Plans for Holy War

by David C. Noe (Editor), Chad B Van Dixhoorn (editor), David C Noe (translator)

“Arrowsmith's exploration of spiritual warfare in the life of the Christian is equal parts creative, daunting, intellectual, inspirational, challenging, and comforting. The publication of Arrowsmith's magnum opus in English should interest pastors, scholars, and serious Christians who desire to engage in the holy war that really matters.”
—Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor, Christ Covenant Church, Matthews, North Carolina; associate professor of systematic theology, Reformed Theological Seminary (Charlotte)

New in the Writings of the Westminster Divines Plans for Holy War by John Arrowsmith

In one of the most expansive treatments of spiritual warfare, Puritan John Arrowsmith paints Christianity as the battle between the seed of the woman and the serpent. Beginning with Genesis 3:15, Arrowsmith explores themes of military duty, battle against the evil one, and the Christian’s victory and triumph in the Scriptures and classical writings.

Arrowsmith’s work stands out among writings on spiritual warfare for its depth of research, its insistence that our warfare is chiefly theological, and its attempt to blend polemical and pastoral theology. He regarded his written efforts as “emissaries of evangelical piety, guardians and avengers of orthodoxy, interpreters of some of God’s oracles, and protective deities in many difficulties.”

Carefully translated by David C. Noe with an extensive introduction by Chad B. Van Dixhoorn, this edition of Plans for Holy War presents modern readers with an exceptional and unique guide to spiritual warfare.

Genres: Theology

560 pages, Hardcover

Published July 25, 2024

Reviews

[Alex]

With other reviewers, I admire Noe's work in translating this book. If it were not for the hype around having it recently translated, I may have never devoted the time to work through it from beginning to end (even if it was originally in English). There are some interesting items in Arrowsmith's book, along with edifying remarks. However, I found his work more beneficial for historical theological research than I did for personal devotional edification. For personal devotional edification on spiritual warfare, one should look more to contemporaries of Arrowsmith like Gouge or Gurnall.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Several great chapters but I enjoyed the final chapter and his section on beatific vision. Also, the chapter on righteousness was quite good as well.

[Kevin Sheth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic work of theology and devotion - particularly moving is the final chapter on Heaven.