Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) Robert Reymond, Bio-note, Outline of "A New Systematic Theology"


        Reymond, Robert L. A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.


Three things: (1) a brief Wiki-bio, (2) a reviewer from amazon.com, and (3) an outline of the volume.

“First, a brief Wiki-bio.  Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) Robert L. Reymond is a Christian theologian of the Protestant Reformed tradition. He is best known for his New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith (1998). Reymond holds B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees from Bob Jones University and has taught at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and at Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After resigning from Knox in January 2008, he accepted a call as regular pulpit supply of Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church, a new congregation in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

“Reymond has written a book on Paul entitled Paul Missionary Theologian (2003) and another about Jesus called Jesus Divine Messiah (2003). Other books include a short biography called John Calvin: His Life and Influence (2004) and Contending for the Faith: Lines in the Sand That Strengthen the Church (2005), The God-Centered Preacher, The Reformation's Conflict with Rome: Why It Must Continue, What is God, and The Lamb of God.”

Second, one reviewer at amazon.com says this:

“Anyone interested in learning about conservative Presbyterian & Reformed (from now on P & R) theology should consult this book. Coming from a Calvinistic Baptist background there are certainly a number of things that I would disagree with in the book. However, Reymond has done a very good job presenting P & R theology in a clear but scholarly fashion. Though many will complain that the book is not balanced and treats some subjects superficially, Reymond's objective was to articulate what the P & R tradition teaches rather than giving us a comprehensive systematic theology (try Erickson's instead). Some P & R people will find that Reymond is too logical rather than biblical and that he relies on Gordon Clark too heavily for his view on revelation, God's nature, the atonement, election, and theodicy. For example, Reymond is unapologetically supralapsarian in his view of the decrees (pp. 488-502) and insists that whatever comes to pass is good because it is willed by God (see section on theodicy on pp. 376-8). Also, his view of Christ's eternality is also controversial departing from the standard Nicene view (a view which I disagree with Reymond). However, you have to give him good marks for trying to defend his particular position. Besides these questionable positions, Reymond does an excellent job defending a very high-view of the inspiration of Scripture (liberal "Christians" perhaps should read up on this section). He also does a good job defending the typical Calvinist understanding of fallen man (that fallen man is totally depraved and unable to save himself). Another aspect of this book I like is the way he presents the orthodox Reformed understanding of the covenants of the Bible. He follows the traditional Westminsterian scheme of a dual covenant of works/covenant of grace structure (covenant of works=meritorious salvation; covenant of grace=salvation by faith in Christ alone). Though I do not agree with this structure, Reymond has given us a good treatment of the topic from a historic Reformed perspective. His section on soteriology is very well done (following the traditional Reformed schema) and his section on ecclesiology is very informative (espousing the Presbyterian and paedobaptist perspective). His section on eschatology could have been better. He writes from an amillennial perspective, but gives lots of Scripture passages to defend his viewpoint (however, many will find his sections on the divergent views of eschatology very informative [pp. 981-6 and 1067-93]). The appendices are also useful--even giving us a brief treatment on the Calvinistic TULIP (pp. 1125-6). Finally, the bibliography section on other systematic theologies is very handy for theology students (pp. 1133-42). One final note before I close. Someone below was disappointed because Reymond didn't really interact with the so-called New Perspective on Paul. Reymond does this in his book on Paul's theology. This book was not a place for Reymond to interact heavily with this growing movement. However, the New Perspective is a new movement that is trying to influence (I should say infiltrate) the P & R tradition. Reymond defends the orthodox Protestant view of justification (pp. 739-56); the New Perspective is trying to destroy the teachings of the past 500 years. Reymond does briefly discuss Daniel Fuller's and E. P. Sanders' views on pp. 431-3 and p. 1116 (footnote), respectively. Reymond does a convincing job telling the readers that the view of justification and law promoted by these two authors (faith+ works = justification) is a departure from Reformed (and Protestant) orthodoxy. Reymond is not trying to put-down "biblical theology" here, but trying to defend the correct view of justification by faith alone (sola fide). Those who have a problem with Reymond on this issue are those people who are trying to legitimize their stay within the Protestant tradition while denying a major tenet of the tradition (perhaps they should find a different home to espouse their works-salvation gospel). Only one perspective is right--both cannot be. This book is a must read for all who are interested in P & R theology.”

Now, for the outline.

Preface

Introduction

        Justification of theology as an intellectual discipline

Christ’s own theological method

Church’s mandate to disciple the nations

Apostolic model

Activity of New Testament Church

Divine inspiration and authority of Holy Scripture

The Theological Task—general and specific aspects

Part One—A Word from Another World

1.  Fact of Divine Revelation

A.  Revelational Process—Old Testament and New Testament Evidence

B.  Neo-orthodox objection

C.  Language philosophy’s objection

2.  Inspired nature of Scripture

A.  Bible message’s “revealedness”—Old and New Testament evidence

B.  Bible’s “inspiredness”

C.  Christ’s authentication of Scripture

D. New Testament writers’ identification of Scripture with God’s Word

E.  Hermeneutical implications

3.  Attributes of Holy Scripture

A.  Bible’s necessity

B.  Bible’s inspiration—formation and close of the Canon,
Biblical infallibility

C.  Bible’s authority

D. Bible’s Self-authentication

E.  Bible’s Self-sufficiency

F.  Bible’s Perspicuity

G. Bible’s Finality

4.  Nature of Biblical Truth

A.  Nature of Bible’s assertions about God and our resultant knowledge of God

B.  Paradox as a hermeneutical category

5.  Bible as the Ποΰ Στω for knowledge and personal significance

 

A.  Justification of knowledge

B.  Justification of man’s personal significance

 

Part Two—God and Man

 

6.  Introduction to the Doctrine of God

A.  The One True God

B.  Why I believe in the God of the Bible—ontological and empirical arguments

7.  Names and nature of God

A.  Significant titles and names of God

B.  Nature of God

i.    Relation between God’s nature and God Himself

ii.  Classification of the attributes

iii.Analysis of the definition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism

iv. Excursus on God’s glory

v.   God is a Spirit

vi. Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Being

a.   Infinite in His Being

b.  Unchangeable in His Being

c.   Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Wisdom

d.  Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Power

e.   Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Holiness

f.    Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Justice

g.   Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Goodness

h.  Infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Truth

8.  God as Trinity

A.  Revelation Ground

B.  Historical nature of its revelation

C.  Deity of the Son

a.   Old Testament prediction of a Divine Messiah

b.  Jesus’ Self-Testimony to His Deity

i.    “Son of Man”

ii. “Son (of God)”

iii. Unity of the son and the Father

iv. Son’s eternal pre-Existence

v. Jesus’ acts

vi. Jesus divine attributes

vii.       Jesus’ Teach

c.   Paul’s Christology

d.  Non-

e.   Pauline New Testament witness

i.      James’s Christology

ii.    Christology of Hebrews

iii.  Synopticists’ Christology

iv.   Jude’s Christology

v.     John’s Christology

f.    Old Testament Yahweh passages applied to Jesus

g.   A summary of Θεος, Theos, as a Christological title

h.  The Deity and Personal subsistence of the Holy Spirit

9.  The Trinity in the Creeds

A.  Analysis of the Nicene Creed and its Christology

a.   Major affirmations

b.  Three issues

i. Meaning of “Person”

ii. Relation of the Three to the One

iii. Father’s Eternal Generation of the Son

B.  Analysis of the Niceo-Constantinopolitan Creed’s Pneumatology

C.  Westminster’s Trinitarianism: Nicene or Reformed?

10.    The Eternal Decree of God

A.  Debate over divine sovereignty and human freedom

B.  Pinnock’s thesis

C.  Pinnock’s proposal analyzed—failure to solve the problem and faulty norm for theological construction

D. Biblical perspective—Old and New Testament illustrations

E.  Why God is not the Author or chargeable cause of sin

F.  Biblical theodicy

G. Critique of Pinnock’s specific errors—Adam’s creation and fall, man’s cumulative degeneration, God’s counteractive grace

11.    God’s Works of Creation and Providence

A.  God’s Works of Creation

a.   Historical integrity of Genesis 1-11

b.  Creatio Ex Nihilo? –New Jewish version (NJV) and the Anchor Bible (AB) Genesis

c.   Days of creation

d.  Age of the universe

e.   Purpose of the created universe

B.  God’s works of providence

a.   Ordinary works of providence

b.  Special works of providence—covenant of works, covenant of grace and Heilsgeschichte, revelatory process and miracles

12.   Biblical View of Man

A.  Man as Covenant Creature of God

a.   Constituent elements of human nature

b.  Origin of the soul

c.   Man as the Imago Dei—Biblical data, syntactical significance, and nature of image

B.  The Covenant of Works

a.   Exegetical basis for the presence of a covenant in Genesis 2

b.  Nature of the Genesis 2 covenant

c.   Representative feature of the covenant of works

d.  Covent’s continuing normativeness

C.  Man as Covenant Breaker

a.   Nature of the fall

b.  Seven effects of the fall

D. Natural state of fallen man

a.   Total depravity

b.  Total inability

c.   Real guilt

Part Three—Our “So Great Salvation”

13.  God’s Eternal Plan of Salvation

A.  Fact and central elements of God’s eternal plan

a.   God’s eternal purpose

b.  Christ’s Cross-work in the plan

c.   God’s foreknowledge and predestination of the elect in the plan

d.  Election of men in the plan

B.  Nature of God’s eternal plan

a.   Who saves men?

b.  How does God save men?

c.   In whom does God do His saving work?

d.  For whom did Christ do His Cross work?

e.   Amyraldian scheme

C.  Principle governing the order of the decrees

a.   Infralapsarianism: historical principle

b.  Supralapsarianism: teleological principle—primacy of the particularizing principle, two exegetical objections considered, purposing principle governing the rational mind, four theological objections considered

14.  The Unity of the Covenant of Grace

A.  Five arguments for the unity of the covenant of grace

a.   Salvific definitiveness of the Abrahamic covenant

b.  Salvific principles exhibited in Exodus

c.   Prophecies of Moses and the Prophets concerning the New Testament age

d.  Church of Jesus Christ as the present day expression of the one people of God

e.   Identical requisite conditions of salvation in both Testaments

B.  A disclaimer and response

C.  Critique of the dispensationalists’ scriptural rationale

a.   Matthew 13.11; 17.34-35

b.  Ephesians 3.2-6; Colossians 1.25-27

c.   Two tragic implications

15.    Supernatural Christ of history

A.  Historicity of Jesus’ virginal conception—Biblical views, church testimony and purpose of virginal conception

B.  Historicity of Jesus’ miracles—Biblical data, critical responses, evangelical responses, significance

C.  Historicity of Jesus’ transfiguration—background, historicity, “metamorphosis” itself, voice from the cloud, disciples’ question

D. Historicity of Jesus’ resurrection

a.   First strand of evidence: the empty Tomb—stolen body theory, swoon theory

b.  Second strand of evidence: Jesus’ post-crucifixion—appearances, critical views considered

E.  Historicity of Jesus’ Ascension

a.   Biblical data

b.  Its significance

16.    The Christ of the Early Councils

A.  Apostolic Fathers

B.  Apologists

C.  Anti-Gnostic Fathers

D. Origen of Alexandria

E.  Monarchism

F.  Arian controversy and the Council of Nicaea

G. Appollinarianism and the Council of Constantinople

H. Nestorianism and the Council of Ephesus

I.    Eutychianism and the Council of Chalcedon

a.   Analysis of the definition of Chalcedon and its Christology

b.  Departures from the definition

17.  The Character of the Cross Work of Christ

A.  Body of Christ

B.  Blood of Christ

C.  Cross of Christ

D. Death of Christ

E.  Christ’s entire life “one righteous act” of obedience—Biblical data, character of obedience, purpose of obedience

F.  Christ’s Cross Work an obedient work of sacrifice

a.   Work as High Priest

b.  Work as the Lamb of God

c.   Work as a Sacrifice

d.  Work as an Offering

e.   Significance of His Death as a Sacrifice

G. Christ’s Obedient Cross Work of Propitiation—expiation or propitiation?, pagan or Christian?

H. Christ’s Obedient Cross Work of Redemption

a.   Deliverance by power or redemption by price?—Testimonies of Jesus, Peter, John, Hebrews, Paul

b.  Redemption Godward Reference

c.   Redemption Man-ward Reference

I.    Christ’s Obedient Cross Work of Destruction

a.   Satan’s names and titles

b.  Satan’s actions

c.   Power-aspects of the kingdom of darkness

d.  Christ’s triumphant kingdom activity over Satan

J.   Summary of the Scriptural categories of Christ’s Cross Work

K.  The Absolute Necessity of Christ’s Cross Work

L.   Perfection of Christ’s Cross Work

18.    Divine Design Behind the Cross Behind the Cross Work of Christ

A.  Ten lines of evidence for the doctrine of particular redemption

a.   Particularistic vocabulary of Scripture

b.  God’s redemptive love not inclusive of fallen angels

c.   Irreversible condition of lost men already in hell when Christ died

d.  Limited number of people by divine arrangement, who actually hear the Gospel

e.   Christ’s High Priestly work restricted to the elect

f.    The Father’s particularistic salvific will and work

g.   Implication in the particularity of the gift of faith

h.  Intrinsic efficacy of Christ’s Cross Work necessarily exclusivistic

i.    An atonement of high value necessarily exclusive of an atonement of universal extension

j.    Exposition of allegedly universalistic passages—the “all” passages, the “world” passages, the “Christians can perish” passages

19.   Application of the Benefits of the Cross Work of Christ

A.  Scriptural warrant for the aspects and order of application

a.   Skeletal framework of the Ordo in ‘Romans 8.29-30: effectual calling, justification, and sanctification

b.  Position of repentance unto life in the skeletal framework

c.   Position of faith in Jesus Christ in the skeletal framework

d.  Positions of adoption and regeneration in the skeletal framework: adoption and regeneration

e.   Position of definitive sanctification in the skeletal framework

f.    Positions of progressive sanctification and perseverance in holiness in the skeletal framework

g.   The completed order of application

B.  The specific acts and processes in the order of application

a.   Two divine acts: effectual calling and regeneration
(new birth)

b.  Two divine-human activities (conversion)—repentance unto life, faith in Jesus Christ

c.   Union with Christ

d.  Three divine acts: justification, definitive sanctification, adoption and the sealing of the Spirit

e.   Two divine-human activities—progressive sanctification and perseverance of the saints

f.    A final divine act—glorification

Part Four—the Church

20.    Nature and foundation of the Church

A.  “Assembly” in the Old Testament

B.  “Assembly” in the New Testament: Jesus’ use of Ekklesia in Mt. 16.18; 18.17; Acts 1-12; James, Paul’s Letters, Hebrews, Peter’s Letters, Jude, John’s Letters, John’s Apocalypse

21.    Attributes and Marks of the Church

A.  Attributes of the True Church—oneness, holiness, catholicity, apostolicity

B.  Papal interpretation of the Church

C.  Protestant “marks” of the true Church—true proclamation of the “Word,” right administration of the sacraments, faithful exercise of discipline

D. Confessional witness to the marks of the True Church

22.  Authority and Duties of the Church

A.  Authority of the Church—source and nature

B.  Duties of the Church

a.   Worship and serve God

b.  Confess the truth

c.   Evangelize and grow the Church

d.  Administer the sacraments

e.   Minister to the saints—nature, scope and goal of ministry

f.    Govern its own affairs—authority to enforce the laws of Christ, authority to draw up constitutions and manuals of church order, authority to discipline the unruly and reprobate, authority to separate itself from error and unbelief

g.   Duty to perform deeds of benevolence and mercy

23.      Government of the Church

A.    Presbyterianism—history, duties of Elders, qualifications of Elders, Diaconate, connectionalism

B.    Episcopacy

C.    Congregationalism

D.   Erastianism

E.    Significance of Presbyterian Church government

24.      Church’s Means of Grace

A.    Word of God as a means of grace—efficacy, ministry of Word

B.    Sacraments as means of grace

a.   Baptism—Old Testament background, institution, import, apostolic baptisms in the New Testament, exposition of the Pauline references to baptism, mode, paedobaptism, efficacy

C.    Lord’s Supper—terminology, institution, observance, relation of Christ’s presence in the elements, import

D.   Prayer as means of grace—Biblical vocabulary, prayer in the Bible, significant discourses on prayer in church history, efficacy of prayer

 

Part Five—Last Things

25.    Biblical Eschatology

A.  Debate over Eschatology—classic liberals, consistent eschatology, realized eschatology, existential eschatology, dispensational eschatology

B.  Old Testament eschatology

C.  New Testament eschatology—John the Baptist, John’s Eschatology, Kingdom parables, Olivet discourse, miscalculation of the parousia by Jesus?, summary

D. James’s Eschatology

E.  Jude’s Eschatology

F.  John’s Eschatology—John’s Gospel, John’s Epistolary Eschatology, John’s Apocalypse

26.      Downgrade Trends in Contemporary Eschatology

A.    Denial of the literal return of Christ

B.    Eternal punishment construed as annihilation

C.    Non-necessity of conscious faith in Christ for final salvation

 

Appendices

A.  Two modern Christologies

B.  New Testament Antilegomena

C.  Historicity of Paul’s conversion

D. Anselm’s satisfaction view of the atonement

E.  Five points of Calvinism

F.  Whom does the man in Romans 7.14-25 represent?

G. Selected general bibliography

Indexes—Biblical references, persons, and subjects

 

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