Reformed Dogmatics - volume 2

Reformed Dogmatics - volume 22nd edition One of Christianity Today's Best Books of the Year in 1968! This is the second in a two volume series titled Reformed Dogmatics by Herman Hoeksema. A clear, systematic study and exposition of Reformed theology written by a man who held the Chair of Dogmatics for some forty years at the Protestant Reformed seminary, the book is divided into the six generally accepted branches of theology (theology, anthropology, Christology, soteriology,

2nd edition

One of Christianity Today's Best Books of the Year in 1968!

This is the second in a two-volume series titled Reformed Dogmatics by Herman Hoeksema. A clear, systematic study and exposition of Reformed theology written by a man who held the Chair of Dogmatics for some forty years at the Protestant Reformed seminary, the book is divided into the six generally-accepted branches of theology (theology, anthropology, Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology). This scholarly work is logical, Scripturally sound, and faithful to the Reformed creeds and traditions.

What others are saying about these books:

"This is Herman Hoeksema’s greatest book, and he did not live to see it published. Reformed Dogmatics is the deposit of the mature thinking of an authentic theologian; it displays a breadth of thought and a richness of insight and originality little known to those who knew the author only in terms of that theological controversy which created his public image but overshadowed his theological stature." - James Daane

"We should not leave the narrower sphere of dogmatics without a reference to this very substantial attempt at a comprehensive theological statement. At a time when flighty faddism threatens to destroy true theology, it is good to have some more solid works. Persevering and judicious reading of this work will probably contribute more to genuine theological education than skimming through the latest Pseudo doctrinal "thrillers." - Geoffrey W. Bromiley, professor of church history and historical theology at Fuller Seminary, and translator of Karl Barth’s “Church Dogmatics”

"Hoeksema's summa, a modern statement of Reformed theology (with its insistence on total depravity and amillennialism), attempts to synthesize truth exegeted from Scripture into a systematic whole." - Robert L. Cleath

"A solid work of theology...In Reformed circles, Herman Hoeksema is well known as a clear, exegetical, Reformed theologian. His Reformed Dogmatics is the most concise expression of his theology. The original work was published in 1966, a year after Hoeksema died. The original preface, written by the author’s son Homer C. Hoeksema, points out that the Dogmatics is the fruit of more than thirty years of teaching and writing in the area of dogmatics...This theologian’s strengths are evident especially in three areas. First, Herman Hoeksema is exegetical in his development of the doctrine. In this work, Hoeksema is at pains to demonstrate that the doctrine is squarely based on exegesis of Scripture. Secondly, Hoeksema is faithful to the Reformed confessions. Consciously and deliberately he takes his stance within the bounds of the Reformed confessions with which he agrees, and seeks to lift these Reformed doctrines to a higher state of development and clarity. Thirdly, Herman Hoeksema is nothing if not clear. He has a gift for making plain for the reader the difficult doctrines. These three qualities make Reformed Dogmatics a tremendously valuable work both for theologians and for all Reformed believers." - Russell J. Dykstra

"This is indeed the 'major work' produced by the author in 'his many-sided and busy ministry of almost fifty years,' and it is an excellent contribution to the 'Reformed exposition of the faith once delivered to the saints.' Those who are enthusiastically Reformed will applaud the author’s insistence that 'dogmatics must be faithful to the Scriptures, and therefore thoroughly exegetical...must be theologically construed, and must therefore be theocentric...and must be faithful to the Reformed Creeds and to the dogma of the church.' One finds in this volume much traditional theology. This is its strength, not its weakness. Prominence is given to authors who have attained stature, and to views which have stood the test of time. The emphasis is not on that which is new, but on that which is true. Unswerving loyalty to the infallible Word of God and deep appreciation for the views developed by a Spirit guided church, are the diapason of this theological music. Because of this, the annoying and even disastrous relativism in much current theological discussion is blessedly absent. Certainty, clarity, precise formulation, and thorough organization are, as they have always been, the author’s stock-in-trade." - George Gritter

"An unashamed dogmatician, Hoeksema took strong positions. His rare stance as a supralapsarian makes his treatment of election and related matters interesting to the student. Little space is devoted to defense. The Scriptures and Reformed confessional statements, extensively quoted, settle matters. Frequent appeals to the divine sovereignty buttress views...There is a frequent eloquence...that will make the student want to go further." - Adrian DeYoung, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Prattville, Ala.

"Recent offerings in the field of theology have been vast and varied, all the way from good biblical studies to the so-called Christian atheism. Of particular interest to evangelicals interested in serious doctrinal study is the posthumous work of Herman Hoeksema, Reformed Dogmatics. This is a solid work representing the mature thought of a thorough-going Reformed theologian. Replete with Scriptural documentation, Hoeksema’s work goes beyond simply proof-texting in many cases to enhance its value with exegetical discussion of key doctrinal passages.” - Dr. R. L. Saucy (The King's Business, August 1968)

Read reviews by Russell J. Dykstra (the Standard Bearer) and M. Eugene Osterhaven (Christianity Today).

Herman Hoeksema (HH) (1886-1965) was ordained into the ministry in the Christian Reformed Church in 1915. He is considered one of the founding "fathers" of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America. He taught in the Seminary of the Protestant Reformed Churches from its founding and until his retirement in 1964.

• 736 pages
• hardcover
• ISBN 978-0-916206-77-2
• Release date: 1966, 2004

eBook version available