Manual of Christian Doctrine

by Louis Berkhof

This concise introduction to the systematized body of Christian doctrine is presented in clear and simple language, which makes it suitable for high school and college students as well as adult study groups. Includes review questions for further study at the end of each chapter.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Religion, Nonfiction, Reference

372 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 1939

About the author

Louis Berkhof (1873–1957) was a Reformed theologian best known for his Systematic Theology (1932). He taught for almost four decades at Calvin Theological Seminary and served as its president from 1931–1944. In his work on systematic theology Berkhof followed in the line of John Calvin and embraced the development of Reformed theology by the Dutch theologians Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck.

Selected publications:

Systematic Theology. Eerdmans, 1932; New Combined Edition, 1996.

The History of Christian Doctrines. Baker, 1978; Banner of Truth, revised, 1996.

Principles of Biblical Interpretation. Baker Academic, 1981; republished, 1994.

A Summary of Christian Doctrine. Eerdmans, 1939; Banner of Truth, 1960.

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've now completed Berkhof's "trilogy." (Systematic Theology, Summary of Christian Doctrine, and this volume) As always, Berkhof is very well organized and concise in his presentation of Christian theology. He presents clear definitions and makes his position known. He provides numerous supporting Scripture passages to support his arguments.

As always, he is pretty dry to read cover to cover. He reads like a theology dictionary or encyclopaedia. This being said, Berkhof is a wonderful source to consult for clear, concise answers on any matters of theology, and a very helpful introduction to the theology of the Reformed tradition.

[Rock Rockwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berkhoff tates his voluminous Systematic Theology book (written for the college level) and breaks it down to digestable outlined chunks so that the High School student can read and understand clearly. Berkhoff writes from a reformed/covenantal theology/viewpoint. This is the one of the best books to have handy in your small group, discipleship class, coffee table, or bookbag to reference quickly and easily.

[Evan Staehle · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I have yet to read Systematic Theology, I'm currently devouring this condensed, easier to follow, college-level version. It beautifully captures some of the main, foundational doctrines of the Christian faith from a Reformed perspective (which is nice). Reading it has blown my mind about God. The awe-inspiring, soul-stirring truths in this book will reorient your eyes toward heaven, while your jaw hits the floor in wonder (or at least, that's what it did for me).

[Michael Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear. Concise. Orthodox. Therefore, beneficial. Every Christian should at least read Berkhof's manual if they are not willing to read his larger Systematic Theology.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my freshman year of highschool from '07-'08. Not particularly readable, but it's an excellent introduction to Reformed Theology.

[Kelle Craft · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource to become familiar with various doctrinal topics. It contains the “essentials” of doctrine - a great starting place and is filled with scripture and alternative views, but should be used primarily as a launching point to other works that are much more comprehensive in each respective subject. Still, I definitely recommend for a quick on-hand guide to doctrines that may not be as familiar or for one needing a brief reminder about this or that doctrinal belief or formulation. It’s very useful for what it is.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to systematic theology from a Reformed perspective. Berkof follows Herman Bavinck and Gerhardus Vos much of the way. He is amillennial. Staunchly orthodox. And presents Christian doctrine in an accessible way. Read this book along with John Frame's Salvation Belongs to the Lord for a well balanced introduction to systematic theology that will prepare you to take on the big boys.

[Matthew · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's kind of dry reading, but it does its job of concisely explaining Christian theology. This was required reading in my High School, which was reformed and very Calvinist. Since it has been a long time since I read it, I cannot recall if it discusses Christian theology outside of a Calvinist perspective, or if it explains and then diminishes all types of Christian theology that is different from Calvinist theology. This would be important to me, since I am not a five point Calvinist, and I honestly find that Calvinism, with its emphasis on Jesus only dying to save elect people, predestination of the saved and the damned, and an extremely limited atonement, leaves me with a frightening and nihilistic impression. Even though I feel this way, I still have immense respect for the dedicated and caring teachers from my high school.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry, but decent summary of doctrine.

[Kenneth Malenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concise, classic summary of orthodox Reformed theology.

[Alexander Proudfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berkhof's 3 volumes are all helpful. They cover essentially the same material, in essentially the same way. Therefore, there's really nothing new in this volume viz a vis Systematic Theology and Summary of Christian Doctrine. However, this is the best formatted of the three. Highly recommend.

[Eva Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book to keep around as a reference during Christian theological study. A bit dry to read straight through.

[Michael A · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not the target audience (agnostic) for this book, so I predictably hated it. Why then am I reading it? The main reason is because my wife attends a Presbyterian church and the preacher gave me this book to read because she told him I wasn't sure about most of these issues.

I didn't like the 200 pages or so I read of it because it's an intolerant little book. The author goes so far as to say that the point of the book is the "proper indoctrination" of believers in the preface. He uses Biblical scripture alone as a reference/support system for making hugely generalized claims in regards to Christianity in general -- just to name a few, a lot of people would disagree with him about the idea of predestination, the Bible as a sacrosanct, divine text, and the idea that we simply have no way out of the idea of original sin.

None of this is set in stone. The Reformed Church's take on it is simply one of many that have existed throughout history. Even when I attended an Anglican church with my parents, I would have struggled to wrap my head around the ideas in this book from time to time.

I really have to wonder if the author ever thought about the kind of philosophical system that he was propounding to his students. Unconditional obedience to God despite his many contradictions and complexities. The convoluted mental gymnastics needed to justify sin in the world if God had the ability to make a world without any sin. The inability to question and the need to worship out of fear of going to hell and punishment. It reminded me a lot of watching a Bergman film -- that very dour, stark world of Protestant guilt and hell that swallows people alive without any sort of happiness or light.

In other words, it's a rather stark worldview and one that I'm not in any way prepared to endorse. There are far better, more modern books to read about Christianity, as well, if you want to learn more about it.

The strange thing is, I think I would have given this book 3 stars if he had simply title the book a bit differently -- if, for example, it had been called "Our Version of Reformed Christianity and Why We Think the Way We Do." That would have been fine and much less frustrating for this reader anyway. It's the author's attitude and his claims about it being for Christianity in general that got me so upset.

[Allen Haynie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louis Berkhof’s Manual of Christian Doctrine is written from a Reformed theology perspective. The book is in outline form and Berkhof presents each doctrine in a clear and concise manner. At the end of each chapter there are review questions for further study along with references for further study. He frequently shows the errors of Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Arminian theology. On some of the more controversial doctrines he states the common objections made by some and then gives a Biblical and reasoned answer to those objections. I found the discussion on the Doctrine of the Application of the Work of Redemption, which consists of calling, regeneration, conversion, faith, justification, sanctification and perseverance to be excellent. There are a couple of things that I disagree with in Berkhof’s theology and one of them is infant baptism and the other is his amillennial position in eschatology, but these in no way stopped me from reading the book numerous times since 1987. I don’t remember how I came to buy this book in particular, but it was my introduction to doctrine and it has shaped my theology ever since. I highly recommend this book.

[Rachelskirts · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Textbook from junior year of high school. Used in conjunction with R.C. Sproul's Essential Truths of the Christian Faith.)

Very informative. Verrry tedious.

[Winnie Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was probably good, as far as systematic theology goes. Don't remember it.

[Peter Bringe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, clear, and simple explanation of Reformed doctrine. The chapter "The Offices of Christ" is my favorite. I've read most of it twice.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good outline of Reformed doctrine, though he is rather definite on a few things I consider less apparent.