Systematic Theology

Expanded Edition: including Introductory volume to Systematic Theology

Author

Louis Berkhof

Category Theology Books

A Summary of Christian Doctrine by Louis Berkhof

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Weight	2.6 lbs
Dimensions	8.8 × 5.75 × 2.1 in
ISBN	9781848719941
Binding	Cloth-bound, eBook (ePub & Kindle), Cloth-bound & eBook (ePub & Kindle)
Topic	General Theology
Original Pub Date	1958
Banner Pub Date	Aug 20, 2021
Page Count	1,048
Scripture	Whole Bible
Format	Book

Endorsements

‘A model of order, precision, and (relative) brevity…you will not find a better one-volume systematic theology in the Reformed tradition. I re-read Berkhof as much anything else on this list.’ — KEVIN DEYOUNG

‘There are a number of systematic textbooks that have appeared since Louis Berkhof wrote, but nobody, it seems to me, matches Berkhof for his skill in saying much, very straightforwardly in a small space. He goes to the heart of every truth. He says it quickly…what Berkhof gives you is constantly, point after point, good stuff.’ — J.I. PACKER

Book Description

Louis Berkhof’s loyalty to the well-defined lines of the Reformed faith, his concise and compact style and his up-to date treatment have made this work the most important twentieth century compendium of Reformed theology. ‘The work seemed particularly important to me’, writes the author, ‘in view of the widespread doctrinal indifference of the present day, of the resulting superficiality and confusion in the minds of many professing Christians, of the insidious errors that are zealously propagated even from the pulpits, and of the alarming increase of all kinds of sects. If there ever was a time when the church ought to guard her precious heritage, the deposit of the truth that was entrusted to her care, that time is now’.

This expanded edition contains Berkhof’s Introductory Volume, which was designed to be read together with the Systematic Theology itself.

‘Objections have frequently been raised against a systematic presentation of the doctrinal truths of Scripture; and also in the present day some are decidedly averse to it. There seems to be a lurking fear that the more we systematize the truth, the farther we wander from the presentation of it that is found in the Word of God. But there is no danger of this, if the system is not based on the fundamental principles of some erring philosophy, but on the abiding principles of Scripture itself. God certainly sees the truth as a whole, and it is the duty of the theologian to think the truths of God after Him.’
— LOUIS BERKHOF in the Introductory Volume included with this edition.

Professor Berkhof died in 1957, at the age of 83. He was an outstanding American teacher and the author of some 22 books. After two pastorates, he began his long career as professor at Calvin Seminary, Grand Rapids, in 1906. Here he remained for 38 years, devoting his talents and immense stores of knowledge to the training of men for the ministry. His Systematic Theology was his magnum opus, being revised and enlarged during his lifetime until it reached its present final form.

Table of Contents Expand ↓

	INTRODUCTORY VOLUME
	The Idea and History of Dogmatic Theology
I.	Names Applied to the Systematic Presentation of Theology	3
II.	The Nature of Dogmas	6
III.	The Idea of Dogmatic Theology	25
IV.	The Task, Method, and Distribution of Dogmatics	44
V.	History of Dogmatics	69
	The Principia of Dogmatics
I.	Principia in General	87
II.	Religion	93
III.	The Principium Cognoscendi Externum (Revelation)	112
IV.	The Inspiration of Scripture	142
V.	The Principium Cognoscendi Internum	170
	Select Literature	189
	Index of Authors	193
	Index of Subjects	197
	SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
	Part One - THE DOCTRINE OF GOD
	The Being of God
I.	The Existence of God:	19
II.	The Knowability of God:	29
III.	Relation of the Being and Attributes of God:	41
IV.	The Names of God:	47
V.	The Attributes of God in General:	52
VI.	The Incommunicable Attributes:	57
VII.	The Communicable Attributes:	64
VIII.	The Holy Trinity:	82
	The Works of God
I.	The Divine Decrees in General:	100
II.	Predestination:	109
III.	Creation in General:	126
IV.	Creation of the Spiritual World:	141
V.	Creation of the Material World:	150
VI.	Providence:	165
	Part Two - THE DOCTRINE OF MAN IN RELATION TO GOD
	Man in His Original State
I.	The Origin of Man:	181
II.	The Constitutional Nature of Man:	191
III.	Man as the Image of God:	202
IV.	Man in the Covenant of Works:	211
	Man in the State of Sin
I.	The Origin of Sin:	219
II.	The Essential Character of Sin:	227
III.	The Transmission of Sin:	237
IV.	Sin in the Life of the Human Race:	244
V.	The Punishment of Sin:	255
	Man in the Covenant of Grace
I.	Name and Concept of the Covenant:	262
II.	The Covenant of Redemption:	265
III.	Nature of the Covenant of Grace:	272
IV.	The Dual Aspect of the Covenant:	284
V.	The Different Dispensations of the Covenant:	290
	Part Three - THE DOCTRINE OF THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST
	The Person of Christ
I.	The Doctrine of Christ in History:	305
II.	The Names and Natures of Christ:	312
III.	The Unipersonality of Christ:	321
	The States of Christ
I.	The State of Humiliation:	331
II.	The State of Exaltation:	344
	The Offices of Christ
I.	Introduction: The Prophetic Office:
II.	The Idea of the Offices in History	356
III.	The Prophetic Office	357
IV.	The Priestly Office:
V.	The Scriptural Idea of a Priest	361
VI.	The Sacrificial Work of Christ	362
VII.	The Cause and Necessity of the Atonement:
VIII.	The Moving Cause of the Atonement	367
IX.	Historical Views Respecting the Necessity of the Atonement	368
X.	Proofs for the Necessity of the Atonement	370
XI.	Objections to the Doctrine of the Absolute Necessity of the Atonement	371
	The Nature of the Atonement:
I.	A. Statement of the Penal Substitutionary Doctrine of the Atonement:	373
II.	Divergent Theories of the Atonement:	384
	The Purpose and Extent of the Atonement:	392
III.	A. The Purpose of the Atonement	392
	B. The Extent of the Atonement	393
IV.	The Intercessory Work of Christ:	400
V.	The Kingly Office:	406
	Part Four - THE DOCTRINE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE WORK OF REDEMPTION
I.	Soteriology in General:	415
II.	The Operation of the Holy Spirit in General:	423
III.	Common Grace:	432
III.	The Mystical Union:	447
IV.	Calling in General and External Calling:	454
V.	Regeneration and Effectual Calling:	465
VI.	Conversion:	480
VII.	Faith:	493
VIII.	Justification:	510
IX.	Sanctification:	527
X.	Perseverance of the Saints:	545
	Part Five - THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH AND OF THE MEANS OF GRACE
	The Church
I.	Scriptural Names of the Church and the Doctrine of the Church in History:	555
II.	Nature of the Church:	562
III.	The Government of the Church:	579
IV.	The Power of the Church:	593
	The Means of Grace
I.	The Means of Grace in General:	604
II.	The Word as a Means of Grace:	610
III.	The Sacraments in General:	616
IV.	Christian Baptism:	622
V.	The Lord's Supper:	644
	Part Six - THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAST THINGS
	Individual Eschatology
I.	Introductory Chapter:	661
II.	Physical Death:	668
III.	The Immortality of the Soul:	672
IV.	The Intermediate State:	679
	General Eschatology
I.	The Second Coming of Christ:	695
II.	Millennial Views:	708
III.	The Resurrection of the Dead:	720
IV.	The Final Judgment:	728
V.	The Final State:	735
	Bibliography	739
	Index of Authors	747
	Index of Subjects	751

Testimonials

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Robert Norman – January 27, 2019

One of the finest ever Systematic Theologies in history. Modern attempts almost never come close.
Dr Paul Godden – July 27, 2019

Truely excellent read and a valuable study aid.
Les Beech – June 16, 2020

What a great read. I was given a paperback edition many years ago and found it very difficult to understand. Reccomend this edition as it really opens up theology. Don’t be put off by the size well worth taking on the challenge you will not be disappointed.
Richard C Ross – January 5, 2021

The Banner of Truth offer us two impressive one volume systematic theologies – Louis Berkhof and R. L. Dabney – and A. A. Hodge’s Outline of Theology. All three display the expected qualities of theological brevity, systematic order, logical clarity, biblical ‘soundness’ and faithfulness to the Word of God. To commend any one would almost be arrogant. They have proved their worth. The fact that I personally value Dabney above the others is neither here or there.

But a word of caution is in place – and I have a hunch that all three authors would want us to be cautious in reading their lectures and writings. Systematics is a wholly artificial way of doing theology. It is a method that is foreign to the scriptures and, as such, carries certain dangers. The greatest danger is to lose sight of the ‘arcane’, mysterious, apophatic character of all Christian truth. Systematic theology has an unavoidable tendency to shrink transcendent truth. Too easily, reading this or that section, we imagine we’ve ‘got it’ and we run the danger of theological hubris. So it is as well to have within easy reach a copy of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology, an altogether outstanding work.
Gary Mee – February 15, 2022

I received this book today 2/15/22, together with Calvin’s Institues, both in perfect as-new condition. The packaging was OUTSTANDING. Amazon should take a lesson from Banner of Truth in this regard.

The books speak for themselves as to their value, and should be studied by any serious Christian desiring “to go deeper.”
Jeffrey Tomkins – November 21, 2022

I am a doctoral student in Biblical languages and theology and this is one of my top resources I go to for sound and insightful doctrinal exposition. I also love the fact that Berkhof puts the scriptures above human reasoning and secular philosophies as the final authority of our faith.

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Endorsements ‘A model of order, precision, and (relative) brevity…you will not find a better one-volume systematic theology in the Reformed tradition. I re-read Berkhof as much anything else on this list.’ — KEVIN DEYOUNG ‘There are a number of systematic textbooks that have appeared since Louis Berkhof wrote, but nobody, it seems to me, matches […]