Berkhof,
Louis. Systematic Theology. Grand
Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977.
A 1996-edition with a foreword by Mr. (Dr.)
Richard Muller is available at: http://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Louis-Berkhof/dp/0802838200/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377296172&sr=8-1&keywords=louis+berkhof+systematic+theology
There is also free online pdf-version of Systematic Theology at: http://books.biblicaltraining.org/Systematic%20Theology%20by%20Louis%20Berkhof.pdf
First, we include a brief Wiki-bio. Second, we call attention to a short bio: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/berkhof . Third, there is an excellent summary by Banner of Truth’s Mr. (Rev.) Geoff Thomas at: http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?1389 . We did not reduplicate that but we do recommend the article. Fourth, we have included an outline of Mr. Berkhof’s infamous Systematic Theology. (5) Before the Wiki-bio, this observation: Aren’t you glad for the Calvinists in Grand Rapids? For Zondervan, Baker Academics, William B. Eerdmans, Kregel Publishing and more?
Louis Berkhof (1873 – 1957) was a Reformed systematic theologian whose written works have been influential in seminaries and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada and with individual Christians in general throughout the 20th century.
Personal life
Berkhof was born in 1873 in Emmen, Drenthe, in the Netherlands and moved with his family to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1882.
About the time he graduated from the seminary he married Reka Dijkhuis. They had four children before her death in 1928. He then married Dena Heyns-Joldersma who had two daughters.[1]
Education and career
In 1900, he
graduated from Calvin
Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids after which he was appointed pastor
of the First Christian Reformed Church in Allendale
Charter Township, Michigan. Two years later he attended Princeton
Theological Seminary where he earned his B.D. in two years. He returned to
Grand Rapids to pastor Oakdale Park Church.
In 1906, he joined the faculty of Calvin Theological Seminary and taught there for almost four decades. For the first 20 years he taught Biblical Studies until in 1926 he moved into the systematic theology department. He became president of the seminary in 1931 and continued in that office until he retired in 1944.[2]
Publications
Berkhof wrote twenty-two books during his career.[1]
His main works are his Systematic Theology (1932, revised 1938) which was supplemented with an Introductory Volume to Systematic Theology (1932, which is included in the 1996 Eerdmans’s edition of Systematic Theology) and a separate volume entitled History of Christian Doctrines (1937).
He wrote a more concise version of his Systematic Theology for high school and college students entitled Manual of Christian Doctrine, and later wrote the even more concise Summary of Christian Doctrine.
He also delivered Princeton Theological Seminary's Stone Lectures in 1951. These were published as The Kingdom of God.
In addition to this, he worked on many papers for the Christian Reformed Church as well as collections of sermons.[2]
Legacy
Berkhof was not known for being original or speculative but for being very good at organizing and explaining basic theological ideas following in the tradition of John Calvin, Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck.
Theologian Wayne Grudem has called Berkhof's Systematic Theology "a great treasure-house of information and analysis... probably the most useful one-volume systematic theology available from any theological perspective."[3]
Berkhof's writings continue to serve as systematic presentations of Reformed theology. They are organized for use in seminaries and religious education as well as individual reference, though his systematics works are demanding reads.[4]
References
External links
- Outline of Berkhof's Systematic Theology
- Calvin Theological Seminary's biography
- Free PDF of Berkhof's Systematic Theology
- 42 links to diverse Berkhof's works
Part
One
The
Doctrine of God
(The
Being of God)
1. The
Existence of God
A. Place
of the Doctrine of God in Dogmatics
B. Scriptural
Proof for the Existence of God
C. Denial
of the Existence of God in Various Forms
D. The
So-Called Rational Proofs
2. The
Knowability of God
A. God
Incomprehensible but yet Knowable
B. Denial
of the Knowability of God
C. Self-Revelation
the Pre-requisite of all Knowledge of God
3. Relation
of the Being and Attributes of God
A. The
Being of God
B. The
Possibility of Knowing the Being of God
C. The
Being of god Revealed in His Attributes
4. Names
of God
A. Names
of God in General
B. The
Old Testament Names and their Meaning
C. The
New Testament Names and their Meaning
5. Attributes
of God in General
A. Self-existence
of God
B. Method
of Determining the Attributes of God
C. Suggested
Divisions of the Attributes
6. The
Incommunicable Attributes
A. The
Self-Existence of God
B. Intellectual
Attributes
C. Moral
Attributes
D. Attributes
of Sovereignty
7. Communicable
Attributes
A. Spirituality
of God
B. Intellectual
Attributes
C. Moral
Attributes
D. Attributes
of Sovereignty
8. Holy
Trinity
A. Doctrine
of Trinity in History
B. God
as Trinity in Unity
C. Three
Persons Considered Separately
(Works
of God)
1. Divine
Decrees in General
A. Doctrine
of Decrees in Theology
B. Scriptural
Names for the Divine Decrees
C. Nature
of the Divine Decrees
D. Characteristics
of the Divine Decrees
E. Objections
to the Divine Decrees
2. Predestination
A. Doctrine
of Predestination in History
B. Scriptural
Terms
C. Author
and Objects
D. Parts
of Predestination
E. Infra-lapsarianism
and Supra-lapsarianism
3. Creation
in General
A. In
History
B. Scriptures
C. Idea
D. Divergent
theories
4. Creation
of Spiritual World
A. Angels
in history
B. Existence
of angels
C. Nature
of angels
D. Number
and organization
E. Service
of angels
F. Evil
angels
5. Creation
of the Material World
A. Scriptural
Account
B. Hexameron,
or the Work of Separate Days
6. Providence
A. Providence
in General
B. Preservation
C. Concurrence
D. Government
E. Extraordinary
Providence or Miracles
Part
Two
Doctrine
of Man in Relation to God
Man
in His Original State
1. The
Origin of Man
A. In
Dogmatics
B. Scriptures
C. Evolutionary
Theory
D. Origin
of man and unity of human race
2. Constitutional
nature of man
3. Man
as Image of God
A. Historical
views
B. Scripture
C. Man
as the Image of God
D. Original
condition of man
4. Man
in the Covenant of Works
A. Doctrine
of the covenant of works in history
B. Scriptures
C. Elements
of covenant of works
D. Present
status of the covenant of works
Man
in the State of Sin
1. Origin
of sin
A. Historical
views
B. Scripture
C. Nature
of first sin or fall of man
D. First
sin as occasioned by the temptation
E. Evolutionary
explanation
F. Results
of first sin
2. Essential
character of sin
A. Philosophic
theories
B. Scriptures
C. Pelagian
view
D. Roman
Catholic view
3. Transmission
of sin
A. Historical
review
B. Universality
of sin
C. Connection
of Adam’s sin with human race
4. Sin
in the life of the human race
A. Original
sin
B. Actual
sin
5. Punishment
of sin
A. Natural
and positive penalties
B. Nature
and purpose of punishments
C. Actual
penalty of sin
Man
in the Covenant of Grace
1. Name
and concept of the covenant
A. Name
B. Concept
2. Covenant
of redemption
A. Separate
discussion of this desirable
B. Scriptures
C. The
Son in the covenant of redemption
D. Requirements
and promises
E. Relation
of covenant of redemption to the covenant of grace
3. Nature
of the covenant of grace
A. Comparison
of the covenant of grace and covenant of works
B. Contracting
parties
C. Contents
D. Characteristics
E. Relation
of Christ to the covenant of grace
4. Dual
aspect of the covenant
A. External
and internal
B. Essence
and administration
C. Conditional
and absolute covenant
D. Covenant
as purely legal relationship and as communion of life
E. Membership
in the covenant as a legal relationship
5. Different
dispensations of the covenant
A. Proper
conception of the different dispensations
B. Old
Testament dispensation
C. New
Testament dispensation
Part
Three
The
Doctrine of the Person and Work of Christ
The
Person of Christ
1. Doctrine
of Christ in History
A. Relation
between anthropology and Christology
C. Doctrine
of Christ before the Reformation
D. Doctrine
of Christ after the Reformation
2. Names
and natures of Christ
A. Names
B. Natures
3. Unipersonality
of Christ
A. Statement
of the church’s view respecting the Person of Christ
B. Scriptural
proof for the unipersonality of Christ
C. Effects
of the union of two natures in one person
D. Unipersonality
a mystery
E. Lutheran
doctrine of the communication of attributes
F. Kenosis
doctrine in its various forms
G. Theory
of gradual incarnation
The States of Christ
1. The
state of humiliation
A. Doctrine
of the states of Christ in general
2. The
state of humiliation—incarnation, birth, sufferings, death, burial, descent to
Hades
3. The
state of exaltation—general remarks, resurrection, ascension, session, physical
return
The Offices of Christ
1. Introduction:
the Prophetic Office
A. Idea
of offices in history
B. Prophetic
office
2. Priestly
office
A. Scriptural
idea
B. Sacrificial
idea
3. Cause
and necessity of the atonement
A. Moving
cause
B. Historical
views of the necessity of the atonement
C. Proofs
of the necessity of the atonement
D. Objections
to the doctrine of the absolute necessity of the atonement
4. Nature
of the atonement
A. Statement
of the penal substitutionary doctrine of the atonement—objective, vicarious,
includes active and passive obedience
B. Objections
to the satisfaction or penal substitutionary atonement
5. Divergent
theories of the atonement
A. Theories
of early church
B. Satisfaction
theory of Anselm
C. Moral
influence theory
D. Example
theory
E. Governmental
theory
F. Mystical
theory
G. Theory
of vicarious repentance
6. Purpose
and extent of the atonement
A. Purpose
B. Extent
7. Intercessory
work of Christ
A. Scriptures
B. Nature
C. Persons
for whom and things for which He intercedes
D. Characteristics
8. Kingly
Office
A. Scripture
B. Over
universe
Part
Four
Doctrine
of the Application of the Work of Redemption
1. Soteriology
in general
A. Connection
of soteriology and previous loci
B. Ordo
salutis
2. Operation
of the Holy Spirit in general
A. Transition
of the work of the Holy Spirit in general
B. The
Holy Spirit as the Dispenser of divine grace
3. Common
grace
A. Origin
of the doctrine
B. Name
and concept
C. Common
grace and the atonement
D. Relation
between special and common grace
E. Means
by which it operates
F. Objections
to the Reformed doctrine of common grace
4. Mystical
union
A. Nature
B. Characteristics
C. Erroneous
conceptions
D. Significance
5. Calling
in general and external calling
A. Reason
for discussing calling first
B. Calling
in general
C. External
calling
6. Regeneration
and effectual calling
A. Scriptural
terms for regeneration and their implications
B. Use
of term “regeneration” in theology
C. Essential
nature of regeneration
D. Effectual
calling in relation to external calling and regeneration
E. Necessity
of regeneration
F. Efficient
cause of regeneration
G. Use
of Word of God as instrument of regeneration
H. Divergent
views of regeneration
7. Conversion
A. Scriptural
term for conversion
B. Biblical
idea
C. Characteristics
D. Different
elements in conversion
E. Psychology
of conversion
F. Author
of conversion
G. Necessity
of conversion
H. Relation
of conversion to other stages of the saving process
8. Faith
A. Scripture
B. Figurative
expressions to describe activity of faith
C. Doctrine
in history
D. “Faith”
in the Scripture
E. Faith
in general
F. Faith
in religious sense and particularly saving faith
G. Faith
and assurance
H. Roman
Catholic conception of faith
9. Justification
A. Scriptural
terms for justification
B. History
C. Nature
and characteristics
D. Elements
E. Sphere
in which it occurs
F. Time
of
G. Ground
of
H. Objections
to
I.
Divergent views of
10. Sanctification
A. Scripture
B. History
C. Biblical
idea of holiness and sanctification
D. Nature
of
E. Characteristics
of
F. Author
and means of
G. Relation
of sanctification to other stages of ordo salutis
H. Imperfect
character of
I.
Sanctification and good works
11. Perseverance of the
saints
A. History
B. Statement
of doctrine
C. Proof
D. Objections
E. Denials
of this doctrine makes salvation depend on man’s will
Part
Five
The
Doctrine of the Church and the Means of Grace
The
Church
1. Scriptural
names of the church and the doctrine of the church in history
A. Scriptural
names
B. History
2. Nature
of the church
A. Essence
of church
B. Many-sided
character of church
C. Various
definitions
D. Church
and the kingdom of God
E. Church
in different dispensations
F. Attributes
of church
G. Marks
of the church
3. Government
of the church
A. Different
theories respecting the origin of the church
B. Fundamental
principles of Presbyterian or Reformed system
C. Officers
of the church
D. Ecclesiastical
assemblies
4. Power
of the church
A. Source
of church power
B. Nature
of this power
C. Different
kinds of church power
The means of grace
1. Means
of grace in general
A. Idea
of means of grace
B. Characteristics
of the Word and Sacraments in general
C. Historical
views
D. Characteristic
elements in the Reformed doctrine of the means of grace
2. The
Word as a means of grace
A. Meaning
of the term “Word” in this connection
B. Relation
of the Word to the Holy Spirit
C. Two
parts of the Word of God as the means of grace
D. Three-fold
use of the Law
3. Sacraments
in general
A. Relation
between the Word and Sacraments
B. Origin
and meaning of the word “sacrament”
C. Component
parts of the sacraments
D. Necessity
of the sacraments
E. Old
and New Testament sacraments compared
F. Number
of Sacraments
4. Christian
baptism
A. Analogies
B. Institution
C. History
D. Proper
mode
E. Lawful
administrators
F. Proper
subjects
5. Lord’s
Supper
A. Analogies
B. History
C. Scriptural
names
D. Institution
of Lord’s Supper
E. Things
signified and sealed
F. Sacramental
union or the question of the Real Presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper
G. Lord’s
Supper as a means of grace or its efficacy
H. Persons
for whom the Lord’s Supper is instituted
Part
Six
The
Doctrine of Last Things
Individual
Eschatology
1. Introductory
chapter
A. Eschatology
in philosophy and religion
B. History
of the church
C. Relation
of eschatology to the rest of Dogmatics
D. Name
“Eschatology”
E. Contents
of eschatology: general and individual
2. Physical
death
A. Nature
of physical death
B. Connection
of sin and death
C. Significance
of the death of believers
3. Immortality
of the soul
A. Different
connotations of the term “immortality”
B. Testimony
of general revelation to the immortality of the soul
C. Testimony
of special revelation to the immortality of the soul
D. Objections
to the doctrine of personal immortality and modern substitutes for it
4. The
intermediate state
A. Scriptural
view of the intermediate state
B. Doctrine
of intermediate state in history
C. Modern
construction of the doctrine of Sheol-Hades
D. Roman
Catholic doctrine respecting the abode of the soul after death
E. State
of the soul after death is one of conscious existence
F. Intermediate
state not a state of further probation
General
Eschatology
1. Second
Coming of Christ
A. 2nd
coming as single event
B. Great
events preceding the parousia
C. The
Parousia or 2nd coming
2. Millenial
views
A. Premillenialism—past,
present and objections to it
B. Postmillenialism—different
forms and objections to it
3. Resurrection
of the dead
A. The
doctrine in history
B. Scriptural
proof
C. Nature
of the resurrection
D. Time
of the resurrection
4. Final
Judgment
A. Doctrine
of the Last Judgment in history
B. Nature
of the final judgment
C. Erroneous
views of the final judgment
D. The
Judge and His assistants
E. Parties
that will be judged
F. Time
of the judgment
G. Standard
of the judgment
H. Parts
of the judgment
5. Final
state
A. Final
state of the wicked
B. Final
state of the righteous
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