About the Book
You Don’t Have to Be a Full-Time Theologian to Understand and Love Theology
Theology is not just an academic subject. It’s a spiritual practice for every believer, even those who feel too busy for rigorous study or aren’t advanced readers. To make theology accessible to a wider audience, Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley have combined content from Reformed Systematic Theology into one abridged book. Richly biblical, faithfully doctrinal, warmly experiential, and consistently practical, Essentials of Reformed Systematic Theology ministers to the whole person―head, heart, and hands.
Featuring shorter chapters, less technical language, and chapter summaries, this guide includes material from all 4 volumes of Reformed Systematic Theology: Revelation and God (volume 1); Man and Christ (volume 2); Spirit and Salvation (volume 3); and Church and Last Things (volume 4). Drawing on the historical theology of the Reformed tradition, Essentials of Reformed Theology helps readers of various ages and educational levels grow in their understanding and application of the truth presented in God’s word.
Abridged Version of Reformed Systematic Theology: Includes shorter chapters, light footnotes, chapter summaries that highlight key words, simplified language, a guide to theologians from history, a glossary of theological terms, and more
Explores 8 Essential Spiritual Themes: Revelation, God, man, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and last things
Accessible: Ideal for a variety of ages and education levels, as well as for people with limited time to study
Table of Contents:
Abbreviations
Preface
Part 1: The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God
Section 1A: Questions about Theology
Chapter 1: The What, Who, Where, and When of Theology
Chapter 2: The Which, Why, and How of Theology
Section 1B: God’s Revelation to Man
Chapter 3: Introduction to God’s Revelation
Chapter 4: General Revelation
Chapter 5: Special Revelation
Chapter 6: The Inspiration, Authority, and Clarity of the Bible
Chapter 7: The Inerrancy and Sufficiency of the Bible
Chapter 8: Applied Revelation for Practical Fruit
Part 2: The Doctrine of God
Section 2A: Who God Is
Chapter 9: Introduction to the Doctrine of God
Chapter 10: The Holy “I Am,” the Only God
Chapter 11: God’s Spirituality and Simplicity
Chapter 12: God’s Infinity, Incomprehensibility, Aseity, Immensity, and Eternity
Chapter 13: God’s Immutability
Chapter 14: God’s Knowledge
Chapter 15: God’s Sovereignty
Chapter 16: God’s Goodness and Love
Chapter 17: God’s Truth and Righteousness
Chapter 18: God’s Affection and Impassibility
Chapter 19: The Trinity, Part 1: The Son and the Holy Spirit
Chapter 20: The Trinity, Part 2: Three Persons and One God
Section 2B: What God Does
Chapter 21: God’s Eternal Decree
Chapter 22: Election and Reprobation
Chapter 23: Questions about Predestination
Chapter 24: God’s Creation of the World
Chapter 25: Questions about Creation
Chapter 26: God’s Providence
Chapter 27: Angels and Demons
Part 3: The Doctrine of Man
Section 3A: Man as Servant of God
Chapter 28: God’s Creation of Man
Chapter 29: The Image of God
Chapter 30: Human Gender and Sexuality
Chapter 31: The Human Body and Soul
Chapter 32: God’s Covenant with Adam
Section 3B: Man as Sinner before God
Chapter 33: Sin and the Fall of Man
Chapter 34: Original Sin and Total Depravity
Chapter 35: Total Inability and Free Choice
Chapter 36: Actual Sins and God’s Punishment of Sin
Chapter 37: Sin, Suffering, and the Believer
Part 4: The Doctrine of Christ
Section 4A: The Covenant of Grace
Chapter 38: Introduction to the Covenant of Grace
Chapter 39: God’s Gospel and His Covenant with His Son
Chapter 40: The Different Administrations of the Covenant of Grace
Chapter 41: The One Covenant of Grace
Section 4B: The Person and Work of Christ
Chapter 42: Introduction to the Person and Work of Christ
Chapter 43: Christ’s Incarnation, Part 1: The Bible’s Basic Teaching
Chapter 44: Christ’s Incarnation, Part 2: History and Theology
Chapter 45: Christ’s Threefold Office and Two States
Chapter 46: Christ’s Revelation as Prophet
Chapter 47: Christ’s Sacrifice as Priest, Part 1: Substitution and Satisfaction
Chapter 48: Christ’s Sacrifice as Priest, Part 2: Obedience and Perfection
Chapter 49: Christ’s Intercession as Priest
Chapter 50: Christ’s Reign as King
Chapter 51: The People of the Prophet, Priest, and King
Part 5: The Doctrines of the Holy Spirit and Salvation
Section 5A: The Spirit and the History of Salvation
Chapter 52: The Spirit in Creation, Common Grace, and Israel
Chapter 53: The Spirit of Christ and of Pentecost
Chapter 54: The Gifts of the Spirit and Cessationism
Section 5B: The Spirit and the Application of Salvation
Chapter 55: Union with Christ and the Order of Salvation
Chapter 56: The General Gospel Call
Chapter 57: Preparation by Gracious, Resistible Conviction
Chapter 58: Effectual Calling
Chapter 59: Regeneration
Chapter 60: Conversion: Repentance and Faith
Chapter 61: Justification
Chapter 62: Adoption
Chapter 63: Sanctification
Chapter 64: Preservation and Perseverance
Section 5C: The Spirit and the Experience of Salvation
Chapter 65: The Indwelling, Leading, and Filling of the Spirit
Chapter 66: Assurance of Salvation and the Spirit’s Witness
Chapter 67: The Marks of Grace in Christian Character
Chapter 68: Introduction to Obedience to God’s Law
Chapter 69: Obedience to the First Four of the Ten Commandments
Chapter 70: Obedience to the Last Six of the Ten Commandments
Chapter 71: Godly Fear, Prayer, and Hope
Part 6: The Doctrine of the Church
Section 6A: The Church’s Identity
Chapter 72: Introduction to the Doctrine of the Church
Chapter 73: Describing and Defining the Church
Chapter 74: Christ’s Church, with Its Attributes and Marks
Chapter 75: Membership in the Church
Section 6B: The Church’s Authority and Work
Chapter 76: Church Government
Chapter 77: Elders and Ministers of the Word
Chapter 78: Deacons, Women in Office, and Duties to Officers
Chapter 79: Churches in Relation to Families and Civil Government
Chapter 80: The Work of the Church
Section 6C: The Church’s Means of Grace
Chapter 81: The Means of Grace and the Ministry of the Word
Chapter 82: Baptism, Part 1: Why and What
Chapter 83: Baptism, Part 2: Who and How
Chapter 84: The Lord’s Supper
Chapter 85: Prayer, Praise, Fellowship, and Discipline
Chapter 86: The Reformation of the Church
Part 7: The Doctrine of the Last Things
Section 7A: Introduction and Special Issues in the Last Things
Chapter 87: Introduction to the Doctrine of the Last Things
Chapter 88: The Error of Prosperity Theology
Chapter 89: Death and the Afterlife
Chapter 90: Signs, the Man of Sin, and the Book of Revelation
Chapter 91: The Future of Israel and the Millennium
Section 7B: The Glorious Hope of Christ
Chapter 92: The Coming of Christ in Glory
Chapter 93: The Resurrection of the Dead and the Day of Judgment
Chapter 94: Eternal Punishment in Hell
Chapter 95: Eternal Life with God
Glossary of Theological Terms
Select List of Theologians
Guide to Further Reading in Reformed Systematic Theology
General Index
Scripture Index
About the Author :
Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) has written over one hundred books. He is chancellor and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; a pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan; the editor of Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth; the board chairman of Reformation Heritage Books; the president of Inheritance Publishers; and the vice president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society.
Paul M. Smalley (DD, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary) is faculty research and teaching assistant to Joel Beeke at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He is also a part-time pastor at Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and previously served for twelve years as a Baptist pastor in churches in the midwestern United States.
