Best Theology/ Doctrine Books
I am preaching a new series in 2017 entitled Doctrine, and I am looking for some good resources to utilize.
I have Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, what else would you recommend?
Millard Erickson?
What about the work by Thomas Oden that is currently on sale?
Thanks!
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Christian Theology by Millard Erickson is excellent! I too enjoy Grudem's as well. Both are awesome and I utilize them often.
Keith Pang, PhD Check out my blog @ https://keithkpang.wixsite.com/magnifyingjesus
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Jack Cottrell's "The Faith Once For All: Bible Doctrine for Today" is great too.
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Systematic Theology by Norman Geisler - I thought this one was pretty good as it comes at theology from an apologetics standpoint
Exploring Christian Theology by Svigel (and others) - This is more of an easy read when it comes to theology but it has a lot of history in it which I found useful
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Kason said:
I am preaching a new series in 2017 entitled Doctrine, and I am looking for some good resources to utilize.
Well, of course there is a dependency on which doctrine you and your congregation belief in - Grudem teaches a very strong version of calvinism (much more so than Erickson). Oden however tries to teach nothing "new" but doctrine compatible to what the Early Church Fathers believed.
I personally would know whom to trust more - however It's definitely a good idea to "utilize" resources from various views in preparing.
Have joy in the Lord!
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Catichism of the Catholic Church. Denzinger's word would probably be very helpful too.
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Kason said:
I am preaching a new series in 2017 entitled Doctrine, and I am looking for some good resources to utilize.
I have Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, what else would you recommend?
Millard Erickson?What about the work by Thomas Oden that is currently on sale?
Thanks!
Louis Berkhof's Systematic Theology is my ready go-to book for reference on doctrinal theology. It's not very personable but for finding information fast it's hard to beat. (Note; Berkhof is Reformed. I am not.)
Erickson's work is also very good and performs a similar function. He also has an abridged version called Introducing Christian Theology that might be more useful in a pastoral context.
Personally I don't recommend Grudem, though the work is very accessible.
I have Oden's work. It's biggest value is as a reference to classical theology works, including the church fathers. As a general work of systematics I was somewhat disappointed with it--among other problems, he skips a lot of important areas such as the sacraments. (Note: Oden is Arminian. So am I.)
A nice little hidden gem I found on Logos was this one: https://www.logos.com/product/28463/theology-for-disciples It doesn't cover all aspects of systematics but is quite accessible and enjoyable.
Also don't overlook theological dictionaries; they're extremely useful. Probably the best is the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology--it tends to go into more depth than most others. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church is also an incredible, though expensive, resource. There's very little it doesn't cover.
Hope that helps. Please let us know if you have any more specific requirements...
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Kason said:
I am preaching a new series in 2017 entitled Doctrine, and I am looking for some good resources to utilize.
SInce you're presenting this to a congregation (not college), try some of Alister McGrath's lighter books such as Mere Theology.
I've used Erickson over the years and still do, but these days I'm more likely to turn to Michael Bird's Evangelical Theology. I like the way he makes the evangel (the gospel) the center of all that we believe and practice.
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Sean said:
Louis Berkhof's Systematic Theology is my ready go-to book for reference on doctrinal theology. It's not very personable but for finding information fast it's hard to beat. (Note; Berkhof is Reformed. I am not.)
^ This. And, if you want a scaled-down and more accessible version of Berkhof's Systematic Theology, check out his Manual of Christian Doctrine. For an even leaner version, check out Summary of Christian Doctrine.
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Thank you guys so much! this will be a great starting point for me to read up on these resources.
I sure appreciate the help!
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I would highly recommend John Frame's systematic theology, along with his series titled, "A Theology of Lordship." He is easy to read and very, very thorough. He comes from a reformed perspective, if that matters to you.
(Links are to Logos resources pages.)
Eating a steady diet of government cheese, and living in a van down by the river.
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Here are the Systematic Theologies that I consult when considering a doctrine. They are in no particular order (and do lean strongly towards the Reformed perspective). Hope you find this list helpful:
Michael Horton, The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011).
Gordon R. Lewis and Bruce A. Demarest, Integrative Theology: Knowing Ultimate Reality: The Living God, vols. 1-3, Integrative Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987).
Robert L. Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith (Nashville: T. Nelson, 1998).
John M. Frame, Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2006).
Robert Duncan Culver, Systematic Theology: Biblical and Historical (Ross-shire, UK: Mentor, 2005).
L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans publishing co., 1938).
Augustus Hopkins Strong, Systematic Theology (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1907).
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, vols. 1-3 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004).
Robert L. Dabney, Systematic Theology, electronic ed. based on the Banner of Truth 1985 ed. (Simpsonville SC: Christian Classics Foundation, 1996).
William Greenough Thayer Shedd, Dogmatic Theology, ed. Alan W. Gomes, 3rd ed. (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Pub., 2003).
Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013).
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