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{"id":4806,"date":"2017-07-16T08:16:11","date_gmt":"2017-07-16T13:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/rogereolson\/?p=4806"},"modified":"2017-07-16T08:16:11","modified_gmt":"2017-07-16T13:16:11","slug":"new-christian-dogmatics-eerdmans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/rogereolson\/2017\/07\/new-christian-dogmatics-eerdmans\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Christian Dogmatics from Eerdmans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

A New Christian Dogmatics from Eerdmans<\/p>\n

$\"photo-1473755504818-b72b6dfdc226_opt\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

I recently received from publisher Wm. B. Eerdmans a complimentary copy of Christian Dogmatics: An Introduction<\/em> by two Dutch theologians Cornelis van der Kooi and Gijsbert van den Brink (2012\/2017). It\u2019s a beautifully hard cover volume encompassing 806 pages (including indexes). On the back cover and inside are glowing endorsements by Richard J. Mouw, Michael S. Horton, Charles Van Engen, and John Bolt\u2014all well-known Reformed theologians with evangelical credentials. I have not read the whole volume yet, but have glanced through it and read portions. It is very contemporary, moderate, irenic, broadly Reformed in posture and orientation, and accessible in language. The authors quote a broad range of theologians and philosophers but the influences of certain 20^{th<\/sup> century Dutch Reformed theologians such as G. C. Berkouwer and Hendrikus Berkhof are notable.<\/p>\n}

One of the first things I noticed as I scanned the table of contents is that the doctrine of Scripture appears as Chapter 13\u2014on the heels of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Chapter 12). That is not to say, of course, that the Bible is not mentioned or used as an authority for theology before that; it is only to note that a complete account of a doctrine of Scripture follows that of the Holy \u00a0Spirit\u2014which is ironic (at least to me).<\/p>\n

Years ago my good, late friend Stanley J. Grenz published his similar one volume \u201cdogmatics\u201d entitled Theology for the Community of God<\/em> (also published by Eerdmans) and included the full discussion of a doctrine of Scripture after the doctrine of the Holy Spirit\u2014late in the order of chapters. For that he was pummeled and vilified by certain conservative evangelical theologians. I am waiting to hear from them now about van der Kooi and van den Brink who do the same.<\/p>\n

*Sidebar: The opinions expressed here are my own (or those of the guest writer); I do not speak for any other person, group or organization; nor do I imply that the opinions expressed here reflect those of any other person, group or organization unless I say so specifically. Before commenting read the entire post and the \u201cNote to commenters\u201d at its end.*<\/em><\/p>\n

Of course, as an evangelical Arminian, I am especially interested in these Dutch Reformed theologians\u2019 treatment of the doctrines of God\u2019s sovereignty\u2014especially providence and election\/predestination. I found them to be very moderate\u2014following closely Berkouwer and Berkhof (Hendrikus, not Louis!). There is no hint here of the aggressive \u201cfive point Calvinism\u201d of many American Calvinists.<\/p>\n

In sum, if someone asked me to recommend to him or her a moderately evangelical, one volume systematic theology from a broadly Reformed perspective I would recommend this one while cautioning that I have not yet read every page. What I have read pleases me even though, naturally, as an Arminian, I would have trouble using it as my own textbook in a course in systematic theology.<\/p>\n

We evangelical Arminians need a good, broadly evangelical (not only Wesleyan), contemporary, one volume systematic theology from an Arminian perspective. I have heard rumors of such\u2014that it is \u201cin the works\u201d\u2014from a British Nazarene theologian, but he has cautioned me not to expect it anytime soon. I hope that it may yet appear in publication during my lifetime. I will not write one; I\u2019m not a systematician but a historical theologian. I will leave it to others to risk systematizing revelation and Christian belief; I\u2019m not at all convinced it can be successfully done. I agree with Alfred Lord Tennyson who famously wrote \u201cOur little systems have their day; they have their day and cease to be. They are but broken lights of Thee and Thou, O God, art more than they.\u201d<\/p>\n

*Note to commenters:<\/em> This blog is not a discussion board; please respond with a question or comment only to me. If you do not share my evangelical Christian perspective (very broadly defined), feel free to ask a question for clarification, but know that this is not a space for debating incommensurate perspectives\/worldviews. In any case, know that there is no guarantee that your question or comment will be posted by the moderator or answered by the writer. If you hope for your question or comment to appear here and be answered or responded to, make sure it is civil, respectful, and \u201con topic.\u201d Do not comment if you have not read the entire post and do not misrepresent what it says. Keep any comment (including questions) to minimal length; do not post essays, sermons or testimonies here. Do not post links to internet sites here. This is a space for expressions of the blogger\u2019s (or guest writers\u2019) opinions and constructive dialogue among evangelical Christians (very broadly defined).<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"