D. A. Carson |
Donald Arthur Carson (born December 21, 1946) is a Canadian-born, Reformed Evangelical theologian and professor of the New Testament. Carson served as pastor of Richmond Baptist Church in Richmond, British Columbia from 1970 to 1972. Following his doctoral studies, he served for three years at Northwest Baptist Theological College (Vancouver) and in 1976 was the founding dean of the seminary. In 1978, Carson joined the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where he is currently serving as research professor. Carson is a founding council member of The Gospel Coalition.

Some studies have shown that Christians spend about five times more mission dollars on issues related to poverty than they do on evangelism and church planting. At one time, “holistic ministry” was an expression intended to move Christians beyond proclamation to include deeds of mercy. Increasingly, however, “holistic ministry” refers to deeds of mercy without any proclamation of the gospel—and that is not holistic. It is not even halfistic, since the deeds of mercy are not the gospel: they are entailments of the gospel. Although I know many Christians who happily combine fidelity to the gospel, evangelism, church planting, and energetic service to the needy, and although I know some who call themselves Christians who formally espouse the gospel but who live out few of its entailments, I also know Christians who, in the name of a “holistic” gospel, focus all their energy on presence, wells in the Sahel, fighting disease, and distributing food to the poor, but who never, or only very rarely, articulate the gospel, preach the gospel, announce the gospel, to anyone. Judging by the distribution of American mission dollars, the biggest hole in our gospel is the gospel itself.
-DA Carson
-DA Carson

“To accept that a different or opposing position exists and deserves the right to exist is one thing; to accept the position itself means that one is no longer opposing it. The new tolerance suggests that actually accepting another’s position means believing that position to be true, or at least as true as your own....We move from allowing the free expression of contrary opinions to the acceptance of all opinions; we move from permitting the articulation of beliefs and claims with which we do not agree to asserting that all beliefs and claims are equally valid. Thus we slide from the old tolerance to the new.” --DA Carson
Nov 19, 2022: Denny Burk: What Happened at the Rocky Mountain ETS?
The first time I heard D. A. Carson speak in person was way back in 1998 when I was a graduate student at Dallas Theological Seminary. He delivered four lectures which eventually became the book The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God (Crossway, 2000). I will never forget those lectures. It was a detailed exposition of biblical texts from John’s Gospel, and I was absolutely transfixed by the power and profundity of what I was hearing. Fast-forward now almost 25 years later to Dr. Carson’s presential address in Denver. It was the same experience all over again. A powerful and profound exposition of God’s holiness from Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4:8. The address will eventually be published in The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, but I encourage you to get the audio if you can when it is released. |
Sept 19, 2016: Youtube: D.A. Carson : The Book of Exodus: Jesus Christ the Ultimate Israel
In a phone talk with Tony Reinke he explains the importance of the Book of Exodus as one the major Biblical themes.
In a phone talk with Tony Reinke he explains the importance of the Book of Exodus as one the major Biblical themes.

"The Exodus of God’s people out of Egypt is “the greatest redemptive event in the Old Testament...It is simultaneously the escape of the Israelites from Egypt, and the events surrounding the exodus, like entering the Promised Land...It is the greatest redemptive event in the Old Testament to which subsequent revelation points to again and again and again...The ultimate Israel is Jesus himself...We are truly Christians if we hold our beginning faith steadfastly to the end, which is precisely what so many Israelites did not do.” --DA Carson
Nov 11, 2015: Youtube: The Scholar as Pastor D. A. Carson Desiring God
Oct 28, 2015: Gospelize Me: “Preaching through Bible Books” workshop by D. A. Carson (notes and audio link)
This is from a conference in 2003 called, “Katoomba Christian Conference Centenary (Sydney, Australia).”
Oct 28, 2015: Gospelize Me: “Preaching through Bible Books” workshop by D. A. Carson (notes and audio link)
This is from a conference in 2003 called, “Katoomba Christian Conference Centenary (Sydney, Australia).”
Oct 25, 2015: Prydain: Dr. D.A. Carson on “How can we trust the Canon created by the early Church?”
If you are interested in this subject, this is an outstanding summary by Dr. Don Carson of the reasons we can trust our present Canon of Scripture.
Mar 11, 2015: Toll Ledge: “Rejoice that your names are written heaven” by D.A. Carson
“The story is told of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of the most influential preachers of the twentieth century.
Jan 19, 2015: Youtube: Sermon Jam Trusting God in Difficult Times D A Carson
Jan 14, 2015: Timothy Ministry: D.A. Carson - The Love of God and the Intent of the Atonement
The following is a short section taken from D.A. Carson's excellent book, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, and was copied and pasted from here.
If you are interested in this subject, this is an outstanding summary by Dr. Don Carson of the reasons we can trust our present Canon of Scripture.
Mar 11, 2015: Toll Ledge: “Rejoice that your names are written heaven” by D.A. Carson
“The story is told of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of the most influential preachers of the twentieth century.
Jan 19, 2015: Youtube: Sermon Jam Trusting God in Difficult Times D A Carson
Jan 14, 2015: Timothy Ministry: D.A. Carson - The Love of God and the Intent of the Atonement
The following is a short section taken from D.A. Carson's excellent book, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, and was copied and pasted from here.
Dec 7, 2014: Daniels Place: Response to D.A. Carson's Themolios' YRR "reflections"
Themolios is currently the magazine of the Gospel Coalition. In volume 39 number 3 published this year (2014), Dr. D.A. Carson decided to write an editorial reflecting on the failures of the Young, Restless, Reformed (YRR) movement [D.A. Carson, "The Underbelly of Revival: Five Reflections on Various Failures in the Young, Restless, and Reformed Movement," Themolios 39:3 (2014): 405-10].
July 1, 2014: Prydain: Dr. D.A. Carson: “What is the Gospel?” (session 2)
This is the second part of Dr. D.A. Carson’s message on “What is the Gospel?”; in this session Dr. Carson takes an in-depth look at Romans 3:21-26.
May 24, 2014: Gospel Herald: Tullian Tchividjian Refutes Tim Keller, D.A. Carson's Statement on His Gospel Coalition Exit - Tullian Tchividjian Refutes Tim Keller, D.A. Carson's Statement on His Gospel Coalition Exit
May 14, 2014: Red Grace Media: Engaging D.A. Carson on Evangelism
I have personally benefited from the ministry and scholarship of D.A. Carson for many years. Carson’s commentary on the Gospel of John in the Pillar series was vital for my personal exposition of the gospel of John which took me several years to work through.
May 13, 2014: Madison Ruppert: D.A. Carson’s “The God Who Is There”
D.A. Carson’s 14-part lecture series “The God Who Is There” presents a sweeping, yet succinct, survey of the redemptive history and our story in God’s unfolding story of the redemption of His people.
Themolios is currently the magazine of the Gospel Coalition. In volume 39 number 3 published this year (2014), Dr. D.A. Carson decided to write an editorial reflecting on the failures of the Young, Restless, Reformed (YRR) movement [D.A. Carson, "The Underbelly of Revival: Five Reflections on Various Failures in the Young, Restless, and Reformed Movement," Themolios 39:3 (2014): 405-10].
July 1, 2014: Prydain: Dr. D.A. Carson: “What is the Gospel?” (session 2)
This is the second part of Dr. D.A. Carson’s message on “What is the Gospel?”; in this session Dr. Carson takes an in-depth look at Romans 3:21-26.
May 24, 2014: Gospel Herald: Tullian Tchividjian Refutes Tim Keller, D.A. Carson's Statement on His Gospel Coalition Exit - Tullian Tchividjian Refutes Tim Keller, D.A. Carson's Statement on His Gospel Coalition Exit
May 14, 2014: Red Grace Media: Engaging D.A. Carson on Evangelism
I have personally benefited from the ministry and scholarship of D.A. Carson for many years. Carson’s commentary on the Gospel of John in the Pillar series was vital for my personal exposition of the gospel of John which took me several years to work through.
May 13, 2014: Madison Ruppert: D.A. Carson’s “The God Who Is There”
D.A. Carson’s 14-part lecture series “The God Who Is There” presents a sweeping, yet succinct, survey of the redemptive history and our story in God’s unfolding story of the redemption of His people.
Apr 30, 2014: Already Not Yet: How the gospel changes everything
In a recent editorial for the on-line theological journal, Themelios, (“Do the Work of an Evangelist,” 39, 1, April 2014), D. A. Carson had some interesting remarks on the nature of the Christian gospel.
Apr 26, 2014: Youtube: D.A. Carson on Revelation 3:15-17 "I wish you were either hot or cold"
In a recent editorial for the on-line theological journal, Themelios, (“Do the Work of an Evangelist,” 39, 1, April 2014), D. A. Carson had some interesting remarks on the nature of the Christian gospel.
Apr 26, 2014: Youtube: D.A. Carson on Revelation 3:15-17 "I wish you were either hot or cold"
June 3, 2009: Andy Naselli: D. A. Carson Publications
I recently compiled a comprehensive bibliography of D. A. Carson’s publications so that it could be hosted on Carson’s page at The Gospel Coalition’s site.
I recently compiled a comprehensive bibliography of D. A. Carson’s publications so that it could be hosted on Carson’s page at The Gospel Coalition’s site.