John W. Robbins (1948-2008)
I just received an email informing me that John just went home to be with the Lord. John has been recovering from cancer and has told me in personal emails that chemotherapy has left him very weak, to the point that he sometimes cannot even talk. He had told me that he was back to a light teaching schedule.
He died at his home in Unicoi, TN.
John was a friend of the ministry and had plans to post here at BT.
More information will be released as it comes in.

16 Comments, Comment or Ping
Roy Hernandez
I’m sad at the news but by God’s grace his work is now done. He is now with the Logos! I thank and praise God for this brother! I just finished reading “Christ and Civilization” and am currently listening to his logic lectures and have been blessed. May the Lord continue to raise and gift men and women as was the case with Dr. Robbins.
Aug 14th, 2008
Travis
he was a good friend, i respected him greatly, we will see him soon
Aug 14th, 2008
Stephen Macasil
Amen, and Amen!
Aug 14th, 2008
Mario
The Lord called another of His saints home! Praise God for his life, There is much work yet to be done before the Lord returns! Thank God for his resources and great example!
Aug 14th, 2008
Daniel Chew
This is both a joyous yet sad event. Thank God for John Robbins and the good he has done for the Kingdom. Now he can enjoy the sweet fellowship with our Lord.
PS: Any idea what will happen to the Trinity Foundation?
Aug 15th, 2008
Johnny B
I had just come across the Trinity website about 6 months ago. So I don’t know much about our Brother. It is sad for family and friends, at the same time being a joyous time, knowing he is with the Lord of Glory.
I was wondering the same as Daniel
Aug 15th, 2008
Becky
Oh wow…how sad for his friends and family. How wonderful for him to have graduated though. I am currently reading Freedom and Capitalism. I too am curious what will happen to Trinity Foundation.
Praise God for his life; i’m sure many people have been blessed by his teachings.
Aug 15th, 2008
Kevin
For those wondering about what will become of the ministry I just got the following email from the Trinity Foundation.
Dear Friends,
Thank you all for the outpouring of support and expressions of condolences to John Robbins’ family. We are very appreciative.
Many have asked about the future of The Trinity Foundation. I want to assure all that the Board of Directors and the Vice President are committed to continuing the work that Dr. Robbins began and continued for over 30 years. We will continue to publish The Trinity Review each month, as well as continue publishing books, especially the Works of Gordon Haddon Clark. We will continue to maintain The Trinity Foundation’s presence online (www.trinityfoundation.org), updating and expanding it as the Lord blesses.
Thank you for your concern, support, and especially your prayers.
In Christ,
Tom Juodaitis
Vice President
The Trinity Foundation
The Bible alone is the Word of God.
August 15, 2008
Aug 15th, 2008
Jean Cauvin
Wow,
This is disturbing, not because he died, but because of your reactions.
When I referred to John Robbins in postings your mocked my reference. Why would a person be a friend to the ministry if his arguments were mocked upon my use?
I’ve enjoyed many of the discussions we’ve had over the phone throughout the years. Even though he hated Van TIl, I’m sure he’s still in heaven.
Jean Cauvin
Aug 16th, 2008
Stephen Macasil
Jean,
Show me one post where you referred to Jrob and where I mocked it. I don’t think it can be done, but since you have gone ahead and posted this slanderous statement, you have 24 hours to find and post it here in this thread - or apologize for unjustly and publicly pitting me against Jrob.
To my knowledge (according to memory), I am the only person that has referenced Jrob on BT (ever) and has been mocked for it. On 4/8 I wrote:
“Brian Vickers work “Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness: Paul’s Theology of Imputation, has since been written, Justification and Variegated Nomism edited by Don Carson, Peter O’Brien, and Mark Seifrid [2 massive volumes of scholarly essays on a) the complexities of second-Temple Judaism, and b) the paradoxes of Paul] has been written, Justification: What’s at Stake in Current Debates (Robert Gundry, D.A. Carson, Bruce L. McCormack, Mark Seifrid, Anthony N.S. Lane, paul D. Molinar, Geoffry Wainright, Philip G. Zeigler, Robert Kolb, Kenneth J. Collins, edited by Mark Husbands and Daniel J. Treier) has been written, and “Not Reformed at All” by ***John W. Robbins**** and Sean Gerety is completely overlooked (which addresses Federal Vision/Moscow-Monroe Axis/Auburn Avenue/Hypercovenantalism theology - a similar justification controversy). *****Robbins is completely avoided, perhaps due to his keen and irrefutable logical arguments.***** Morey, and his monumental “Studies in the Atonement” is completely avoided - even though Chapter Eight solves the whole problem of the ordo salutis. So I can’t really see what it is that you find persuasive in Bird’s argument, unless you deny sola scriptura, which I do not know if you do. But if you’d like to make a specific argument (other than “shallow ecclesiology”) rather than appealing to old arguments thoroughly refuted by highly competent biblical scholarship, then please, feel free to do so.”
To this the opponent responded:
“John Robbins! I know you probably like him, along with G. Clark, but I find little respect for him…”
You have 24 hours.
Aug 16th, 2008
Jean Cauvin
Hi Stephen,
How many postings have I done on here? Does your system have a count? There is no way I will spend 10 hours in an attempt to find such a thing.
Also, your comment RSS and your content RSS hasn’t worked since you’ve listed the rules on here. It goes to page not found. I’ve tried this on 2 separate computers.
Evidence of absense is not absense of evidence. In this case I will commit the logical fallacy upon myself and say absence of evidence is evidence of absence.
He was mocked via an argument I used way back when I started this blog somewhere. Who knows where it is.
Again, if you would like me to leave this blog so be it. It will be the end of BIblical challenges. Most challengers on here are Pagan.
I will continue my prayers for Morey.
Jean Cauvin
Aug 16th, 2008
Jesse Smith
I am sad to hear that John W. Robbins has died. Before I stumbled upon the Trinity Foundation and the writings of Robbins and Clark 6 months ago, I did not have a sure belief in the Bible, nor did I have a mature Calvinistic worldview. Thanks to Robbins hard work, I now have a sure faith in the true gospel as revealed in God’s infallible Word. I regret not getting around to personally thanking the man before he when home to be with the Lord. I know some of his writings came off as being a bit harsh, but that just shows his passion for guarding the Truth. If we are to have another reformation, we Christians like him to boldly defend the gospel from all heresies.
Aug 18th, 2008
Denise
I recently read some info re: The White Horse Inn and its weak stand on Truth. Rather than condemn lies from all corners (RCC for instance or an unbelieving Vampire author’ or a God-hating Jew ) it appears that they, like other “radio shows” have given a platform for such nonsense. I found Robbin’s strong stand refreshing and encouraging. I’m sure he must have gotten a lot of flack from many Reformed people for touching the anointed. But I truly appreciated his tenacious stand against error wherever it came from, no matter the “name” or “ministry”. Truth after all, trumps everything.
The page dealing with Horton’s radio show is here: http://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=245
Aug 20th, 2008
Paul Elliott
It was my privilege, along with Dr. Mark Evans (Hope Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC) to preach at John’s funeral.
John had chosen wonderful hymns, and we sang three in the service and three more at the graveside. They all contain such marvelous, Biblical words that speak of the faith in which we stand, and the warfare in which we now engage: “I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art” — “Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ” — “Not What My Hands Have Done” — “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” — “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” — “Abide With Me”. Take a look at the words again. They will encourage your hearts!
In Christ’s service,
Rev. Paul M. Elliott
President, TeachingTheWord Ministries
Aug 21st, 2008
Stephen Macasil
Thank you, brother.
Aug 21st, 2008
John Pottorff
The news of John Robbins passing initially brought to me a sinking feeling; but then followed a thankfulness to God for using him in such a great way.
He was a great defender of the faith. Because of him I consider my library complete with the Bible alongside the books of John Robbins and Gordon Clark.
Aug 29th, 2008
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