Systematic Theology

Author: Louis Berkhof

An enduring theological classic now available in paperback

This complete edition of Louis Berkhof’s magnum opus includes both his Introductory Volume to Systematic Theology and his classic Systematic Theology. In his monumental treatment of the doctrines of the Reformed faith, Berkhof covers the full range of theology in traditional systematic fashion, examining the doctrines of God, anthropology, Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology. The result is a comprehensive work written in a scholarly yet simple style.

The foreword by Richard A. Muller explains the relation and importance of Berkhof’s prolegomena to the rest of his systematic theology, while complete indexes, thorough bibliographies, and questions for further study make this edition ideal for students. Since its original publication in 1939, Berkhof’s Systematic Theology has remained the most influential twentieth-century compendium of Reformed theology.

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THE IDEA AND HISTORY OF DOGMATIC THEOLOGY

I.Names Applied to the Systematic Presentation of Theology

II.The Nature of Dogmas:

1. The Name “Dogma”:
   1. Derivation and Meaning of the Term
   2. The Biblical Use of the Word
   3. Various Uses of the Term in Theology
2. The Formal Characteristics of Dogmas:
   1. Their Subject-Matter is Derived from Scripture
   2. They are the Fruit of Dogmatic Reflection
   3. They are Officially Defined by Some Competent Ecclesiastical Body
3. The Necessity of Dogmas:
   1. Causes of Present Day Opposition to Dogmas
   2. Dogmas Essential to Christianity
4. The Elements Involved in Dogmas:
   1. The Social Element
   2. The Traditional Element
   3. The Element of Authority

III.The Idea of Dogmatic Theology:

1. The Relation of Dogmas to Dogmatics:
   1. Dogmas Arise out of the Necessity of the Believing Community
   2. Theology May and Has Frequently Served as an Auxiliary in the Formation of Dogmas
   3. Dogmatic Theology Finds the Nucleus of its Subject-Matter in the Dogmas of the Church
2. The Object of Dogmatic Theology:
   1. The Conception of the Object of Dogmatic Theology in the Early Church
   2. The Development of a New Conception in Modern Subjective Theology
   3. Recognition of the Objective Character of Dogmatic Theology in Recent Times
3. Theology as a Science:
   1. The Scientific Character of Theology Denied
   2. The Possibility of Maintaining the Scientific Character of Theology
4. The Encyclopaedic Place of Dogmatics:
   1. The Group of Studies to Which it Belongs
   2. The Relation of Dogmatics to Apologetics
   3. The Relation of Dogmatics to Ethics

IV.The Task, Method, and Distribution of Dogmatics

1. The Task of Dogmatics:
   1. Modern Conceptions of the Task of Dogmatics
   2. The Reformed Conception of the Task of Dogmatics
2. The Method of Dogmatics:
   1. Various Views as to the Source from Which the Content of Dogmatics is Derived
   2. The Manner in Which the Material is Secured and Treated
3. Distribution of the Material of Dogmatics:
   1. The Trinitarian Method
   2. The Analytical Method
   3. The Covenantal Method
   4. The Christological Method
   5. The Method Based on the Kingdom-Idea
   6. The Synthetic Method

V.History of Dogmatics:

1. The Period of the Old Catholic Church:
   1. Origen’s Peri Archon
   2. Augustine’s Enchiridion ad Laurentium de Fide, Spe, et Caritate
   3. John of Damascus Ekdosis Akribes tes Orthodoxus Pisteos
2. The Period of the Middle Ages:
   1. Works of Anselm
   2. The Sentences of Peter the Lombard
   3. The Summa of Alexander of Hales
   4. The Summa of Thomas Aquinas
3. The Period of the Reformation:
   1. Melanchton’s Loci Communes
   2. Zwingli’s Commentarius de Vera et Falsa Religione
   3. Calvin’s Institutio Christianae Religionis
4. The Period of Protestant Scholasticism:
   1. Dogmatical Study Among the Lutherans
   2. Dogmatical Study Among the Reformed
   3. Dogmatical Study Among the Roman Catholics
5. The Period of Rationalism and Supranaturalism:
   1. Pietistic Dogmatics
   2. Rationalistic Dogmatics
   3. Supranaturalistic Dogmatics
6. The Period of Modern Theology:
   1. Schleiermacher and His School
   2. The Speculative School
   3. The Neo-Lutherna School
   4. The Mediating School
   5. The School of Ritschl
   6. Reformed Theology

THE PRINCIPIA OF DOGMATICS

I.Principia in General:

1. Principia in Non-Theological Sciences:
   1. Definition of ‘Principium’
   2. Principia of the Non-Theological Sciences
2. Principia in Religion or Theology:
   1. God is the Principium Essendi
   2. The Principium Cognoscendi Externum is God’s Special Revelation
   3. The Principium Cognoscendi Internum is Faith

II.Religion:

1. The Essence of Religion:
   1. The Derivation of the Word ‘Religion’
   2. Scriptural Terms for Religion
   3. Historical Conceptions of the Essence of Religion
2. The Seat of Religion:
   1. It has Its Seat in the Intellect
   2. It has Its Seat in the Will
   3. It has Its Seat in the Feelings
   4. It has Its Seat in the Heart
3. The Origin of Religion:
   1. The Historical Method
   2. The Psychological Method
   3. The Theological Method

III.The Principium Cognoscendi Externum (Revelation):

1. Name and Concept of Revelation:
   1. Connection Between Religion and Revelation
   2. The General Idea of Revelation
   3. Historical Conceptions of Revelation
   4. The idea of Revelation in Modern Theology
   5. The Proper Conception of the Nature of Revelation
   6. Distinctions Applies to the Idea of Revelation
2. General Revelation:
   1. The Value and Significance of General Revelation
   2. The Insufficiency of General Revelation
   3. Historical Conceptions of Revelation
   4. The Idea of Revelation in Modern Theology
   5. The Proper Conception of the Nature of Revelation
   6. Distinctions Applies to the Idea of Revelation
3. Special Revelation:
   1. The Scriptural Idea of Revelation
   2. The Means of Special Revelation
   3. The Contents of Special Revelation
   4. The Purpose of Special Revelation
4. Special Revelation and Scripture:
   1. Historical Views of the Relation Between the Two
   2. The Reformed Conception of the Relation Between the Two

IV.The Inspiration of Scripture:

1. The Doctrine of Inspiration in History:
   1. Before the Reformation
   2. After the Reformation
2. Scriptural Proof for the Inspiration of the Bible:
   1. Proofs for the Inspiration for the Secondary Authors of Scripture Considered Apart from Their Writing
   2. Proofs for the Inspiration of the Secondary Authors in Writing the Books of the Bible
3. Nature and Extent of Inspiration:
   1. The Nature of Inspiration
   2. The Extent of Inspiration
4. Attempts to Discredit the Doctrine of Inspiration:
   1. They who Defend it are Reasoning in a Circle
   2. Jesus Did not Teach the Doctrine of Inspiration
   3. The Phenomena of Scripture Contradict the Doctrine of Inspiration
   4. The Doctrine of Inspiration Applies only to the Autographa, and Therefore Has no Real Practical Value
5. Objections to the Doctrine of Inspiration: 
   1. General Nature of the Objections
   2. General Remarks on the Objections Raised
6. The Perfections of Scripture: 
   
   1. The Divine Authority of Scripture
   2. The Necessity of Scripture
   3. The Perspicuity of Scripture
   4. The Sufficiency of Scripture

V.The Principium Cognoscendi Internum:

1. The Human Understanding:
   1. Historical Statement of This Position
   2. Evaluation of This Position
2. Speculative Reason:
   1. Historical Statement of This Position
   2. Evaluation of This Position
3. Devout Feeling or Religious Intuition:
   1. Historical Statement of This Position
   2. Evaluation of This Position
4. The Moral Consciousness:
   1. Historical Statement of This Position
   2. Evaluation of This Position
5. Faith the Proper Principium Internum:
   1. The Name of the Principium Cognoscendi Internum
   2. Distinctive Nature of the Knowledge of Faith
6. The Ground of Faith:
   1. The Doctrine of the Testimonium Spiritus Sancti in the Church
   2. Mistaken Notions of the Testimonium Spiritus Sancti
   3. Correct View of the Testimonium Spiritus Sancti