Help! What Systematic Theology Should I Use?

Dr. Leighton Flowers, Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists, answers a listener-submitted question regarding systematic theologies.

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What Systematic Theologies would you add??

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[bradleypenrod]

Dr. Flowers, I have Dr. Harwood’s systematic and love it. Also, you are correct that Dr. Garrett as a two-volume systematic.

[emilykbond]

Dr. Eric Hankins, who wrote the Traditionalist Statement, is teaching a systematic theology class at his church (First Baptist Fairhope) on Wednesday nights and the videos are available on his church's YouTube channel if anyone is interested. He's using "Theology for the Church" by Danny Akin. He's got notes for the study in the video descriptions.

[patarikisoterion]

I have enjoyed Henry Thiessens systematic theology for many years. He is not calvinistic.

[jonschiedlosr.]

Dr Norman Geisler’s Systematic Theology is a 4 volume set, comprehensive, understandable and non-Calvinistic in its soteriology 😁.

[yvonnedoulos]

Dr. Hardwood’s systematic is scheduled to come out this month. Would love for you to interview him about it, Dr. Flowers!

[SisterBaby]

Well, it's no wonder, then, that Calvinistic theology appears to be the "default" theology--- if all the major seminaries are using a theology textbook written through the eyes of a Calvinist (Grudem)!

[andrewmorgensen]

Classic Christianity by Olsen is Amazing! Very good Systematic Theology. With every page chalk full of quotes and references to the ancient Fathers and early church.

[jakeroberts]

Big thanks, bought Adam Harwoods book in Logos and it’s really excellent. 🎉

[washedsanctified]

the institutes of the christian religion, the institutes of elenctic theology, and the christian's reasonable service are the 3 best systematics I've ever read

[airandstrings]

Foundations of Pentecostal Theology by Guy P. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Van Cleave is not Calvinist. It is the default theological textbook of most Evangelical Pentecostal Bible Colleges.

[chrismullan]

Chafer Systematic Theology for a more thorough and in depth systematic theology set while Charles Ryrie Basic Theology for well a more basic and layman Theology book.

[omnitheus]

Erickson is Calvin but does a solid job without going overboard. I’d suggest people pick up a few good biblical theologies before embarking on systematic based books. Without a good knowledge of that and a decent understanding of hermeneutics (I cannot recommend The Hermeneutical Spiral highly enough) then one cannot investigate further on the Systematics they are reading…

[leulmulu]

I recommend Geisler's Systematic Theology

[cecilspurlockjr.]

Like our brother Kevin says, Grudum's books are good for target practice . It's a book full of false sotierological doctrine is what it is .

[trebmaster]

"The Faith Once For All" Cottrell

[ThePreacherman]

Read the Bible the way it was meant to be read through the Spirit that simple

[Michael-qxis]

Greetings, peace be with you 🙏..Please can any tell me which is the most easiest, basic, simplistic to read and understand out of Garretts Systematic Theology, and Harwoods? Thank You, GOD BLESS 🙏

[darthnocturnis]

Based on some of these comments, it may be a good idea to make a video on why a systematic theology is complimentary to one's view of God and soteriology.

[tmorganriley]

Regarding "Grenz". I presume the question refers to the late Stanley Grenz and his one-volume "Theology for the Community of God"). While I admit I am only a scholarly layman (with a professional doctorate in an unrelated field, so admittedly one inclined to intellectual things), I am a getting quite a bit out of it.

Indeed, it was one of Dr. Flowers prior guests, Roger Olson (a late friend and colleague of Grenz, and who regularly cites to his work) who led me to seek it out in the first place. With respect to Grenz's soteriology, he gives at least a cursory fair-shake to the various major positions, but gives little favor to the Calvinist camp (Olson's "Arminian Theology" lists Grenz in the Arminian camp).

As to Grenz's general bias in the work, his preface states that it is "avowedly evangelical and unabashedly Baptist", though tries to at least mention positions held outside the Baptist or even Protestant traditions. So at least worth checking out for a lay reader (I cannot say if it would ad much for someone formally trained or training, however.)

[thesimplyagapeproject]

None read the Bible for yourself. Nothing wrong about reading books with opinions on what scripture teaches. You are accountable for your own actions. Sometimes what you read impacts that. Better to just read the scriptures for yourself and be a good Berean and come to your own conclusions