Gavin Ortlund

Gavin Ortlund holds a PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary, an MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary and a BA in religion and philosophy from the University of Georgia.[10]

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 the issues of 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]

Ortlund has defended the doctrine of divine simplicity and the Thomistic view of the beatific vision.[26][27][28][29]

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]

Gavin Ortlund is the grandson of Ray and Anne Ortlund and the son of Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.[31] His brothers include Eric Ortlund, a professor at Oak Hill College in London,[32] and Dane Ortlund, author of the popular Christian book Gentle and Lowly.[33] Gavin Ortlund is married and has five children.[6]