Ok. So I have passed the Licensure exam. What this means for me is that the intensive reading over the last 9 months between failing my first licensure exam back in March and passing my second licensure exam last week has come and gone.

What I need is some reading advice. I would like to get one work, preferably a Systematic Theology or a Collected Works but I would also consider stand alone treatises, that you think I should spend time attempting to really know well. I want to spend a good deal of time on it so length is not an issue. I would also like to hear why you think I should read it. Also I would like an accountability partner(s) who will challenge me and keep me not only on task but make sure I am understanding the work.

I realize this is asking a lot but wanted to throw it out there for your consideration.

Thank You and Blessings,

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

Deo Vindice

*bump*

Any suggestions at least?

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Kevin Rogers
Sovereign Community Church, PCA
Moncton NB

I have that. Good idea.

Well, obviously there's a lot of good books out there. What about some enormous, theologically oriented commentary, like Davenant on Colossians? It would force you to become very familiar with Colossians, and you'd become familiar with a lot of other information at the same time - historical notes on the people Davenant mentions, and those theological loci upon which Colossians impinges.

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Ruben
Moderator
F.P.C.I.
Indiana

Vanities and disguises have covered us, and thereby we are naked; licenciousness hath inflam'd us, and thereby we are frozen; voluptuousness hath fed us, and thereby we are sterved, the fancies and traditions of men have taught and instructed us, and thereby we are ignorant.
John Donne

Board Rules - Signature Requirements - Suggestions?

Calvinistas Conversando
Teología en Mexico
The Howling Wilderness

Any last words?

What about,

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John
Member
Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net

Well, there is Bavinck's four-volume Reformed Dogmatics.

Why read Bavinck? Unlike most systematics, reading him is like reading a devotional. Breath-taking!

AMR

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Patrick
Member, PCA
Chandler, AZ
ReformedTheologyInstitute.com

I fear explanations explanatory of things explained.

I'd second Herman Bavinck. Full of wisdom, scripture and devotion to God. He says almost everything that needs to be said about Reformed Dogmatics.

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Keith
Pastoral Worker and MDiv Student, PCI
Ballymoney, Northern Ireland

Given that mastering a work involves, to some extent, the work mastering you it is obvious that it should be a classic, mainstream Reformed work that you engage with.

As my old ST professor (Derek Thomas) said, "Pick a hobby theologian and read him the rest of your life."

Actually he said, pick two. But the first one he picked for us, John Calvin. The other one was up to us. I'm still wrestling with my second. Owen, Boston, and Bavinck are on my short list. I've also considered Augustine or Chrysostom. But I haven't decided yet.

Calvin's Institutes are classic and devotional. You can read them over and over again with profit. And as you prepare sermons and Bible studies, you can work through his commentaries and sermons. It won't be long before you've read quite a bit of him and seen a pastor applying theology well.

The other one is up to you, but I encourage you to pick someone whom you're interested in, and who has contributed greatly in church history both as a theologian and a pastor (i.e. not Rushdoony!).

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Patrick
MDiv, RTS Jackson
Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church (OPC), Lisbon, NY

"He does well, that discourses of Christ; but he does infinitely better, that by experimental knowledge, feeds and lives on Christ." Thomas Brooks.
"Let us not please ourselves that we have deep understandings, but let us shew our understandings by our practice." Richard Sibbes

My two "hobby theologians" (I have never heard it put that way but that is humorously accurate) have been Thomas Manton and of late, more seriously Joseph Caryl. I think I will be reading Caryl for quite a while!

One thing I have found helpful is picking men who have written voluminously on Scripture passages. With Caryl, for instance, I am using him regularly as I prepare sermons in Job. In your study of Scripture, as a previous poster mentioned you are also getting far more including theology, history, pastoral insights. "Practical Observations on Job" is a veritable body of divinity in addition to being sermons/commentary.

I would echo the suggestion to choose something like that, that is comprehensive in terms of exegesis, theology, and experiential/pastoral.

Obviously my own bias is towards the Puritans as masters in all these areas. Get a "Complete works" set and work though them.

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

I think you should pick the bible book(s) you love the most, and then go from there. Like say you just love Isaiah, or the gospel of John, or one of Paul's epistles. Or you just love some bible subject in a systematic theology. First pick the bible thing you love and then pick the book.

If you are really into preaching doctrine you might love certain bible books (say Romans)that are different than what a guy who does a lot of one on one counseling loves (maybe psalms). And a missionary might be drawn to certain subjects more than a pastor at an established church. If this was a dispensational board I am sure it would be Daniel and Revelation! Or pretend you are locked in prison or on a deserted island and somebody can smuggle in just a small part of the bible, what part do you most want to have? Think of your most fervent bible passion, and after that choose a book that goes with it.

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Lynnie

PCA

Central NJ

I would recommend slowly but surely working your way through Turretin's Institutes in order to become conversant (a) with historic reformed theology in its totality, and not just pet subjects; and (b) with historic errors and the real state of the question which exists between them and the reformed position as well as the essential scriptural argumentation for the reformed position. It will equip a modern minister to tackle all the variant theologies which will be encountered today.

Be careful to avod making too much of any one theologian. Follow Jesus Christ, and follow theologians only in so far as they lead you to Jesus Christ. Having said that, it is a good idea to systematically work through a theologian's works. If polemics and/or experiential theology is your forte, Rutherford or Owen would be an excellent choice. Manton or Boston are good suggestions for ministers of the Word; their works are essentially their pulpit ministrations (especially Manton) and this was their life's work. Whatever theologian is chosen, make sure he continually brings you back to the marrow of the gospel -- salvation by grace through faith. If you are continually being led into "issues" it will only serve to sidetrack you from your life's work. The aforementioned theologians all do a brilliant job of presenting every man perfect in Christ.

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Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."