Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 1: Revelation and God (Joel R. Beeke, Paul M. Smalley)

Description

The church needs good theology that engages the head, heart, and hands.

The first volume in a 4-volume work combines rigorous historical and theological scholarship with application and practicality—characterized by an accessible, Reformed, and experiential approach.

This volume explores the first 2 of 8 central themes of theology: revelation and God. Each of the 55 chapters exegetes, expounds, and applies key portions of Scripture that lie at the heart of each doctrine discussed, and encourages engagement and worship through study questions and suggested hymns for response. The authors also draw upon the writings of church history throughout the ages, and interact with differing points of view. The result is a comprehensive yet accessible systematic theology of the Reformed Christian faith that ministers to the whole person—head, heart, and hands.

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Table of Contents

Abbreviations

Tables

Preface

Part 1: Prolegomena: Introduction to Theology and the Doctrine of Revelation

Analytical Outline: Prolegomena

Section A: Introduction to Theology

What Is Theology? Part 1: An Academic Discipline

What Is Theology? Part 2: A Spiritual Discipline

Who Does Theology? Where? When?

Which Theology Do We Do? Part 1: Christian, Catholic, Evangelical

Which Theology Do We Do? Part 2: Reformed: Historical, Confessional, Theological, and Hermeneutical Perspectives

Which Theology Do We Do? Part 3: Reformed: Polemical and Experiential Perspectives

Why Do We Do Theology?

How Do We Do Theology? Part 1: Spiritual Dynamics

How Do We Do Theology? Part 2: Academic Methods

Section B: The Doctrine of Revelation

Theological Fundamentals of Divine Revelation

General Revelation, Part 1: Biblical Teaching

General Revelation, Part 2: Philosophy and Science

General Revelation, Part 3: Natural Theology and Theistic Arguments

- Excursus: Some Historical Perspective on Natural Theology and Theistic Proofs -

Special Revelation: Biblical Teaching

Errors Regarding Special Revelation, Part 1: Romanism and Liberalism

Errors Regarding Special Revelation, Part 2: Liberalism’s Offspring

The Bible as the Word of God

The Properties of the Written Word, Part 1: Authority and Clarity

The Properties of the Written Word, Part 2: Necessity, Unity, and Efficacy

The Properties of the Written Word, Part 3: Inerrant Veracity

The Properties of the Written Word, Part 4: Objections to Inerrancy

The Properties of the Written Word, Part 5: Sufficiency

The Cessation of Special Revelation, Part 1: Charismatic Continuationism

The Cessation of Special Revelation, Part 2: Prophecy Today

Applied Revelation for Practical Fruit

Part 2: Theology Proper: The Doctrine of God

Analytical Outline: Theology Proper

Section A: The Doctrine of God’s Triune Glory

Introduction: The True Knowledge of God

Introduction to God’s Nature and Attributes, Part 1: Biblical Teaching

Introduction to God’s Nature and Attributes, Part 2: Theological Issues

The Name of “the Lord” (YHWH)

The Holiness of the Lord

Gods That Are Not God

God’s Spirituality

God’s Simplicity: “The Lord Our God Is One Lord”

God’s Infinity, Part 1: Incomprehensibility, Aseity, and Immensity

God’s Infinity, Part 2: Eternity: Infinity with Respect to Time

- Excursus: Problems of Time and Eternity -

God’s Immutability, Part 1: Biblical Teaching

God’s Immutability, Part 2: Theological Questions

God’s Knowledge, Part 1: Omniscience and Wisdom

God’s Knowledge, Part 2: Foreknowledge

God’s Sovereignty: An Introduction to Omnipotence

God’s Moral Excellence, Part 1: Goodness and Love

God’s Moral Excellence, Part 2: Truth and Righteousness

God’s Moral Excellence, Part 3: Jealousy, Impassibility, and Joy

God’s Moral Excellence, Part 4: Wrath and Compassion

The Trinity, Part 1: Biblical Teaching

The Trinity, Part 2: Historical Development

The Trinity, Part 3: Theological and Practical Considerations

Section B: The Doctrine of God’s Sovereign Purpose

The Decree of God: General Considerations

Predestination, Part 1: Election and Reprobation

Predestination, Part 2: Historical Development through Reformed Orthodoxy

Predestination, Part 3: Questions and Uses

God’s Providence, Part 1: Biblical Teaching

God’s Providence, Part 2: Problems and Applications

Section C: The Doctrine of Angels and Demons

The Holy Angels of God

Satan and the Demons

Bibliography

General Index

Scripture Index

Endorsement

“Some people think Reformed theology is all about doctrine and has little to do with doxology. Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley have proved otherwise. Chapter after chapter of their Reformed Systematic Theology not only takes readers into the depths of our triune God, but also shows what these great truths have to do with the Christian life. No contemporary systematic theology will bring the reader to a greater understanding of how theology blossoms into doxology than this one.”

— Matthew Barrett, Associate Professor of Christian Theology, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Executive Editor, Credo Magazine; editor, Reformation Theology

“This book splendidly avoids turning systematic theology into something dry, dull, and merely theoretical. It declares without hesitation that the essential prerequisites for doing theology are repentance and regeneration. It is a delightful read because real-life, Christ-focused application permeates its pages.”

— Jonathan F. Bayes, UK Director, Carey Outreach Ministries; Pastor, Stanton Lees Chapel, Derbyshire, England; author, Systematics for God’s Glory and The Weakness of the Law

“As is true of Beeke’s recently published work Reformed Preaching, the publication of his Reformed Systematic Theology in collaboration with his gifted assistant, Paul Smalley, is also the ripe fruit of his lifelong engagement as a preacher and as a teacher of preachers. This is not a systematic theology written by an ivory-tower theologian, but rather by a seasoned preacher for whom the doctrines he expounds have become, by the grace of God, an experiential reality.”

— Bartel Elshout, Pastor, Heritage Reformed Congregation, Hull, Iowa; translator, The Christian’s Reasonable Service and The Christian’s Only Comfort in Life and Death

“Already the most prolific Reformed author of his generation, Joel Beeke (helped by his theological Barnabas, Paul Smalley) now harvests the fruit of a lifetime of study, reflection, teaching, and writing in this impressive magnum opus. Throughout the centuries, theologians have debated whether systematic theology is an intellectual or practical discipline. Reformed Systematic Theology rightly treats it as both, for the Great Theologian of the church underlined that we cannot love the Lord our God with our mind unless we also love him with heart, soul, and strength. Thus, in these pages, doctrine leads to doxology and also to further enquiry. Each locus is expounded biblically, is understood ‘together with all the saints,’ and leads to practical implications and applications, with psalms, hymns of praise, and probing questions for further reflection. This is catechesis at its best, in the great tradition of Augustine, Anselm, and Calvin, where ‘faith seeks understanding’ and leads to worship and obedience. Here is a major contribution to the education of theological students, but also a work for preachers to have close by as a constant go-to resource, and indeed for every Christian family to own and frequently consult. While today it may seem that ‘of the making of systematic theologies there is no end,’ Reformed Systematic Theology makes a distinctive, deeply engaging, and welcome contribution and deserves a place of honor. Many will be grateful to Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley for giving this immensely valuable gift to the twenty-first-century church.”

— Sinclair B. Ferguson, Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries

“Calm theological waters that have deep exegetical currents flow wonderfully through this accessible and highly practical systematic theology. Beeke and Smalley have written a work useful to the church at large that teaches Christians what they should believe and how they should love, but they have not sacrificed academic rigor to achieve these goals.”

— J. V. Fesko, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi

“Joel Beeke has continued his decades-long service to Christ and his church by presenting us with his mature reflections on the nature of systematic theology. This text is fully reliable, well written, easily understood, and thoroughly researched. This first volume of four will undoubtedly be a blessing to the church, and I look forward to the following volumes!”

— Richard C. Gamble, Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

“Joel Beeke is a rare gift to the church, a noted Christian leader who combines the skills of a learned theologian, master teacher, noted historian, and yet also a caring pastor. Joined by Paul Smalley, this first volume of Reformed Systematic Theology is a virtual gold mine of biblical doctrine that is systematically arranged, carefully analyzed, historically scrutinized, and pastorally applied. I am not aware of another book quite like this invaluable work.”

— Steven J. Lawson, President, OnePassion Ministries; Professor of Preaching, The Master’s Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries

“This account of the doctrines of revelation and of God, built on biblical exegesis, is rich in theological discussion and practical implications. It is very accessible and will be of interest to a wide readership. Beeke and Smalley are to be congratulated, and I look forward to further volumes in the future.”

— Robert Letham, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Union School of Theology

“‘Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!’ This expression of praise from Paul’s great doxology is a fitting response to reading this wonderful work of doctrine and devotion. Though the Reformed faith is often caricatured as merely intellectual, this work demonstrates that Reformed theology is also profoundly experiential, as no chapter fails to move from theology to doxology. This resource will instruct the mind and inflame the heart.”

— John MacArthur, Pastor, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California; Chancellor, The Master’s University and Seminary

“Although many excellent books on systematic theology have been published in recent years, this new contribution by Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley covers the range of biblical truth in a fresh and unique way. While recognizing the importance of academic scholarship, they insist that what the church needs more than anything is ‘a theology that engages the head, heart, and hands.’ This new systematic theology will be welcomed and appreciated by theologians and laypeople alike as a treasure trove of biblical and Reformed doctrine.”

— Cornelis (Neil) Pronk, Emeritus Minister, Free Reformed Church, Brantford, Ontario

“This comprehensively argued book faithfully exposes error and guides the reader in the God- honoring path to right living and eternal happiness. Few are the books in our day that fix our eye firmly on God and his truth. But here is one book that does just that. I commend it heartily as a God-honoring and life-changing volume of real biblical theology.”

— Maurice Roberts, Former Editor, The Banner of Truth magazine; author, The Thought of God and The Mysteries of God

“Here is truth presented to make you think, pray, and sing. This is theology functioning as it ought to function—calling us to worship. You will not need to agree with the authors at every point to believe and to hope that this, and its sister volumes, will serve Christ’s church well in our generation and for generations to come.”

— Jeremy Walker, Pastor, Maidenbower Baptist Church, Crawley, UK; author, Life in Christ; Anchored in Grace; and A Face Like a Flint

Related Products

Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 2: Man and Christ

Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 3: Spirit and Salvation

Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 4: Church and Last Things

Product Details

Author:  Joel R. Beeke, Paul M. Smalley

Format: Hardcover w/ Jacket

Page Count: 1312

Size: 15.3 cm x 23 cm

Weight: 2 kg

ISBN: 9781433559839

Published: March 31, 2019