David R. Anderson (Theologian)
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David R. Anderson, Ph.D is an American Christian author[1], Bible scholar, pastor, educator, and the founder and President of Grace School of Theology in The Woodlands, Texas.[2][3]
He helped establish ten churches in Texas, including Faith Bible Church for which he served as Senior Pastor for 18 years. He also served as Adjunct Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.[2]
He is the author of several books, including Free Grace Soteriology[4] and Bewitched: The Rise of Neo-Galatianism[5]. Both books focus on Free Grace theology, asserting that grace is an absolutely free gift, in contrast to Arminian or Calvinistic soteriology.
Anderson co-founded the Free Grace Alliance, an organization of churches and pastors, which aims to advance the free grace message.[2]
Education[edit]
Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rice University (1963-1967). He completed a Master of Theology (Th.M.), New Testament Literature and Exegesis at Dallas Theological Seminary from 1967 to 1972. Finally, he completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), New Testament in 1998, also from Dallas Theological Seminary.[2]
He has full professional proficiency in Ancient Greek and Biblical Hebrew.[6][3]
Ministry[edit]
Anderson started his ministry as a youth pastor at Scofield Memorial Church in Dallas, TX. After four years, he proceeded to pastor four more churches in Texas, including Conroe Bible Church in Conroe, TX (1972-1979), Cypress Bible Church in Cypress, TX (1980-1982), Champions Forest Baptist Church in Houston, TX (1982-1987), and Christ The King Baptist Church in Katy, TX (1988-1990). In 1991, he founded Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands, TX and served as its Senior Pastor for 18 years, from 1991 to 2009.[2]
From 1972 to 1991, Anderson and his family moved thirteen times in the Great Houston area to establish and pastor several churches[3], including:
- Conroe Bible Church—1972
- Kingwood Bible Church—1975
- Huntsville Bible Church—1976
- Lake Conroe Bible Church—1977
- Faith Bible Church—1979
- Beaumont Bible Church—1980
- Stephenville Bible Church—1980
- Christ the King Baptist Church—1988
- Magnolia Bible Church—2000
- Creekside Bible Church—2005
He served as Adjunct Professor of Greek Exegesis from 1980 to 1982 and Adjunct Professor of Bible Exposition and Systematic Theology from 1996 to 2002 at Dallas Theological Seminary in Houston, TX.[2]
In May 2001, he established Grace School of Theology in The Woodlands, Texas and has served as its President since 2001 to present[2]. He is also a Professor of Systematic Theology and Biblical Languages.[6]
Affiliations[edit]
Anderson is the founder and former president of the Greater Houston Bible Church Association.[3] He is also a co-founder of Free Grace Alliance, an association of churches and pastors who adhere to the free grace theology.[2]
Theological View[edit]
Main Article: "Free Grace theology"
Anderson adheres to the Free Grace theology, believing that "God's so great salvation is absolutely free"[7] through "faith alone in Jesus Christ alone"[8], that "justification does not require any additional step, response, or action in addition to faith in Jesus Christ"[8], and that "the finished work of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, guarantees eternal life to those who believe"[8].
As an enthusiast of textual criticism, Anderson had a small contribution in the 1982 New Testament version that was mostly written by Zane C. Hodges who was one of Anderson's professors at Dallas Theological Seminary[3] and a defender of free grace theology[9]
Anderson contributed to the discussion on various theological topics, mainly on soteriology, through books published by Grace Theology Press, Liberty University Press, and Peter Lang Publishing. He has also written articles that are published through the Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society and Chafer Theological Journal. In his books and journal articles, Anderson discussed the importance of knowing the difference between justification and sanctification, two concepts that have been the subject of debate among Christian theologians since the beginning of the Reformation.[10]
Publications[edit]
Books[edit]
- Bewitched: The Rise of Neo-Galatianism. Grace Theology Press.(2014) - Anderson proposes that the legalism problem of the new Christians in Galatia exists until today within every Christian group. The book embarks on a detailed study of the Epistle to the Galatians to understand Paul's remedy for this problem.[5]
- Triumph Through Trials: The Epistle of James. Grace Theology Press.(2013) - In this book, Anderson tries to provide some answers to why bad things happen to good people through a study of the Epistle of James. He proposes that God allows Christians to experience trials but it is during times of trials that He does His best work.[11]
- Maximum Joy: First John – Relationship or Fellowship? (Updated and Revised). Grace Theology Press.(2013) - Anderson explains the difference between a Christian's relationship with God versus fellowship. He proposes "that the book of First John is not about whether a person has an eternal relationship with God". A detailed study of the book shows "how to enjoy that relationship by having fellowship with God."[12]
- Free Grace Soteriology (Revised Edition). Grace Theology Press.(2013) - Anderson provides a detailed discussion of the free grace position as a biblical alternative to Arminian or Calvinistic soteriology. He explains his position on the concepts of justification, regeneration, sanctification, repentance, faith, and assurance of salvation, among others.[4]
- Portraits of Righteousness. Liberty University Press.(2013) - Co-authored with Jim Reitman, Anderson provides a detailed study of Paul's writings in Romans chapter five to eight. The authors discuss Paul's prescription for a Christian's personal holiness or a Christian's "progressive deliverance from the power of sin" in order to live out a righteous life on earth.[13]
- The King-Priest of Psalm 110 in Hebrews. Peter Lang Publishing.(2000) - Drawing from Psalm 110 and the Book of Hebrews, Anderson discusses his position on the Kingdom of David, a topic that has been the cause of debate among Bible scholars. Reformed scholars believe that when Christ ascended and was seated at the right hand of God the Father, he began ruling over the Kingdom of David. Dispensational scholars disagree. An alternative position is that of progressive dispensationalists who say that "Jesus has inaugurated the Kingdom of David but will return to the earth to consummate this kingdom with a millennial reign from Jerusalem."[14]
Journal Articles[edit]
Anderson, D. (2005). Another “Tale of Two Cities”. Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Volume 18:35 (Autumn), 51-75.
Anderson, D. (2002). The Soteriological Impact of Augustine’s Change from Premillennialism to Amillennialism Part Two. Journal of Grace Evangelical Society, Volume 15:29 (Autumn), 23-39.
Anderson, D. (2002). The Soteriological Impact of Augustine’s Change from Premillennialism to Amillennialism Part One. Journal of Grace Evangelical Society, Volume 15:28 (Autumn), 25-36.
Anderson, D. (2000). Regeneration: A Crux Interpretum. Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Volume 13:25 (Autumn), 43-65.
Anderson, D. (1999). The Nature of Faith. Chafer Theological Journal Vol. 5 (No. 4).
Anderson, D. (1998). The National Repentance of Israel. Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Volume 11:21 (Autumn).
Anderson, D. (1998). Repentance is for All Men. Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Volume 11:20 (Spring).
References[edit]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Dave Anderson Biography Retrieved April 23, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Pastor Makes Building Congregations His Life Work, YourHoustonNews.com, September 28, 2003
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Grace Theology Press Books-Free Grace Soteriology
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Grace Theology Press Books-Bewitched:The Rise of Neo-Galatianism
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Dave Anderson LinkedIn Profile Retrieved April 23, 2015
- ↑ Amazon Book Description - Free Grace Soteriology
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Free Grace Alliance Covenant
- ↑ Wikipedia:Zane C. Hodges Retrieved April 23, 2015
- ↑ Inspirational Exposition on Justification and Sanctification Released Liberty University Press, May 14, 2013
- ↑ Grace Theology Press Books - Triumph Through Trials]
- ↑ Grace Theology Press Books - Maximum Joy]
- ↑ Grace Theology Press Books - Portraits of Righteousness
- ↑ Grace Theology Press Books - The King-Priest of Psalm 110 in Hebrews
External Links[edit]
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