Systematic Theology: In One Volume

by Norman L. Geisler

A Comprehensive Work Now in One Volume

This work of a lifetime was widely praised when it was first published in four volumes. It is organized in eight key an introduction to theology, the Bible, God, creation, sin, salvation, church, and last things. Geisler's writing is accessible to students, pastors, and laypeople interested in learning, as he deals with the concepts foundational to Christianity.

"For those who value careful thinking, tight logic, fair evaluation, and keen insights, this systematic theology is must-reading."--Ken Rhodes.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction, Reference

1664 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Norman L. Geisler (PhD, Loyola University of Chicago) taught at top evangelical colleges and seminaries for over fifty years and was a distinguished professor of apologetics and theology at Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Murrieta, California. He was the author of nearly eighty books, including the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics and Christian Ethics. He and his wife lived in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Levi Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a great introductory resource in the area of systematic theology. Geisler attempts to simplify the vast and sometimes complex areas of doctrine. However, I don't think Geisler does very well in representing opposing perspectives. Granted, he does present them, but his argumentation on others behalf is flawed. Otherwise, this is a great book for those who are testing the waters, and the new one volume format is much cheaper and takes up less space than typical systematic fare. My recommendations are to do your homework, and research the alternative opinions, and you should be able to benefit from this resource.

[Davis Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Naturally, I haven’t read all of it. But my shelf is being freed of it in favor of a dogmatics text that has greater respect for the church catholic and sacramental theology. If nothing else, Geisler shows that it is indeed possible, rarre as it is, to be an intellectually serious evangelical who somehow affirms credobaptism, a Zwinglian view of the Lord’s Supper, and premillennialism. But despite the great plethora of helpful things here, he is too remorselessly assertive and has little interest in paradox, sacrament, and beauty.

[S. Runyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the largest book I have yet read, numbering in at 1,572 pages (not including bibliographies since these are not content but reference).

The book is largely philosophical in the first fifth or so and while most of Geisler's philosophy is consistent, about a 10% portion, I would estimate, leads to refutable inconsistencies by its very own principles at times. And since philosophy asks what theology answers, I tend to personally find only little value in the concept.

The middle of the book, a good 60-70%, contains quite substantive content. It was an absolute pleasure to reinforce existing thoughts and especially to learn new perspectives on them as well. I learned quite a number of things as well from reading this extensive work.

Around the last tenth of the book was, however, his worst section. Geisler really unleashed the premillenial, pretribulationist, dispensationalism of his theology. Understandably some people reading this review will find what I said offensive, then this portion of the book may very well be your favorite part. In the interest of brevity I will not expound too heavily here but may write a comprehensive report on the entire book in the future.

To add one final note to this, I will also mention that my strict creationistic interpretation of Scripture is oftentimes not found to coalesce with most scholars today since I'm convinced that such a thing, if conducted with genuine honesty and faith, relies solely upon accepting the enclosed cosmological geocentrism that the Bible clearly describes in more than 240 different places. Having said that, Geisler finds himself ranked among the friends of the world who follow a different religion when it comes to creation theology.

[Llewellyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. Learned a lot.

[David Kemp]

xx
231209: 1570 - 1320 = 250 / 28 = 8.93
231114: 1570 - 1310 = 260 / 5 = 52

Re. Hell
1. Hell is a place of torment but never presented as torture. God does not torture people. Hell is punishment.
2. Hell is the nature evolution of life lived without God. The reason why hell is so horrible is that that is the obvious trajectory of an eternity of rebellion against God.
3. Hell can also be a deterrent to restrain sin. This is one of the reasons why Annihilationism is untenable, for being annihilated would be a blessing to those consumed with evil. A part of the motivation for many of the horrific horrors done by mass murderers, etc. is the hope of "ending it all" and going out in a blaze of notoriety.

[G Walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I no longer have the time, nor the care to take Geisler seriously. I has to read a ton of what he wrote back in my bible college and seminary days. I started poking around in this set back on '03 when the first volume came out... and have engaged in periodically off and on over a few years... then I gave up. One of the few sets that I haven't read cover to cover. There is better content out there... there is better methodology modeled out there... Even if you are a Thomist. 4 volumes of dross. Do yourself a favor and look somewhere else, anywhere else.