Systematic Theology books

[Xeno.of.athens]

I am scanning the systematic theology volumes at a local online Christian bookseller (not Amazon). I noticed that nearly all the Systematic theology books are written by "Reformed" people. Is Systematic Theology a speciality of the Reformed tradition that other traditions do not much like?

 

[Petros2015]

I've never heard of it?

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

I've never heard of it?

Not too surprising; I do not think that Orthodox do systematics, Catholics almost never do it too. It is a Protestant thing more than an ancient faith thing. But, it is interesting that so many are from Reformed people.

 

[Petros2015]

Not too surprising; I do not think that Orthodox do systematics, Catholics almost never do it too. It is a Protestant thing more than an ancient faith thing. But, it is interesting that so many are from Reformed people.

Huh. Well, here is all I currently know about it after 10 minutes

Systematic theology - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It does cite a few other older works from non Protestants that fall somewhat in the flavor of it I guess.

 

[PloverWing]

I am scanning the systematic theology volumes at a local online Christian bookseller (not Amazon). I noticed that nearly all the Systematic theology books are written by "Reformed" people. Is Systematic Theology a speciality of the Reformed tradition that other traditions do not much like?

While there are some systematic theology works that come from outside the Reformed tradition (Tillich's Systematic Theology and the Summa Theologica come to mind), I've also observed that the majority of systematic theology works that I've seen are by Reformed authors. The Reformed tradition specializes in thorough, careful, analytical study, and I think this mindset is a natural fit for the creation of systematic theologies.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

While there are some systematic theology works that come from outside the Reformed tradition (Tillich's Systematic Theology and the Summa Theologica come to mind), I've also observed that the majority of systematic theology works that I've seen are by Reformed authors. The Reformed tradition specializes in thorough, careful, analytical study, and I think this mindset is a natural fit for the creation of systematic theologies.

I wonder if that explains it? I seems like it ought to.

Your comment brought to mind the words in Ecclesiastes

And since Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and he described what he had accomplished. And while searching, he composed many parables. He sought useful words, and he wrote most righteous words, which were full of truth. The words of the wise are like a goad, and like nails deeply fastened, which, through the counsel of teachers, are set forth by one pastor. You should require no more than this, my son. For there is no end to the making of many books. And excessive study is an affliction to the flesh. Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man. And so, for all that is done and for each error, God will bring judgment: whether it was good or evil.​

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Haydock's annotated bible says only a little on the passage, what it says is shown below (slightly modified to conform to the words in the quote from Ecclesiastes above and shown in bold).

like nails deeply fastened [in The ground], to keep a tent in its proper place. He seemed before to have placed the wise on the same level with fools, chap. 6:8, 11., and 7:1 (Calmet) ---​

​

pastor. God, or Solomon. The Jews explain it of Moses, and his successors, who taught the people.​

what came to mind was especially the words that say, "You should require no more than this, my son. For there is no end to the making of many books. And excessive study is an affliction to the flesh."

But they do not apply to systematic theology books. Yet it must be tiring work to gather so much data from scripture and write a book of 1,200 pages or more to organise the data into topics and doctrinal divisions. One cannot help but admire the industry of the writers.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

After browsing I decided to buy one systematic theology book, a recently revised one, that may be helpful with some of the things I read in Christian Forums, many of the people here are younger than I am and have studied or read their theology in more recent works. I want to see what it says, but anticipate that things will not be too different from what was said in past generations. The one I bought is

 

[Daniel9v9]

Yeah, the term "Systematic Theology" is typically used by the Reformed. Other historical bodies may use "Dogmatics". "Theology", "Doctrinal Theology" and "Doctrine" are also common. Sometimes they are essentially the same, and other times they have distinct meanings.

There are other factors to this. Mainly:

(1) This is perhaps obvious, but it depends on where in the world you browse Christian books. Say, if you go to bookshop in London, you'll mostly find Anglican, Baptist and Charismatic theology. However, if you go to a bookshop in Rome, you'll mostly find Roman Catholic theology. This is also true for online shops as most publishing houses have some kind of affiliation with different church bodies. And even if they're independent, they still have some bias. Logos Bible Software is a good example of this. While they have a decent and inclusive library, they tend to be Reformed/Baptist/Charismatic leaning. Or again, think about the YouVersion Bible App — it tends to favour Charismatic resources.

(2) If we were to exclude the Lutheran Church and the Anglican Church, under the umbrella of Evangelicalism, the church bodies that tend to be most interested in systematic theology or confessions are the Reformed. However, you can find dogmatics in every denomination. You can find Pentecostal systematics, for example, but their more popular books tend to be of a more devotional nature. There's a reason for this, and it's a bit complex, but to sum it up, it's that among Protestants, there are those who have a high view of creeds and there are those who have a low view of creeds. Those with a high view of creeds tend to publish more scholarly works and be more interested in church history. Those with a low view of creeds tend to have an aversion towards dogmatics and are more interested in devotional material. So what this means practically speaking is that if you check out an Evangelical shop, you're likely to find Reformed systematic theology and Charismatic devotionals.

This is all very broad strokes, but hopefully, you can get a sense of what to expect when browsing Evangelical shops.

God bless!

 

[Yekcidmij]

I am scanning the systematic theology volumes at a local online Christian bookseller (not Amazon). I noticed that nearly all the Systematic theology books are written by "Reformed" people. Is Systematic Theology a speciality of the Reformed tradition that other traditions do not much like?

Normal Geisler wrote several volumes of systematic theology and he's decidedly not Calvinistic.

Systematic Theology, Vol. 1: Introduction/Bible: Geisler, Norman L.: 9780764225512: Amazon.com: Books

Systematic Theology, Vol. 1: Introduction/Bible [Geisler, Norman L.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Systematic Theology, Vol. 1: Introduction/Bible

www.amazon.com

 

[Clare73]

I am scanning the systematic theology volumes at a local online Christian bookseller (not Amazon). I noticed that nearly all the Systematic theology books are written by "Reformed" people. Is Systematic Theology a speciality of the Reformed tradition that other traditions do not much like?

My guess would be it comes from Luther's realization that Catholic teaching was not consistent with itself, or with Scripture, or both.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

My guess would be it comes from Luther's realization that Catholic teaching was not consistent with itself, or with Scripture, or both.

That's a rather partisan guess.

 

[Clare73]

That's a rather partisan guess.

Is that not the testimony of history regarding Luther, resulting in the Protestant Reformation?

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Is that not the testimony of history regarding Luther, resulting in the Protestant Reformation?

Not really.

 

[Clare73]

Not really.

What is your take on that history?

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

What is your take on that history?

History is documented, a good objective history written by a historian who isn't invented in the religious debates of our time or that time would be the place to go.

 

[Clare73]

History is documented, a good objective history written by a historian who isn't invented in the religious debates of our time or that time would be the place to go.

Do you have any knowledge, of what is objectively documented regarding Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, which gives you to think my guess is partisan?

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Do you have any knowledge, of what is objectively documented regarding Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, which gives you to think my guess is partisan?

Of course. That is why I pointed you in the direction that I did. But a short post in Christian Forums is insufficient to provide a good answer so I urge you to read an academic history on the subject rather than a denominational or a religiously oriented one - such religiously oriented "histories" are more like stories about the lives of the saints. They are reassuring reading, quite lovely, but they only reinforce one's existing beliefs.

 

[Clare73]

Of course. That is why I pointed you in the direction that I did. But a short post in Christian Forums is insufficient to provide a good answer so I urge you to read an academic history on the subject rather than a denominational or a religiously oriented one - such religiously oriented "histories" are more like stories about the lives of the saints. They are reassuring reading, quite lovely, but they only reinforce one's existing beliefs.

Would you like to briefly sum it up for me?

I trust you to report it accurately.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Would you like to briefly sum it up for me?

I trust you to report it accurately.

Here is a summary, I hope it is sufficient. This topic is about systematic theology books, not history. So, let's keep to the topic after this, please.

The Protestant Reformation, which took place in the 16th century, was a movement that aimed to reform the Catholic Church. The causes of the Protestant Reformation can be traced back to a combination of political, economic, social, and religious factors.

Political factors include the desire of rulers to have more control over the Church and its wealth, as well as the desire of individuals to challenge the authority of the Pope. Economic factors included the alleged sale of indulgences by the Church, which was seen by many as a corruption of the Church's original message.

Social factors included the growing desire among individuals for greater personal freedom and the spread of humanist ideas, which placed a greater emphasis on individual conscience and religious tolerance. The invention of the printing press also played a role in spreading these ideas.

Religious factors included the dissatisfaction among many people with the practices of the Church, such as the alleged sale of indulgences and the abuse of power by Church officials, as well as the desire for what some believed to be a more direct relationship with God through the reading of the Bible in the vernacular.

Overall, the causes of the Protestant Reformation were complex and multi-faceted, and involved a range of political, economic, social, and religious factors.

 

[Clare73]

Here is a summary, I hope it is sufficient. This topic is about systematic theology books, not history. So, let's keep to the topic after this, please.

The Protestant Reformation, which took place in the 16th century, was a movement that aimed to reform the Catholic Church. The causes of the Protestant Reformation can be traced back to a combination of political, economic, social, and religious factors.

Political factors include the desire of rulers to have more control over the Church and its wealth, as well as the desire of individuals to challenge the authority of the Pope. Economic factors included the alleged sale of indulgences by the Church, which was seen by many as a corruption of the Church's original message.

Social factors included the growing desire among individuals for greater personal freedom and the spread of humanist ideas, which placed a greater emphasis on individual conscience and religious tolerance. The invention of the printing press also played a role in spreading these ideas.

Religious factors included the dissatisfaction among many people with the practices of the Church, such as the alleged sale of indulgences and the abuse of power by Church officials, as well as the desire for what some believed to be a more direct relationship with God through the reading of the Bible in the vernacular.

Overall, the causes of the Protestant Reformation were complex and multi-faceted, and involved a range of political, economic, social, and religious factors.

No worrry. . .that doesn't even come close to addressing Martin Luther's particular issues.

Thanks anyway, and back to the topic