Which Systematic Theology Should I Read?

[Taylor]

Hello, all.

I am just curious for your collective opinion. I am currently taking a class on Calvin in seminary and am having to read through the Institutes for it. However, I also want to read another systematic theology alongside it. Here is my question: Which one would you read were you in my position? Here are the three choices:

- W. à Brakel
- F. Turretin
- W.G.T. Shedd

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Of the choices you listed I would read Turretin.

 

[py3ak]

If you are able to, there is no question: Turretin. Of those three, he is certainly the most challenging; but he will enable you to understand what the mainstream Reformed position is over against a variety of errors. If you have the time and concentration for his compressed form of expression and technical language, he will give you a very solid grounding.

à Brakel will be substantially easier to read, and will cover a lot of the same material (and then some) in a very edifying way. He is also a worthy choice, but at some point you are going to want the technical exactitude of Turretin.

I like Shedd for several reasons, including that he actually read Coleridge and took him seriously; but I think you are better served to be thoroughly introduced to the consensus of Reformed orthodoxy before coming to Shedd's sometimes idiosyncratic take on things.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Francis Turretin.

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

Turretin...may be still available here, too...
http://www.puritanboard.com/showthread.php/90475-Pruning-Library

 

[Taylor]

Turretin...may be still available here, too...
http://www.puritanboard.com/showthre...runing-Library

I have in my possession all three of the options. That's the reason I limited it to three, because they are in my library and catching my eye, as of late.

 

[Taylor]

I think you are better served to be thoroughly introduced to the consensus of Reformed orthodoxy before coming to Shedd's sometimes idiosyncratic take on things.

Is this a reference to, for instance, his traducianism and his particular view of the atonement?

 

[John P]

The Bible.

Ok, now that I got that out of the way, I really do like Calvin's Institutes. The Beveridge translation is readable if you like older, more complex English lol (but not KJV English, it came after that). However, there are many nice newer translations of it that go for around $40-$100. However, if you're going to pay $100 I think you've been ripped off lol.

 

[reaganmarsh]

Turretin first; then a'Brakel.

You're in for a wonderful feast of the richest biblical theology.

Enjoy!

 

[arapahoepark]

A Brakel. Just because he is easier. It depends on where you are at. If you really want polemics then go to Turretin.

 

[Taylor]

Ok, now that I got the source text out of the way, I really do like Calvin's Institutes. The Beveridge translation is readable if you like older, more complex English lol (but not KJV English, it came after that). However, there are many nice newer translations of it that go for around $40-$100. However, if you're going to pay $100 I think you've been ripped off lol.

As I said, I am already having to read Calvin for class. I am looking for something to read alongside him.

 

[DMcFadden]

Turretin. He epitomizes solid Reformed scholasticism at its best. Rightly known for his incredible precision, he was important to the doctrine of inerrancy, much to the frustration of revisionists since! Those who tried to pit Calvin against the Calvinists (a conceit that Richard Muller pretty effectively demolished!), loved to demonize Turretin.

aBrakel is wonderful, warm, and devotional. But, Turretin is as precise as you can get. Prior to the production of Hodge's three volume masterpiece, Turretin (in Latin!) was the standard seminary text at Princeton.

 

[py3ak]

I think you are better served to be thoroughly introduced to the consensus of Reformed orthodoxy before coming to Shedd's sometimes idiosyncratic take on things.

Is this a reference to, for instance, his traducianism and his particular view of the atonement?

Yes, that's part of it. Shedd saw himself as consciously recovering an older Augustinianism, but there seems to be a sort of gravitational attraction towards highly individual formulations that is particularly difficult for American theological writers to resist.

 

[Taylor]

Yes, that's part of it. Shedd saw himself as consciously recovering an older Augustinianism, but there seems to be a sort of gravitational attraction towards highly individual formulations that is particularly difficult for American theological writers to resist.

That makes sense.

By the way, I can't help but notice you are not far from me on the map. ;-)

 

[John P]

Ok, now that I got the source text out of the way, I really do like Calvin's Institutes. The Beveridge translation is readable if you like older, more complex English lol (but not KJV English, it came after that). However, there are many nice newer translations of it that go for around $40-$100. However, if you're going to pay $100 I think you've been ripped off lol.

As I said, I am already having to read Calvin for class. I am looking for something to read alongside him.

Point taken. I was just saying that I like the Institutes haha.

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[py3ak]

Yes, that's part of it. Shedd saw himself as consciously recovering an older Augustinianism, but there seems to be a sort of gravitational attraction towards highly individual formulations that is particularly difficult for American theological writers to resist.

That makes sense.

By the way, I can't help but notice you are not far from me on the map. ;-)

Indeed! It'd be nice to meet you if you are ever down this way.

 

[MW]

I would suggest Berkhof, and I am surprised his ST is not already required reading. When Calvin and Berkhof have been read and understood, then a work like Turretin's will provide deeper waters.

 

[Taylor]

I would suggest Berkhof, and I am surprised his ST is not already required reading. When Calvin and Berkhof have been read and understood, then a work like Turretin's will provide deeper waters.

I wish it were required! Unfortunately, it seems that at TEDS Berkhof has been moved to the "recommended reading" section in most systematics syllabi. My Systematic Theology III professor (Dr. Graham Cole) referenced him a good bit. I would imagine this is because 1) he is "outdated" and 2) he is thoroughly Reformed, which would not be fitting for a "broadly evangelical" seminary, despite the fact that we have many and a growing number of Reformed students and professors here.

 

[MW]

I wish it were required! Unfortunately, it seems that at TEDS Berkhof has been moved to the "recommended reading" section in most systematics syllabi. My Systematic Theology III professor (Dr. Graham Cole) referenced him a good bit. I would imagine this is because 1) he is "outdated" and 2) he is thoroughly Reformed, which would not be fitting for a "broadly evangelical" seminary, despite the fact that we have many and a growing number of Reformed students and professors here.

In that case I would definitely follow up on this "recommended reading."

Most of the present systematics function as a collection of topics. The idea of system itself, in the sense of how doctrines interconnect, is rarely explored. The student is virtually left to frame his own system. A work like Berkhof's can be very helpful in showing the importance of integration and order.

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

And so readily available, too:

https://www.biblicaltraining.org/library/systematic-theology-louis-berkhof
https://www.biblicaltraining.org/library/summary-christian-doctrine-louis-berkhof

 

[Stephen L Smith]

I would suggest Berkhof, and I am surprised his ST is not already required reading.

I agree. The Erdmans Ed is best as it includes BOTH the Introduction to the Systematic Theology as well as the main Systematic Theology

 

[Taylor]

I agree. The Erdmans Ed is best as it includes BOTH the Introduction to the Systematic Theology as well as the main Systematic Theology

I have the Banner of Truth edition. I considered getting the Eerdmans edition, but I heard that the binding is rather poor, which is a big deal for bibliophiles like me.

 

[JimmyH]

The binding on the hardcover isn't bad. It is sewn, and the current edition includes the introduction to systematic rheology which used to be a separate volume. The author considered it essential to read before the main systematic.

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[lynnie]

Prior to the production of Hodge's three volume masterpiece, Turretin (in Latin!) was the standard seminary text at Princeton.

If you don't mind me asking, why don't you guys recommend Charles Hodge in your fave top picks? Just curious.

 

[ProtestantBankie]

Turretin - I affirm against the others.

 

[Logan]

Prior to the production of Hodge's three volume masterpiece, Turretin (in Latin!) was the standard seminary text at Princeton.

If you don't mind me asking, why don't you guys recommend Charles Hodge in your fave top picks? Just curious.

Probably because the OP restricted the choices to one of the three he had

I like Hodge quite a bit.

 

[Taylor]

If you don't mind me asking, why don't you guys recommend Charles Hodge in your fave top picks?

I do have Hodge. I guess I should've listed him, as well.

Turretin - I affirm against the others.

 

[py3ak]

Prior to the production of Hodge's three volume masterpiece, Turretin (in Latin!) was the standard seminary text at Princeton.

If you don't mind me asking, why don't you guys recommend Charles Hodge in your fave top picks? Just curious.

There might be a few reasons. One is that there's no edition of Hodge that's comparably user-friendly to the most recent edition of Shedd. You'll find more Latin in Hodge than in translated Turretin, along with tracts of German. Another is that Hodge is a trifle eccentric compared to Turretin or Berkhof. A third is that if someone has the commitment to read a multi-volume systematic theology, they might as well go for the cream of Turretin or Bavinck.

Because Hodge is neither the shortest, most accessible, most influential, most standard, most popular, most eloquent, most comprehensive, or most exact, barring a particular interest in Princeton there's probably not a compelling reason to begin with him.

 

[SolaScriptura]

he is thoroughly Reformed, which would not be fitting for a "broadly evangelical" seminary, despite the fact that we have many and a growing number of Reformed students and professors here.

Growing yet never grown! This was the story in the early 90s when a dear friend of mine attended there... and it was the same reality in the late 90s/early 00s when I was in proximity to the school. (Most of my friends attended there and I worked right across the street at Hewitt...) Some things never change! At TEDS Reformed theology is to its students an exotic woman with whom they have a summer fling before going back home to the girl next door.

 

[johnny]

Feeling a lot of love for Mr T on this thread.
Maybe we should change our name to TurretinBoard.