What is the best one book on Reformed Theology? This is for a friend who is starting to seriously consider The Reformed Faith. He is currently reading Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem.

Thank you.

__________________
John Komenda
Symphony Bible Church
Conservative Baptist
Buffalo, New York

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. Is.65:24 ESV

How much has he studied theology?

__________________
Robert Peters
Bethal Christian Church - PCA
LAMP Theolgical Semianry Student - M.Div
Kankakee, IL

Don't know that I would suggest Grudem's. Louis Berkhof's "Systematic Theology" might be a better choice. I recently purchased mine through "CBD" for next to nothing.

__________________
Seeking Godly Wisdom,

Melissa
Baptist>Seeking Reformed Church Home
Louisville, Ky

Christ of the Covenants by Robertson or The Unfolding Mystery by Clowney.

If your looking for something more on the doctrines of grace, try Boettner's The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination.

I wouldn't start with Berkhof.

__________________
Jon Peters
Member, Reformation Fellowship (OPC) (Roseville, CA)
Folsom, CA

The books cited above are good but might be a little on the heavy side. If he's only beginning reading theology,

What is Reformed Theology by R.C. Sproul might be good.

Wouldn't consider Grudem a good representation of Reformed theology.

__________________
Ewen
1689 LBCF
Assemblies of God Bible College
Singapore

I second What is Reformed Theology by R. C. Sproul for a beginner's point of view.

__________________
Jake; Hold to Original WCF, member of SBC; Greater Atlanta, Georgia Area

The cross does not give us a minor shift or two with regard to a few of our ethical and moral and religious values; the cross radically disrupts the very center and citadel of your life from self to Christ. —Albert N. Martin

Essentials by R. C. Sproul or a Covenant Theology summary. Horton has one that sounds very good but I haven't read it.

Also there is the Westminster or London Baptist Confession of Faith or the Hiedleburg. Most people bypass those when they should be read first.

__________________

Norseman Moderator

R. Martin Snyder
1689er
http://www.puritanboard.com/blogs/puritancovenanter/

"Our object should not be to have scripture on our side but to be on the side of scripture; and however dear any sentiment may have become by being long entertained, so soon as it is seen to be contrary to the Bible, we must be prepared to abandon it without hesitation."
William Symington

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

Hortons book is the best to start with in my opinion.

The Bookstore at WSC: Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Horton, Michael S.

Then I would recommend Boettners book as well. The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination

Reformed Doctrine of Predestination - By: Loraine Boettner - Christianbook.com

__________________
Rogerant
Justified Sinner
Under Application to URCNA
Saskatchewan

Living for God's Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism :: Joel R. Beeke :: Contemporary Authors :: Modern Authors :: Monergism Books :: Reformed Books and Resources for Christians

__________________
Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


When posting friends, kindly bear those words of earthly wisdom in mind:
Oh, that God the gift would give us
To see ourselves as others see us.
--Robert Burns, 1786 (modernized) ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions? --

Amen to that Bruce. I took a class through that last year and it was very helpful

__________________
Michael P Doyle
Waukesha WI
Member of http://www.cornerstone-pca.com/
Attending http://www.lampseminary.org/

For an introductory treatment i would highly recommend...

Back to Basics: Rediscovering the Richness of the Reformed Faith

For the Westminster Confession i would highly recommend...

The Westminster Confession of Faith for Study Classes

__________________
Larry Bray
Elder - Reformed Presbyterian Church of Boothwyn, PCA
Boothwyn, PA - http://www.rpcb.org/
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
-----------------------------------------------------
Christian ritual costs nothing and is worth nothing. True Christian religion costs all that we have and is worth everything.

I've read many and have suggested many to people before but I think the best is "Living for God's Glory" cause it doesn't just talk about small reformation history or just the 5 point but gets into how Calvinism affects the entire life lived. It's really really good. I even suggest it for those "cage-stage" and "old-timer" Calvinist

__________________
jason d.
deacon @ Sovereign Joy Community Church
reformed baptist (LBC.1689)
fort worth (haltom city), texas

It's not a book, but Dr. Curt Daniel's MP3 series on the History and Theology of Calvinism was one of the major factors in my study of Calvinism. The only drawback is, there are about 75 of them.

You can find them here for free download if you want them:
"The History and Theology of Calvinism" by Curt Daniel

__________________
Jonathan
Audio Engineer
Reformed Anabaptist
Ohio

Moroni's magical glasses of proper interpretation:

I second (or third or whatever) Beeke's book for a comprehensive take on Reformed thought in an accessible package. R.C. Sproul's is a VERY easy to read and digest handling of the five points.

It all depends on if you want to deal with soteriological Calvinism (Sproul), the Covenant (Robertson), or a more comprehensive look at Reformed thought (Beeke). All three introductions do a WONDERFUL job (I just gave my older daughter who teaches at a Christian high school the Beeke volume to augment her existing commitment to the five points).

__________________
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?

If you're baptist I would suggest you would be asking for book reccomendations your self


IN all seriousness: The Reformed standards: The 3 forms of unity and The Westminster Confession of Faith.

__________________
J. P. Grigoletti II * Lay-man * Église Réformée du Québec
Québec, Québec Canada * Member: Église Reformée St. Marc
http://Grigoletti.blogspot.com - blog
<<There are three things necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily: the first, how great your sins and miseries are; the second, how thou may be delivered from all thy sins and miseries; the third, how thou shall express thy gratitude to God for such deliverance.>>

Sproul has a nice Reformed Theology tape set.. It may be on CD as well but my church has it on tape.

__________________
Nick Jenkins
Pilgrim Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Lapeer, MI

Larry, I agree on the WCF book. I am walking through it with a friend starting this Tuesday morning over coffee. I have read some and it is good.

Just wanted to thank you all for the book recommendations.

Great link Skyler

Two great books for someone just starting to learn about the reformed faith are:

What is Reformed Theology by R.C. Sproul

Debating Calvinism { five points, two views } by Dave Hunt & James White

__________________
Tony Hipps
Youth Minister, SBC
Acworth, GA

In HIS service

• The Three Forms of Unity and The Westminster Standards (or if you're a Baptist, the 1689 Confession of Faith, The Baptist Catechism, and the Orthodox Catechism) along with Thomas Vincent's "Shorter Catechism Explained From Scripture" and Thomas Watson's "Body of Divinity"
• The Goldsworthy Trilogy by Graeme Goldsworthy
• The Symphony of Scripture: Making Sense of the Bible’s Many Themes by Mark Strom
• Our Reasonable Faith: A Survey of Christian Doctrine by Herman Bavinck
• A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith by Robert L. Reymond

__________________
junior
Deacon
First Baptist Church of Richland Hills, Texas
Owning the 1677 Baptist Confession of Faith, 1680 Orthodox Catechism, & 1693 Baptist Catechism