Gavin R. Ortlund (born 1983[1]) is a writer,
theologian, and
Christianapologist. Ortlund is the author of eight books and multiple academic articles.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] He serves as President of Truth Unites, a ministry which seeks to promote gospel assurance through theological depth. He is also Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.[9]
Ortlund has written multiple books, including Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals: Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future and Finding the Right Hills to Die on: The Case for Theological Triage.[11][12][13] Ortlund has debated Trent Horn (a member of
Catholic Answers) on several issues, including
purgatory and
baptismal regeneration.[14][15] He has criticized
John MacArthur and others for "prioritizing worship over loving your neighbor, obedience to government and maintaining a good witness", emphasizing the command to obey authorities.[16][17][18]
In his book Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't: The Beauty of Christian Theism, Ortlund argues that the idea of the existence of God is "more satisfying to both mind and heart" than naturalism.[19] Ortlund has written a commentary on the work of
Anselm.[20][21] He has written on Christian unity, criticizing sectarianism as well as doctrinal indifference.[22][23] Ortlund has opposed those who call for "an end to the Reformation".[24][25]
He has defended the view that
Noah's flood was a regional event and not a global event, arguing that such a position is consistent with "an effort to take seriously the meaning of the text, which involves what the original author meant the original readers to take from it in its original context."[30] This claim has caused controversy within
Evangelicalism and ignited accusations of theological liberalism (which he denied as being true).[31][32]
^Vincent, Benjamin (20 July 2022).
"Why We Shouldn't Practice Liturgy 'A La Carte'". Christianity Today. Retrieved 2022-08-09. In his book Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals, historical theologian and Baptist pastor Gavin Ortlund
^"Takeaways from the Debate over Tim Keller's "Third Way" | Justin Lee". First Things. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-14. is guilty of subordinating the commands of Scripture to the demands of political expedience. "[A]voiding tribalism and seeking winsomeness is NOT a strategy that can be discarded once we arrive in a 'negative world,'" tweeted pastor and author Gavin Ortlund