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Wayne Grudem’s "Systematic Theology": A Brief Review

I like studying theology. In fact, I’ve read a handful of systematic theologies throughout the years and liked every one of them. If theology simply means “the study of God” then it would figure that most Followers of Jesus should engage in theology at some level. So if you find yourself wanting to better ground your mind and heart theologically let me highly recommend Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology.
It is clear, accessible and sincere. When you read it you don’t feel like you must have an interpreter with a seminary Ph.D next to you whispering what the text says in a layperson’s language. And yet for all of its “down-to-earth” nature it is robustly comprehensive, fair-minded when presenting diverging views and saturated with Scripture (not just Scripture references). It is a serious theology for serious Christians.

Grudem is upfront about his perspective (biblically-based and defended) being Reformed. He is responsibly (and I stress responsibly) charismatic and follows a Baptist perspective on baptism. Yet along with these convictions he graciously highlights other views from the church on these issues leaving you with a corpus that feels both focused and ecumenical.

This fall I’ve led our church’s Spiritual Formation Team through this book. I think I can say with confidence that each person thoroughly enjoyed his work. Even those who had never studied systematic theology before were greatly taken with Grudem’s effort. His theology so well mirrors our church’s that we’ve used his smaller Christian Beliefs as the doctrinal instruction for our small group leaders. Needless to say, we feel very blessed to have encountered Dr. Grudem’s work.

This evening I finished the last two chapters (the entire book is around 1200 pages in length) and thought I’d give it a plug before putting it on the shelf (though I’m confident it will come down from it frequently).

Go pick yourself up a copy, read it in community and grow in the grace and knowledge of God.

UPDATE: Here is the reading schedule I put together for our team.

Picture of Yancey Arrington
Dr. Yancey C. Arrington is an eighth generation Texan, Acts 29 Network and Houston Church Planting Network fan, and Teaching Pastor at Clear Creek Community Church in the Bay Area of Houston. He is also author of Preaching That Moves People and TAP: Defeating the Sins That Defeat You, and periodically writes for Acts 29 and The Gospel Coalition.

5 thoughts on “Wayne Grudem’s "Systematic Theology": A Brief Review”

  1. The Missional Position

    Yes, yes. I am so much of a nerd that I have often given this as a gift to friends, family, and my youth group kids going off to college. I too have used the Christian Beliefs for students and youth workers.

    My wife has scolded me a time a two when one of my cousins (we draw names on my mom’s side) opens up their Christmas gift and is less then ‘wow’ed.

    But really, it was between that and the Die Hard DVD Collection and I am pretty sure they have seen all those!!!

    Great to reconnect with you on facebook and I love randomly coherent blogs. My blog is what we will call ‘sporadic’ and ‘incohesive’

    Michael

  2. Gucci Little Piggy

    C-Land,

    I broke it down into a reading schedule staying around 40 page “chunks”. We started in September and finish next week. So it takes a semester essentially.

    I’ll try to post it tomorrow or so. If I can’t I’ll send it to you.

  3. Gucci Little Piggy

    Michael,

    “The Missional Position” has to be the funniest blogger title ever. If you didn’t mean it to be funny then I repent.

    …maybe…

    😉

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