God (Volume 1)

by Malcolm B. Yarnell III

Knowing, loving, and worshiping God is the call and privilege of every disciple of Jesus. Because all Christians are part of his royal priesthood, theology is not just for those teaching in the academy or serving in ministry vocations.

Theology proper centers on God, exploring his existence, his divine nature, his Persons, and his attributes. In this book you will find an overview of these truths in the doctrine of God as well as other great truths in the doctrine of divine revelation.

You are not simply setting out on a journey toward deeper knowledge. If theological study only results in knowing abstract truths about God, then we have not done theology well. Right theology invariably leads to right living and right worship, and this is our ultimate goal in these books and in this life.

God  is the first volume of a three-part series entitled  Theology for Every Person.  The other volumes will include  God’s Word to the World , which considers God in Christ and his works of creation, humanity, and redemption, and  God’s Work in the World , which explores God the Holy Spirit and the divine works of salvation, the church, and the end. 
 

272 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2024

Reviews

[Chandler Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have felt for a few years now that Malcolm Yarnell is my favorite living Baptist theologian, and this book only solidified those feelings. From this book, from his book on the Trinity, and from his chapter on eschatology in “Historical Theology for the Church,” I just get so excited about the task of Christian theology. Yarnell’s clear and historically informed writing cultivates this excitement.

Strengths:
Yarnell’s chapter on natural theology is probably the most informative chapter of this book as he introduces key philosophical concepts and disagreements about faith and reason that have divided certain Reformed Baptists in recent years.

His section on Scripture and hermeneutics gives attention to Augustine’s interpretive rule of love—a rule missing from many contemporary hermeneutics texts. I appreciate Yarnell’s retrieval of this neglected principle.

Weaknesses:
Yarnell’s treatment on the attributes of God is somewhat lacking in his discussion on immutability. Also, he expresses openness to the concept of passibility, but he does not flesh out his view on divine emotions. This treatment felt very ambiguous.

Yarnell’s section on Scripture also contains a somewhat weak discussion about the transmission and copying of biblical manuscripts.

Random comment:
Throughout his work, Yarnell goes to certain lengths to diminish any distinction between clergy and laity in the church as all have the right to theologize and proclaim the Word. I even detected an egalitarian approach to Yarnell’s vision for the church.

[B McWilliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember asking Dr. Yarnell in a DMin seminar when he planned to write a systematic theology. He smiled and said “No time soon.” That was more than 15 years ago. Today, I finished reading this first edition systematic theology from Dr. Yarnell and it was worth the wait! It is “Theology for Every Person” even though it can be a bit technical at times. (Of course, how can one write theology and it not have a technical side.) Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and cannot wait for volume 2 to hit the publisher. Thank you, Malcolm, for a great work. I have no hesitation in passing this onto my church members. We can then dialogue together over some of the technical nuances and receive multiplied blessings! Grab it and read it folks!

[Guenther · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great volume of theology. Helped me to review the doctrine I was taught by the scriptures enunciated in classical terms in an introductory Systematic Theology Course (then verified with scripture). It also helped me to appreciate the richness of that aforementioned course. I love to see the heart of this author for the church. While a review in part for me, it was edifying to connect the lofty doctrine to why it matters and to see it's implications. Excited to see the next 2 volumes in this series.

[Cole Guidroz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcolm Yarnell has finally done what so many have desired. He has written a systematic theology that is actually accessible for most people without needing a seminary degree. This does not mean it is easy to comprehend everything, but it means the unnecessary complexity is kept out to not muddy the points being made. This book is deep, rich, and well researched.

[Jake Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed aspects of the book and appreciated Yarnell's devotional writing style, it is quite academic for a series marketed as "Theology for Every Person." This is not a book I would recommend to the everyday church member who doesn't have theological training.

[Jonathon Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great primer for systematic theology