Systematic Theology

Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile Pursuit
Review: Berkhof has given us a masterpiece in his well known (among reformed circles) work Systematic Theology. This was the very first book on theology I read. Given to me by a friend, I quickly found myself pouring through the pages. Particularly refreshing is his treatment on man's relation to God. One question that is before every man is "How is a man justified before his God?" Berkhof covers the doctrine of Justification in a succint yet thorough manner. Throughout the book Berkhof combines Scripture with logical thinking. He also offers opposing and varying views so the reader can beware. This book is not to be neglected, but should be used as both a tool for reference, as well as a tool for personal growth and knowledge. It is not for the collection of dust.

Rating:
Summary: Thorough and exhaustive reference on theology
Review: This is a systematic theology reference book, and about as thorough a one you'll find in one volume. For the uninitiated, what that means is that it deals with theology on a subject by subject basis, rather than looking at it in a book of the Bible by book of the Bible basis. The great thing about that is that if you want to know all of the major Biblical passages and arguements about any given topic, you just look it up in the index, and there it is!

This is a reference book for serious students of the Bible, who really want to know their stuff. While it might be a bit too heavy for everyone to own a copy, anyone with a church or congregation out there should certainly get one for your library.

The position Berkhof writes from is certainly a reformed, orthodox, Christian one, and he manages to have a balanced and correct view, I think, on most things. That said, I don't agree with absolutely everything he says - for instance, I agree with the other reviewer on infant baptism. It just goes to show that no-one should ever rely on any one single theology book as a guide, but should consult as many as possible, read the Bible passages carefully, consider the arguements, and then, prayerfully, make up your own mind. Thankfully, Berkhof writes in a relaxed, although technical, style, and doesn't get uptight about contentious issues.

If I had to have just one systematic theology book, though (and I hope that doesn't sound too ridiculous - there must be people out there reading this asking "why would anyone want ANY systematic theology book?), then this is the one to go for. If you want an introduction to theology, then there is a (much) shorter version of this book available, but its just a starter. Where it leads to is this, frankly, monumental work.

Rating:
Summary: Concise and readable reformed systematic theology
Review: This is Berkhof's standard, systematic treatment of the doctrines of the Reformed faith and his magnum opus. The volume is written in a simple yet scholarly way, including outlines and indexes. It includes a thorough bibliography as well as questions for further study follow each section. I consider this work valuable for the serious student as well as the professional alike. However students with a working knowledge of both Latin and Greek will find Charles Hodges' work to be more detailed.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for the content, not the binding
Review: This is without a doubt the most thorough and thoughtful systematic theology that a serious student of the word could purchase. It begins and ends in the correct places, and has careful argumentation of the Reformed Christian faith.

The only complaint that I have is the binding. It is absolutely awful. I do not know what the publisher was thinking. The reader can hardly read the entire page because the book is so difficult to lay flat. The book almost seems to be spring-loaded it is so tight, and closes so quickly - watch your fingers. I would suggest finding an older copy from another publisher. The Banner of Truth edition is easier to read.

Rating:
Summary: Put Right Next to the Institutes
Review: This should be next to your copy of John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion". Actually, my copy of the Institutes was looking ragged, so now I use an electronic copy. Still, for a good understanding of Reformed theology, you should have both of these. It is nice, in the new compilation, to have both the "Introduction" and "Systematic Theology". I agree that you need both publications and having them in one volume is handy.

I agree about the binding. It is sturdy enough (5 stars), but it is not "user friendly" (3 stars). The text nearly runs into the binding and its smaller size makes it hard to hold without it closing on itself. This makes it tough to read, holding it in hand while eating lunch. Still, the theological presentation is more important, so I give it 5 stars.