Reformed Essentials
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People always talk about Calvin, but how many actually read Calvin? I prefer the Allen translation, but this is the best translation currently in print. The notes are useful, but suspect in places. If you are Reformed and don't read or own Calvin, shame on you!
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Finally, Herman Bavinck's magisterial four-volume Gereformeerde Dogmatiek is being translated into English. This is volume one, with two others listed below. This is great stuff-even though it is a bit dated. Wise, faithful to biblical text, and draws upon the wealth of our tradition. This is worth owning and reading.
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See above
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While I advocate reading each of the Reformed confessions as a distinct document, it is valuable to see what they have in common and where they differ. This volume is very helpful this regard.
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The high-water mark of Reformed orthodoxy. Glad to have this available. Highly recommended.
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Dr. Muller has performed a great service for us. These four volumes make accessible some of the finest theological gold of the Reformed tradition. I only wish he'd keep going! I'm still hoping for an updated version of Heppe.
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Dennis Johnson's wonderful book is intended for preachers. But it should be read by all who sit in the pews as well. This book is a wonderful guide not only to those who proclaim, but will give those who listen an idea about what to be listening for, namely, Christ from all of Scripture. This is a great book and sets forth the Christ-centered hermeneutic which is the foundation (or should be) of all preaching, reading and Bible study. Get this one and read it!
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Vos made biblical theology the center of modern Reformed theological reflection. This is a profound and important book. Very helpful.
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Some of Vos' best work is found in this compilation of essays. There is some great stuff here--especially his articles on covenant theology, Pauline eschatology and redemption.
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How do we as Reformed Christian engage in the theological enterprise in a post-modern world? Michael offers a way forward which is thoroughly grounded in the past--historic covenant theology. All young theologians and seminarians need to read this!
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In volume two of what, Lord willing, will be a four-volume series, Michael continues the theme of grounding our theology in covenant and eschatology. Very important and ground-breaking stuff.
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This is the third in Michael's projected four-volume prolegomena to Reformed theology. In this book, Michael responds to the New Perspectives on Paul (NPP) and Radical Orthodoxy (RO).
Michael's evaluation of the Sanders, Dunn, Wright approach to Paul is brilliant. Michael argues that NPP defenders fail to properly distinguish between covenants of works and covenants of grace. Thus Sanders can't explain Paul, Dunn and Wright err by see Paul as more influenced by Second Temple Judaism that reacting against its errors.
This one is highly recommended. My sense is that it will become the definitive Reformed response to NPP and related errors.
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OK--this is like Calvin. If you claim to be Reformed and don't read and own Warfield, shame on you. I've spent years reading and interacting with the Lion of Princeton and have yet to run across a single thing that made me say, "you've got to be kidding!" Well, OK, maybe one place--that the restrainer mentioned by Paul in 2 Thessalonians was the second Jewish commonwealth. But Warfield is a theological giant. Everything he writes is clear and profound. Must reading--especially when this set is so cheap!
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Simply put, there are some great essays to be found here.
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This is a profound and brilliant book. This one and Kingdom Prologue are simply amazing. This is the box-top to the puzzle--a metanarrative which actually makes sense! Kline gets a bad rap from people who haven't taken the time to read him. If I hear one more time that he's a theological liberal because of his view on creation (the so-called Framework Hypothesis), I'm going to pull my hair out. Wait, I already did that! Kline is an ardent defender of inerrancy, the historicity of Adam, a covenant of works, and justification via imputed righteousness. But then he did take on the theonomists, so that explains the militancy of the opposition against him.
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Though quite dated and not easy to read, this is still an important book, about a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith. Highly recommended.
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This is a great resource. Covers all the key people and movements with helpful introductory articles.




