Theonomy Old and New: A Reformed Baptist Assessment

by Sam Waldron, Tom Hicks

Theonomy or Christian Reconstructionism has seen a revival in the last decades. Theonomy Old was led by Rousas Rushdoony, Gary North, and Greg Bahnsen. It taught in the words of Bahnsen, “the abiding validity of the Mosaic law in exhaustive detail. Sam Waldron provides an eschatological and ethical critique of theonomy’s postmillennialism and ethical peculiarities and deviation from the Reformed tradition. Tom Hicks takes up the popular phrase characteristic of Theonomy New. Theonomy New speaks of itself as a “general equity theonomy” in an attempt to clothe itself in confessional language. Hicks provides a critique of this phraseology and shows that its intent is neither biblical nor confessional.

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2025

About the author

Dr. Sam Waldron was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids from 1977-2001 and taught at Trinity Ministerial Academy from 1981 to 1989. Leaving there in 2001, he pursued a PhD at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. Having served as a pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky from 2005-2013, in 2013 he became one of the pastors of Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Owensboro, Kentucky. He also serves as President and Professor of Systematic Theology at Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. Sam has been married to his dear wife Charlene since 1975. They have five children and at last count 15 grandchildren—all of whom they love very much. Sam enjoys reading, weightlifting, walking, and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Reviews

[Drew Hilliary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts of the book were genuinely illuminating, especially in showing how a Reformed Baptist covenant theology and hermeneutic stands in contrast to both the older and newer iterations of theonomic thought. Other sections, however, lacked clarity; the arguments often felt incomplete, underdeveloped, or confusing.

[Steven Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful clarification.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful volume on a complex subject. I think anyone thinking through this particular theology should read this book.