General Systematic Theologies

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Order of Contents

About
Evangelical
Dispensational
Arminian
Anglican
Liberal

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About

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

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Evangelical

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.

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 and 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 and Evangelical, 2 vols. (Eerdmans, 1990)

“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

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Dispensational

Chafer, Lewis Sperry – Systematic Theology, 7 vols.

“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

“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

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Arminian

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

van Limborch, Philip – A Complete System, or Body of Divinity: both Speculative and Practical, Founded on Scripture and Reason  (London, 1701)

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

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  1878

“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  Library of Biblical and 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

Wiley, H. Orton – Christian Theology, 3 vols. (Nazarene Publishing House, 1940-3)

“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

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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

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Liberal

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