“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Dt. 29:29
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Jn. 1:1
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Subsections
Natural Theology
Revealed Theology
Biblical Theology
Systematic Theology
Historical Theology
Medieval Theology
Scholastic Theology
Practical Theology
Reformed vs. Aquinas
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Order of Contents
Definition 1
First Principle of 1
Historical 3
Theological Skepticism 2
Latin 5
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Articles
1500’s
Melanchthon, Philip – 2. ‘Common Topics, or Theological Outlines’ in The Loci Communes of Philip Melanchthon… tr. Charles L. Hill (1521; Boston: Meador Publishing, 1944), pp. 66-69
Though Melanchthon (1497–1560) was a Lutheran, this work of his was the first ‘systematic theology’ of the Reformation, and, as it was very influential on reformed systematic theologies following shortly thereafter.
Junius, Francis – 1. ‘On True Theology’ in Theological Theses for Exercises in Public Disputations in the Famous Academy at Leiden (1584) at ReformedOrthodoxy.org
Rollock, Robert – ‘Rollock’s Summary of Theology’ in Select Works of Robert Rollock… (Edinburgh, 1849), vol. 1, pp. 23-28
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1600’s
Perkins, William – 1. Of the Body of Scripture & Theology in A Golden Chain (Cambridge: Legat, 1600)
Keckermann, Bartholomew – ch. 1, ‘On the Nature of Theology’ in A System of Scriptural Theology… (2nd ed. Hanau, 1607; 1610), bk. 1 tr: Jordan Costantino
Keckermann (c. 1572–1609) was a German writer, reformed theologian and philosopher.
Trelcatius, Jr., Lucas – ‘Of the Principles of Sacred Divinity’ (1610) 5 pp. from A Brief Institution of the Common Places of Sacred Divinity, pp. 1-11.
Trelcatius, Jr. (1573-1607) was a professor of theology at the University of Leiden, Netherlands and one of the key participants in a number of debates with Jacob Arminius.
Ames, William – The Marrow of Theology tr. John D. Eusden (1623; Baker, 1997), bk. 1
ch. 1, ‘The Definition or Nature of Theology’, pp. 77-79
ch. 2, ‘The Division or Parts of Theology’, pp. 79-80
Ames (1576-1633) was an English, puritan, congregationalist, minister, philosopher and controversialist. He spent much time in the Netherlands, and is noted for his involvement in the controversy between the reformed and the Arminians. Voet highly commended Ames’s Marrow for learning theology.
Polyander, Johannes – Disputation 1, ‘On Sacrosanct Theology’ in A Synopsis of Pure Theology (1625) tr. Charles Johnson
Polyander (1568-1646)
Wolleb, Johannes – ‘Prolegomena to Christian Theology’ in Abridgment of Christian Divinity (1626) in ed. John Beardslee, Reformed Dogmatics: J. Wollebius, G. Voetius & F. Turretin (Oxford Univ. Press, 1965), bk. 1, pp. 29-37
Wolleb (1589–1629) was a Swiss reformed theologian. He was a student of Amandus Polanus.
Wendelin, Marcus Friedrich – Christian Theology 3rd ed. (1634)
Definition, Object, End & Principal Efficient of Theology
Distribution of
Wendelin (1584-1652)
Leigh, Edward – ch. 1. Of Divinity in General in A System or Body of Divinity… (London, A.M., 1654), bk. 1, pp. 1-5
Hoornbeeck, Johannes – ch. 1, ‘On Theology’ in Institutions of Theology Set in Order from the Best Authors (1658) tr. Charles Johnson
Hoornbeck (1617-1666) quotes Junius, Gomarus, Calvin, Waleaus, Ames, the Leiden professors & Voet.
Le Blanc de Beaulieu, Louis – ‘On Theology’ in Theological Theses Published at Various Times in the Academy of Sedan 3rd ed. tr. by AI by Colloquia Scholastica (1675; London, 1683), pp. 15-23 Latin
Le Blanc (1614-1675) was a French reformed professor of theology at Sedan.
Rijssen, Leonard – ch.1, ‘Theology’ in A Complete Summary of Elenctic Theology & of as Much Didactic Theology as is Necessary tr. J. Wesley White MTh thesis (Bern, 1676; GPTS, 2009), pp. 1-8
Rijssen (1636?-1700?) was a prominent Dutch reformed minister and theologian, active in theological controversies.
Baxter, Richard – A Method of Christian Theology… (London, 1681) tr. Michael Lynch
‘On Theology & Order’, p. 3
‘On the Scope of Theology’, p. 3
Turretin, Francis – Institutes of Elenctic Theology, tr. George M. Giger, ed. James Dennison Jr. (1679–1685; P&R, 1992), vol. 1, 1st Topic
1. ‘Should the word ‘theology’ be used in the Christian schools, and in how many ways can it be understood?’ 1
2. ‘Whether there is a theology and its divisions.’ 3-6
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5. ‘Are God and Divine things the Object of Divine Knowledge. We affirm.’ 16
6. ‘What is the genus of theology?’ 18
7. ‘Is theology theoretical or practical’ 20
van Mastricht, Peter – Theoretical-Practical Theology ed. Joel Beeke, tr: Todd Rester (RHB, 2018), vol. 1, Prolegomena, pt. 1, bk. 1
ch. 1, ‘The Nature of Theology’ 63-112
ch. 3, ‘The Distribution of Theology’ 203-12
Heidegger, Johann Heinrich
1. ‘On Theology in General’ in The Concise Marrow of Theology tr. Casey Carmichael in Classic Reformed Theology, vol. 4 (RHB, 2019), pp. 9-13
1.1-1.4, ‘On Theology’ in Corpus of Christian Theology tr. Charles Johnson
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1700’s
Venema, Herman – Of Theology in General in Translation of Hermann Venema’s inedited Institutes of Theology tr. Alexander W. Brown (d. 1787; Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1850), pp. 1-8
ToC: Defined, Parts of, Subjects & Objects, Heathen, Mohammedan, Jewish, Christian, Mode of Teaching, Catechetical, Homiletic, Scholastic
Venema (1697-1787) was a professor at Franeker. Venema “maintained the fundamental line of confessional orthodoxy without drawing heavily on any of the newer philosophies… and maintained a fairly centrist Reformed position. Venema… evidence[s] the inroads of a rationalistic model…” – Richard Muller
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1800’s
Alexander, Archibald – God, Creation & Human Rebellion: Lecture Notes of Archibald Alexander from the Hand of Charles Hodge (1818; RBO, 2023)
2. ‘Theology’, pp. 46-59
3. ‘Revealed Theology & Prophecy’, pp. 59-70
Thornwell, James H. – Lecture 1, ‘Preliminary Observations’ ToC in Theological Lectures in The Collected Writings of James H. Thornwell (Richmond, VA: Presbyterian Committee of Publication, 1871), vol. 1, Theological, pp. 25-52
Hodge, Charles – Systematic Theology (NY: Scribner, 1877), vol. 1, Introduction
ch. 1, ‘On Method’, pp. 1-18 ToC
ch. 2, ‘Theology’, pp. 18-34 ToC
Dabney, Robert L. – Lecture 1, ‘Preface & Existence of God’ ToC in Syllabus & Notes of the Course of Systematic & Polemical Theology taught in Union Theological Seminary, Virginia 2nd ed. (St. Louis: Presbyterian Publishing Co. of St. Louis, 1878), pp. 5-14
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1900’s
Girardeau, John L. – Discussions of Theological Questions ed. George A. Blackburn (Richmond, VA: Presbyterian Committee of Publication, 1905)
‘The Definition of Theology’, pp. 1-44
‘The Distribution or Division of Theology’, pp. 45-73
‘The Ultimate Source, Rule & Judge of Theology’, pp. 73-393
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Books
1500’s
Junius, Francis – A Treatise of True Theology (1594; RHB, 2014) This online edition has the English and Latin in parallel columns.
This work was foundational for reformed theology.
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1700’s
Alsted, Johann H. – Theological Logic, setting forth the Way one ought to Argue Singular Common Places in Most Holy Theology in General & in Specific $5 Downloard tr. Jonathan Tomes (Frankfurt, 1625)
“I have often wished that one of the veteran theologians would have developed a form of logic like the one I have outlined here, though I have only sketched rather than fully worked it out. Even though Andreas Hyperius published Theological Topics in the previous century, he did not use the method that scholars desire.
A theological logic should be crafted such that it first demonstrates a method of argumentation in general and then provides rules for forming judgments in individual common places of theological debate. Here, I have broken the first ice. Kindly judge, reader, what I have accomplished, and make this handbook richer through your own efforts.”
De Moor, Bernard – vol. 1, Concerning the Word & Definition of Theology in Continuous Commentary on Johannes Marckius’ Didactico-Elenctic Compendium of Christian Theology Buy (Culpeper, VA: L&G Translation Center (Edification Press), 2014) 262 pp.
ToC
1. Etymology of ‘Theology’
2. Orginal Signification of
3. as Personal
4. as Uttered
5. Synonymy & Homonymy of
6. True Homonymy of
7. Archetypal Theology
8. Ectypal Theology: of Union
9. of Vision
10. of the Way; Nature of
11. Existence of
12. Natural Theology: Innate
13. Acquired
14. Universal Doubt?
15. Idea & Existence of God
16. Theology of Adam & as Fallen
17. Socinians Deny Natural Theology
18. Object of Natural Theology
19. Insufficiency of for Salvation
20. Objections of Pelagians & Socinians
21. Natural & Revealed Theology: Agreement & Difference
22. End of Natural Theology
23. Necessity of Revealed Theology
24. Practical Theology
25. Doctrinal: Didactic, Elenctic & Scholastic Theology
26. Papist Scholasticism
27. Definition of Revealed Theology
28. Genus of: Doctrine, Practical
29. Dianoetical
30. Defended
31. Papist Divisions
32. Of its Species: Principium: Word of God
33. Mode of Revealed Theology
34. Object of: True Religion
35. Subject of: Fallen Man
36. End of: Glory of God & Salvation of Men
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1900’s
Muller, Richard – The Study of Theology: From Biblical Interpretation to Contemporary Formulation .in Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation, vol. 7 Buy Pre (Zondervan, 1991) 238 pp. ToC
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Definition
Quote
1700’s
Jean-Alphonse Turretin
Dissertations on Natural Theology tr. William Crawford (d. 1737; Belfast: Magee, 1777), Theses concerning Natural Theology in General, p. 1
“Theology is the science which treats of God and divine things.”
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On the First Principle, or Principium, of Theology
1700’s
De Moor, Bernard – 32. ‘The Principium of Revealed Theology: the Word of God’ in Continuous Commentary on Johannes Marckius’ Didactico-Elenctic Compendium of Christian Theology Buy (Culpeper, VA: L&G Translation Center (Edification Press), 2014), vol. 1, Concerning the Word & Definition of Theology, pp. 220-46
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Historical
On the Reformed in the Post-Reformation
Books
Muller, Richard – Part 2 ToC in Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 1 2nd ed. (Baker Books, 2003), pp. 149-450
Rester, Todd – Theologia Viatorum: Institutional Continuity & the Reception of a Theological Framework from Franciscus Junius’ De theologia Vera to Bernhardinus De Moor’s Commentarius Perpetuus PhD diss. (Calvin Theological Seminary, 2016)
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On the 1800’s to 1900’s
Lints, Richard – ‘Two Theologies or One? Warfield & Vos on the Nature of Theology’ in Westminster Theological Journal 54 (1992), pp. 235-53
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Contra Theological Uncertainty & Skepticism
See also, ‘Epistemology: Contra Skepticism’.
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Latin
1600’s
Voet, Gisbert – Select Theological Disputations (Utrecht: Waesberg, 1655)
vol. 1, #8. ‘The New Jesuit Skepticism about the Principles of the Christian Faith’, pp. 106-114
vol. 3, #56. ‘Of Uncertain Faith, Conscience & Theology’, pp. 825-34
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Latin
1600’s
Alsted, Henry – ch. 1, ‘Theology’ in Distinctions through Universal Theology, taken out of the Canon of the Sacred Letters & Classical Theologians (Frankfurt: 1626), pp. 3-6
Wendelin, Marcus Friedrich – Christian Theology (Hanau, 1634; 2nd ed., Amsterdam, 1657), Prolegomena
ch. 1, ‘Of the Definition, Object, End & Efficient Principle of Theology’, pp. 1-6
ch. 4, ‘Of the Division of Christian Theology’, pp. 39-40
Voet, Gisbert – Select Theological Disputations (Utrecht: Waesberg, 1655)
vol. 2
25. ‘On the Explication of Predications & Restrictive Formulas in Theology’, pp. 362-83
26. pt. 2, pp. 383-402
vol. 4
1. ‘Arguments of Theology from an Absurd Consequence’, pp. 1-17
Wettstein, Gernler & Buxtorf – A Syllabus of Controversies in Religion which come between the Orthodox Churches & whatever other Adversaries, for material for the regular disputations… customarily held in the theological school of the academy at Basil (Basil, 1662)
1. Theology & Religion in General, pp. 3-4
2. The Principle of Theology: Sacred Scripture, pp. 4-9
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Related Pages