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A Companion to The Current Justification Controversy
This book contains a 70-page essay detailing the roots of the justification controversy in Reformed churches in Neo-orthodoxy, Romanism, the New Perspective on Paul, Reconstructionism, Biblical Theology, Richard Gaffin, Herman Bavinck, and Cornelius Van Til; and the fruits of the controversy in the Kinnaird case in the OPC and the Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church in the PCA. In addition, Robert Reymond contributes a scholarly essay on the New Perspective on Paul. The volume also provides hard to obtain source documents from the Shepherd controversy.
- GenresTheology
185 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
9 people want to read
About the author
John W. Robbins
19 books8 followersDr. Robbins was a resident of Unicoi County, Tennessee. Born and reared in Pennsylvania, he received his A. B. from Grove City College (Pennsylvania) in 1969, cum laude, with Highest Honors in Political Science. He pursued graduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University (Maryland), earning his Masters in Political Theory (1970) at age 21, and his Doctorate in Philosophy and Political Theory (1973) at age 24.
In 1973 Dr. Robbins became Legislative Assistant to a Member of Congress from Indiana, Earl Landgrebe, and subsequently worked, over the next 20 years, in several capacities for several public policy institutions: The Heritage Foundation (Economic Analyst), The Templeton Foundation (Consultant), Western Islands (Editor), Tax Reform Immediately (National Director), The Foundation for Economic Education (Editor of The Freeman), and The Institute for Policy Innovation (President). He served as Legislative Assistant (1976, 1979-1981) and Chief of Staff (1981-1985) to a Member of Congress from Texas, Dr. Ron Paul.
In 1977 Dr. Robbins founded a Christian think tank, The Trinity Foundation, and under his direction The Foundation has published 75 books, 180 lectures, and 275 essays; hosted conferences and seminars in several states; and published a monthly newsletter for over 30 years.
Dr. Robbins wrote several books, hundreds of essays, and lectured or taught at several institutions of higher education, including Harvard University, the University of Colorado, the University of Texas, Biola University, College of the Southwest, Western Reformed Seminary, and Chesapeake Seminary. He was a member of two academic societies, the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.
Dr. Robbins was elected and ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church of America, and licensed to preach by Westminster Presbytery, but he left that denomination because of its failure to discipline teachers who were teaching a different gospel. He was an elder in a Reformed congregation called Reformation Church.
In 1973 Dr. Robbins became Legislative Assistant to a Member of Congress from Indiana, Earl Landgrebe, and subsequently worked, over the next 20 years, in several capacities for several public policy institutions: The Heritage Foundation (Economic Analyst), The Templeton Foundation (Consultant), Western Islands (Editor), Tax Reform Immediately (National Director), The Foundation for Economic Education (Editor of The Freeman), and The Institute for Policy Innovation (President). He served as Legislative Assistant (1976, 1979-1981) and Chief of Staff (1981-1985) to a Member of Congress from Texas, Dr. Ron Paul.
In 1977 Dr. Robbins founded a Christian think tank, The Trinity Foundation, and under his direction The Foundation has published 75 books, 180 lectures, and 275 essays; hosted conferences and seminars in several states; and published a monthly newsletter for over 30 years.
Dr. Robbins wrote several books, hundreds of essays, and lectured or taught at several institutions of higher education, including Harvard University, the University of Colorado, the University of Texas, Biola University, College of the Southwest, Western Reformed Seminary, and Chesapeake Seminary. He was a member of two academic societies, the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.
Dr. Robbins was elected and ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church of America, and licensed to preach by Westminster Presbytery, but he left that denomination because of its failure to discipline teachers who were teaching a different gospel. He was an elder in a Reformed congregation called Reformation Church.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 3, 2025
ANOTHER BOOK ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY AT WESTMINSTER OVER NORMAN SHEPHERD'S TEACHING
John W. Robbins is the founder of a “Christian think tank,” the Trinity Foundation, as well as the author of books such as 'Without a Prayer: Ayn Rand and the Close of Her System,' 'Ecclesiastical Megalomania,' 'Christ and Civilization,' etc.
He wrote in the first chapter of this 2003 book, “most churches in the United States and Europe are once again apostate… The current controversy over justification … is a controversy only because a remnant still exists within those churches, a few Christians who understand and believe the Gospel of justification through belief alone.” (Pg. 11)
He observes, “When Norman Shepherd was finally dismissed from the Faculty of Westminster Seminary in early 1982, I… thought the Seminary had solved the immediate problem by removing a false teacher. I was wrong. As Dr. Mark Karlberg explained in … 'The Changing of the Guard,' 'the Seminary had removed one false teacher… from its Faculty, but has allowed his false teaching to continue at the Seminary…
"[M]en who defended him and agreed with him in these matters have been teaching there, inculcating their views of election, justification, and covenant in hundreds of men who are now pastors, missionaries and teachers… So, when Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company … published Norman Shepherd’s 'The Call of Grace'… there were plenty of defenders of his erroneous views ensconced in the churches… The first justification controversy from 1975 to 1982 was never properly settled.” (Pg. 12-13)
He notes, “Sympathizers and opponents of Norman Shepherd can agree on one thing: Neither the Presbytery of Philadelphia nor Westminster Seminary treated Norman Shepherd justly… His supporters think he was treated unfairly and should never have been removed from the Faculty. His opponents think his supporters in both the Presbytery and the Seminary managed to shortcircuit the proceedings in both Presbytery and Seminary, which allowed him and his false teaching to escape clear condemnation. John Frame, a member of the Westminster Faculty at the time of the controversy, later pointed out the unfairness of dismissing Shepherd for teaching doctrines that were being taught by other members of the Faculty as well. And Frame was right. But the injustice lay not in dismissing Shepherd... but in allowing other Faculty members to remain at Westminster.” (Pg. 14)
He suggests, “There is one result of this justification controversy that I have not mentioned yet. By God’s grace, it is causing many to study the doctrine of salvation all over again, and starting to call forth new statements and defenses of the doctrine of justification by faith alone.” (Pg. 73)
He adds, “All these streams of thought---Biblical theology, Reconstructionism, the New Perspective on Paul, Shepherdism, Roman Catholicism… Van Tillianism and Neo-orthodoxy---have contributed to the flood of Neolegalism in the churches. It would be incorrect to single out Norman Shepherd as the cause of our present calamity. But… When they had the opportunity and the duty to do so, both Westminster Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church failed to preserve, protect, and defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ against its enemies.”(Pg. 74)
He concludes about the 'New Perspective on Paul' that “the ‘new perspective’ theologians have not done adequate justice to Paul’s teaching when they insist that first-century Palestinian Judaism was NOT a religion of legalistic works-righteousness for it clearly was… even though its legalism expressed itself within the context of God’s gracious covenant with them in terms of a ‘maintaining’ of covenantal status.” (Pg, 100)
Persons wanting to know more about the controversy should read 'The Current Justification Controversy' (against Shepherd) and 'Trust and Obey: Norman Shepherd and the Justification Controversy at Westminster Seminary' (defends Shepherd).
John W. Robbins is the founder of a “Christian think tank,” the Trinity Foundation, as well as the author of books such as 'Without a Prayer: Ayn Rand and the Close of Her System,' 'Ecclesiastical Megalomania,' 'Christ and Civilization,' etc.
He wrote in the first chapter of this 2003 book, “most churches in the United States and Europe are once again apostate… The current controversy over justification … is a controversy only because a remnant still exists within those churches, a few Christians who understand and believe the Gospel of justification through belief alone.” (Pg. 11)
He observes, “When Norman Shepherd was finally dismissed from the Faculty of Westminster Seminary in early 1982, I… thought the Seminary had solved the immediate problem by removing a false teacher. I was wrong. As Dr. Mark Karlberg explained in … 'The Changing of the Guard,' 'the Seminary had removed one false teacher… from its Faculty, but has allowed his false teaching to continue at the Seminary…
"[M]en who defended him and agreed with him in these matters have been teaching there, inculcating their views of election, justification, and covenant in hundreds of men who are now pastors, missionaries and teachers… So, when Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company … published Norman Shepherd’s 'The Call of Grace'… there were plenty of defenders of his erroneous views ensconced in the churches… The first justification controversy from 1975 to 1982 was never properly settled.” (Pg. 12-13)
He notes, “Sympathizers and opponents of Norman Shepherd can agree on one thing: Neither the Presbytery of Philadelphia nor Westminster Seminary treated Norman Shepherd justly… His supporters think he was treated unfairly and should never have been removed from the Faculty. His opponents think his supporters in both the Presbytery and the Seminary managed to shortcircuit the proceedings in both Presbytery and Seminary, which allowed him and his false teaching to escape clear condemnation. John Frame, a member of the Westminster Faculty at the time of the controversy, later pointed out the unfairness of dismissing Shepherd for teaching doctrines that were being taught by other members of the Faculty as well. And Frame was right. But the injustice lay not in dismissing Shepherd... but in allowing other Faculty members to remain at Westminster.” (Pg. 14)
He suggests, “There is one result of this justification controversy that I have not mentioned yet. By God’s grace, it is causing many to study the doctrine of salvation all over again, and starting to call forth new statements and defenses of the doctrine of justification by faith alone.” (Pg. 73)
He adds, “All these streams of thought---Biblical theology, Reconstructionism, the New Perspective on Paul, Shepherdism, Roman Catholicism… Van Tillianism and Neo-orthodoxy---have contributed to the flood of Neolegalism in the churches. It would be incorrect to single out Norman Shepherd as the cause of our present calamity. But… When they had the opportunity and the duty to do so, both Westminster Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church failed to preserve, protect, and defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ against its enemies.”(Pg. 74)
He concludes about the 'New Perspective on Paul' that “the ‘new perspective’ theologians have not done adequate justice to Paul’s teaching when they insist that first-century Palestinian Judaism was NOT a religion of legalistic works-righteousness for it clearly was… even though its legalism expressed itself within the context of God’s gracious covenant with them in terms of a ‘maintaining’ of covenantal status.” (Pg, 100)
Persons wanting to know more about the controversy should read 'The Current Justification Controversy' (against Shepherd) and 'Trust and Obey: Norman Shepherd and the Justification Controversy at Westminster Seminary' (defends Shepherd).
Read
March 26, 2010lots of documents contra Shepherd. As a Shepherdite, I found none of them persuasive, though Raymond's article was helpful.
October 11, 2012
Helpful information for those following the controversy within the Presbyterian churches.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews