Press Release - How Does Jesus Save us?

Contact: Tom Arthur
tom@saraharthur.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2008

Professors to discuss differing views on How Jesus Saves

Dr. David Hogg (Assoc. Professor of Church History and Medieval Studies, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) and Dr. Randy Maddox (Professor of Theology and Wesleyan Studies, Duke Divinity School) and moderated by Dean Sam Wells (Duke Chapel).

DURHAM, NC— On Tuesday, February 26, at 7:00 p.m., professors from Duke Divinity School and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will discuss the question of how Jesus save us, and their differing views on its historical and theological significance. The dialogue will take place in the Westbrook building Room 0016 of Duke Divinity School, and admission is free.

The discussion will feature Dr. David Hogg, Assoc. Professor of Church History and Medieval Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Dr. Randy Maddox, Professor of Theology and Wesleyan Studies at Duke Divinity School, and will be moderated by Dean Sam Wells of Duke Chapel.

One professor emphasizes Jesus’ death as saving while the other emphasizes his life. Focusing on his death, Hogg summarized his position saying, “His life is not to be divorced from his death and resurrection.” Hogg holds what is usually called a penal substitutionary view of Jesus’ death. On the other hand, Maddox emphasizes Jesus life saying, “It is the whole work of Christ -- classically, as prophet, priest, and king – that saves, not his death (or atoning work) alone.” Maddox continues, “The deepest truth about Christ’s atoning work is God’s full identification with us in our brokenness and sin in order to restore community (with God and others) and spiritual vitality.” Hogg sees Jesus’ life more as a preparation for his death saying, “[Jesus life is] seen as the demonstration of his suitability to be the high priest who offered himself on behalf of believers. The benefits of this salvation are known through faith in what Christ accomplished and repentance from sin.”

David S. Hogg is an Associate Professor of Church History and Medieval Studies at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest. Among his publications is, Anselm of Canterbury: the beauty of theology. Before teaching at Southeastern, Dr Hogg taught in the Divinity School at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. He also holds an adjunctive position at a Seminary in the Czech Republic.

Randy L. Maddox is Professor of Theology and Wesleyan Studies and Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the Divinity School, Duke University. He is a scholar both of John Wesley’s theology and of theological developments in the later Methodist/Wesleyan traditions. In addition to numerous articles he is author of Responsible Grace: John Wesley’s Practical Theology, a contributor to Wesley and the Quadrilateral, and editor of Aldersgate Reconsidered and Rethinking Wesley’s Theology for Contemporary Methodism.

This event is sponsored by Duke Chapel and Duke Socratic Club

For more information visit the blog at www.socraticclubtwoviews.blogspot.com. To RSVP for the event email socraticclubtwoviews@yahoo.com.