Some bedtime reading!

In reply to Chris, regarding (short) introductions to the history of Reformed theology from the Reformation to the present, here are some of my picks. But I’m afraid that I’ve not met the criteria for providing very many short books!

Call me old fashion, but Louis Berkhof is hard to beat (though at times hard to plod through!). Though outdated, his History of Christian Doctrine and Systematic Theology are tremendous resources if you want to quickly catch up on ecclesiastical and systematic theology from a solidly Reformed perspective. The works by B. B. Warfield and John Murray are also indispensable. Additionally, the on-going translation project of Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics by the Dutch Reformed Translation Society should be noted.

I’m also a fan of the old 19th century guys (i.e. Cunningham, Dabney, A. A. Hodge, Shedd, Strong, etc.). Their works display a depth of biblical, theological, and historical (and also, logical!) acumen that I can only dream of. Here are my picks:

William Cunningham was perhaps Scotland’s greatest theologian. His two-volume Historical Theology was the product of his lectures on church history here at New College. John Macleod, in his outstanding Scottish Theology, said of HT, “This magnum opus will remain as a masterpiece in the field of historical theology in which from the standpoint of a loyal acceptance of consistent Reformed teaching he passes the thinking of the Christian centuries under review.” As good New College students, this work should be on our shelves!

Warfield considered Robert Dabney, professor at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA, the greatest of the American Southern Presbyterians. To my knowledge, his Systematic Theology was the only complete systematic text from a 19th century Southern Presbyterian perspective. For those interested, check out the excellent new biography of Dabney by Sean M. Lucas, Robert Lewis Dabney: A Southern Presbyterian Life.

A. A. Hodge was son of the great Charles Hodge. His Outlines of Theology was written for students and laymen. This is a classic work and good introduction to the Princetonians. For those not eager to plod through the three volumes of his father but want a taste of Princeton theology, this is your resource. Follows a very helpful question and answer format.

W. G. T. Shedd taught at Union Theological Seminary in New York and was a staunch Calvinist. His Dogmatic Theology is comprehensive in scope (originally in 3 hefty vols.), and has recently been re-edited (with annotations) into one, unabridged volume by Alan Gomes.

Augustus H. Strong was a professor at Rochester Theological Seminary in New York. He was a moderately reformed Northern Baptist whose Systematic Theology was a long time standard only to be replaced by M. Erickson. However, he tended towards Amyraldianism.

For quick, easy to read, overviews of church history check out S. Houghton's Sketches from Church History, Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language, Nick Needham’s 200o Years of Christ's Power, Iain D. Campbell’s Heroes and Heretics, and Robert Godfrey’s Reformation Sketches.

As to literature on dispensationalism from a Reformed perspective, Vern Poythress’s little book, Understanding Dispensationalism is fair and balanced. Michael Horton’s upcoming book on federal theology, God of Promise: Introducing Covenant Theology should also be helpful.

These are only a few references. If any other New College conventiclers have suggestions, I’d love to hear them!