Who do you think has written the best systematic theology. I go for Robert Reymond (while not agreeing with everything he says), with Louis Berkhof a close second.

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Daniel Ritchie
Saintfield, Northern Ireland - Queen's University, Belfast:History/Politics
Member of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland (Covenanter)

I forgot about John Brown of Haddington; could a moderator add him to the poll please?

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Daniel Ritchie
Saintfield, Northern Ireland - Queen's University, Belfast:History/Politics
Member of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland (Covenanter)

I voted for a Brakel: theological precision and pious warmth. Calvin would come a close second though.

As for the others I have read small(er) portions of their work so when I get around to reading them I may change my mind but I doubt it.

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Rev. Daniel Kok
Pastor of Grace Reformed Church (URCNA)
Leduc, Alberta CANADA
Church Blog

"there is no creature, either in heaven or on earth, who loves us more than Jesus Christ"
Belgic Confession, Article 26

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Gill then Reymond.

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J. M. - Baptist - Ontario, Canada - Feileadh Mor

I agree with Poimen. Brakel is theologically precise and warmth. I think Turretin comes second, Calvin in third, John Brown of Haddington in fourth and Berkhof in fifth.

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Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira
Member
Presbyterian Church in Aluminio
Mairinque, São Paulo, Brazil

Calvin all the way. If I were to need one book from my library with my Bible for the rest of my life, it'd be The Institutes. Grudem is definitely up there, and I find his systematic accurate on almost all accounts (I'd disagree with his historic pre-mil position), and I think he's written it in such a way that is easily accessible by the layman reader.

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Jacob
Sovereign Grace Ministries
Covenant Fellowship Church
West Chester, PA

"Grace renews nature; glory perfects grace." ~ John Owen
Blog - The Strasbourg Inn

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Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

I haven't read all of them, so my vote is only comparing those i have read. Here's the order i would put them from best to not best...

Charles Hodge
Robert Reymond
John Calvin
Louis Berkhof
Wayne Grudem

Robert Reymond would be #1 if he was more extensive in his work. He is right on theologically.

Charles Hodge is #1 because he is both theologically sound and has an extensive work covering many theological issues.

I have a soft spot for Calvin, but i enjoy volume 1 more than 2...i don't agree with some of his theological stances on ecclesiology, Sabbath keeping, etc. But he has a really wonderful writing style, and he was the first Reformed systematic theology that a read.

Berkhof is great because he is very easy to understand even when he tackles some tough subjects.

Grudem is also writes in a very accessible way, but his theology is not in line with mine on a few issues.

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Larry Bray
Training for Elder - Reformed Presbyterian Church of Boothwyn, PCA
Boothwyn, PA - http://www.rpcb.org/

Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net

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"The best Christian is still a poor Christian" - R.B. Kuiper

I did not vote.

I have only read Reymond's and have referenced Calvin, Berkhof, and Grudem. As soon as I read or reference them all I will vote

Herman Bavinck's three volume set has been highly recommended by friends of mine who attend Westminster (East).

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--chRis
Psalm 115:1

Christopher Reeder
Husband to Kara, Father to Abigail (7), Caleb (6), Grace (4 1/2), Zoë (3), Elijah (1 1/2) and Hannah (born 8/8/2008)

Member: Pilgrim Presbyterian Church (OPC), Raleigh, NC

You forgot Barth!

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Casey Bessette
Westminster OPC • West Suburbs of Chicago • My Blog: Paradise Regained

"It is part of the calling of the ekklesia to learn to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge and also to make known within the world of science 'the manifold wisdom of God' in order that the final end of theology, as of all things, may be that the name of the Lord is glorified. Theology and dogmatics, too, exist for the Lord's sake." — Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 1, p. 46

Casey, don't make me angry brother.

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Daniel Ritchie
Saintfield, Northern Ireland - Queen's University, Belfast:History/Politics
Member of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland (Covenanter)

Have you really read all of these Systematics? The young men on PB never cease to amaze me! I hope y'all set the world on fire! (You'll have to do it without me because I will never catch up with you guys)

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You should add to your list:

Ames
Bavinck
Witsius
and maybe G C Berkouwer

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Casey Bessette
Westminster OPC • West Suburbs of Chicago • My Blog: Paradise Regained

"It is part of the calling of the ekklesia to learn to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge and also to make known within the world of science 'the manifold wisdom of God' in order that the final end of theology, as of all things, may be that the name of the Lord is glorified. Theology and dogmatics, too, exist for the Lord's sake." — Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 1, p. 46

Yes, Bavinck definitely has to be on the list. His Reformed Dogmatics is unsurpassed, IMO.

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Wes Bredenhof
Co-pastor, Langley Canadian Reformed Church
Langley, British Columbia
www.bredenhof.ca

O, come on Daniel. You are a secret Barth-ophile. Admit it. You probably harbor a longing to luxuriate in the logic defying contradictions of his dialetical thinking.

Frankly, I would unseat Berkouwer. His 14 volumes are worth having and reading, but I disagree with his wimping out on Scripture. Yes, Ames should be added along with Bavinck.

Berkhof is a master of communicating Reformed theology in an organized and relatively concise fashion (1 volume!).

Calvin would be a given if for no other reasons than historical. However, what a goldmine!

I like Shedd and appreciate the updating of him by Biola's Gomes. He is one of the finest systematics ever produced and certainly better than anything produced by "modern evangelicals" (Gomes). Plus, it is available in Libronix format!

Hodge was a stand-by in college and seminary, although I disagree with him on a few issues (e.g., antiquity of the earth).

Reymond is probably the best of the modern Reformed theologies.

Dabney is a classic, if for no other reason than to think of Jacob and his fascination with confederate hero types.

John Gill was a BAPTIST; of course he should be on the list. I consider him somewhat hyper, but don't want to get into a fight on that one here.

Grudem has done a great service to the Christian community by writing a compendium of just about everything the Bible teaches, organized into clear and concise topics. Technical scholars fault him for thinking theology is "merely" a collection of proof texts strung together without an overt philosophy. But, it has sold more than 200,000 copies and has introduced Reformed thought to many. Plus, he is an historical pre-mill!!!

McMahon's ravings induced me to get Turretin. In seminary, Jack Rogers made him out to be the devil. McMahon's material convinced me that he was the missing link in my theological pedigree. What a precise writer!

Wilhelm a Brakel and John Brown are two I have not used much, but look forward to reading.

And, almost all of these are in either Libronix or Cross digital format.

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Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Eh? Did you say barf?

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://semperubi.rtrc.net

"Many men, after a long conversion, see more of the workings of sin in their hearts than ever they did before or at their first conversion. Now, such men have not an increase of sin, but an increase of illumination and light" (Christopher Love)


Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Please add Karl Barth. Thanks

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John
Evangelical Free Church, no offices held
Langhorne, PA

[B]δός δοξαν τῳ θεῳ.[/B]
[B]ιδου ποιω τα εσχατα ως τα πρωτα.
הבל הבלים[/B]

I voted Reymond because I am halfway through him and just over halfway through Calvin. I find Reymond clear, concise, and nice to read.

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Vaughan
BTh Student, Sydney Missionary Bible College
Naremburn Cammeray Anglican Church
Sydney, Australia
The Ransomed

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Daniel Ritchie
Saintfield, Northern Ireland - Queen's University, Belfast:History/Politics
Member of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland (Covenanter)

I have only read three from cover-to-cover (Calvin, Berkhof, Reymond) and have referred to others.

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Daniel Ritchie
Saintfield, Northern Ireland - Queen's University, Belfast:History/Politics
Member of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland (Covenanter)

Could commentaries on catechisms ever be thought as being a sort of systematic theology? I mean, Ridgley's work reads like a systematic theology . . it's just arranged according to question and answer, much like Turretin. Why not Ursinus? Then there's Bullinger's Decades -- do they count? How about Hodge's Outlines? We certainly are not in lack regarding dogmatic theologies in the Reformed tradition!

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Casey Bessette
Westminster OPC • West Suburbs of Chicago • My Blog: Paradise Regained

"It is part of the calling of the ekklesia to learn to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge and also to make known within the world of science 'the manifold wisdom of God' in order that the final end of theology, as of all things, may be that the name of the Lord is glorified. Theology and dogmatics, too, exist for the Lord's sake." — Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 1, p. 46

Grudem with Bavinck a distant second.

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J. B. Atken
John Knox PCA
Layman, M.A. student at Louisiana College