The History of Christian Doctrines

The study of doctrinal truth, apart from its historical background, leads to a truncated theology. There has been too much of this in the past, and there is a great deal of it even in the present day. The result has been the lack of a sound understanding and a proper evaluation of the truth. There was no appreciation of the fact that the Holy Spirit guided the Church in the interpretation and development of the truth as it is revealed in the Word of God. The checks and the road-signs of the past were not taken into consideration, and ancient heresies, long since condemned by the Church, are constantly repeated and represented as new discoveries. The lessons of the past are greatly neglected, and many seem to feel that they should strike out entirely on their own, as if very little had been accomplished in the past. Surely, a theologian must take account of the present situation in the religious world, and ever study the truth anew, but he cannot neglect the lessons of the past with impunity. May this brief study of the history of doctrines serve to create a greater interest in such historical study, and lead to a better understanding of the truth.

Publisher: Banner of Truth
Type: Hardback
ISBN: 9780851510057

______________

Louis Berkhof (1873-1957) was born in Emmen in the Netherlands, and emigrated with his family in 1882 to Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1900, he graduated from Calvin Theological seminary and took up the pastorate of First Christian Reformed Church in Allendale, Michigan. Two years later, he went to Princeton Theological Seminary, and within two years had earned his BD degree. Then he returned to West Michigan to pastor Oakdale Park Church located in Grand Rapids. He was an outstanding teacher, and the author of some twenty-two books, including his magnum opus, Systematic Theology, first published in 1934. In 1906 Berkhof returned to his alma mater, Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, as professor, and served on the faculty for thirty-eight years until the end of his life. He was the seminary’s President from 1931.

______________

‘This work is a truly great one and it promises to retain for a long time its place among the most valuable books in theology. It is especially serviceable as a handbook on the special subject dealt with. As might be expected from a man holding so high a position in the theological world as to be in line with such princely theologians as Charles Hodge and Benjamin Warfield, the book is ably executed, and forms a worthy companion to those by the same author, which preceded it. It makes a fitting completion of the set on Dogmatics. The matter is so well arranged and marked, that as a textbook, and for convenience of reference by the ordinary reader, it is ideal in construction. Attached to each section also is a number of questions as aids to further study. A list of books on each subject is also given. These add very considerable to the value of this volume.’ The Evangelical Quarterly