Book Notices
Readers
will understand that we are not able to supply these books.
An Analysis of Herman Witsius's The Economy of the Covenants
D. Patrick Ramsey and Joel R. Beeke
Christian Focus
Publications, Scotland and Reformation Heritage Books, Grand Rapids, MI (2002)
67 pages, paper
Witsius's The Economy of the Covenants was “written to promote peace amongst theologians who were divided on
covenant theology” (from the back cover). In a day when covenant theology is coming under the microscope by covenant theologians and
receiving troubling revisions, it is vital to go back ad fontes and understand the issues of antiquity, which will help sort out the
issues of today. This book will help us do that. It offers a biography of Witsius and a detailed outline of his influential two-volume set.
A Reader’s Guide to Reformed Literature: An Annotated Bibliography of Reformed Theology
Joel R. Beeke
Reformation Heritage Books, Grand Rapids, MI (1999)
98 pages, paper
“If you’ve ever wondered where to begin reading on a given topic of Reformed
theology or wished for a succinct guide to the best books in Reformed theology, here is exactly what you need. Sound, practical advice from
a writer who read, collected, and distributed Reformed books for more than thirty years” (from the back cover).
Beeke has provided the pastor and scholar with a treasure of bibliographic information and brief comments on Reformed
theological literature from the Reformation to the present. He includes two pages of resources for Reformed literature.
This book is recommended by Sinclair Ferguson and Iain Murray and should serve the student of Reformed theology for many
years to come.
Covenant Theology in Reformed Perspective: Collected Essays and Book Reviews in Historical, Biblical, and Systematic
Theology
Mark W. Karlberg
Wipf and Stock Publishers, Eugene, OR (2000)
419 pages, paper
“Preoccupation with the biblical teaching on the covenants has long been a distinguishing trait of Reformed theology. Yet
in recent years, the covenant doctrine has increasingly become a topic of interest in evangelicalism, in large part because of the growing
rapprochement between the dispensational and nondispensational schools of interpretation. It is the contention of these collected writings,
however, that only (historic) Reformed theology provides the system of doctrine necessary for an exposition of the divine covenants which is
faithful to the teaching of Scripture. The relationship between God and humanity is, in a word, covenantal. God does not deal with his
creation apart from covenant. …With respect to the history of Christian doctrine it is the unique contribution of Reformed theology to have
developed and systematized the biblical doctrine of the covenants.....
…Following the line of Geerhardus Vos, Cornelius Van Til, and Meredith G. Kline, the author defends the traditional
interpretation of covenant theology” (from the back cover).
Though Reformed Baptists may not agree with everything Karlberg says, nonetheless, this book is a gold mine of
information on covenant theology and will help to understand the current tensions among covenant theologies.
Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms: Drawn Principally from Protestant Scholastic Theology
Richard A. Muller
Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI (second printing, September 1986, 1985)
340 pages, hardcover (Now available in paper.)
Muller has provided us with a vital tool for studying the Confession of Faith. This
book will go a long way in studying the Confession and understanding it in its context. We must go ad fontes in order to understand
our theological forebears. Muller has offered us great service to that end. Tolle Lege!
Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics (4
Volumes)
Richard
A. Muller
Baker
Academic, a division of Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, MI (2003)
2,163 pages, hardcover
“Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics is set to transform scholarship in both Europe and North America” (Willem J.
Van Asselt, from the back cover). “Few periods in the history of Christianity have been as badly neglected or as frequently misrepresented
in contemporary theological discussions as the period of Protestant orthodoxy. Richard Muller has overturned conventional wisdom on the
significance of this period and redefined the field through his careful and comprehensive analysis of the primary sources. All future work
on the history of Protestant theology from 1550 to 1800 will have to take Muller’s studies into account” (David C. Steinmetz, from the back
cover).
Many scholars in our day have painted a picture for us that views the Reformers and early Calvinists standing in contrast
to the Reformed scholastics of the late 16th and 17th centuries. Muller’s work goes to the sources (ad fontes) and proves that this
picture is a caricature not worthy of our esteem.
These volumes will go along way in aiding the serious student of the Confession to understand it in its historical and
theological environment – a much-needed enterprise in our day. Volume I discusses “Prolegomena to Theology,” volume II, “Holy Scripture,”
volume III, The Divine Essence and Attributes,” and volume IV, “The Triunity of God.” Each volume is complete with its own index, and volume
IV contains a 124 page bibliography. This is now the standard work to pursue for this much neglected and
misunderstood period of Reformed theology.
These
volumes are available from:
www.solid-ground-books.com/detail_45.asp
Reformed Dogmatics: A Compendium of Reformed Theology
Heinrich Heppe, revised and edited by Ernst Bizer, translated by G.T. Thompson
The Wakeman Trust, London (nd)
721 pages, paper
“This renowned collection of the writings of the key Reformers of the 16th century and the scholarship of the
17th century was first issued by Heppe, a German Reformed theologian and historian, in 1861. It was first issued in this English
translation by G.T. Thompson” (from the back cover).
Heppe traces the thoughts of 16th and 17th century Reformed theologians through the various loci
of theology. He gives succinct comments to help the reader along the way. This book will serve us well as we study the Confession of Faith
and seek to understand it in light of its historical-theological context. Wakeman Trust is to be thanked for reprinting this classic.
The Baptism of Disciples Alone
Fred A. Malone
Founders Press, Cape Coral, FL (2003)
320 pages, hardcover
Few men in the world, if any, are as qualified to write on this subject as Dr. Malone. This book sets out to prove that
the Bible authorizes only credobaptism, the baptism of disciples alone. Malone interacts with many paedobaptist scholars, examining their
claims in light of Scripture, the Early Church, and the Westminster Confession of Faith. Among other things, he deals with the nature of the
New Covenant and the Regulative Principle of Worship as they relate to the subjects of baptism. This book will be of great help to those who
desire a better understanding of the Reformed Baptist position for credobaptism versus paedobaptism.
The
Baptism of Disciples Alone is available from:
www.founders.org/fpress/baptism.html
A
History of Preaching (2
Volumes)
