Reymond,
Robert L. A New Systematic Theology of
the Christian Faith. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.
It is available at: http://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Christian-Faith-Edition/dp/0849913179/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377381800&sr=8-1&keywords=robert+reymond+systematic+theology
Three things: (1) a brief
Wiki-bio, (2) a reviewer from amazon.com, and (3) an outline of the volume.
“First, a brief Wiki-bio. Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) Robert L. Reymond is a Christian theologian of the Protestant Reformed tradition. He is best known for his New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith (1998). Reymond holds B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Bob Jones University and has taught at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and at Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After resigning from Knox in January 2008, he accepted a call as regular pulpit supply of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church, a new congregation in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
“Reymond has written a book on Paul entitled Paul Missionary Theologian (2003) and another about Jesus called Jesus Divine Messiah (2003). Other books include a short biography called John Calvin: His Life and Influence (2004) and Contending for the Faith: Lines in the Sand That Strengthen the Church (2005), The God-Centered Preacher, The Reformation's Conflict with Rome: Why It Must Continue, What is God, and The Lamb of God.”
Second, one reviewer at
amazon.com says this:
“Anyone interested in
learning about conservative Presbyterian & Reformed (from now on P & R)
theology should consult this book. Coming from a Calvinistic Baptist background
there are certainly a number of things that I would disagree with in the book.
However, Reymond has done a very good job presenting P & R theology in a
clear but scholarly fashion. Though many will complain that the book is not
balanced and treats some subjects superficially, Reymond's objective was to
articulate what the P & R tradition teaches rather than giving us a
comprehensive systematic theology (try Erickson's instead). Some P & R
people will find that Reymond is too logical rather than biblical and that he
relies on Gordon Clark too heavily for his view on revelation, God's nature,
the atonement, election, and theodicy. For example, Reymond is unapologetically
supralapsarian in his view of the decrees (pp. 488-502) and insists that
whatever comes to pass is good because it is willed by God (see section on
theodicy on pp. 376-8). Also, his view of Christ's eternality is also
controversial departing from the standard Nicene view (a view which I disagree
with Reymond). However, you have to give him good marks for trying to defend
his particular position. Besides these questionable positions, Reymond does an
excellent job defending a very high-view of the inspiration of Scripture
(liberal "Christians" perhaps should read up on this section). He
also does a good job defending the typical Calvinist understanding of fallen
man (that fallen man is totally depraved and unable to save himself). Another
aspect of this book I like is the way he presents the orthodox Reformed understanding
of the covenants of the Bible. He follows the traditional Westminsterian scheme
of a dual covenant of works/covenant of grace structure (covenant of
works=meritorious salvation; covenant of grace=salvation by faith in Christ
alone). Though I do not agree with this structure, Reymond has given us a good
treatment of the topic from a historic Reformed perspective. His section on
soteriology is very well done (following the traditional Reformed schema) and
his section on ecclesiology is very informative (espousing the Presbyterian and
paedobaptist perspective). His section on eschatology could have been better.
He writes from an amillennial perspective, but gives lots of Scripture passages
to defend his viewpoint (however, many will find his sections on the divergent
views of eschatology very informative [pp. 981-6 and 1067-93]). The appendices
are also useful--even giving us a brief treatment on the Calvinistic TULIP (pp.
1125-6). Finally, the bibliography section on other systematic theologies is
very handy for theology students (pp. 1133-42). One final note before I close.
Someone below was disappointed because Reymond didn't really interact with the
so-called New Perspective on Paul. Reymond does this in his book on Paul's
theology. This book was not a place for Reymond to interact heavily with this
growing movement. However, the New Perspective is a new movement that is trying
to influence (I should say infiltrate) the P & R tradition. Reymond defends
the orthodox Protestant view of justification (pp. 739-56); the New Perspective
is trying to destroy the teachings of the past 500 years. Reymond does briefly
discuss Daniel Fuller's and E. P. Sanders' views on pp. 431-3 and p. 1116
(footnote), respectively. Reymond does a convincing job telling the readers
that the view of justification and law promoted by these two authors (faith+ works
= justification) is a departure from Reformed (and Protestant) orthodoxy.
Reymond is not trying to put-down "biblical theology" here, but
trying to defend the correct view of justification by faith alone (sola fide).
Those who have a problem with Reymond on this issue are those people who are
trying to legitimize their stay within the Protestant tradition while denying a
major tenet of the tradition (perhaps they should find a different home to espouse
their works-salvation gospel). Only one perspective is right--both cannot be.
This book is a must read for all who are interested in P & R theology.”
Now, for the outline.
Preface
Introduction
Justification
of theology as an intellectual discipline
Christ’s own theological method
Church’s mandate to disciple the nations
Apostolic model
Activity of New Testament Church
Divine inspiration and authority of Holy Scripture
The Theological Task—general
and specific aspects
Part One—A Word from Another World
1. Fact
of Divine Revelation
A. Revelational Process—Old Testament and New
Testament Evidence
B. Neo-orthodox objection
C. Language philosophy’s objection
2. Inspired
nature of Scripture
A. Bible message’s “revealedness”—Old and New
Testament evidence
B. Bible’s “inspiredness”
C. Christ’s authentication of Scripture
D. New Testament writers’ identification of Scripture
with God’s Word
E. Hermeneutical implications
3. Attributes
of Holy Scripture
A. Bible’s necessity
B. Bible’s inspiration—formation and close of the
Canon,
Biblical infallibility
Biblical infallibility
C. Bible’s authority
D. Bible’s Self-authentication
E. Bible’s Self-sufficiency
F. Bible’s Perspicuity
G. Bible’s Finality
4. Nature
of Biblical Truth
A. Nature of Bible’s assertions about God and our
resultant knowledge of God
B. Paradox as a hermeneutical category
5. Bible
as the Ποΰ Στω for knowledge and personal significance
A. Justification of knowledge
B. Justification of man’s personal significance
Part Two—God and Man
6. Introduction
to the Doctrine of God
A. The One True God
B. Why I believe in the God of the Bible—ontological and
empirical arguments
7. Names
and nature of God
A. Significant titles and names of God
B. Nature of God
i.
Relation
between God’s nature and God Himself
ii. Classification of the attributes
iii.Analysis of the definition of the Westminster
Shorter Catechism
iv. Excursus on God’s glory
v.
God is a
Spirit
vi. Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Being
a.
Infinite in
His Being
b. Unchangeable in His Being
c.
Infinite,
eternal and unchangeable in His Wisdom
d. Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Power
e.
Infinite,
eternal and unchangeable in His Holiness
f.
Infinite,
eternal and unchangeable in His Justice
g.
Infinite,
eternal and unchangeable in His Goodness
h. Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Truth
8. God as Trinity
A. Revelation
Ground
B. Historical
nature of its revelation
C. Deity
of the Son
a.
Old Testament prediction of a Divine
Messiah
b. Jesus’
Self-Testimony to His Deity
i.
“Son of Man”
ii. “Son (of God)”
iii. Unity of the son
and the Father
iv. Son’s eternal
pre-Existence
v. Jesus’ acts
vi. Jesus divine
attributes
vii.
Jesus’ Teach
c.
Paul’s Christology
d. Non-
e.
Pauline New Testament witness
i.
James’s Christology
ii.
Christology of Hebrews
iii. Synopticists’
Christology
iv.
Jude’s Christology
v.
John’s Christology
f.
Old Testament Yahweh passages applied
to Jesus
g.
A summary of Θεος, Theos, as a Christological
title
h. The
Deity and Personal subsistence of the Holy Spirit
9. The Trinity in the Creeds
A. Analysis
of the Nicene Creed and its Christology
a.
Major affirmations
b. Three
issues
i. Meaning of “Person”
ii. Relation of the Three to the One
iii. Father’s Eternal Generation of
the Son
B. Analysis
of the Niceo-Constantinopolitan Creed’s Pneumatology
C. Westminster’s
Trinitarianism: Nicene or Reformed?
10. The Eternal Decree of God
A. Debate
over divine sovereignty and human freedom
B. Pinnock’s
thesis
C. Pinnock’s
proposal analyzed—failure to solve the problem and faulty norm for theological
construction
D. Biblical
perspective—Old and New Testament illustrations
E. Why
God is not the Author or chargeable cause of sin
F. Biblical
theodicy
G. Critique
of Pinnock’s specific errors—Adam’s creation and fall, man’s cumulative
degeneration, God’s counteractive grace
11. God’s Works of Creation and Providence
A. God’s
Works of Creation
a.
Historical integrity of Genesis 1-11
b. Creatio Ex Nihilo? –New
Jewish version (NJV) and the Anchor Bible (AB) Genesis
c.
Days of creation
d. Age
of the universe
e.
Purpose of the created universe
B. God’s
works of providence
a.
Ordinary works of providence
b. Special
works of providence—covenant of works, covenant of grace and Heilsgeschichte, revelatory process and
miracles
12. Biblical View of Man
A. Man
as Covenant Creature of God
a.
Constituent elements of human nature
b. Origin
of the soul
c.
Man as the Imago Dei—Biblical data, syntactical significance, and nature of
image
B. The
Covenant of Works
a.
Exegetical basis for the presence of a
covenant in Genesis 2
b. Nature
of the Genesis 2 covenant
c.
Representative feature of the covenant
of works
d. Covent’s
continuing normativeness
C. Man
as Covenant Breaker
a.
Nature of the fall
b. Seven
effects of the fall
D. Natural
state of fallen man
a.
Total depravity
b. Total
inability
c.
Real guilt
Part Three—Our “So Great
Salvation”
13. God’s Eternal Plan of Salvation
A. Fact
and central elements of God’s eternal plan
a.
God’s eternal purpose
b. Christ’s
Cross-work in the plan
c.
God’s foreknowledge and predestination
of the elect in the plan
d. Election
of men in the plan
B. Nature
of God’s eternal plan
a.
Who saves men?
b. How
does God save men?
c.
In whom does God do His saving work?
d. For
whom did Christ do His Cross work?
e.
Amyraldian scheme
C. Principle
governing the order of the decrees
a.
Infralapsarianism: historical
principle
b. Supralapsarianism:
teleological principle—primacy of the particularizing principle, two exegetical
objections considered, purposing principle governing the rational mind, four theological
objections considered
14. The Unity of the Covenant of
Grace
A. Five
arguments for the unity of the covenant of grace
a.
Salvific definitiveness of the
Abrahamic covenant
b. Salvific
principles exhibited in Exodus
c.
Prophecies of Moses and the Prophets
concerning the New Testament age
d. Church
of Jesus Christ as the present day expression of the one people of God
e.
Identical requisite conditions of
salvation in both Testaments
B. A
disclaimer and response
C. Critique
of the dispensationalists’ scriptural rationale
a.
Matthew 13.11; 17.34-35
b. Ephesians
3.2-6; Colossians 1.25-27
c.
Two tragic implications
15. Supernatural Christ of history
A. Historicity
of Jesus’ virginal conception—Biblical views, church testimony and purpose of
virginal conception
B. Historicity
of Jesus’ miracles—Biblical data, critical responses, evangelical responses,
significance
C. Historicity
of Jesus’ transfiguration—background, historicity, “metamorphosis” itself,
voice from the cloud, disciples’ question
D. Historicity
of Jesus’ resurrection
a.
First strand of evidence: the empty
Tomb—stolen body theory, swoon theory
b. Second
strand of evidence: Jesus’ post-crucifixion—appearances, critical views
considered
E. Historicity
of Jesus’ Ascension
a.
Biblical data
b. Its
significance
16. The Christ of the Early Councils
A. Apostolic
Fathers
B. Apologists
C. Anti-Gnostic
Fathers
D. Origen
of Alexandria
E. Monarchism
F. Arian
controversy and the Council of Nicaea
G. Appollinarianism
and the Council of Constantinople
H. Nestorianism
and the Council of Ephesus
I.
Eutychianism and the Council of
Chalcedon
a.
Analysis of the definition of
Chalcedon and its Christology
b. Departures
from the definition
17. The Character of the Cross Work
of Christ
A. Body
of Christ
B. Blood
of Christ
C. Cross
of Christ
D. Death
of Christ
E. Christ’s
entire life “one righteous act” of obedience—Biblical data, character of
obedience, purpose of obedience
F. Christ’s
Cross Work an obedient work of sacrifice
a.
Work as High Priest
b. Work
as the Lamb of God
c.
Work as a Sacrifice
d. Work
as an Offering
e.
Significance of His Death as a
Sacrifice
G. Christ’s
Obedient Cross Work of Propitiation—expiation or propitiation?, pagan or
Christian?
H. Christ’s
Obedient Cross Work of Redemption
a.
Deliverance by power or redemption by
price?—Testimonies of Jesus, Peter, John, Hebrews, Paul
b. Redemption
Godward Reference
c.
Redemption Man-ward Reference
I.
Christ’s Obedient Cross Work of
Destruction
a.
Satan’s names and titles
b. Satan’s
actions
c.
Power-aspects of the kingdom of
darkness
d. Christ’s
triumphant kingdom activity over Satan
J.
Summary of the Scriptural categories
of Christ’s Cross Work
K. The
Absolute Necessity of Christ’s Cross Work
L.
Perfection of Christ’s Cross Work
18. Divine Design Behind the Cross
Behind the Cross Work of Christ
A. Ten
lines of evidence for the doctrine of particular redemption
a.
Particularistic vocabulary of
Scripture
b. God’s
redemptive love not inclusive of fallen angels
c.
Irreversible condition of lost men
already in hell when Christ died
d. Limited
number of people by divine arrangement, who actually hear the Gospel
e.
Christ’s High Priestly work restricted
to the elect
f.
The Father’s particularistic salvific
will and work
g.
Implication in the particularity of
the gift of faith
h. Intrinsic
efficacy of Christ’s Cross Work necessarily exclusivistic
i.
An atonement of high value necessarily
exclusive of an atonement of universal extension
j.
Exposition of allegedly universalistic
passages—the “all” passages, the “world” passages, the “Christians can perish”
passages
19. Application of the Benefits of the Cross Work
of Christ
A. Scriptural
warrant for the aspects and order of application
a.
Skeletal framework of the Ordo in ‘Romans 8.29-30: effectual
calling, justification, and sanctification
b. Position
of repentance unto life in the skeletal framework
c.
Position of faith in Jesus Christ in the
skeletal framework
d. Positions
of adoption and regeneration in the skeletal framework: adoption and
regeneration
e.
Position of definitive sanctification
in the skeletal framework
f.
Positions of progressive
sanctification and perseverance in holiness in the skeletal framework
g.
The completed order of application
B. The
specific acts and processes in the order of application
a.
Two divine acts: effectual calling and
regeneration
(new birth)
(new birth)
b. Two
divine-human activities (conversion)—repentance unto life, faith in Jesus
Christ
c.
Union with Christ
d. Three
divine acts: justification, definitive sanctification, adoption and the sealing
of the Spirit
e.
Two divine-human activities—progressive
sanctification and perseverance of the saints
f.
A final divine act—glorification
Part Four—the Church
20. Nature and foundation of the
Church
A. “Assembly”
in the Old Testament
B. “Assembly”
in the New Testament: Jesus’ use of Ekklesia
in Mt. 16.18; 18.17; Acts 1-12; James, Paul’s Letters, Hebrews, Peter’s
Letters, Jude, John’s Letters, John’s Apocalypse
21. Attributes and Marks of the
Church
A. Attributes
of the True Church—oneness, holiness, catholicity, apostolicity
B. Papal
interpretation of the Church
C. Protestant
“marks” of the true Church—true proclamation of the “Word,” right administration
of the sacraments, faithful exercise of discipline
D. Confessional
witness to the marks of the True Church
22. Authority and Duties of the
Church
A. Authority
of the Church—source and nature
B. Duties
of the Church
a.
Worship and serve God
b. Confess
the truth
c.
Evangelize and grow the Church
d. Administer
the sacraments
e.
Minister to the saints—nature, scope
and goal of ministry
f.
Govern its own affairs—authority to
enforce the laws of Christ, authority to draw up constitutions and manuals of
church order, authority to discipline the unruly and reprobate, authority to
separate itself from error and unbelief
g.
Duty to perform deeds of benevolence
and mercy
23. Government of the Church
A.
Presbyterianism—history, duties of
Elders, qualifications of Elders, Diaconate, connectionalism
B.
Episcopacy
C.
Congregationalism
D.
Erastianism
E.
Significance of Presbyterian Church
government
24. Church’s Means of Grace
A.
Word of God as a means of grace—efficacy,
ministry of Word
B.
Sacraments as means of grace
a.
Baptism—Old Testament background,
institution, import, apostolic baptisms in the New Testament, exposition of the
Pauline references to baptism, mode, paedobaptism, efficacy
C.
Lord’s Supper—terminology,
institution, observance, relation of Christ’s presence in the elements, import
D.
Prayer as means of grace—Biblical vocabulary,
prayer in the Bible, significant discourses on prayer in church history,
efficacy of prayer
Part
Five—Last Things
25.
Biblical
Eschatology
A. Debate
over Eschatology—classic liberals, consistent eschatology, realized
eschatology, existential eschatology, dispensational eschatology
B. Old
Testament eschatology
C. New
Testament eschatology—John the Baptist, John’s Eschatology, Kingdom parables,
Olivet discourse, miscalculation of the parousia by Jesus?, summary
D. James’s
Eschatology
E. Jude’s
Eschatology
F. John’s
Eschatology—John’s Gospel, John’s Epistolary Eschatology, John’s Apocalypse
26. Downgrade Trends in Contemporary
Eschatology
A.
Denial of the literal return of Christ
B.
Eternal punishment construed as
annihilation
C.
Non-necessity of conscious faith in
Christ for final salvation
Appendices
A. Two
modern Christologies
B. New
Testament Antilegomena
C. Historicity
of Paul’s conversion
D. Anselm’s
satisfaction view of the atonement
E. Five
points of Calvinism
F. Whom
does the man in Romans 7.14-25 represent?
G. Selected
general bibliography
Indexes—Biblical references, persons, and subjects
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