Systematic Theology

Front Cover
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1996 M09 24 - 992 pages
This new printing of Louis Berkhof's Systematic Theology offers a bit of a surprise and, we hope, a significant service to the readers of this eminent volume. For most of its history under the title Systematic Theology, Professor Berkhof's work has appeared as a theological system without introduction or prolegomenon. In this new edition of Berkhof's work, we have returned his prolegomenon to its proper place. For Berkhof did indeed write a formal prolegomenon to his theology, titled Introduction to the Study of Systematic Theology. That Professor Berkhof himself intended the Introduction to be read together with the system is immediately evident. It is also the case that the Introduction was an integral part of Berkhof's address to theology from the outset of his teaching. We can only hope that the publication of Berkhof's Systematic Theology, now complete with its prolegomenon, will increase its usefulness and extend its time of service to the world of theology. It remains the best modern English-language introduction to the doctrinal theology of the Reformed tradition. - Back cover.
 

Contents

I Names Applied to the Systematic Presentation of Theology
15
II The Nature of Dogmas
18
3 VARIOUS USES OF THE TERM IN THEOLOGY
19
B The Formal Characteristics of Dogmas
20
1 THEIR SUBJECTMATTER IS DERIVED FROM SCRIPTURE
21
2 DOGMAS ARE THE FRUIT OF DOGMATIC REFLECTION
23
3 DOGMAS ARE OFFICIALLY DEFINED BY SOME COMPETENT ECCLESIASTICAL BODY
24
C The Necessity of Dogmas
26
C The Origin of Religion
109
2 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL METHOD
111
3 THE THEOLOGICAL METHOD
113
III THE PRINCIPIUM COGNOSCENDI EXTERNUM Revelation
116
2 THE GENERAL IDEA OF REVELATION
117
4 THE IDEA OF REVELATION IN MODERN THEOLOGY
119
5 THE PROPER CONCEPTION OF THE NATURE OF REVELATION
124
6 DISTINCTIONS APPLIED TO THE IDEA OF REVELATION
126

2 DOGMAS ESSENTIAL TO CHRISTIANITY
28
D The Elements Involved in Dogmas
31
2 THE TRADITIONAL ELEMENT
32
3 THE ELEMENT OF AUTHORITY
33
III The Idea of Dogmatic Theology
35
1 DOGMAS ARISE OUT OF THE NECESSITIES OR THE BELIEVING COMMUNITY
36
2 THEOLOGY MAY AND HAS FREQUENTLY SERVED AS AN AUXILIARY IN THE FORMATION OF DOGMAS
37
B The Object of Dogmatic Theology Its Definition
39
2 THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CONCEPTION IN MODERN SUBJECTIVE THEOLOGY
40
3 RECOGNITION OF THE OBJECTIVE CHARACTER OF DOGMATIC THEOLOGY IN RECENT TIMES
41
C Theology as a Science
44
2 THE POSSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING THE SCIENTIFIC CHARACTER OF THEOLOGY
46
D The Encyclopaedic Place of Dogmatics
48
2 THE RELATION OF DOGMATICS TO APOLOGETICS
49
3 THE RELATION OF DOGMATICS TO ETHICS
50
IV The Task Method and Distribution of Dogmatics
53
2 THE REFORMED CONCEPTION OF THE TASK OF DOGMATICS
58
B The Method of Dogmatics
59
2 THE MANNER IN WHICH THE MATERIAL IS SECURED AND TREATED
67
C Distrihution of Dogmatics
72
2 THE ANALYTICAL METHOD
73
4 THE CHRISTOLOGICAL METHOD
74
V History of Dogmatics
76
3 JOHN OF DAMASCUS EKDOSIS AKRIBES TES ORTHODOXOU PISTEOS
77
1 WORKS OF ANSELM
78
C The Period of the Reformation
79
3 CALVINS INSTITUTIO CHRISTIANAE RELIGIONIS
80
2 DOGMATICAL STUDY AMONG THE REFORMED
81
3 DOGMATICAL STUDY AMONG THE ROMAN CATHOLICS
82
E The Period of Rationalism and Supranaturalism
83
3 SUPRANATURALISTIC DOGMATICS
84
2 THE SPECULATIVE SCHOOL
85
3 THE NEOLUTHERAN SCHOOL
86
4 THE MEDIATING SCHOOL
87
5 THE SCHOOL OF RITSCHL
88
I PRINCIPIA IN GENERAL
93
B Principia in Religion or Theology
95
2 THE PRINCIPIUM COGNOSCENDI EXTERNUM IS GODS SPECIAL REVELATION
96
3 THE PRINCIPIUM COGNOSCENDI INTERNUM IS FAITH
97
II RELIGION
98
2 SCRIPTURAL TERMS FOR RELIGION
99
3 HISTORICAL CONCEPTIONS OF THE ESSENCE OF RELIGION
100
B The Seat of Religion
106
2 IT HAS ITS SEAT IN THE WILL
107
4 IT HAS ITS SEAT IN THE HEART
108
B General Revelation
128
1 THE VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF GENERAL REVELATION
130
2 THE INSUFFICIENCY OF GENERAL REVELATION
132
C Special Revelation
133
2 THE MEANS OF SPECIAL REVELATION
134
3 THE CONTENTS OF SPECIAL REVELATION
136
4 THE PURPOSE OF SPECIAL REVELATION
137
D Special Revelation and Scripture
139
2 THE REFORMED CONCEPTION OF THE RELATION BETWEEN THE TWO
141
IV THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE
144
2 AFTER THE REFORMATION
145
B Scriptural Proof for the Inspiration of the Bible
146
1 PROOFS FOR THE INSPIRATION OF THE SECONDARY AUTHORS OF SCRIPTURE CONSIDERED APART FROM THEIR WRITING
147
2 PROOFS FOR THE INSPIRATION OF THE SECONDARY AUTHORS IN WRITING THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
148
C Nature and Extent of Its Inspiration
150
1 THE NATURE OF INSPIRATION
151
2 THE EXTENT OF INSPIRATION
153
D Attempts to Discredit the Doctrine of Inspiration
156
2 JESUS DID NOT TEACH THE DOCTRINE OF INSPIRATION
157
3 THE PHENOMENA OF SCRIPTURE CONTRADICT THE DOCTRINE OF INSPIRATION
158
E Objections to the Doctrine of Inspiration
159
1 GENERAL NATURE OF THE OBJECTIONS
160
F The Perfections of Scripture
162
1 THE DIVINE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
163
2 THE NECESSITY OF SCRIPTURE
165
3 THE PERSPICUITY OF SCRIPTURE
167
V THE PRINCIPIUM COGNOSCENDI INTERNUM
170
2 EVALUATION OF THIS POSITION
172
B Speculative Reason
173
2 EVALUATION OF THIS POSITION
174
C Devout Feeling or Religious Intuition
175
1 HISTORICAL STATEMENT OF THE POSITION
176
2 EVALUATION OF THIS POSITION
177
D The Moral Consciousness
178
2 EVALUATION OF THIS POSITION
179
E Faith the Proper Principium Internum
181
F The Ground of Faith
182
1 THE DOCTRINE OF THE TESTIMONTUM SPIRITUS SANCTI IN THE CHURCH
183
2 MISTAKEN NOTIONS OF THE TESTIMONIUM SPIRITUS SANCTI
184
3 CORRECT VIEW OF THE TESTIMONIUM SPIRITUS SANCTI
185
SELECT LITERATURE
187
Index of Authors
193
Index of Subjects
197
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