Good books for learning about Calvinism

[gord44]

Hello all. After weeks of arguing with some Calvinists I feel drawn to learn more about this theology.

What would be a good book (besides the Bible hehe), that someone new to reformed theology should read?

Thanks for your time!

 

[student ad x]

Hey there

Some that can be found online:
[direct to PDF] The Institutes of the Christian Religion - John Calvin trans. Beveridge
[direct to PDF] Manual of Christian Doctrine - Louis Berkhof ETA: this pdf is not in English....... my apologies
[direct ot PDF] Reformed Doctrine of Predestination - Loraine Boettner


May God bless your learning.

 

[gord44]

wow! great stuff. i will take a look. much appreciated!

 

[student ad x]

Your welcome

Some of the other folk who hang out here may have some recommendations for you as well.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

Amazon.com: The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, Documented (9780875528274): David N. Steele, Curtis C. Thomas, S. Lance Quinn: Books

Here's a great one.

 

[kenrapoza]

These are all relatively easy reading and are designed to be introductory:

Chosen by God by RC Sproul

What Is Reformed Theology? by RC Sproul

Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner

The Doctrines of Grace: Rediscovering the Evangelical Gospel by James Montgomery Boice

 

[gord44]

thanks all. this has given me a good starting point.

 

[the particular baptist]

The Gospel Of John.

 

[JM]

Find yourself a plan reference edition Bible, not a study Bible, just a Bible with reference chains. Read it.

Move to a study of the covenant, Divine Covenants

Grace, The Reign of Grace, Abraham Booth | The Reformed Reader , Amazon.com: Christ Crucified (9781857928136): Charnock Stephen: Books

Experience, True Gospel Ministries - J C Philpot , True Gospel Ministries - J K Popham , Amazon.com: Communion with the Triune God (9781581348316): John Owen, Kelly M. Kapic, Justin Taylor, Kevin J. Vanhoozer: Books

Practical, Amazon.com: The Christian in Complete Armour (9781598568851): William Gurnall: Books

 

[gord44]

thanks all. lots of good suggestions there.

i was just browsing the book store on my iPhone and was able to get The Institutes of the Christian Religion and According to Promise by C.H. Spurgeon. Started reading the Spurgeon one and it is quite a good read to say the least.

 

[AMR]

I like to start folks off with Sproul's The Holiness of God. It sets the standard of the sovereignty of God for newcomers to Reformed doctrine. I re-read it a few times every year just to remind myself, too.

 

[the particular baptist]

Find yourself a plan reference edition Bible, not a study Bible, just a Bible with reference chains. Read it.

Grace, The Reign of Grace, Abraham Booth

Experience, True Gospel Ministries - J C Philpot , True Gospel Ministries - J K Popham

 

[JM]

I own the set by Popham and love it. Experiential and doctrinal.

 

[heymikey80]

Sproul has a lot of readable overviews. If you want to see a wide-angle view of Reformed thought, I found "Grace Unknown" is a good one.

Boettner's "Predestination" is still my touchstone though. I found it detailed, readable, and consistently accurate over decades of involvement in Reformed churches and thought.

 

[cygnusx1]

for me A W Pink "Sovereignty of God" and his excellent "Eternal security"

then Alan Sell . 'The great Debate'

Calvin on eternal predestination

Spurgeon Pink and Calvin are my fav authors .

 

[file13]

I picked up this book at a used book store (for 3 bucks!) to learn about what Calvinists actually believed (because I kept saying, "there's no way they can believe what people say they believe"). I've never had so many "ouch" moments in my life and literally threw the book across the room numerous times.

Good good stuff (in addition to the many good resources already shared)!

 

[cygnusx1]

I picked up this book at a used book store (for 3 bucks!) to learn about what Calvinists actually believed (because I kept saying, "there's no way they can believe what people say they believe"). I've never had so many "ouch" moments in my life and literally threw the book across the room numerous times.

Good good stuff (in addition to the many good resources already shared)!

good book , only bettered by Steele and Thomas (5 points)

Luthers 'Bondage of the Will '

Calvins 'Eternal Predestination Of God '

Augustines 'Enchiridion '

are great starting places to see The Reformed faith hammered out on the anvil of scripture


then try some of the Calvinist Theologians these guys knew a thing or two !

H Bavinck
L Berkhof
A A Hodge
C Hodge
B B Warfield
R L Dabney
Shedd
C Van Til

 

[gord44]

great info! will have lots to read now!