When Theologians Turn on Each Other: What Owen vs. Baxter Teaches Us About Christian Division

What happens when two theological giants who love Jesus have a FIERY public fallout? 🔥 The forgotten conflict between Puritans John Owen and Richard Baxter holds a sobering lesson for today.

In this episode of Remnant Radio, we sit down with Dr. Tim Cooper, a leading scholar on 17th-century Puritanism, to unpack the intense disagreement between Owen and Baxter—two titans of the post-Reformation era. Despite their shared love for Christ, Scripture, and the Gospel, their clash over salvation, church structure, and Christian ethics led to a public split that fractured the Puritan movement. Their story shows us how pride, personality, and past wounds can tragically impact even important theological debates.

But this isn’t just fascinating history! This episode is a direct challenge to today’s church. As theological disputes rage online and in person, the Owen–Baxter conflict raises urgent questions for us:

-How should believers navigate public disagreement biblically?
-When does contending for truth accidentally lead to unnecessary division?
-What kind of Christ-like character must accompany our doctrine?

If you’ve ever wrestled with how to hold strong convictions while still loving others and avoiding toxic conflict, this conversation is for you. 

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