What Systematic Theology do you recommend?

Systematic theology recommendations

[carolinetrace]

For a true beginner you can't go wrong with J. I. Packer's Concise Theology. It will give you the basics of Reformed, Covenant Theology in 3 to 4 page chapters. Packer knew how to say a lot in few words.

[philtheo]

For what it's worth, if anything, here's what I'd recommend for Reformed theology:

BEGINNER

Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim's Progress. In a sense, it's a Reformed catechism in story format (though it's also much more).

Ferguson, Sinclair. The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction. A number of Ferguson's works could apply here but this is the most systematically organized, I think.

Helm, Paul. The Beginnings: Word and Spirit in Conversion; The Callings: The Gospel in the World; The Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. A trilogy published by the Banner of Truth that offers a good overview of Christian theology in the Christian life.

Hodge, A. A. The Westminster Confession: A Commentary. A fine commentary on the WCF.

Murray, John. Redemption Accomplished and Applied. The atonement, justification, sanctification, and more.

Packer, J. I. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Best brief introduction to Reformed theology. It offers a list of theological topics like God, atonement, demons, death, heaven, and so on, and it uses only a couple of pages per topic to explain it. I also appreciate how solidly based in exegesis it is. I Iike it better than R. C. Sproul's Everyone's a Theologian, which is in a more Q&A format.

Packer, J. I. A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life. A collection of a number of Packer papers on the Puritans with a particular emphasis on John Owen. It's in effect applied Puritan theology. The sort of thing that someone like Joel Beeke does well today.

Warfield, B. B. The Emotional Life of Our Lord. Exegetical, biblical, theological. And edifying to read.

INTERMEDIATE

Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. The classic standard bearer for Reformed systematic theology. Often a distillation of Hodge and Bavinck. But Berkhof says so much and says it so pithily. Packs quite a punch.

Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. A classic that isn't exactly what we think of as systematic theology, but is nevertheless tremendously valuable and edifying to read. Organized around four parts: God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, the Church. Consider reading it alongside a work like Calvin: A Guide for the Perplexed (Paul Helm) to benefit even more from it.

Frame, John. Concise Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Forthcoming. A significant update of his Salvation Belongs to the Lord. Alternatively one could read his fuller Systematic Theology, which is certainly worth reading, but I find something of a Frankenstein's monster in that many parts of it are directly lifted from and sometimes revised sections of his Lordship volumes and expansions of his Salvation Belongs to the Lord along with new fresh material as well.

Letham, Robert. Systematic Theology. Focused especially on *historical* systematic theology.

Poythress, Vern. Chance and the Sovereignty of God: A God-Centered Approach to Probability and Random Events. Where Poythress' mathematical prowess meets his theological analysis.

Poythress, Vern. The Mystery of the Trinity: A Trinitarian Approach to the Attributes of God. Poythress on the doctrine of God.

Welty, Greg. Why Is There Evil in the World (and So Much of It)? Arguably the best popular level theodicy (a defense of the problem of evil) from a Reformed Christian perspective. I also look forward to Welty on the doctrine of God, viz. his version of theistic conceptual realism.

Zaspel, Fred. The Theology of B. B. Warfield: A Systematic Summary. Warfield never wrote a systematic theology, but Zaspel effectively collates all of Warfield's theological writings and organizes it all into a single volume that is something like Warfield's systemic theology.

ADVANCED

Edwards, Jonathan. The Religious Affections. Alvin Plantinga said this book is one of three books every Calvin College student should read (the other two were Plato's Republic and Augustine's Confessions). See Plantinga's Warranted Christian Belief for how Edwards and in particular his Religious Affections influenced Plantinga's thinking. Of course, many other Christians have been influenced by Edwards including John Piper. In this book, among other things, Edwards seeks to re-orient the much neglected role of affections in Reformed theology.

Frame, John. The Doctrine of God; The Doctrine of the Christian Life; The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God; The Doctrine of the Word of God. Frame's entire four volume Lordship series is magisterial. Granted, Frame is controversial among some Reformed folks, but in my mind that's overblown. Besides, one doesn't have to agree with everything Frame wrote to be enriched and edified by his writings and especially this series.

Schreiner, Tom. New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ. A biblical scholar works out the exegetical theology that undergirds systematic theology.

Turretin, Francis. Institutes of Elenctic Theology. Polemical by design. Dense to read. Intellectually stimulating to consider.

Warfield, B. B. The Works of Benjamin B. Warfield. I believe it's a 10 volume set, but it doesn't include everything Warfield ever wrote. For example, The Emotional Life of Our Lord isn't included. Warfield was the preeminent theologian at Old Princeton.

[blazers]

You don’t have to agree with Calvin but have some respect for the reformed faith, Calvin and Luther are the reason Protestants exist in the first place, you can agree to disagree but Calvinism definitely isn’t heresy it’s one of the most God centered forms of Christianity as opposed to man centered. John Calvin quite literally invented systematic theology let’s not be ignorant and disregard the thoughts of the of men that yes the Holy Spirit used in the right time and the right place in history. Christians who don’t regard church history have a huge hermeneutical blind spot, we are not the first people to engage the scriptures in history and we’d do well to learn and gain insight from the knowledge the Holy Spirit has revealed to men in the past.

[accordingtothescriptures]

All due respect, my brother, but most of these contain a STRONG Reformed theological strain. Every systematic theology comes from a SPCIFIC theological school of thought; Reformed, Presbyterian (Buswell), Strong (Baptist), Oden (Methodist) Thiessen (Southern Baptist), etc. I learned early in my walk with Christ, use these to GATHER all texts that are relevant to a certain doctrine and THEN read each passage at least 20 times in one sitting (live in the text and watch it come alive!). I say this respectfully friends, do not allow yourself to fit-in to any theological school of thought; be a Bible student. I welcome your response, friend and appreciate what you are trying to do. Angel Arellano Jr, According To The Scriptures.

[jimmiejohnson]

Thank you so much brother, I greatly appreciate it.

[jeff]

It's funny seeing the Bible-only comments!! Strongly agree with Beeke, the Puritans wrote the best Christian material, can't wait for 5th volume of Mastricht!!!

[olerain]

Good collection, I’m working through turretin now

[erichoehn]

A great high level that you can use devotionally is 50 Core Truths of the Faith by Greg Allison.

[grammaticopedanticus]

For me, imperative every American student of theology (lay or clergy) — Charles Octavius Boothe: Plain Theology for Plain People.

Also, for concise reference overview, J. S. Whale: Christian Doctrine.

And I do not think it verbal overexertion to use the expression ‘for heaven’s sakes’ whatever one’s received tradition of orientation — eastern, western, Roman Catholic, Orthodox (variously autocephalous), Protestant, Anglican, Anabaptist (which John Calvin’s wife was), Reformed, Lutheran, pentecostal, Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Thoma of south India (to indicate a few) — to venture outside it is imperative of the Gospel, whatever our experience of compliance!

[Jonathan-wxyw]

Honestly I am not sure what to think about John Calvin because all of the bad things I have heard about Him. It makes me a little nervous to listen or read his teachings. If you have any input on if John Calvin was actually a good person or not I am willing to listen. I am not set in how I feel about him because I have heard good and bad and it's hard to know who to believe. The only book that I have of all the ones you showed is the Francis Turretin institutes of elenctic theology. I do struggle to make myself read things as much as I should so having all those books wouldn't help if I don't make my self read them. I am trying to read some of the ones I have now before I get more.

[VisionOnDuty]

Any thoughts on John Frame Systematic Theology?

[gnhman]

How difficult to read is Louis Berkhof's ST for a 14 year old middle schooler? I'm thinking of buying Berkhof but I'm afraid it might be a bit too difficult to read for me. I'm 14yo and I own Grudem's ST and can read and understand it easily (It's actually very enjoyable to read), but I'm afraid Berkhof might be too heavy. Should I not be scared of reading Berkhof if I can read Grudem?

[Bijbelstudies]

I can only recommend the Bible. The books of men makes things complicated and turn men away from the sound Truth of the gospel.

Gods heart weeps about all these books.

[Pastor-Brettbyfaith]

Try the Bible. It's all we need. If you use a particular theologian for aid in understanding, be sure that you have searched the Scriptures first, trusting the interpretation of the Holy Ghost. Then you will have a base to build your house. God gave some to be teachers... and we should listen to them, but our source material should always be holy Scripture!

[ishiftfocus]

Many people think study of theology is study of the Bible, but they are often different. Do not be fooled.

The pursuit of theology has caused many in the church to become followers of theologians and theological systems instead of students of God’s word.

Out of fear of sounding too preachy, dogmatic, or as one of those “Bible nuts” that quotes scripture, theology is used as the tool of choice to address problems in and out of the church.

Replacing the Bible with Theological Studies replaces the pillar of the truth with ivory towers, and the ground of the truth with the sacred ground of seminaries.

As a result for many, the Bible is a closed book. They are told it should not be understood except by the theologically trained, ordained, and accredited.

Theologians pride themselves in their knowledge of philosophy, religious traditions, and the opinions of other theologians.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” – Col 2:8
The Bible was not given for theologians. It was given for every man to understand. It does not require the wisdom of the world, but it does require we study it.

The Difference

There is a difference between studying theology and studying the Bible.

Theology asks questions like, “Does God exist?”

The Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”, and never questions God after that (Gen 1:1).

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Theology wonders, “If God intervenes then why is there evil in the world?”
The Bible says that God manifest in the flesh died for our sins (Rom 5:8-12).

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Theology rhetorically states “what is truth?”
The Bible quotes Jesus as saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Theology raises uncertainties and studies them.
The Bible makes us certain, “That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth” (Prov 22:21).

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Theology debates whether our future is predetermined or decided by our free will.
The Bible says, “but now [God] commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Theology argues whether men who have never heard the gospel can be saved.
The Bible says, “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe”, and “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (1 Cor 1:21, Rom 10:14).

Theology does not preach.

The Bible must be preached to be believed (Rom 10:17).

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Theology is more palatable to unbelievers and skeptics.
The Bible will not work effectually in those who do not believe (1 Thess 2:13).

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Theology can often change.
The Bible never changes (Isa 40:8).

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Theology is man’s word about God.
The Bible is God’s word to man (2 Tim 3:16).

– – – – – – – – – – – –

The mind of a wise man is required to study theology.
God is required to study the Bible (1 Cor 2:12-16).

[glennishammont]

After studying the bible for 30 years, I came across Calvinism, the contrast couldn’t be any bigger.

[rickward]

Love you brother but you lost me at “Calvin.” Might as well recommend something by Joseph Smith.

[peterxuereb]

All books are erroneous because all books are written by those who contradict the scripture's. To deny what Jesus said to the Apostles in John chapter 20 vrs 20-23. Is to deny Jesus Authority, in denying Jesus Authority, you protestants have placed yourselves above Jesus.. This is a why the Catholic Church, which began with, by and from, the Apostles who were inspired and instructed by Jesus Christ, has always regarded protestants and protestantism as a contradiction to Christianity.

[heyh]

there is only one book i trust and that is the bible, no where in the bible does it say "reformed". Or pentecostocal or baptist, its only a word people made. Jesus says follow me, and disciple is used over 200 times in the bible while christian is only used 3 times.