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What are the best Baptist Systematic Theologies?

Deacon

Well-Known Member
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Here's a list of Baptist Systematic Theology books available through Logos Bible Software along with a very concise description.


A Complete Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity by John Gill John Gill (b1697–d1771) Described by some as a hyper-Calvinist

Discourse on the Five Points by Daniel Whitby (1710) Arminian, This book elicited a response from John Gill, his The Cause of God and Truth, as well as from Jonathan Edwards, with Freedom of the Will.

The Works of John L. Dagg (4 vols.) by John L. Dagg (1859–1869) Known as the first Baptist systematic theologian,

Abstract of Systematic Theology by James Petigru Boyce (1887) Southern Baptist

Systematic Theology (3 vols.) by Augustus Hopkins Strong (1907) Reformed, Calvinistic

The Christian Religion in Its Doctrinal Expression by Edgar Young Mullins (1917) A Southern Baptist theologian

Biblical Systematics by F. Leroy Forlines (1975) A contemporary yet historic interpretation of Classical Reformed Arminianism

A Free Will Baptist Handbook by J. Matthew Pinson (1998) Arminian theology of free grace, free salvation, and free will.

God, Revelation, and Authority (6 vols.) by Carl F. H. Henry (1999) Evangelical

The Quest for Truth: Theology for Postmodern Times by F. Leroy Forlines (2001) An overview of systematic theology from a contemporary Reformed Arminianist viewpoint

Basic Bible Doctrine by Don Fortner (2007) Sovereign (free) grace soteriology and evangelical perspective

A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity (3 vols.) by Rolland McCune (2009–2010) Dispensational, pretribulational, premillennial, young earth creationist, Calvinist soteriology

Systematic Theology (2 vols.) by James Leo Garrett Jr. (2014) Historical premillenialism

Rob
 

Billx

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I like John Leadley Dagg's writings. He also has a treatise on Church Order that is printed separately from Manual of Theology, and (I think) sometimes called Manual of Theology, Part II.

I think W. T. Conner, a Southern Baptist at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, wrote a systematic theology. I don't have it and don't know that for sure.
Read W.T. Conner, liked J. M Pendleton struggled the the Ad Tedium of Strong. I made it through only with magnifying glass. It remains the most Complete study not to be neglected by preachers. When I was a student at GGBTS we were forced to read E. Bruner. Three volumes and the mediator and some elements of Barth. If I had not read the three I mentioned previously I would still be confused.
 

anerlogios

Member
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As the Reformed bethren have several good to great ones, but other than Dr Erickson, who has written one in Baptist traditon?
There seems to be a lot of non-Baptist suggestions, but I would say Grudem, Strong, and (though not quite a systematic theology) "A Theology for the Church" by Daniel Akin.
 

Yeshua1

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Read W.T. Conner, liked J. M Pendleton struggled the the Ad Tedium of Strong. I made it through only with magnifying glass. It remains the most Complete study not to be neglected by preachers. When I was a student at GGBTS we were forced to read E. Bruner. Three volumes and the mediator and some elements of Barth. If I had not read the three I mentioned previously I would still be confused.
Currently working through both Strong and the Pilgram theology for living by Dr Beeke now, and both seem to be very good so far!
A;so would state that the older ST from likes of a Hodge or a Chafer much meatier than much of current stuff!
 

Refreshed

Member
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Read W.T. Conner, liked J. M Pendleton struggled the the Ad Tedium of Strong. I made it through only with magnifying glass. It remains the most Complete study not to be neglected by preachers. When I was a student at GGBTS we were forced to read E. Bruner. Three volumes and the mediator and some elements of Barth. If I had not read the three I mentioned previously I would still be confused.

I just ordered a JM Pendleton Bible Doctrines off Thriftbook. 5 bucks including shipping! A deal and a classic Systematic Theology. Can't go wrong with that!
 

Charles Blair

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Once pastor Bowling Green KY before Civil War; friend of JR Graves, broke w/him over slavery (Pendleton went north, wrote an excellent church manual from Landmark perspective, Amr Bap Publ Hse, pre-1900;later version "watered down" but still helpful.)
 

Yeshua1

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Once pastor Bowling Green KY before Civil War; friend of JR Graves, broke w/him over slavery (Pendleton went north, wrote an excellent church manual from Landmark perspective, Amr Bap Publ Hse, pre-1900;later version "watered down" but still helpful.)
Thanks, was he a contemorary of Dagg then?
 

Shawn_L

New Member
Some modern Baptist systematic theologies to consider. None are Calvinist or Reformed, or Dispensational.

1) Clark Pinnock, Flame of Love. (Not a typical title, but, yes, his systematic theology.)
2) Stanley Grenz, Theology for the Community of God.
3) James Wm. McClendon, Jr., Ethics (Systematic Theology Vol. 1); Doctrine (Systematic Theology Vol. 2); Witness (Systematic Theology, Vol. 3)
 

Deacon

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Welcome to the BaptistBoard, Shawn_L.

I have not read any of those ST texts.
But have read other books by the first two authors.
Pinnock, to my recollection, is an Open Theist, read carefully.

I just put McClendon's books on my long to-be-read list.

Rob
 
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