructors: Mr. Scott Cook of Erskine College and Mr. Bebo Elkin of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS
  • Praise and thanksgiving to God for His generous provision through a successful Our Enduring Reformation Fundraising Campaign in November and December
  • Spring Theology Conference (March 12-14) Preparations, including for GPTS Explore (March 11-12)

Thank you for praying for our faculty, staff, and students.

Faculty Book Release | The Ark of Safety, by Dr. Ryan McGraw

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Description

This book explores the Westminster Confession of Faith’s claim that “there is no ordinary possibility of salvation” outside of the church by asking what it means, whether it is biblical, and why it is important. The author concludes that the Westminster Confession rightly stresses the role of the church in bringing people to salvation without making this claim absolute. We should love the church because Christ loved it and gave Himself for it. He died for the church so that we might live in and with it. Let us study this subject with our Bibles in our hands, the Spirit in our hearts, prayer on our lips, and our forefathers helping us along.

Table of Contents

Part One History—What Does WCF 25.2 Mean?

1. Reformation and Early Reformed Background

2. The Westminster Confession of Faith and Beyond

Part Two Theology—Is WCF 25.2 Biblical?

3. The Church in the Old Testament

4. The Visible Church in the New Testament

5. The Invisible Church in the New Testament

Part Three Practice—Why Is WCF 25.2 Important?

6. The Ordinary Necessity of the Visible Church for Salvation

Endorsements

“Among the many teachings of Scripture that the Protestant Reformation recovered was a right understanding of the importance of the church to the Christian life. In The Ark of Safety, Ryan McGraw deftly reacquaints us with the rich heritage of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Reformed reflection on the church and rehearses its biblical foundations with clarity. I warmly recommend this book to any reader who wants to know better what the Bible says about the ‘apple of [God’s] eye’ (Zech 2:8).” – Guy Prentiss Waters (RTS-Jackson)

“For many years I have sought a theologically reliable, reader-friendly, and imminently practical work to address the vital relationship between ‘the roll called up yonder’ and the local church. My search has come to a delightful halt. In this brief treatment, Ryan McGraw expertly crafts persuasive answers to the pressing questions concerning personal faith and church membership. As he compellingly contends, every true believer is not only of the church invisible but must be in the visible church visibly! May our church rolls increasingly reflect the roll to be called up yonder!” – David B. Garner (WTS-Philly)

For more information, or to order the book, visit Amazon.com.

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