I’m currently finishing up on Everyone’s a Theologian by RC Sproul which is a great introductory book into theology. I was recommended Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, and seen really good reviews on Biblical Doctrine by MacArthur. Which is the best for someone new to the faith?
I'm a sucker for Christian Systematic Theology, especially Catholic (neo-)scholasticism, as it brings logical reasoning and philosophical sobriety to an otherwise mystical and transcendental topic: religion.
Questions which are answered by Systematic Theology might be: Why was it necessary for Jesus to die? Why was it necessary for him to be part of God's trinity? Why is the trinity in itself necessary? How and what can we know about God? What is hell? Why does God permit evil in the world? How can we have free will while affirming the existence of an omniscient God? Are there limits to God's omnipotence? Etc.
Are there any contemporary text books that deal with Islamic Systematic Theology?
I know it’s not the first choice of folk here, but it has the huge advantage of having an audio book version, which is pretty much vital for me with dyslexia and my current migraine struggles. It also has a study handbook available. Plus it has the bonus of being fairly close to a year long on a chapter a week.
Happy to switch to another book if we can get around five to commit as long as audio is available and the book is accessible (in print and not a silly price).
Connect via WhatsApp, Discord, even the chat function on here if someone knows how groups work, something else, for accountability to having done the reading (listening), memory verse etc. not saying no discussion, just expressing that my interest is in accountability as I attempt to get an overview of a whole bunch of stuff.
Can anyone tell me if there's a de facto standard text for this? Or should i get something different?
Thanks!
A lot of book suggestions on here tend to be about theological debates or similar. I’m looking for something a little less brainy. Something inspirational. Also still in the spiritual or Christian realm. Any suggestions?
I have used Institutes of Christian Religion by Calvin, Systematic Theology by Berkhof and Reformed confessions to learn about it. Do you have any suggestion for the study?
Hello everyone,
I am currently reading "the life and times of Jesus the messiah" by Alfred Edersheim. Great book, but difficult to read. When I'm done I want to read into systematic theology to really get all the topics straight for myself.
I have, untill a recently, been in charismatic churches. I have stepped out a few years ago since there was a complete lack of proof and biblical foundation. Via Truth for life, wretched and legioner ministries I found my way. Basically it comes down to the bible and it's authority. I like how these, among many, put the bible, and Jesus in it, above all.
So now I'm looking for books on systematic biblical theology that are perhaps easier to read then the book I'm reading currently. Do any of you have good recommendations?
Thanks in advance!
For those who are into Christian systematic theology, what are your favourite books or textbooks?
Like if you were teaching a course on the basics of Christian faith, what textbook would you use? And why?
Thanks!
I'm debating between Berkhof and Erickson!
I was reading through Strong's (1907) systematic theology work and began to question if systematic theology was even more relevant today with open sources and constructivist foundations and formations. Can biblical and systematic theology be taught as one in the same among seminaries and groups of scholars? Thoughts?
I'm curious what everyone's favorite systematic theology is with attention to content, style, readability, etc. I don't know if I could give a straightforward answer myself. I suppose it depends on what I'm studying and how much time I have. I really enjoy John Frame's Systematic Theology for its readability and substance, but I don't agree with his view on divine impassibility, and while I understand his approach, I sometimes wish he used more traditional categories for the attributes of God. Berkhof and Hodge are also favorites of mine, but sometimes I'm not interested in wading through surveys of what this or that theologian/philosopher said on a particular subject (while acknowledging the importance of that at the same time).
I'd of course have to throw Calvin's Institutes out there, but I don't know if that is classified as a systematic theology proper.
Thanks everyone
Most recommended Systematic Theology book for younger people? Grudem is too long. Horton is too difficult for most young people. Any suggestions?
I've been raised in a pretty traditional Church with a systematic theology that more or less excludes LGBT people from validity.
The basic structure of reasoning goes more or less like this.
God created human beings Male and Female and gave them the Creation Mandate to be fruitful and multiply, fill the Earth, and subdue it.
All of the textual scriptural evidence indicates that sexual activity should not take place out of marriage.
There is textual evidence for marriage between men and women but no textual evidence for marriage between people of the same sex.
Whenever scripture talks about sexual relationships within the same sex, it describes it as reprehensible.
We should therefore assume that Scripture does not legitimize sexual relations in any form between men and women.
And the subject of alternative gender expression is treated similarly.
As I've matured and come into my own faith, I have found it mentally and emotionally difficult to exist because there's a cognitive dissonance between what I can see about LGBT people and what I've been taught. Further adding to my confusion, I've started to move toward a weaker understanding ofh Scriptural Infallibility, and away from the Scriptural Inerrancy of my Youth.
I'm an AMAB person who has started privately using She/Her pronouns in private in places I feel safe to. I don't feel like it prevents me from living in accordance with Christ's teachings, and as I've moved away from the traditional understanding of the Scriptures I was raised with, I feel like I'm also living more in accordance with the actionable teachings of Christ's ministry.
But I'm still confused, because everything I was raised to believe, that is to say, the teachings of my parents and my congregation, are that I'm living in sin. Am I feeling this guilt because I'm living in sin, or have I been misled by reactionary politics masquerading as sound theology? How do I reconcile what scripture teaches about being a gendered and sexual being with existing as a transwoman? The knowing aspect of the faith is... important to me. I want to know if there's a well thought out, linguistically, culturally, theologically concrete refutation of the orthodox position on the matter.
Thanks in advance for whatever you have to say, pro or con.
Looking at ordering a systematic theology. My mentor mentioned Horton’s, and MacArthurs’s looks good. Also Grudem is obviously good. But what would you all recommend?
Looking for a book on Systematic Theology and this is a contender... I’m not Calvinist and this appears to be one with that bias(which is fine) I’m just curious what the sub thinks of it ... and how overt is the Calvinistic thought that (may) pervades the book?
I’m looking to deepen my understanding of scripture, and decided to look through the recommend reading on the sidebar. I saw two that I’m going to order: What is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul and Letters to a Young Calvinist. Much of what I’ve learned about the Reformed faith is owed to two people, my father and R.C. Sproul (in the form of video lectures), so I think I’m going to really enjoy the first one!
After that, it looks like the next step is to work through a meaty Systematic Theology book. Unfortunately we don’t have any of the ones listed at my house, but we do have Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. Considering the important (and length) of a book like this I figured I should post here to get people’s takes on it. It looks like the author has had some controversial stances on certain issues in the past, but I’m wondering if this book is decent or I would do better with an alternative.
To clarify, I plan on reading the two I first mentioned before diving into a Systematic Theology book. So this isn’t an immediate issue.
Thanks for anyone’s response!
This first volume is far and away the best book I've ever read on theology proper. It's answered so many of the questions I had about divine impassibility, immutability, and simplicity, etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Reformed-Systematic-Theology-Experiential-Revelation/dp/1433559838
This second one has made me fall in love with covenant theology already
Noticed it on their upcoming releases page. It's going to include Berkhof's Introductory Volume. Eerdmans still publishes a combined edition like this in paperback but if you've been looking for a hardback copy you may be interested in this.
I’ve recently left my reformed Presbyterian background and I’ve become convinced of a lot of Lutheran theology (such as on the Eucharist, the Lutheran view of predestination, etc.). I have a ton of books but they’re all from a purely Calvinistic perspective (Calvin’s commentaries, institutes of the Christian religion, etc.). In your opinions, what would be the most classically Lutheran quintessential bible commentary set? I probably couldn’t afford to choose more than one set. Same goes for a systematic theology; what would be the crowning jewel book for me to read on orthodox Lutheran theology? Thanks!
A friend of mine has been asking me to read some systematic theology books recently, which I'm happy to oblige. But one general question I have about systematic theology, especially from a Reformed 5 Solas perspective, is why aren't the scriptures initially presented in a systematic way? That is to say, why didn't God hand his scriptures down as systematic theology? And what biblical justification do we have to systematize?
The Morning Exercise Methodized published in 1660 by Rev. Thomas Case. It consists of 28 sermons preached by 27 different ministers as part of the morning exercises at St. Giles in the Field. May 1659. They were arranged systematically and cover Certain chief heads and points of the Christian religion opened and improved in divers sermons. Some of these ministers that many may already know are Manton, Watson, Poole, and Calamy. If you own the Puritan Sermons set published by Richard Owen Roberts it can be found in volume 5.
The sermons can be read online here:
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A81247.0001.001?view=toc
I have heard that Orthodox don't try to systematize their theology. If that's the case, that's fine. If that's not the case, what systematic theology books are there?
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