A Body of Divinity

Author: Thomas Watson

Recommended by Pastor MacArthur

Description:

Thomas Watson’s book, A Body of Divinity is one of the first books published by the Banner of Truth Trust. This book has been one of the best sellers and consistently the most useful and influential of our publications. There are several reasons for this:

1. The subject of the book. It deals with the foremost doctrinal and experimental truths of the Christian Faith.
2. The means of instruction used. It is based on the Westminster Assembly’s Shorter Catechism, in which the main principles of Christianity that lie scattered in the Scriptures are brought together and set forth in the form of question and answer. This Catechism is unsurpassed for its ‘terse exactitude of definition’ and ‘logical elaboration’ of the fundamentals.
3. The style of the author. Watson conveys his thorough doctrinal and experimental knowledge of the truth in such an original, concise, pithy, pungent, racy, rich and illustrative style that he is rightly regarded as the most readable of the Puritans.

–––––––––– Table of Contents ––––––––––

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Man’s Chief End
2. The Scriptures

II. GOD AND HIS CREATION

1. The Being of God
2. The Knowledge of God
3. The Eternity of God
4. The Unchangeableness of God
5. The Wisdom of God
6. The Power of God
7. The Holiness of God
8. The Justice of God
9. The Mercy of God
10. The Truth of God
11. The Unity of God
12. The Trinity
13. The Creation
14. The Providence of God

III. THE FALL

1. The Covenant of Works
2. Sin
3. Adam’s Sin
4. Original Sin
5. Man’s Misery by the Fall

IV. THE COVENANT OF GRACE AND ITS MEDIATOR

1. The Covenant of Grace
2. Christ the Mediator of the Covenant
3. Christ’s Prophetic Office
4. Christ’s Priestly Office
5. Christ’s Kingly Office
6. Christ’s Humiliation in His Incarnation
7. Christ’s Exaltation
8. Christ the Redeemer

 V. THE APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION

1. Faith
2. Effectual Calling
3. Justification
4. Adoption
5. Sanctification
6. Assurance
7. Peace
8. Joy
9. Growth in Grace
10. Perseverance

 VI. DEATH AND THE LAST DAY

1. The Death of the Righteous
2. A Believer’s Privilege at Death
3. The Resurrection

About the Author:

Thomas Watson (1620 – 1686) was an English, Nonconformist, Puritan preacher and author.