Norman Shepherd, former seminary professor (Westminster Theological Seminary) and pastor, is an important figure in recent Reformed theology. Building on the work of John Murray and others, he has challenged the Reformed and Presbyterian world to take seriously the biblical doctrine of the covenant and the Scriptures’ call to good works.

While Shepherd has become something of a polarizing figure for many, sympathetic discussion of his biblical and theological work is a worthwhile and important enterprise.

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Foundational Shepherd Audio

1978 Thirty-Four Theses on Justification

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11
• Part 12
• Part 13
• Part 14
• Part 15
• Part 16
• Part 17
• Part 18
• Part 19
• Part 20
• Part 21
• Part 22

1980 Doctrine of God Lectures

• Lecture 1
• Lecture 2
• Lecture 3
• Lecture 4
• Lecture 5
• Lecture 6
• Lecture 7
• Lecture 8
• Lecture 9
• Lecture 10
• Lecture 11
• Lecture 12
• Lecture 13
• Lecture 14
• Lecture 15
• Lecture 16
• Lecture 17
• Lecture 18
• Lecture 19
• Lecture 20
• Lecture 21

1980 Holy Spirit Lectures

• Lecture 1
• Lecture 2
• Lecture 3
• Lecture 4
• Lecture 5
• Lecture 6
• Lecture 7
• Lecture 8
• Lecture 9
• Lecture 10
• Lecture 11
• Lecture 12
• Lecture 13
• Lecture 14
• Lecture 15
• Lecture 16
• Lecture 17
• Lecture 18
• Lecture 19
• Lecture 20
• Lecture 21
• Lecture 22
• Lecture 23
• Lecture 24
• Lecture 25
• Lecture 26
• Lecture 27
• Lecture 28
• Lecture 29
• Lecture 30
• Lecture 31
• Lecture 32
• Lecture 33
• Lecture 34
• Lecture 35
• Lecture 36
• Lecture 37
• Lecture 38
• Lecture 39
• Lecture 40
• Lecture 41
• Lecture 42
• Lecture 43

1982 Baptism Lectures

1. The Baptism of Noah and His Household
2. The Baptism of Moses and the Children of Israel
3. The Circumcision of Abraham and His Descendants
4. The Circumcision and Baptism of Jesus
5. The Efficacy of Christian Baptism

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Written Materials

An Overture Concerning Heidelberg Catechism Q and A 80 (pdf)

Answers to Some Questions

2006 Response to the OPC Justification Report (4 parts; scroll down)

2002 The Call of Grace reviewed by Mark Horne

2001 “My Understanding of Covenant,” from the Christian Renewal forum, May 2001.

2002 “Justification By Faith Alone,” from Reformation and Revival Journal, Spring 2002.

Open Letter from Richard Gaffin (1981)

Cornelius Van Til on the Shepherd controversy

1978 The 34 Theses on Justification

1979 The Grace of Justification

“The Covenant Context of Evangelism” from The New Testament Student and Theology, Volume 3, edited by John Skilton (1976)

Historic Letters, Remarks etc

• Some Comments on the Justification Issue, by John Frame
• Open Letter to Philadelphia Presbytery, by John Mitchell (1979)
• Letter to Westminster Seminary Faculty and Board, by R.B. Gaffin (1978)
• Presbyterian Journal, Kinnaird Signature to 34 Theses (1982)
• Review of The Call of Grace, by John Barach (200?)
• Interview of Payton, Lillback, and Van Til Regarding Shepherd (date?)
• Systematic Theologizing in the Justification Controversy, by Vern Poythress (1979)
• Pre-debate Remarks by Richard Gaffin (Kuschke-Shepherd debates) (1979; transcription)
• Letter to Westminster Seminary Board-Faculty Committee, by Fred Klooster (1979)
• Clarion Editorial: Shepherd’s Concept of the Covenant, by Jelle Faber (1982)
• Letter to Carl Bogue, by Shepherd (1981)
• Letter to Philadelphia Presbytery, by Shepherd (1978)
• Letter to Philadelphia Presbytery, by Shepherd (1980)
• Report of the Westminster Faculty to the Board on Faith and Justification (1978)
• Response to Westminster Faculty Special Report on Justification, by Shepherd (1978)
• Review of John Murray Collected Works, by Shepherd (1977)

Honorary Doctorate (pdf)

Other Shepherd Audio

2002 Reformation Conference at Messiah’s in Brooklyn, NY

1. What’s All the Fuss? (Part 1): The Biblical Doctrine of Justification
2. What’s All the Fuss? (Part 2): The Church Doctrine of Justification by Faith
3. What’s All the Fuss? (Part 3): Job Justified by Faith
4. What’s All the Fuss? (Part 4): A Parable About Three Men

Various Sermons

1. Guidelines for Giving (1 Cor 15.53-16.4)
2. Our Lord’s Design for Marriage (Matt 19.1-24)
3. Speaking Truthfully (Eph 4.17-32)
4. Partnership in the Labor of the Gospel (Acts 26.12-23)
5. They Will Listen (Acts 28.11-34)
6. Partnership in the Gospel (Phi 1.1-4)
7. In Service of the Kingdom (Eph 6.1-9)
8. Labor – for What? (Jn 6.22-40)
9. God’s Good Work (1 Thess 5.12-28)
10. Glory in Our Land (Psalm 85)
11. A Lesson in Reformed Economics (Lev 25.1-7, 18, 23)
12. This is Your Hour (Lk 22.47-53)
13. Paul & Divorce (1 Cor 7.1-16)
14. Churches in Competition (Phi 1.15-18; 2 Cor 10.1-11)
15. How the Kingdom Comes (Psalm 72)
16. How Do We Pray? (Psalm 86)
17. An Irrepressible Gospel (Phi 1.12-18)
18. Searching Our Hearts (Ps 139.23-24)
19. A Prayer for Holiness (Jam 1.12-21)
20. Day of Prayer Sermon (1980)

Sundry Shepherd Audio

Christ and His Call: The Twofold Mandate (1985)

The Joy of What We Believe (1976)

Every Promise Fulfilled

Standing Firm to the End

Covenant Perspective on Election

Cultivating Covenant Consciousness