“Sanctify them through thy Truth: thy Word is Truth.”
John 17:17
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all… thy mind.”
Mt. 22:37
“The Bible stands in the same relation to systematic theology as nature to science, and systematic theology does for the Bible what natural science does for nature.”
John ‘Rabbi’ Duncan
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Subsections
Every Reformed Systematic Theology Online in English
Reformed Systematic Theologies in Latin (the titles and most of the tables of contents are in English)
Reformed Baptist Systematic Theologies
Lutheran Systematic Theologies
Roman Catholic Systematic Theologies (here for reference)
General Systematic Theologies Evangelical, Anglican, Arminian, Liberal
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Order of Contents
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
For Children
In Poetry
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Beginner
Alexander, Archibald – A Brief Compend of Bible Truth Buy 1846 224 pp.
Originally published for the blind, a winsome and easy to read summary of Bible truth. Great for beginners and young people.
Berkhof, Louis
Summary of Christian Doctrine Buy 166 pp.
One of the best, easy to read introductions to the Christian faith at the beginner level
Manual of Christian Doctrine Buy 372 pp.
A concise and easy to read, medium length abridgment of his Systematic Theology
Hodge, Charles – The Way of Life Buy 1842 328 pp.
Popular treatments of the practical teachings of Christianity aimed to produce holiness
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Intermediate
Watson, Thomas – A Body of Practical Divinity Buy d. 1686 790 pp. Lectures on the Shorter Catechism
Bavinck, Herman – Our Reasonable Faith Buy 1956, 576 pp. a one volume popular digest of his four volume Reformed Dogmatics
Berkhof, Louis – Systematic Theology Buy 784 pp. This edition includes Introduction to the Study of Systematic Theology which was previously a separate work but intended to be read with his Systematic Theology. Also includes a Preface by the excellent reformed historian Richard Muller.
This is a classic, brief, one volume systematic theology. It was originally intended to be an abbreviated summary of the thought of Bavinck’s four volume Reformed Dogmatics. Berkhof excels in giving a balanced historical and biblical treatment of each issue, though he tends to be a bit dry, lacking devotional fervor. To remedy this, read Calvin.
John Calvin – Institutes of the Christian Religion, vols. 1, 2, 3 Buy 1559 translated by Henry Beveridge. Other translations are available.
The best systematic theology ever written. Systematic theology as it should be: charged with a devotional fervor of living before the face of God.
Dabney, Robert – Systematic Theology Buy 1878 924 pp.
A standard systematic theology. One of the few by a southern presbyterian.
Hodge, Charles – Conference Papers 1879 408 pp.
Familiar Lord’s Day afternoon addresses to Princeton students, arranged in topical fashion.
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Advanced
Bavinck, Herman – Reformed Dogmatics, 4 vols. Buy 3,024 pp.
A major contribution to systematic theology from the Dutch church. Bavinck is always careful, balanced and historical in his treatment of Biblical doctrines. You won’t go wrong with him. Put down your modern systematic theologies and read a real theologian.
Heppe, Heinrich – Reformed Dogmatics Buy 729 pp.
This is an invaluable anthology of reformed writings from the 1500′s and 1600′s, organized by subject in systematic-theological fashion. Most of these primary documents are unavailable to the English reader in any other form. Here is a helpful blog review of the book with the table of contents to the first three chapters.
Hodge, Charles – Systematic Theology Buy 1871
vol. 1 – Theology 625 pp.
vol. 2 – Anthropology, vol. 2 695 pp.
vol. 3 – Soteriology and Eschatology 800 pp.
Index 120 pp.
Systematic Theology: a Series of Questions Upon the Lectures Delivered 1865 150 pp. by Charles Hodge
Questions on the Text of the Systematic Theology of Dr. Charles Hodge: Together with an Exhibition of Various Schemes Illustrating the Principles of Theological Construction 1885 196 pp. by A.A. Hodge, his son and successor at Princeton
A Review of Hodge’s Systematic Theology 1890, p. 229, 52 pp. by Robert L. Dabney, a southern presbyterian
Hodge’s Systematic is a classic and has rightly earned him a place as one of America’s preeminent theologians. Hodge, though, is not right about everything. As always, read with discernment. Hodge expected his seminary readers to be able to read Latin, German and French. Hence, unfortunately, sometimes the apex of the argument has been left untranslated.
Turretin, Francis – Institutes of Elenctic Theology, 3 vols. Buy 1679–1685 translated by James Dennison Jr.
Turretin was the professor at Geneva after Beza. He represents the height of reformed orthodoxy. While Turretin will give you nothing but what is considered classic reformed doctrine, the reading is quite dense and often overly metaphysical.
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For Children
1800’s
Plumer, William – Short Sermons to Little Children Buy 1848
This is laid out to cover most of the Christian faith for little hearts.
Fletcher, Alexander, et al. – The Child’s Preacher: a Series of Sermons on Systematic Theology for the Young Buy 1857 465 pp.
“Every family should have a copy of this marvelous volume… intended for the instruction of the heart and mind of children within the household and the church.” – Reformation Heritage Books
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Contemporary
Beeke, James W.
Bible Doctrine for Younger Children Buy
Bible Doctrine for Older Children Buy
Bible Doctrine for Teens and Young Adults Buy
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In Poetry
Erskine, Ralph – Works, vol. 10 d. 1752
This volume is volume 7 in the 7 volume series of Erskine’s Works that is more commonly available for sale. The Free Presbyterians recently reprinted the first 6 volumes, but not the seventh. There is much left out of this last volume in the ‘Gospel Sonnets’ paperback reprint by SGCB.
Keach, Benjamin – Spiritual Melody, containing near three hundred sacred hymns Buy PoD 1691
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