THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

Theological Perspectives

These labels reflect the broad theological stance of each commentary as used across The Expositor’s Library.

  • Baptist
    Emphasises the authority of Scripture, believer’s baptism by immersion, and the autonomy of the local church. Baptist theology often stresses personal faith, regenerate church membership, and the gathered community as the visible expression of Christ’s body.
  • Broadly Evangelical
    Represents the mainstream of conservative Protestant conviction — centred on the gospel of Christ’s saving work, the reliability of Scripture, and the need for conversion and mission. This perspective values unity among believers around the essentials of the faith.
  • Dispensationalist
    Holds that God has worked in distinct dispensations or administrations throughout redemptive history. Maintains a strong distinction between Israel and the Church, and expects a future, literal fulfilment of biblical prophecy centred on Christ’s millennial reign.
  • Lutheran
    Rooted in the Reformation teaching of Martin Luther, this perspective upholds justification by faith alone, the centrality of Word and Sacrament, and a strong emphasis on God’s grace apart from human merit. It treasures a high view of the gospel’s comfort to the conscience.
  • Non-Evangelical / Critical
    Represents scholarship that departs from traditional evangelical commitments to biblical inerrancy or supernatural revelation. Often engages Scripture through historical-critical methods, focusing on human authorship and theological development rather than divine inspiration.
  • Reformed
    Centred on the sovereignty of God in salvation and history, the doctrines of grace, and the covenantal unity of Scripture. Reformed theology highlights God’s glory, the authority of His Word, and Christ’s redeeming work applied by the Spirit through the means of grace.
  • Wesleyan / Arminian
    Affirms the authority of Scripture and salvation by grace through faith, while emphasising human responsibility and the possibility of resisting grace. This tradition values holiness of heart and life, stressing growth in love as the fruit of genuine faith.