Systematics

[RamistThomist]

Originally posted by fredtgreco
Here is good advice:

Pick one theologian and make him your life long hobby. Read him, study him, get as much as you can from him.

Oh, by the way, pick someone other than Calvin. Everybody has to pick Calvin, plus one.

LOL, I think we had this discussion over coffee when I was in Jackson. That is still challenging advice I have yet to commit myself to. John Piper said that we are to pick one dead theologian, preferably from another century; is John Murray too recent?

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Originally posted by Draught Horse

Originally posted by fredtgreco
Here is good advice:

Pick one theologian and make him your life long hobby. Read him, study him, get as much as you can from him.

Oh, by the way, pick someone other than Calvin. Everybody has to pick Calvin, plus one.

LOL, I think we had this discussion over coffee when I was in Jackson. That is still challenging advice I have yet to commit myself to. John Piper said that we are to pick one dead theologian, preferably from another century; is John Murray too recent?

John Murray was 20th century, man. That was, like, a millennium ago. Anyways, he lived in the 20th century but he was born in the 19th century and thought/wrote like he was from the Second Reformation. One might not agree with him on every point, but he brought historic Reformed Scottish theology into the modern era. He is definitely worth studying, In my humble opinion. You might enjoy reading the biography of him by Iain Murray called Life of John Murray. His Collected Writings touch on so many important issues. Also, see: http://www.datarat.net/DR/prayer.html

But as for me -- besides Calvin -- Robert Dabney is my favorite theologian.

 

[luvroftheWord]

Jacob,

The Israel of God is a must read for understanding the meaning of "Israel" in Scripture. You've done a good thing by getting that book.

I enjoy Robert Reymond's systematics text. Although Hodge is kinda dry, his is good as well.

 

[wsw201]

One thing to remember is that the opinion of one or two theologians, no matter how prominate, do not replace the Church. It is the Church that is the bulwark of the Truth. It is the Church that sets doctrine for the flock. I have great respect for Calvin, Luther, Beza, Owen, Edwards, Hodge, Warefield, Dabney, Thornwell, etc, etc. and they played an important role in furthering the Kingdom, but we should never look at them as some type of "guru".

I would also recommend that you get yourself a good book or books on Church History and the development of Church Doctrine. Its fascinating to read the Institutes and see that what Calvin dealt with 500 years ago, we are still dealing with today. As Christians, we tend to forget our history causing us to constantly repeat it!

 

[C. Matthew McMahon]

Who said:

"Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it."

I cannot remember and Wayne sparked me to think about it.

 

[RamistThomist]

One of the people who said it was George Santayana. I don't know if he stole it from somebody.

 

[Me Died Blue]

Originally posted by fredtgreco
Here is good advice:

Pick one theologian and make him your life long hobby. Read him, study him, get as much as you can from him.












Oh, by the way, pick someone other than Calvin. Everybody has to pick Calvin, plus one.

I just wonder who Fred personally has in mind in saying this...hmm...well, I'm sure a quick browse through the Theological Forum reveals that!

 

[Len]

This might be too vague a question since I can't remember exactly what was said, but I remember some time ago reading a review of sorts of Dr. Reymond's systematic that seemed to take issue with how he presented the Trinity. Could anyone perhaps enlighten me here?