Theology explanation at its best
354671
I just received the book two days ago. It's a big book, although not thick and heavy. It sports graphs throughout every page giving a quick review and workings of the doctrine. Excellent to have when you need to do quick, visualization on doctrine for studies.
1401199
Wonderfully written with great biblical examples of who God really is compared to the false narratives of how society describes Him.  A theological book that is easy to understand, but challenges you to think, while providing how to apply what the author is teaching.  Loved it so much, I've purchased the 2nd book of the series.
2197470
I loved having my theology expanded by the insight the authors bring, insight that is ancient, biblically grounded, and solidly Christian, and yet new and fresh. Exploring the mystery of God, a mystery that is unashamedly revealed in Christ, and yet a mystery that is also revealed to be immense and incomprehensible, is very rich. Chapter after chapter I was learning and growing and seeing familiar truths with new eyes. In several chapters they moved me from thinking either-or (either Gods sovereignty OR human freedom; either boldly ask God to change things in prayer OR trust God to know best what should happen) to the richness of both-and. I love that these authors are building on the solid rock that is Christ, while opening my eyes to see the mystery of God and its practical implications in fresh ways.
4581974
If you are going to read only one book on the new mood in theology, this is it. Well written, brilliant, and easy to understand. A great book that all should read to understand what is going on in modern theology. I have read all his books and this is a second reading. Gave the first copy away.
3534472
This is truly a great book for those who want a concise history of the development of Western Theology. What makes it truly outstanding is that it's not just a history lesson, but it explains the discussion's implications/relevancy for contemporary theology. You won't need to be an expert to follow the discussion (though some knowledge of church history might be helpful, though not necessary).

As an evangelical, I have been rather frustrated with evangelicalism's view of salvation as simply a door into heaven. It has left me despairing of relevancy considering the fact that I'm not in heaven yet but still living in the here and now. This book explains how much of traditional Christian theology (including evangelicalism but also Catholicism and liberal Protestantism) is based on a specific interpretation of the Bible and theology originally based on Tertullian's legalistic theology (what the author calls type A theology: the Bible is a set of laws to be obeyed). This theology has been mixed with Augustine's Neo-Platonism (type B theology) resulting in the theology dominant in the West:a theology that interprets Scripture as a set of fixed, universal truths that need to be followed. God is the Judge that will punish any deviation herefrom.

But the author shows that there was an early theology, originally from Syria and probably closest to the tradition of the New Testament. The author calls it type C theology and considers Irenaeus its main exponent. This type of theology has disappeared due to social and political circumstances. But it's a theology that considers the Christian faith not a set of rules to be obeyed, but God's active participation in the history of mankind. In this theology history is the stage where His purposes will unfold, where His kingdom of justice will be established. This Christianity is not just relevant for the individual Christian who wants to "change his bad behavior" but for the whole Christian community fighting evil in all its forms and manifestations (including society's). And thank God this theology is experiencing a revival thanks to the end of modernity, the fight for social justice (for blacks, women, the poor) and the resurgence of the younger churches from the Third World (and I'm a woman from the Third World).

Anyways, a book that has made me think extensively and is helping me free myself from more traditional theology that IMHO has immasculated much of the liberating, earth-shaking, life-transforming, yes, even politically subversive elements of the gospel.
1740539
It's a truly excellent exposition on all three ins and outs of kingdom theology. Morphew has an outstanding way of simply explaining complex doctrines
2927803
Reformation Theology, edited by Matthew Barrett (book review)

Those who enjoy heady theological reading will most likely receive a ton of benefit from this massive volume.  Numerous Reformed theologians, including Michael Horton, Graham Cole, and Carl Trueman, to name a few, have contributed to this work as principal authors.  The book, as Barrett explains, provides a systematic summary of Reformation thought.  If youve read or studied any other systematic theology works, then that wordsystematicshould give you a good idea what you're in for when you dive into this one.

Im not a theologian of high-level academic education, but I am indeed a theologian in the sense that R.C. Sproul uses it: Everyones a theologian.  I am a theologian merely in the sense that I enjoy reading and studying theology and learning to apply it to all of life.  That said, Barrett writes, This book is written in such a way that the specialist and the nonspecialist alike will enjoy it.  Barrett went on to explain how academic specialists will benefit from Reformation Theology, and then continued, Nonspecialists, however, will benefit the most.  Each chapter serves as an introduction to the doctrine at hand, explaining what the major Reformers believed, why they believed it, and what impact their beliefs had.

I write all of that in order to explain that the term nonspecialist is very likely limited in scope, rather than broadly applied to all interested readers.  When I first encountered the phrase, I thought I was the kind of nonspecialst Barrett in mind.  While reading, however, I quickly discovered that Barrett may actually have had Masters and PhD level readers in mind, general practitioners with higher education, so to speak.  Im no dummy, but I found that many of the concepts contained in the book required more than mere interest.  Instead, a good grounding in deeper theological matters is crucial. However, even given some difficulties, I still took away from this book some lasting theological truths that will continue to shape and sharpen my understanding of Gods Word.

According to Barrett, Reformation Theology was written because At the center of the Reformation was a return to a gospel-centered, Word-centered church.  No question about it, this was the great need in the sixteenth-century church.  I concur, and would add that this is the great need even today in the church.  Preachers abound who preach an easy-believism Jesus, a Jesus who merely wants to help us be successful or have better marriages, a Jesus who doesnt require anything more from us than a slight wave of the hand on a Sunday morning to tell the preacher, Yeah, Im in.  The Reformers, however, fought and died for the doctrinal purity of the Church, something far different than were accustomed to reading and hearing today.  Yet many today have allowed what the Reformers gave blood to obtain to slip away into obscurity.  For that reason, Im thankful for the resurgence of great books and works on Reformation theology.

As a general outline, each chapter following the history of the Reformation introduces 17 theological concepts: Sola Scriptura, the Trinity, Predestination & Election, the Person of Christ, Sanctification, Eschatology, etc.  The chapters begin with an introduction to traditional Reformed views, followed by the evolution of what various reformers (such as Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, to name a few) have taught.  Each chapter typically concludes with a short portion allotted to dissenting opinions.

Recommendations: I think this book would be a great gift to ones pastor who has interest in deeper theological writings.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received Reformation Theology free of charge from Crossway Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  All opinions are mine, and I was not forced to provide a positive review.
4705965
~The Body of Practical Divinity~ is a great classic systematic theology of Reformed Protestantism. The author Thomas Watson was a Puritan divine and offers an erudite systematic theology for the Christian believer from a Reformed-Puritan perspective. The crux of the volume is soteriology (which is the doctrine of salvation according to Jesus Christ.) Not surprisingly, he makes it clear that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone. Watson is rigorously Scriptural in his exegesis, and he enunciates the textual meaning and gives substantive amplification to the Word of God. He explains the Doctrines of God, Divine Sovereignty, Salvation, Sin, and the Trinity with remarkable clarity. His thinking is sound and Scriptural. Puritan theology sets the diadem of our salvation on Christ, and Christ alone, and it is solely on the basis of his meritous work that we are saved. The body of the text is not at all archaic, as it has a fluid feel and is easy to read. The great Prince of Preachers, C.H. Spurgeon, opined of Watson's book, as being "one of the most precious of the peerless works of the Puritans." Soli Deo Gloria!
1435305
Williams, who teaches in the Faculty of Divinity in the University of Cambridge and is a Fellow of Corpus Christi College, provides a lovely example of carefully argued theology that remains readable while rigorous. The Architecture of Theology helps us think about the coherence of our theological propositions as well as the warrants that undergird them. Williams contribution is for us to think of theology as mimesis, a necessarily human construct that still participates in the truth of the divine by Christians continuing sanctification. She examines the warrants of theology (scripture, reason, tradition, and experience) in this light, as well as a survey of historical Christian thinkers who have wrestled with the concepts of truth and beauty. Highly recommended for graduate students in theology and professionals in the field.
4200825
Theology is the study of God. In recent years, weve seen a steady increase of good solid systematic theologies that seek to lay out for readers what the authors think about a variety of theological issues. One of these recent volumes is The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way by Michael Horton. Over the years, Ive read quite a few systematic theology texts. Where Hortons effort shines the most is in not just its examination of what the Bible teaches, but its wide coverage across a variety of theological spectrums. The author demonstrates a high degree of knowledge about the topics he discusses from a biblical, historical and theological perspective. Along with this, he engages with various Christian movements from within the Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions.

Rather than get into every jot and tittle of this book as it is massive, I want to highlight a few things I appreciated about this book. First, as I noted in the first paragraph, this systematic theology is biblical. Those who are Reformed will appreciate how the author talks in covenantal language. Those who aren't Reformed will still appreciate the fair manner in which Horton engages the various perspectives on these theological issues. Second, this book is unapologetically written from a Reformed-Presbyterian perspective which means Reformed Baptists will likely not agree with Hortons view on baptism. Yet, agreeing on every point isn't needed for one to enjoy this book. What is needed is to consider what Dr. Horton says and to learn from it. If we as Christians are going to engage one another across our various theological perspectives, it is important that we understand what each other believes and why we believe it, especially when it comes to what can be rightly labeled as secondary and third order doctrines. The Christian Faith is systematic theology at its best, biblical, historical, engaging and practical. This explosive trifecta makes this a systematic theology worth picking up, and referencing for years to come.
1647307
This is one of the most aware and hopeful accounts of Reformation Theology that the reader will ever see. It is incredibly relevant to the current world of theology. Horton begins with the presupposition not only that "the Reformation tradition" contains a huge amount of "unexploited potential" for engaging this current world, but that this potential is found within the framework of Covenant Theology.

Horton traces the two covenants, "the covenant of Law," given to (and broken by) both Adam and Israel, and the "covenant of Promise," given to Noah, Abraham, David, and ultimately fulfilled in Christ. He distinguishes these two covenants, based on research done not only by Reformed biblical scholarship, but also "from Jewish and Roman Catholic traditions" (including the work of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) that has found two ancient kinds of covenants: a "suzerainty" treat, often given from a stronger king to a weaker king in the form, "do this and you will live," and a covenant of Promise, given in the form of "a royal grant," which took the form of "an outright gift of a king to a subject."

"The covenant at Sinai certainly bears the marks of a suzerainty treaty. In fact, the exact form is followed in Exodus 19 and 20 as well as in Deuteronomy 5: Yahweh identifies himself as the suzerain (preamble), with a brief historical prologue citing his deliverance of the people from Egypt, followed by the Ten Commandments (stipulations), with clear warnings (sanctions) about violating the treaty to which they have sworn their allegiance." (pg 13.)

The covenant with Noah, Abraham and David is given in "a completely different form," a "one-sided promise on God's part with no conditions attached (see Genesis 9). "The point is this: the deepest distinction in Scripture is not between the Old and New Testaments, but between the covenants of law and the covenants of promise that run through both" (pg 17).

From this point, Horton engages all of the many theologies that are being presented today, beginning with the "New Perspective on Paul," (the "covenant nomism" of which takes into account the covenant of Law, but not the covenant of Promise,) but along the way, he engages not only Sanders, Dunn and Wright, but also Rahner and Von Balthasar, Barth and Hunsigner, Milbank and Ward, Tillich, Moltmann, and a host of others. Along the way, Horton brings home with power and dignity the genius of the Reformers, and he shows how the genius of the Reformers is not only relevant in today's thought climate, but ideal.

This is a thoughtful, erudite, and masterful work.
4760653
One of the best books I have read in a long time regarding this subject. Everything you might need and want to know about the fundamentals and the details of the Christian faith. Kevin Konner is a gifted teacher and it shows in this book. A must read for any serious student of Theology.
2089468
Wonderful! A book of theological truths based on the Apostles Creed. Theology is more important than what the average Church goer may think. Rather than plowing through thick volumes of theological textbooks on systematic theology, or buy individual books on various theological topics, we have in our hands a book that expounds on the essence of the history, the core theological issues, and the crucial doctrines every Christian ought to know. The Apostles Creed is an excellent choice because it is still the most unifying creed for all (if not most) Christian communities. The Roman Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, Protestants, Evangelicals, Non-Denominationals, Bible, Independents, and many others are pretty united when it comes to this ancient creed. Even fringe groups will very likely profess the same creed with certain disclaimers. Whether one agrees with the creed fully or not, the scope of coverage is wide enough to give the Church a pretty decent theological syllabus. Author and New Testament Professor Michael Bird has done exactly that and has written this book for the masses.

He begins by making a case for the Apostles Creed as an important syllabus for beginners. Not only is it biblical, it gives us a basic summary of what the Early Church held, what traditions are, and how they inform our theological education. Creeds are part of the way God has used to teach us. From the Old and New Testaments, we get the life of Jesus, the Apostolic teachings, the Rule of Faith, and the Creeds. Creeds are used in worship; in promoting unity and fellowship with other believers; in reminding us about our faith. They also form a key part of our devotional lives. The rest of the book deals with a particular part of the creed.

  Faith
  God the Father
  God the Son
  Jesus as Messiah and Lord
  The Virgin Birth
  The Atonement
  The Resurrection
  The Reign of Jesus
  The Holy Spirit
  The Church
  The Kingdom of God and more.

Each of the chapters begin with a brief introduction, followed by an explanation of what it is, what it means, and which part of the Bible supports the doctrine. From each doctrine, Bird expands it with other important theological vocabulary to enhance our learning. There is always an application component for each doctrine expounded. The short list of recommended readings makes it convenient for planning and research for interested readers. This book is targeted at the layperson. It can be used as a preaching calendar as well. Creeds and catechisms are some of the most important resources the Church has inherited over the years. In fact, every creed came about because of the threats of heresy. Such theological threats have sparked countless debates and council meetings that culminated in a statement of belief to anchor the Church on sound doctrine, something that continually needs to be done in a world that is getting more sophisticated. Learn from our forefathers who have painstakingly put together the creeds not only for their generation but for many more, including ours and our children and their descendants.

I warmly recommend this book for your reading and learning.

Bird is an Australian Professor of Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne. He publishes widely in areas of Systematic Theology and has written a comprehensive theological textbook entitled, "Evangelical Theology."

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book is provided to me courtesy of Zondervan Academic and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
1591539
This is the first theology text I've read in many years. While the terminology was difficult and I couldn't follow 75% of the author's arguments, it was life-altering to understand that there is a rigorous understanding of Christian faith that includes the feminine (Jesus as an expression of Sophia), and all of nature / cosmos.  If you are open to the idea that theology and the theory of evolution need not be in opposition -- indeed, can inform each other, then this is a book for you.

Best aspect: grand sweep of it
Worst aspect: detailed critiques of theologians unknown to this reader. (But then, this is an academic treatise, so it must situate itself within the stream of modern theological discourse).
1880465
[Note - I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for writing a review; this did not influence my opinion]

This introduction to Christian doctrine is by an experienced theologian, and gifted teacher, which will benefit a variety of readers. In 60 concise chapters (averaging about five pages each), Dr. R. C. Sproul, founder of Ligonier Ministries, surveys all the primary topics of systematic theology in a most engaging manner.

The eight divisions of the book cover these topics in an orderly manner, using traditional terminology: Introduction (which includes revelation, inerrancy, canonicity and authority), Theology Proper, Anthropology and Creation, Christology, Pneumatology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology. In the first chapter, Sproul shares four assumptions about systematic theology:  the first, that God has revealed Himself in nature and in the Word; second, God reveals Himself "according to His own character and nature ... in an intelligent way that is meant to be understood"; third, there is a unity and coherence to the Word of God; and fourth, there is a consistency to His revelation since "He is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Those familiar with the teaching style of R. C. Sproul from his many previous books or video presentations, will readily hear his voice on every page -- especially in the various personal anecdotes and ubiquitous Latin terms he employs (and defines) along the way. References to the Westminster standards are included, and Reformed theologians (Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Edwards) are amply quoted. Other theologians and historical viewpoints are mentioned along the way -- and heresies are clearly named.

One weakness of this volume might be seen in one-too-many uses of formal logic to illustrate a point (he twice refers to reducio ad absurdum arguments; helpful on page 300, unhelpful on page 256).

While comparable in size and scope to Bruce Milne's Know the Truth: A Handbook of Christian Belief (IVP, 3rd Ed., 2009), Sproul's Everyone's A Theologian feels less like a textbook, and more like an easy-to-read survey. Indeed, several chapters can be read in one sitting, and the whole book straight through in a few day's time. There are very few footnotes used, and the majority of those are pointers to Sproul's other books. Given the brevity of these chapters, the book would be more valuable if it included a list of recommended reading by topics or a bibliography at the end. Scripture and subject indices are included.

The strength of this volume is found in its accessibility to modern readers, its consistent Reformed views and its passion for making truth known. For instance, at the end of chapter 19 on the nature of sin (one of the best chapters), Sproul writes, "We must never conclude that sin is an illusion. Sin is real. Sin is mysterious, but there is a reality to the evil in which we participate. It does not simply intrude upon us from outside. It is something with which we are deeply, intimately, and personally involved in our hearts and souls" (107). And this sample, from the chapter on providence, shows the pastoral passion of Sproul which is found throughout:  "Knowledge of divine providence brings comfort in our suffering. God is in control not only of the universe and its operations but also of history.  ...Our lives are in His hands, our vocations are in His hands, as are our prosperity or our poverty -- He governs all these things in His wisdom and goodness" (81).

This is a helpful, biblically faithful book which will help its readers become better, biblical theologians.

*(This book review has also been published in the April edition of The Banner of Truth magazine.)
3231855
A great overview of theology, easy to understand. A great book for laymen to more deeply study.  A valuable text book for adult Bible study classes.
Well worth the price, a great addition to ones library of spiritual books.
2354881
Without a doubt, this book is not for the casual reader.  I was assigned this book by Dr. Diprose for my Theology of Israel class, and was rewarded by a very well researched and concisely written theological treatise on the merits of Replacement Theology.  Remembering, of course, that this book is actually derived from a presentation that Diprose made, it actually has a reason for being a slightly thick read and being presented in a very strict "Point, development, conclusion, restatement" format in each chapter... this is actually a scholarly presentation on the topic rather than just a book.

My only other "criticism" per se is that Diprose can be a little heavy handed at times in his debunking of Replacement Theology.  For example, I think that his conclusion that the Catholic Church's teaching on the Eucharist is a direct result of Replacement Theology in the Augustinian (and Constantinian for that matter) theological tradition is a little bit of a stretch.  While he does give several reasons for this conclusion, the logic seemed to be stretched a little thin for my taste.  Beyond the occasional overreach, Dr. Diprose has very good logic, solid exegesis and pointed conclusions that make this book a phenomenal resource for someone who is interested in studying the topic of Israel.  If you aren't interested in studying it that much, just stick to Romans 9-11...