The aim of systematic theology is to engage not only the head but also the heart and hands. Only recently has the church compartmentalized these aspects of life—separating the academic discipline of theology from the spiritual disciplines of faith and obedience. This multi-volume work brings together rigorous historical and theological scholarship with spiritual disciplines and practical insights—characterized by a simple, accessible, comprehensive, Reformed, and experiential approach.
In this volume, Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley shift from the doctrine of God (theology proper) to the doctrine of humanity (anthropology) and the doctrine of Christ (Christology). This extensive reformed theology explores the Bible’s teaching about who we are and why we were created, as well as who Jesus is and why his divinity is essential to the Christian faith.
Part 3: Anthropology: The Doctrine of Man Analytical Outline: Anthropology Chapter 1: Introduction to Anthropology Section A: The Doctrine of Creation Chapter 2: The Creation of the World, Part 1: God the Creator Chapter 3: The Creation of the World, Part 2: Historical and Theological Questions Chapter 4: The Creation of the World, Part 3: Exegetical Questions Chapter 5: The Creation of the World, Part 4: Scientific Questions Section B: The Doctrine of Man’s Creation and Nature Chapter 6: The Creation of Man by God Chapter 7: The Controversy over the Historical Adam Chapter 8: The Image of God, Part 1: Exegetical and Biblical Theology Chapter 9: The Image of God, Part 2: Historical and Polemical Theology Chapter 10: The Image of God, Part 3: Systematic and Practical Theology Chapter 11: The Gender and Sexuality of Man Chapter 12: The Constitution of Man, Part 1: Unity and Duality Chapter 13: The Constitution of Man, Part 2: Body and Soul Chapter 14: God’s Covenant with Adam, Part 1: Biblical Teaching Chapter 15: God’s Covenant with Adam, Part 2: Historical and Systematic Theology Chapter 16: God’s Covenant with Adam, Part 3: Practical Implications Section C: The Doctrine of Sin Chapter 17: Introduction to the Doctrine of Sin Chapter 18: The Fall of Man into Sin and Misery Chapter 19: The State of Sin, Part 1: Historical Theology of Original Sin Chapter 20: The State of Sin, Part 2: Universal Sin, Imputed Guilt, and Lack of Righteousness Chapter 21: The State of Sin, Part 3: Total Depravity and Inability Chapter 22: The Free Choice of the Will Chapter 23: Actual Sins: The Diverse, Poisonous Fruit of Original Sin Chapter 24: The Punishment of Sin by God Chapter 25: Sin and the Believer Chapter 26: Suffering and the Believer
Part 4: Christology: The Doctrine of Christ Analytical Outline for Christology Section A: The Doctrine of the Covenant of Grace Chapter 27: Introduction to the Covenant of Grace Chapter 28: Historical Perspectives on God’s Covenants Chapter 29: The Perpetual Continuity of God’s Gospel Chapter 30: The Eternal Covenant with God’s Son and Those in Union with Him Chapter 31: The Diverse Administrations of God’s Covenant of Grace, Part 1: Noah, Abraham, and Moses Chapter 32: The Diverse Administrations of the Covenant of Grace, Part 2: David and the New Covenant Chapter 33: The Essential Unity of God’s Covenant of Grace Chapter 34: The Abiding Duty to Obey God’s Moral Law Chapter 35: The Church’s Union with Her Covenant God through Faith Section B: The Doctrine of the Person of Christ Chapter 36: Introduction to the Study of Christ’s Person and Work Chapter 37: The Names of Christ Chapter 38: The Deity of Christ Chapter 39: Christ’s Incarnation, Part 1: The Coming of the Incarnate Son Chapter 40: Christ’s Incarnation, Part 2: Humanity and Relations Chapter 41: Christ’s Incarnation, Part 3: Historical Development of Orthodox Christology Chapter 42: Christ’s Incarnation, Part 4: Theological Questions and Practical Applications Section C: The Doctrine of the Work of Christ Chapter 43: The Threefold Office of the One Mediator Chapter 44: The Two States of Our Prophet, Priest, and King Excursus: He Descended into Hell Chapter 45: Christ’s Prophetic Work, Part 1: Introduction and Typology Chapter 46: Christ’s Prophetic Work, Part 2: Revelation by the Word Chapter 47: Christ’s Prophetic Work, Part 3: Illumination for His Prophetic People Chapter 48: Christ’s Priestly Work, Part 1: Introduction to Christ’s Priestly Office Chapter 49: Christ’s Priestly Work, Part 2: Penal Substitution for the Satisfaction of God’s Justice Chapter 50: Christ’s Priestly Work, Part 3: Christ’s Sacrificial Obedience Chapter 51: Christ’s Priestly Work, Part 4: The Perfections of Christ’s Sacrificial Accomplishment Chapter 52: Christ’s Priestly Work, Part 5: Intercession for a Priestly People Chapter 53: Christ’s Kingly Work, Part 1: Introduction, Victory, and Triumph Chapter 54: Christ’s Kingly Work, Part 2: Power, Grace, and Glory Chapter 55: Christ’s Kingly Work, Part 3: Christ’s Kingly People Chapter 56: Practical Conclusion to Christology: The Centrality of Christ
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.” - John MacArthur, Pastor, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California; Chancellor Emeritus, The Master’s University and Seminary
“In volume 2 of Reformed Systematic Theology, Joel Beeke and his theological Barnabas, Paul Smalley, continue their massive exposition of Christian doctrine. Like the first volume, it is marked by constant use of Scripture coupled with references to the great theologians, and is written for all of the people of God in language that is more pastoral than metaphysical. This second volume covers the vital areas of anthropology and Christology, and continues in the style of a true ‘church dogmatics’ reminiscent of the work of the great pastor-theologians of the church. A model of clarity, it will promote doxology, maturity, and further inquiry. Here is catechesis at its best, instructing the student of theology, providing pastors with a sermon-enriching manual, and giving growing Christians a resource book that will both inform and nourish them, as well as provide endless theological enjoyment!” - Sinclair B. Ferguson, Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries
“The scholarship and devotion of this volume are truly impressive and must reflect the result of many years of rigorous study and careful teaching of the themes pursued. I have not read a systematic theology that impressed me to the same extent. This is a work that not only instructs but also speaks to the heart. It is a presentation of orthodox Reformed theology that reflects the Puritan tradition, but also presents that tradition in the context of the flow of Christian theology from the Bible through the church fathers and the medieval expositors, the Reformation challenges, and on to the contemporary scene.” - Robert W. Oliver, Pastor Emeritus, Old Baptist Chapel, Bradford on Avon, UK; Emeritus Lecturer in Church History and Historical Theology, London Theological Seminary
“Written with great clarity and thoughtful simplicity, this volume can be confidently relied upon for study and teaching. This is how systematic theology should be done—by having in mind both the pastor in the pulpit and the people in the pews. The authors are to be commended for giving us this top-rate, scholarly-yet-accessible, God-honoring volume.” - Rob Ventura, Pastor, Grace Community Baptist Church, North Providence, Rhode Island; coauthor, A Portrait of Paul and Spiritual Warfare
“This volume continues the heart-warming approach of volume 1. I particularly admire the authors’ insightful and scrupulously fair exposition of positions with which they disagree. Their work offers a pretty comprehensive approach to different readings throughout the history of the subjects dealt with.” - 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
“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
“Reformed Systematic Theology is the ripe fruit of Joel Beeke’s 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
“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 work is fully reliable, well written, easily understood, and thoroughly researched.” - 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. Reformed Systematic Theology is a virtual gold mine of biblical doctrine that is systematically arranged, carefully analyzed, historically scrutinized, and pastorally applied.” - Steven J. Lawson, President, OnePassion Ministries; Professor of Preaching, The Master’s Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries
“Here 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 work 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
About the Authors
Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) has written or coauthored one hundred books, and edited another one hundred titles. 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
Reformed Systematic Theology
Posted by Jeff on 23rd Jan 2025
I have volumes 2, 3 and 4 of the RST. The content is well researched and well written. The RST is much more than pure doctrine; it provides the history (and issues) behind the doctrine and it's formation, and especially, comprehension questions to insure that I'm understanding the subject. But my most favorite part is the opportunity for personal worship of God through an historic hymn supporting the subject. Wow. I highly recommend this equipping, edifying and inspiring resource. Thank you Rev. Beeke and Rev. Smalley
5
Reformed Systematic Theology
Posted by Mitch Svaty on 25th Dec 2023
A most helpful and readable systematic theology that draws upon the wealth of past Reformed theology.
