General Systematic Theologies

.

Order of Contents

About
Evangelical  6
Dispensational  2
Arminian
Anglican
Liberal


.

.

About

This collection encompasses systematic theologies that are not Reformed, Lutheran or Romanist.


.

.

Evangelical

1800’s

Knapp, George Christian – Lectures on Christian Theology  trans. Leonard Woods (New York, 1872)

Knapp (1753-1825) was a German, pietest professor, and a proponent of a rational, Biblical supernaturalism, contra the Enlightenment rationalists in his university setting.  The translator, Woods (who wrote a 5 volume systematic theology), was an orthodox Calvinist and congregationalist, and the first professor at Andover Theological Seminary. The translator’s preface will give you a great appreciation for Knapp.  The lectures are generally very good.

.

1900’s

Terry, Milton Spenser

Biblical Dogmatics: An Exposition of the Principal Doctrines of the Holy Scriptures  (New York, 1907)

Terry (1840-) was a Methodist minister and professor at Garrett Biblical Institution, Illinois. He is known for his standard textbook on Biblical Hermeneutics.  He was an evangelical and something of a forerunner of fundamentalism in that he had a certain Biblicism and an emphasis on Christian fundamentals.

The New & Living Way: An Orderly Arrangement and Exposition of the Doctrines of Christian Experience According to the Scriptures  (New York, 1902)

Primer of Christian Doctrine: in the Form of Questions and Answers: for the Use of Sunday School…  (Cincinnati, 1906)

The Mediation of Jesus Christ: A Contribution to the Study of Biblical Dogmatics  (New York, 1903)  205 pp.

Garrett, James Leo – Systematic Theology: Biblical, Historical & Evangelical, vol. 1, 2  (Eerdmans, 1990)  ToC 1, 2

“Garrett, professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, writes from an evangelical Baptist perspective.” – Robert L. Reymond

Grenz, Stanley J. – Theology for the Community of God  (Broadman & Holman, 1994)

“Grenz, professor of Baptist heritage, theology and ethics at Carey Theological College and professor of theology and ethics at Regent College, Vancouver, writes from an evangelical Baptist perspective.” – Robert L. Reymond

Grudem, Wayne – Systematic Theology: an Introduction to Christian Doctrine  (IVP & Zondervan, 1994)  1,260 pp.  ToC

.

2000’s

Erickson, Millard – Christian Theology  3rd ed.  (1983; Baker Academic, 2013)  1,200 pp.


.

.

Dispensational

1900’s

Chafer, Lewis Sperry – Systematic Theology, vol. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8  (Dallas Seminary Press, 1947-1948)  ToC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

“Chafer (1871-1952), first president and professor of systematic theology at Dallas Theological Seminary (1924-1952), writes from a qualified Calvinistic and dispensational perspective.” – Robert L. Reymond

Thiessen, Henry Clarence – Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology  (1949; Eerdmans, 1952)  570 pp.  ToC

“Thiessen (1883-1947), professor and chairman of the faculty of the Wheaton College Graduate School, writes from a dispensational and Baptist perspective.” – Robert L. Reymond


.

.

Arminian

Article

2000’s

Olson, Roger – ‘Arminius’s Reformed Doctrine of Justification’  (2015)

.

Books

1600’s

Arminius, James – The Works…  ed. James Nichols  (d. 1609; Auburn: Derby, Miller & Orton, 1853)

Arminius (1560-1609).

Richard Muller on the sections below:

“Much of Arminius’ theological writing came from the years prior to the debate over his doctrines and dealt with topics that were never drawn into the debate…  the set of Disputationes privatae begun by Arminius in 1603 were intended by him as the basis for an entire system of theology, dealing with such topics as the etymology, meaning, method, and proper object of theological discourse; the nature of religion…  the essence, life, understanding, and will of God…  topics not taken up in the later debate over predestination…  the noncontroversial and nonapologetic character of Arminius’ work on these fundamental topics renders them a significant index to the tenor and intention of his thought as a whole…

the Orations and two sets of disputations include Arminius’ discussions of the presuppositions and foundational topics of theological system, the prolegomena and principia of theology as typically stated in the early Protestant scholastic systems…  when Arminius was appointed to succeed Junius at Leiden, he looked to Junius’ Theses theologicae for help in his own preparation of theological system….  these resemblances indicate an interest in the theological patterns established in Reformed theology by his predecessors and teachers…” – God, Creation & Providence in the thought of Arminius (1991), pp. 25-26

“…he used a scholastic method and adopted scholastic models similar to those used by his Protestant contemporaries.” God, Creation & Providence, p. 48

Samuel Miller:

“On first entering upon his professorship, he seemed to take much pains to remove from himself all suspicion of heterodoxy, by publicly maintaining theses in favor of the received doctrines…” – “Introductory Essay” in Thomas Scott, The Articles of the Synod of Dort (Sprinkle, 1993), p. 12

.

vol. 1

Orations  c. 1603 ff.

1. Priesthood of Christ  17
2. Object of Theology  25
3. Author & End of Theology  83
4. Certainty of Theology  113
5. Reconciling Religious Dissensions among Christians  146-93

Public Disputations  c. 1603 ff.

1. Authority & Certainty of Scripture  396
2. Sufficiency & Perfection of Scripture in opposition to traditions  411
3. Sufficiency & Perfection of Scripture in opposition to human traditions  425
4. Nature of God  434
5. Person of the Father & Son  464
6. Holy Spirit  473
7. First Sin of the First Man  479
8. Actual Sins  486
9. Righteousness & Efficay of the Providence of God concerning Evil  493
10. Same  510
11. Free Will of Man & its Powers  523
12. Law of God  531
13. Comparison of Law & Gospel  539
14. Offices of Christ  548
15. Divine Predestination  565
16. Vocation of Men to Salvation  570
17. Repentance  575
18. Church & its Head  583
19. Justification of Man before God  595
20. Christian Liberty  601
21. Roman Pontiff & the principal titles which are attributed to him  608
22. Case of all the Protestant Reformed Churches, with respect to their alleged secession  620
23. Idolatry  637
24. Invocation of Saints  657
25. Magistracy  663-70

vol. 2

Private Disputations  c. 1603 ff.

1. Theology  9
2. Manner in which Theology must be taught  10
3. Blessedness, the end of theology  12
4. Religion  13
5. Rule of Religion, the Word of God, and the Scriptures in particular  14
6. Authority & Certainty of the Scriptures  16
7. Perfection of the Scriptures  19
8. Perspicuity of the Scriptures  20
9. Meanings & Interpretation of the Scriptures  22
10. Efficacy of the Scriptures  24
11. Religion in a stricter sense  25
12. Christian Religion, its name and relation  27
13. Christian Religion, with regard to the matter generally  29
14. Object of the Christian Religion: on God, its primary object, and what God is  30
15. Nature of God  33
16. Life of God  35
17. Understanding of God  36
18. Will of God  39
19. Various distinctions of the will of God  41
20. Attributes of God which come to be considered under his Will; on those which have an analogy to the affections or passions in rational creatures  44
21. Attributes of God which have come to be considered under his will; on those which have an analogy to the affections or passions in rational creatures  48
22. Power of God  50
23. Perfection, blessedness and glory of God  52
24. Creation  54
25. Angels in general and in particular  58
26. Creation of man after the image of God  62
27. Lordship or Dominion of God  66
28. Providence of God  68
29. Covenant into which God entered with our first parents  71
30. Manner in which man conducted himself in fulfilling the first Covenant, or on the sin of our first parents  74
31. Effects of the sin of our first parents  77
32. Necessity of the Christian Religion  79
33. Restoration of Man  82
34. Person of our Lord Jesus Christ  83
35. Priestly Office of Christ  85
36. Prophetical Office of Christ  87
37. Regal Office of Christ  90
38. States of Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation  92
39. Will and command of God the Father, and of Christ, by which they will and command that religion be performed to them by sinful man  96
40. Predestination of believers  99
41. Predestination of means to the end  102
42. Vocation of sinful men to Christ, and to a participation of salvation in Him  104
43. Repentance by which men answer to the divine vocation  106
44. Faith in God and Christ  109
45. Union of believers with Christ  111
46. Communion of believers with Christ, and particularly with his death  113
47. Communion of believers with Christ in regard to his life  115
48. Justification  116
49. Sanctification of man  119
50. Church of God and of Christ, or on the Church in general after the Fall  122
51. Church of the Old Testament, or under the Promise  124
52. Church of the New Testament, or under the Gospel  127
53. Head & marks of the Church  130
54. Catholic Church, her parts and relations  132
55. Power of the Church in delivering doctrines  135
56. Power of the Church in enacting laws  137
57. Power of the Church in administering justice, or on ecclesiastical discipline  140
58. Councils  144
59. Ecclesiastical ministrations of the New Testament, and on the vocation to them  148
60. Sacraments in general  152
61. Sacraments of the Old Testaments: Tree of Life,  Circumcision & Paschal Lamb  155
62. Sacraments of New Testament in general  157
63. Baptism & paedobaptism  159
64. Lord’s Supper  161
65. Popish Mass  162
66. Five false sacraments  164
67. Worship of God in general  165
68. Precepts of divine worship in general  167
69. Obedience, the formal object of all the divine precepts  169
70. Obedience to the commands of God in general  170
71. Material object of the precepts of the Law in general  172
72. The love, fear, trust and honor which are due from man to God  173
73. Particular acts of obedience, or those which are prescribed in each precept, or concerning the Decalogue in general  175
74. 1st Command  177
75. 2nd Command  180
76. 3rd Command  184
77. 4th Command  186
78. 5th Command  189
79. 6th Command  192-94

.

Episcopius et al. – Remonstrant Confession trans. Mark A. Ellis  (1621)

Goodwin, John – Christian Theology, by John Goodwin, Selected & Systematically Arranged, with a Life of the Author  ed. Samuel Dunn  (d. 1665; London, 1836)

.

1700’s

van Limborch, Philip – A Complete System, or Body of Divinity: both Speculative & Practical, Founded on Scripture & Reason, vol. 1, 2  (1702; London: Darby, 1713)  Ext ToC 1, 2  Indices: Subject, Text

Limborch (1633-1712).  “The first system of divinity according to Arminianism.” – Howard Malcom

Brief ToC

bk. 1, Scripture  1.1
bk. 2, God & his Works  1.46
bk. 3, Redemption  1.181
bk. 4, Predestination  1.342
bk. 5, Precepts of New Covenant  2.451
bk. 6, Promises & Threatenings in General  2.822
bk. 7, Church  2.881-1019

.

1800’s

Watson, Richard – Theological Institutes  1 vol. ed., rev. Thomas Summers (Nashville, 1857)

Watson (1781-1833) was a British Methodist.  This is one of the most important systematic theologies of Arminianism.  For an outline of this work (originally in 2 vols.), see ed. John McClintock, Analysis… Designed for Students and Examining Committees (London, 1871).

Finney, Charles G. – Lectures on Systematic Theology  ed. J. H. Fairchild  (Oberlin, OH: Goodrich, 1878)  645 pp.  ToC

“Finney (1792-1875), professor of theology at Oberlin College, writes from a strong Arminian and perfectionist perspective.” – Robert L. Reymond

Note that his systematic theology starts with man.

Miley, John – Systematic Theology, vol. 1, 2  in Library of Biblical & Theological Literature, vols. 5-6  (New York, 1892)

“Miley (1813-1895), professor of systematic theology at Drew Theological Seminary, authored the most scholarly Arminian systematic theology ever written.” – Robert L. Reymond

.

1900’s

Wiley, H. Orton & Paul Culbertson – Introduction to Christian Theology  (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 1959)  460 pp.  ToC

Wiley, H. Orton – Christian Theology, vol. 1, 2, 3  (Nazarene Publishing House, 1940-1943)  ToC 1, 2, 3

“Wiley, a Church of the Nazarene theologian, writes from an Arminian perspective.” – Robert L. Reymond

Oden, Thomas C. – Systematic Theology, vol. 1 (Living God), 2 (Word of Life), 3 (Life in the Spirit)  (Harper Collins, 1987-92)

“Oden, professor of theology at Drew University, once a ‘flaming liberal’, writes now from what he himself describes as an Ancient Ecumenical-Vincentian-Anglican-Wesleyan perspective.” – Robert L. Reymond

.

2000’s

Olson, Roger – Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities  (IVP, 2006)  250 pp.

.

Historical

Article

Stanglin, Keith – ‘Arminian, Remonstrant & Early Methodist Theologies’  in eds. Lehner, Muller & Roeber, The Oxford Handbook of Early Modern Theology  (Oxford Univ. Press, 2020), pp. 387-402

.

Latin

1600’s

Uytenbogaert –

Episcopius, Simon – Theological Works  (d. 1643; Hague: 678)  980 pp.  Brief ToC; Ext ToC

The first work in this is his Institutes of Theology.  Here is the ToC for it.

Vorstius –

de Courcelles, Etienne –

LeClerc, Jean –


.

.

Anglican

In English

1600’s

Godolphin, John – The Holy Arbor, containing a Body of Divinity, or the Sum and Substance of Christian Religion, Collected from many Orthodox Laborers in the Lord’s Vineyard  (London, 1651)

Godolphin (1617–1678) was an English jurist and writer, and Judge of the High Court of Admiralty under the Commonwealth.  After the Restoration (1660, which was Erastian and epsicopal in nature) he became one of the king’s advocates.

.

1700’s

Warner, Ferd. – A System of Divinity and Morality in a Series of Discourses on All the Essential Parts of Natural and Revealed Religion, Compiled from the Works of [33+] Eminent Divines of the Church of England, vol. 1, 2, 3, 4  (London, 1756)

Davy, William

System of Divinity, in a course of sermons, on the Being, Nature, and Attributes of God; on some of the most important Articles of the Christian Religion; and on the Virtues and Vices of Mankind, 6 vols.  (Exeter, 1785–6)

System of Divinity, 26 vols.  (Lustleigh, 1795–1807)

On the extremely interesting story behind this massive systematic theology, see the Dictionary of National Biography on ‘Davy, William (1743-1826)’.

Divinity, or Discourses on the being of God, the Divinity of Christ, the Personality and Divinity of the Holy Ghost and on the Sacred Trinity, being Improved extracts from A System of Divinity, vol. 1, 2 (Div. of Christ), 3  (Exeter, 1827)

.

1800’s

Milton, John – A Treatise on Christian Doctrine: Compiled from the Holy Scriptures Alone, vol. 1, 2  (1825)

Milton (1608-74) was an English poet, polemicist, man of letters, and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under its Council of State and later under Oliver Cromwell. He is best known for his epic poem Paradise Lost (1667).

Milton had some similar characteristics to puritans, but also had certain aberrant doctrinal views and plead for the civil toleration of religions.

.

In Latin

Boyle, Roger – Sum of Christian Theology  (Typis Regiis, 1681)  306 pp.

Chouneus, Thomas – Collections of Theology, wherein the Conclusions have been Very Concisely & Selectively Chosen Out of the Diverse Sentiments of Authors  (London, 1635)  ToC


.

.

Liberal

.

.

.

Related Pages