As someone who is NOT attending a seminary I was wondering does anyone know what Systematics are being read at what seminaries? I believe Southern Baptist (Mohlers school) is using Grudems does anyone know what the others are using? Also for those of you who ARE students do you mind sharing like what books are required reading for you all?
Required seminary readings?
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Ivan
Pastor
Really! I find that very interesting.
Perhaps I'm wrong but that's what I was told 2 1/2 or 3 years ago that they were using. My friend had recommended I start out with either Grudem's or Berkhof's. I've been doing some really heavy (in terms of time spent) reading & I'm using Grudem's in addition to books my pastor recommends. Currently I'm about halfway through Mathison's "Shape of Sola Scriptura" & Douglas "Mother Kirk". I tend to read about 2 books every 10 days or so. I'm just curious as to what you all that are in the seminaries are using/studying. I have considered buying Reymonds as I've actually seen it in my local bookstore which was a shock in itself.
Archlute
Puritan Board Senior
Lots of:
Bavink
Berkhof
Calvin
Turretin
Witsius
(Hey, these are all continental fellows!?!)
Selections from:
Ames
Gaffin
Hodge
Luther
Owen
Reymond
Warfield
and various modern RC, EO, Anglican, Lutheran, etc. theologians ad nauseum
We get a very wide exposure in systematics, but I do think that something is lost in such a broad and fast paced reading schedule. I'd much rather sit down with a few old, orthodox divines (more Puritans, please...), and really digest them well. I guess each approach has its benefits, and after graduation I'm sure I'll have more opportunity to focus my reading.
Bavink
Berkhof
Calvin
Turretin
Witsius
(Hey, these are all continental fellows!?!)
Selections from:
Ames
Gaffin
Hodge
Luther
Owen
Reymond
Warfield
and various modern RC, EO, Anglican, Lutheran, etc. theologians ad nauseum
We get a very wide exposure in systematics, but I do think that something is lost in such a broad and fast paced reading schedule. I'd much rather sit down with a few old, orthodox divines (more Puritans, please...), and really digest them well. I guess each approach has its benefits, and after graduation I'm sure I'll have more opportunity to focus my reading.
Ivan
Pastor
And what did you think of Grudem?
What I've read so far I've liked. I'm still not even 1/2 way through though. I DO love the fact that he has a bibliography at the end of each chapter to OTHER systematics etc so that's cool because he'll mention people like Berkhof, Hodge, etc. Of course I know many here might not like his doctrine on baptism or the charismata but the other chapters are REALLY good so far. I guess what I like is he is VERY accessible to the layman. I've actually heard of several YOUTH groups that have formed study groups that are going through that. That's pretty neat when you can have youth being THAT involved in studying.
Archlute
Puritan Board Senior
Grudem's work is very good for this sort of thing. His work was the first systematic that I had ever read, and even after these years of further study, I still really enjoy his work. I find that when people new to Reformed Christianity begin asking theological questions, I most often refer them to Grudem. He's reformed in most of his presentations (having studied at WTS), he has a gift for both clarifying and simplifying deep theological issues for the layman, as well as showing the practical application of these doctrines, and his annotated bibliography that he cross references is a really great tool.
You have to have a much greater level of language comprehension and historical background in order to understand some of the stuff by Turretin, Bavink, and Co. Those to whom I've given Grudem's material have told me that they have been helped by it a great deal.
larryjf
Puritan Board Senior
As the question is about what systematic theologies are being read in seminaries, i thought that i would point out a few who use Grudem. He is very good and accessible. The only thing that i don't like are his beliefs on baptism and gifts...especially gifts because he seems to redefine what the gifts are and then state that they still exist. So really, when he says that prophecy exists he does not mean in the sense of "Thus saith the Lord..."
Anyway, back to some of the seminaries that use him...
Columbia Evangelical Seminary
Erskine Theological Seminary
Moody Bible Institute
Anyway, back to some of the seminaries that use him...
Columbia Evangelical Seminary
Erskine Theological Seminary
Moody Bible Institute
RamistThomist
Puritanboard Clerk
Get a book on logic and read it.
Find a good book on philosophy and/or the history of philosophy. You will be amazed at how this improves your understanding of theology.
Also read Frame's Doctrine of the Knowledge of God.
Find a good book on philosophy and/or the history of philosophy. You will be amazed at how this improves your understanding of theology.
Also read Frame's Doctrine of the Knowledge of God.
Puritan Sailor
Puritan Board Doctor
Also Bavinck.
And several excerpts from Grudem, Pannenberg, Barth, Warfeild, and Aquinas, probably much more too but I remember these off the top of my head.
What books on logic, philosophy, and the history of philosophy would you recommend?
polemic_turtle
Puritan Board Freshman
I recall Jacob saying Rushdoony heartily recommended Gordon Clark's "Thales to Dewey"; Dr. Bahnsen primarily used W. G. T. Jones' History of Philosophy(5vol) in his lectures( they're good and best purchased used ); lastly, I've read that Frederick Copleston's History of Philosophy excels both in size and quality(9vol). He was a Catholic seminary professor who debated Bertrand Russell & A.J. Ayer on BBC radio in his day. I wouldn't want to learn his apologetic approach( it didn't work on Russell ), but he obviously knew his stuff.
Dr. Bahnsen used and recommended Irvining Copi's Introduction to Logic. Wow, what a big book dat is. 770 pages. Well, then...
Hope this helps. Look on eBay or the used sections of Amazon or Froogle for Jones' books; they can be had for $10-$15 each if you look long enough.
Dr. Bahnsen used and recommended Irvining Copi's Introduction to Logic. Wow, what a big book dat is. 770 pages. Well, then...
Hope this helps. Look on eBay or the used sections of Amazon or Froogle for Jones' books; they can be had for $10-$15 each if you look long enough.
http://www.wts.edu/admissions/readlist.html
Here is the list from Westminster. The Systematics are towards the bottom.
Here is the list from Westminster. The Systematics are towards the bottom.
RamistThomist
Puritanboard Clerk
Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy is really good, if you can get past his biases. It is a much cheaper purchase than Jones, but is less thorough. He is an awesome writer, though.
Copi and Cohen is the standard logic test. Knowing this will help you out. Most young Reformians entering seminary know a lot of church history and stuff (I am not knocking it. I was a history major) but little on worldview, logic, and ethics. This provides a much needed balancing perspective to the deal.
I guess it goes back to Frame vs. Muller/Wells on the importance of philosophy or church history.
Copi and Cohen is the standard logic test. Knowing this will help you out. Most young Reformians entering seminary know a lot of church history and stuff (I am not knocking it. I was a history major) but little on worldview, logic, and ethics. This provides a much needed balancing perspective to the deal.
I guess it goes back to Frame vs. Muller/Wells on the importance of philosophy or church history.
staythecourse
Puritan Board Junior
Southern and my church
Southern uses Grudem as you say and I can't agree with some of his charismatic ideas.
My church uses the New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith by Reymond.
Southern uses Grudem as you say and I can't agree with some of his charismatic ideas.
My church uses the New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith by Reymond.
RamistThomist
Puritanboard Clerk
I have been hearing that mantra for a year and a half. Still waiting on someone to back it up. There was the Hart debate...
Dieter Schneider
Puritan Board Sophomore
Colin Brown Philosophy & The Christian Faith (IVP) is easy to follow
RamistThomist
Puritanboard Clerk
That was one that I had wanted to pick up for a long time but didn't. I ended up reading Tarnas (don't know if I would recommend him), Russell, and listened to about 1/3 of Bahnsen's lectures on philosophy.
C. Matthew McMahon
Christian Preacher
Hodge is too Reformed for the "reformed." 
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