The Center for Classical Theology
Annual lecture, publications, and more
I have more updates to share on my research for my Systematic Theology, but they will have to wait until next week because I have a personal announcement to share and it’s not at all unrelated.
The Center for Classical Theology just launched and I am the director.
What is CCT? The Center for Classical Theology exists to contemplate God and all things in relation to God by listening with humility to his word with the wisdom of the Great Tradition. The purpose of CCT is to create a renewed vision for systematic theology today in the spirit of faith seeking understanding. In partnership with Crossway publishing, CCT will host two academic projects:
1. Annual Lecture
CCT will host an annual lectureship by a systematic theologian. Each lectureship is committed to the reconstruction of dogmatics with the church—from the Fathers to the Medieval and Protestant Scholastics. CCT summons the next generation of theologians to exemplify a biblical reasoning, rational contemplation, and reformed catholicity that directs systematic theology to its spiritual end and most blessed hope: beholding the beauty of the Lord.
The 2023 Inaugural Lecture
Carl Trueman, Why we need Classical theology now more than ever
San Antonio, TX
The 2024 Annual Lecture
Michael Horton, If Reformed, then catholic
San Diego, CA
2. Publications
New Studies in Classical Theology
Each annual lecture will be expanded and published as a volume in the New Studies in Classical Theology series (Crossway), edited by Matthew Barrett. NSCT does not rehearse modern approaches to theology but puts forward fresh studies that encourage evangelicals to retrieve the theological method and confessional commitments of the Great Tradition to advance systematic theology today. NSCT is devoted to a theological theology, one that constructs a cathedral adorned with systematic precision and transcendent beauty, integrating each doctrinal domain for the purpose of thinking God’s thoughts after him. Each volume models biblical reasoning, faith seeking understanding, and reformed catholicity.
Thomas Aquinas for Protestants
CCT and Crossway will also publish a new series called Thomas Aquinas for Protestants, edited by Matthew Barrett and Craig Carter. A breakthrough contribution, the following Reformed theologians will engage with Thomas Aquinas himself, demonstrate the many ways Protestant Scholastics critically appropriated Thomas Aquinas to defend orthodoxy, and explain why Thomas Aquinas can serve to renew the evangelical church today. The series will begin releasing in 2026 and it will include five volumes:
Thomas Aquinas on Christology, by Matthew Barrett
Thomas Aquinas on the Doctrine of God and Creation, by Craig Carter
Thomas Aquinas on Salvation and the Sacraments, by J.V. Fesko
Thomas Aquinas on Virtue, by Carl Trueman
Thomas Aquinas on Natural Theology and Scripture, by David Sytsma
The Scholastic Award
Each year CCT will announce the winner of the Scholastic Award. In the spirit of Protestant Scholastics such as Francis Turretin, Peter van Mastricht, and John Owen, candidates for the Scholastic Award will follow the format of the Summa Theologiae by Thomas Aquinas and submit a disputed theological question. That question is followed by a reply designed “to lead listeners into the truth they strive to understand.” An excellent reply will exhibit precision to advance theological clarity, fidelity, and beauty.The winner will be supported in publication with an academic journal. Crossway publishing will award the winner with The Works of John Owen to date, as well as Stephen Charnock.
Already you can register for the 2023 Annual lecture.
I’m Matthew Barrett. Support my writing via Buy Me a Coffee and I’ll keep the newsletter coming. Do explore Credo Magazine, and get to know other theologians on the Credo Podcast. Tag along on twitter too: @mattmbarrett