On a Sunday afternoon in 1935, J. Gresham Machen stepped into a broadcast booth at WIP Radio in Philadelphia and began something no one had tried before: teaching Reformed theology over the radio. In the vein of C.S. Lewis’s landmark “Mere Christianity” talks, Machen’s addresses are a crystal-clear articulation of the basics of the Christian faith, unfolding into an exceptional and persuasive explanation of Reformed theology.
Things Unseen is both an accessible systematic theology, and a masterclass in evangelistic apologetics. Introduced by Timothy J. Keller, Foreword by Sinclair B. Ferguson, Historical Preface by Stephen J. Nichols, Afterword by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.
Table of Contents:
Foreword by Sinclair B. Ferguson
Historical Preface by Stephen J. Nichols
Introduction by Timothy J. Keller
Part 1: The Christian Faith in the Modern World
The Present Emergency and How to Meet It
How May God Be Known?
Has God Spoken?
Is the Bible the Word of God?
Do We Believe in Verbal Inspiration?
Shall We Defend the Bible?
The Bible versus Human Authority
Life Founded upon Truth
God, the Creator
The Triune God
What Is the Deity of Christ?
the Bible Teach the Deity of Christ?
Sermon on the Mount and the Deity of Christ
What Jesus Said about Himself
The Supernatural Christ
Did Christ Rise from the Dead?
The Testimony of Paul to Christ
The Holy Spirit
Part 2: The Christian View of Man
The Living and True God
The Decrees of God
God’s Decrees and Man’s Freedom
What Is Predestination?
Does the Bible Teach Predestination?
Objections to Predestination
God’s Works of Creation and Providence
Works of Providence
Miracles
Did God Create Man?
How Did God Create Man?
God’s Image in Man
The Covenant of Life
The Fall of Man
What Is Sin?
The Majesty of the Law of God
Is Mankind Lost in Sin?
The Consequences of the Fall of Man
What Is Original Sin?
Sinners Saved by Grace
Part 3: The Final Broadcasts
The Progress of Christian Doctrine
The Creeds and Doctrinal Advance
God, Man, and Salvation
Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King
What Is a Prophet?
Prophecy and the Gospel
The Teaching of Jesus
Prophet and Priest
Christ Our Redeemer
The Doctrine of the Atonement
The Active Obedience of Christ
The Bible’s View of the Atonement
Afterword by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.
Author
J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937) was a professor at Princeton Seminary. He founded Westminster Seminary in 1929, and led the formation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1936.
Endorsements
“The recovery of this work of J. Gresham Machen is not like finding a gold mine in the mountains, it is more like discovering a diamond mine. It is a true treasure—one of sparkling jewels and glorious truth. To mine this treasure is to find a deposit in heaven.” - R.C. Sproul, Founder, Ligonier Ministries
“With the exegetical skills of a renowned New Testament scholar, the passionate precision of a defender of the faith, and the sweet sympathy of a human being, Machen treats theology as urgent life-and-death communication. Some of his references might be dated (by nine decades or so), but the substance remains as relevant as ever. I can think of few teachers of the past who are more reliable and rewarding to read, and now we can read his insights across the whole span of Christian doctrine.” - Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California
“J. Gresham Machen was a man of his times, enmeshed in protracted and penetrating conflict over the triumphant liberalism of his day. He was also a man who transcended his times, because he undertook, with rare learning and clear-sighted understanding, the defense of the faith ‘once for all entrusted to God’s holy people’ (Jude 3). His Christianity and Liberalism, for instance, written almost a century ago, still sounds amazingly prophetic. This present volume brings together 50 of Machen’s radio talks of the 1930s, preserving Machen’s voice and emphases in an idiom that is more popular than his more academic books, but no less important. Machen is always worth reading.” - D. A. Carson, Emeritus Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“J. Gresham Machen was one of the most prescient and courageous Christian theologians of the early 20th century. During his life, Machen was a clear and consistent voice for Christian orthodoxy and evangelical truth in the face of liberalism. This collection of lectures is a valuable addition to the Machen library. They reflect the heart of Machen’s ministry and provide yet another compelling presentation of Reformed Christianity. Machen’s works are as relevant now as they were when they were first written. These lectures are no exception.” - Albert Mohler, President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“These popular essays show the heart of J. Gresham Machen: brilliant, clear, and persuasive, calling everyone to faith and life in Jesus. They will bless and encourage all who read them.” - W. Robert Godfrey, President Emeritus and Professor of Church History Emeritus, Westminster Seminary California
Smith, Dale
