I have completed most of my school coursework early so that I can spend the next month concentrating on my Classis exams the first week of March. To help me study the committee gave me a list of subjects to which to focus upon. I have begun to read a book for each section and have been supplementing my reading with the corresponding parts of Berkhof's Systematics. I have completed reading for some of the sections and am looking for assistance in selecting books to read for the remaining parts. I am going to list the sections I have read and the corresponding book as well as the sections left for which I am unsure of what to read for them. (Also if you think a book I read is not adequate or "does not fit the category" please let me know.)

Prolegomena
???????????????

Theology (Doctrine of God)
Robert Letham, The Holy Trinity(nearly finished)

Anthropology (Doctrine of Human Nature)
????????????????

Christology
Athanasius, On the Incarnation

Soteriology
John Murray, Redemption: Accomplished and Applied

Ecclesiology
????????????????

Eschatology
Cornelis Venema, The Promise of the Future


Thanks and Blessings,

__________________
Benjamin P. Glaser, M. Div, Licentiate, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Member Fairmount ARP Church
Pittsburgh, PA

Deo Vindice

I should think for prolegomena, Bavinck volume 1 ought to be at least a contender (though that's a LOT of reading to add)

__________________
Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://inprincipiodeus.solideogloria.com
http://puritanwisdom.blogspot.com

"As God did not at first choose you because you were high, He will not now forsake you because you are low."
John Flavel in Keeping the Heart



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I've seen it, but haven't read it. It looks like a good book, and it's quite thick.

__________________
Albert, The Republic of the Philippines
Pasig United Covenant Reformed Church (a Reformed church plant)
United Covenant Reformed Churches in the Philippines (UCRCP)
Three Forms of Unity and Westminster Confession of Faith

Psalm 27:1a (AV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
“Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts.” -

For ecclesiology, take a look at The Glorious Body of Christ by Kuiper.

__________________
Kenneth Kneip
Member @ New St. Peter's PC (PCA), Dallas TX
Pastoral Intern @ New Covenant PC (PCA), Dallas TX
M. Div. student @ Redeemer Seminary, Dallas TX

I was going to say Bavinck and also add Turretin and even Hodge for most of those.

Under Ecclesiology are you looking for something more technical like a book of common order or something more practical. If practical I would suggest "The Glorious Body of Christ" by R.B. Kuiper. The above mentioned names do not say to much about ecclesiology.

How about church gov't, do you need to read anything on that? If so try "The Divine Right of Church Government" by the Jus Divinum or "Paradigms in Polity" by Hall and Hall. The former is written by the Westminster Divines and the later is collection of different reformed and Pres. sources on church gov't.

__________________
Erick Bohndorf, Redeemer Presbyterian PCA
http://qayaqtraveler.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pr...90&ref=profile
Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Ecclesiastes

Richard Muller's "prolegomena" volume in his Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics would be my suggestion for that area. It is long but very helpful. Many blessings on your studies and preparation!

-----Added 1/29/2009 at 09:18:18 EST-----

For Anthropology, Thomas Boston's "Human Nature in its Fourfold State" is very valuable.

__________________
Rev. Adam King
Minister in the RPCNA
Pastor,Trinity Reformed Church
Wichita, KS

It is pretty solid and worth a read. With one caveat: Clowney argues for women deacons in the book.

__________________
Chris
Presbyterian Reformed Church of Charlotte (PRC)
Student, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
SC

...hope is nothing but the nourishment and strength of faith.
~ Calvin's Institutes III.ii.43

Bavinck on Prolegomena is unsurpassed IMO. However, if you want a condensed version you could get by with Berkhof's most recent edition of ST that has the introductory material. Berkhof was mostly condensing Bavinck.

__________________
Wes Bredenhof
Pastor, Providence Canadian Reformed Church
Hamilton, Ontario
www.bredenhof.ca
Gospel Talk Radio Program

Ecclesiology:
Calvin (0f course!)
The Church of Christ: A Treatise on the Nature, Powers, Ordinances, Discipline and Gov. of the christian Church" Two volumes by James Bannerman (Banner of truth)

Feel free to stop by and borrow Bannerman if you want it!

__________________
Rev. Toby L. Brown, pastor
Jefferson Center Presbyterian Church--in, but not of, the PC(USA)
Saxonburg, PA
A Classical Presbyterian
Proud member of The Westminster Fellowship

"The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which God is also highly exalted." --Jonathan Edwards

__________________
Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
Soli Deo Gloria

I second the recommendation for Muller, volume 1. You will know prolegomena backwards and forwards if you read it. For anthropology, I recommend Hoekema's Created in God's Image. For ecclesiology, Bannerman is good, but since you won't have time to read it, read Michael Horton's book People and Place.

__________________
Rev. Lane Keister
Teaching Elder, PCA, North Dakota (working out of bounds in a CRC and an RCA church)
http://greenbaggins.wordpress.com
http://brahmsgreenglove.blogspot.com
http://accenttranslation.blogspot.com
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Thanks all!!
Ecclesiology is still up in the air because PTS's Library does not have the Horton work or the Clowney book. I'll check RPTS tomorrow.