The first volume in the Reformed Systematic Theology set of four projected volumes that draws on the historical theology of Reformed tradition, exploring the first two of eight central points of systematic theology—the doctrines of revelation and the character of God—with an accessible and comprehensive approach that is biblical, doctrinal, experiential, and practical.
"We believe that the experiential application of doctrine is paramount for doing good systematic theology. Systematic Theology should minister to the whole person," write Beeke and Smalley. "We hope that this work will help prepare God's servants to nurture spiritual knowledge and saving faith in God's people according to the riches of Christ. We aim not only to educate you as the reader, but also to edify you and to equip you to tell others the wonders of our God."
PART 1: PROLEGOMENA: INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY AND THE DOCTRINE OF REVELATION
Analytical Outline: Prolegomena
Section A: Introduction to Theology
1. What Is Theology? Part 1: An Academic Discipline 2. What Is Theology? Part 2: A Spiritual Discipline 3. Who Does Theology? Where? When? 4. Which Theology Do We Do? Part 1: Christian, Catholic, Evangelical 5. Which Theology Do We Do? Part 2: Reformed: Historical, Confessional, Theological, and Hermeneutical Perspectives 6. Which Theology Do We Do? Part 3: Reformed: Polemical and Experiential Perspectives 7. Why Do We Do Theology? 8. How Do We Do Theology? Part 1: Spiritual Dynamics 9. How Do We Do Theology? Part 2: Academic Methods
Section B: The Doctrine of Revelation
10. Theological Fundamentals of Divine Revelation 11. General Revelation, Part 1: Biblical Teaching 12. General Revelation, Part 2: Philosophy and Science 13. General Revelation, Part 3: Natural Theology and Theistic Arguments
Excursus: Some Historical Perspective on Natural Theology and Theistic Proofs
14. Special Revelation: Biblical Teaching 15. Errors Regarding Special Revelation, Part 1: Romanism and Liberalism 16. Errors Regarding Special Revelation, Part 2: Liberalism’s Offspring 17. The Bible as the Word of God 18. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 1: Authority and Clarity 19. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 2: Necessity, Unity, and Efficacy 20. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 3: Inerrant Veracity 21. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 4: Objections to Inerrancy 22. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 5: Sufficiency 23. The Cessation of Special Revelation, Part 1: Charismatic Continuationism 24. The Cessation of Special Revelation, Part 2: Prophecy Today 25. 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
26. Introduction: The True Knowledge of God 27. Introduction to God’s Nature and Attributes, Part 1: Biblical Teaching 28. Introduction to God’s Nature and Attributes, Part 2: Theological Issues 29. The Name of “the Lord” (YHWH) 30. The Holiness of the Lord 31. Gods That Are Not God 32. God’s Spirituality 33. God’s Simplicity: “The Lord Our God Is One Lord” 34. God’s Infinity, Part 1: Incomprehensibility, Aseity, and Immensity 35. God’s Infinity, Part 2: Eternity: Infinity with Respect to Time
Excursus: Problems of Time and Eternity
36. God’s Immutability, Part 1: Biblical Teaching 37. God’s Immutability, Part 2: Theological Issues 38. God’s Knowledge, Part 1: Omniscience and Wisdom 39. God’s Knowledge, Part 2: Foreknowledge 40. God’s Sovereignty: An Introduction to Omnipotence 41. God’s Moral Excellence, Part 1: Goodness and Love 42. God’s Moral Excellence, Part 2: Truth and Righteousness 43. God’s Moral Excellence, Part 3: Jealousy, Impassibility, and Joy 44. God’s Moral Excellence, Part 4: Wrath and Compassion 45. The Trinity, Part 1: Biblical Teaching 46. The Trinity, Part 2: Historical Development 47. The Trinity, Part 3: Theological and Practical Considerations
Section B: The Doctrine of God’s Sovereign Purpose
48. The Decree of God: General Considerations 49. Predestination, Part 1: Election and Reprobation 50. Predestination, Part 2: Historical Development through Reformed Orthodoxy 51. Predestination, Part 3: Questions and Uses 52. God’s Providence, Part 1: Biblical Teaching 53. God’s Providence, Part 2: Problems and Applications
Section C: The Doctrine of Angels and Demons
54. The Holy Angels of God 55. Satan and the Demons
Endorsements
“‘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; President, The Master’s University and Seminary
“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
About the Authors
Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) has written over one hundred books. He is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, a pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as the editor of Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, the editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, the president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society.
Paul M. Smalley (ThM, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is faculty teaching assistant to Joel Beeke at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He previously served for twelve years as a pastor in the Baptist General Conference in the midwestern United States.
5
Excellent Series
Posted by John Fairfax on 17th Sep 2024
I have all four and will have to say, IMO, they are best books on RST. I have Grudem's, Frame's, and Berkhof's and have read others, but the RST is better because it goes in great detail explaining RST, different views, and is in-depth. I would recommend these for any Christian who wants to learn more about the Christian faith and a deeper look into Reformed Theology. So good I am buying a set for a friend, if they come back in stock, for a friend. Great job on these! YBIC
5
Great start of a series
Posted by M.A. on 11th Sep 2023
Biblical and practical. The features in it are unlike any systematic theology book I have read. This makes you enjoy systematic theology in a new way and reminds you to give glory to God throughout your learning.
