Theology

"For my own part I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that 'nothing happens' when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand."C. S. Lewis

The word theology brings certain images to mind—aged scholars in tweed jackets with leather elbow patches and thick glasses reading enormous dusty tomes in chilly rooms accessed only by a stone spiral staircase, or young university students smoking pipes and drinking black coffee while discussing the influence of Tillich on the doctrine of the hypostatic union of the the anthropic person. Academic theologians are seen as studious, patient, intellectual. . . boring.

In our postmodern culture, ideas are expressed not held. Since we can't know anything for sure, why try? Life is busy and stressful enough; we'd prefer to spend our free time doing something fun instead of poring over hard-to-understand books. And tweed passed out of fashion a long time ago (though pipes and black coffee are making a come-back).

But academic theologians aren't theology. Theology—from the Greek theos (God) and logos (to know)—is the study of God. In a broad sense we are, every one of us, theologians. Paul said even unbelievers have knowledge of God (Rom. 1:18-23). As Christians we have definite beliefs about God. Sometimes those beliefs are unclear because we haven't taken time to study them, so we downplay their importance. We act like theology is optional, claiming "no creed but Christ." But the question isn't whether we're going to have a theology or not, it's whether our theology will be true or false. Because we want true theology, we base our study on God's Word where He has revealed Himself.

Theology is intensely practical: as one fellow said, it comes out our fingertips. It's not just mental exercise, it affects everything we do. God is concerned with what we believe because it influences the way we live. As Christians, we are new creations who want to serve Him (2 Cor. 5:16-18).

Disclaimer:

Our goal is to provoke theological discussion and thought. To that end our selection of theology offers a significantly different perspective than you'll find nearly anywhere else—at least all in one place. (We don't think we're heretics.) While we aren't dogmatic in our defense of all of them, we aren't apologetic either. We don't mean to be rude or divisive, but we aren't afraid to step on toes if it leads others to reflection. We believe generous dialogue is necessary among Christians to help us clarify what we believe and introduce us to new ideas (Prov. 27:17). It is our prayer that the books we offer help unify the Church, not divide it.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

 

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by J. Gresham Machen
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2nd edition from P&R Publishing
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Forgotten Heavens
by Douglas Wilson (editor)
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Four Views on the Book of Revelation
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Frame's Systematic Theology
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Freedom of the Will
by Jonathan Edwards
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by Peter Leithart
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by John Piper
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Given for You
by Keith Mathison
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Glory of Heaven
by John MacArthur
2nd edition from Crossway Books
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$18.39
Glory of Kings
by Peter Leithart
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God Gave Wine
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God in the Dock
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God is the Gospel
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God's Passion for His Glory
by John Piper, Jonathan Edwards
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Goldsworthy Trilogy
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3rd edition from Zondervan
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Heaven and Hell
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Heaven Misplaced
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Heralds of the Reformation
by Richard Hannula
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$15.00
Hero of Heroes
by Iain Duguid
from P&R Publishing
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$9.99
Holiness of God
by R. C. Sproul
2nd edition from Tyndale House
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$17.99
Hosanna in Excelsis
by David & Barbara Leeman
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House for My Name
by Peter Leithart
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House for My Name: Questions & Answers
by Joshua Appel
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$10.00
Housewife Theologian
by Aimee Y. Byrd
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$12.99
How to Read the Bible as Literature...And Get More Out of It
by Leland Ryken
1st edition from Zondervan
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How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
by Douglas Stuart, Gordon D. Fee
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In the Splendor of Holiness
by Jon D. Payne
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$9.50
Incredible Scofield and His Book
by Joseph M. Canfield
2nd edition from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
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$24.00
Infallibility and Interpretation
by Rousas John Rushdoony & P. Andrew Sandlin
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$7.00
Institutes of Biblical Law Volume I
by R. J. Rushdoony
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$40.00 $25.00 (2 in stock)
Institutes of Biblical Law Volume II
by R. J. Rushdoony
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
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$35.00
Institutes of Biblical Law Volume III
by R. J. Rushdoony
from Chalcedon / Ross House Books
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$25.00 $16.00 (1 in stock)
Institutes of Christian Religion (abridged)
by John Calvin
from Baker Books
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in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF)
$24.00 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Institutes of the Christian Religion
by John Calvin, translated by Henry Beveridge
Revised from Hendrickson Publishers
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in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN)
$29.95
Institutes of the Christian Religion
by John Calvin, translated by Ford Lewis Battles, edited by John McNeill
from Westminster John Knox Press
Theology for 11th-Adult
in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN)
$90.00
Institutes of the Christian Religion Volume 1
by John Calvin, translated by Henry Beveridge
Revised from Canon Press
for Adult
in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN)
$16.95
Institutes of the Christian Religion Volume 2
by John Calvin, translated by Henry Beveridge
Revised from Canon Press
for Adult
in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN)
$16.95
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