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H.C. Thiessen

Discussion in 'Books & Publications Forum' started by Frogman, Mar 2, 2003.

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  1. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    I found the work of Henry C. Thiessen "Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology".

    I was wondering if anyone has read this or is otherwise familiar with it and could provide a short review. I purchased the book at a thrift store for $2.50.

    God Bless.
    Bro. Dallas [​IMG]
     
    #1 Frogman, Mar 2, 2003
  2. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Brother Dallas,

    Thiessen has a very easy to read Sytematic Theology and it sits on my library shelves,,especially good when the major theologians were a bit stuffy at the moment. He does, however, promote the concept that many Baptists adhered to, that God predestined because he foreknew the events that would happen. It is an essential change in the accepted order of the decrees. His eschatology is a little off as well, in that he is dispensational. Just my opinion, of course.

    Otherwise a good read and certainly worth those few pennies.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #2 Jim1999, Mar 2, 2003
  3. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    Thanks Bro. Jim,

    I have roughly 'overviewed' the book this evening and have noticed the things you mentioned. I believe it would be difficult for anyone to write a book that all points are agreeable.

    I'm certain I could not.

    Thanks.

    God Bless.
    Bro. Dallas
     
    #3 Frogman, Mar 3, 2003
  4. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Brother Dallas,
    What I enjoyed about Thiessen was the simple way he had of writing. It is very readable. He also lists the many scriptures to support his viewpoints, and I liked that.

    It also gives an authoritative understanding of what many, many Baptists believed a few years back from the non-Reformed standpoint. There are many to-day who stile adhere to that theology, including the Plymouth Brethren.

    Cheers, and good reading. I never discard any book, including liberal texts. Every book helps me to understand what I believe and why.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #4 Jim1999, Mar 3, 2003
  5. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    I'm just guessing, but perhaps the readability comes from the fact the book is compiled on his lectures.

    I have not read much "theology" so this would be a good place to start.

    From the standpoint of what baptists believed etc. I assume you are talking about dispensationalism. To the best of my understanding Grider is dispensationalist.

    I have attempted to study this. I have read portions of A.W. Pink's The Divine Covenants what is the difference in the covenants and the dispensations? The best I remember, Pink argues the dispensational view is incorrect. However, this view does seem apparent to me in scripture. I know this is not the forum to discuss dispensationalism, so I will end my discussion there.

    I agree, the few books I do have, I have found them at discount. Some such as Vine's, Young's and Strong's I purchased I have a Wycliffe's commentary belonged to my dad and I purchased a Matt. Henry Commentary. People buy me books for gifts and I really appreciate this. I never discard a book either, regardless of the slant, I find great help in understanding the belief system of others and find it additionally helpful in forcing me to study scripture in light of my own beliefs...to see whether those things are written there. Anywhere I can find books such as Theissen's I purchase them if I am able. I should have been a librarian, but then I fear I would catalog everything under 'special collections', at least until I read it.

    Thanks for the replies.

    Maybe I'll start a thread later on the appropriate forum discussing dispensationalism so I can better understand the truth or untruth of it.

    God Bless brother.
    Bro. Dallas
     
    #5 Frogman, Mar 3, 2003
  6. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    In a sense, we are all dispensationalists. All Reformed theologians recognize three covenant relationships with God dealing with men. The discrepancy comes when there are 7 divisions and especially the parenthetical placing of the church..an afterthought in the mind of God, as is discussed in the Scofield Reference Bible, and others such has Chafer and the Dallas Seminary lads. One must displace the order of the decrees to accept this viewpoint and I guess this is where we differ essentially. As you might know, amillennialists view the covenant promises fulfilled in the church, the new Israel of God. Good men differ on these teachings and we ought never to make it a test of fellowship. Lord only knows, but we might all be wrong in the end. The essential thing is that Jesus is coming again and He will claim His own for all eternity.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #6 Jim1999, Mar 3, 2003
  7. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    I agree Jim, this is not made as a test of fellowship among us. I am just looking for some thoughts from the other side. I realize this is not the forum for that so I will thank you for your thoughts and discontinue the discussion concerning this at this place.

    I know of some young preachers in the Lafayette Tn. area who subscribe to dispensationalism, that are experiencing a difficult time as the church(es) they are in do not hold the same views.

    Just curious about the details. As I have said before, I do have a Scofield Bible, but I do not agree with his view of the church, and some other things, so I gave up trying to understand it simply from his notes.

    God Bless.
    Bro. Dallas
     
    #7 Frogman, Mar 3, 2003
  8. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    We used Theissen in Bible college, along with Bancroft. But that has been 25 years ago, and I don't remember much about them. The school is very conservative Theologically, and would not have used anything that wasn't conservative, also.

    They currently use Ryrie's "Basic Theology" which is a good one. Of course, it is also Dispensational, which I see as a Good thing. ;) [​IMG]
     
    #8 baptistteacher, Mar 4, 2003
  9. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Have Theissen sitting on my shelf, but not read too often. I like Lewis Sperry Chafer and Augustus Strong as more "baptistic" theologies.

    And I feel only sympathy for non-dispensationalists. They don't know (but will) what they are missing in understanding the Bible and how it is framed together. But that is another thread.

    Theissen is definitely a readable author and unless you are working on a ThD from Dallas, credable.
     
    #9 Dr. Bob, Mar 5, 2003
  10. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    The last time I heard the word "framed" was by a criminal being carted off to gaol......oh oh [​IMG]

    I have an amazing number of books written by dispensationalists, but I don't subscribe to the notion. One of the first bibles given to my by the Plymouth Brethren was a Scofield Reference Bible. I also went to hear G.Campbell Morgan and J. Sidlow Baxter preach, who were solid dispensationalist. I am not prejudiced. Like the King James Version, dispensationalism makes for some good sermon outlines.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #10 Jim1999, Mar 5, 2003
  11. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    I have been looking for Augustus Strong's work, but have not found it. Right now, as a student at WKU I am very limited in the money I can spend. But I am always on the look out for these. There is a bookstore here in Glasgow that sometimes puts books such as that on sale, or on a discount table. I try to visit them often to see what they have.

    Thanks for the discussion.

    God Bless.
    Bro. Dallas
     
    #11 Frogman, Mar 7, 2003
  12. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Brother Dallas,
    Whilst Strong is a very good Baptist text on theology, one must know that he espoused both Theistic evolution and Postmillennialism. Aside from these two topics, he is quite sound in reformed theology. I use Strong extensively.

    A more up-to-date text might be Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology. I have seen it, but not studied it, but it has very good reviews in Baptist circles.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #12 Jim1999, Mar 7, 2003
  13. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    Thanks Brother Jim.

    I am just building a library and I have a few old commentaries I found at the above mentioned location.

    Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job and the Prophets
    McIntosh on the Pentateuch

    Each of these I found for less than ten dollars. I read them on occassion, though I have not read them through.

    I added the book you mentioned to my list.

    God Bless.
    Bro. Dallas
     
    #13 Frogman, Mar 7, 2003
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