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Reformation Theology: A Systematic Summary
Five hundred years ago, the Reformers were defending doctrines such as justification by faith alone, the authority of Scripture, and God's grace in salvation--some to the point of death. Many of these same essential doctrines are still being challenged today, and there has never been a more crucial time to hold fast to the enduring truth of Scripture.
In Reformation Theology, Matthew Barrett has brought together a team of expert theologians and historians writing on key doctrines taught and defended by the Reformers centuries ago. With contributions from Michael Horton, Gerald Bray, Michael Reeves, Carl Trueman, Robert Kolb, and many others, this volume stands as a manifesto for the church, exhorting Christians to learn from our spiritual forebears and hold fast to sound doctrine rooted in the Bible and passed on from generation to generation.
In Reformation Theology, Matthew Barrett has brought together a team of expert theologians and historians writing on key doctrines taught and defended by the Reformers centuries ago. With contributions from Michael Horton, Gerald Bray, Michael Reeves, Carl Trueman, Robert Kolb, and many others, this volume stands as a manifesto for the church, exhorting Christians to learn from our spiritual forebears and hold fast to sound doctrine rooted in the Bible and passed on from generation to generation.
784 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2017
84 people are currently reading
471 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Barrett
52 books119 followersMatthew Barrett (MDiv, PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of Christian theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the executive editor of Credo Magazine. He is the author of numerous books, including God's Word Alone, 40 Questions about Salvation, Reformation Theology, John Owen on the Christian Life, and Salvation by Grace. He is also the host of the Credo podcast where he talks with fellow theologians about the most important doctrines of the faith. He lives in Kansas City.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 8, 2024
A thorough, historical theology of the Reformation.
January 19, 2021
Really excellent work. Each chapter examines a particular head of doctrine as taught by the Reformers. While 'the Reformers' of course mainly means Luther, Calvin, and sometimes Zwingli, there's quite a lot of diversity.
The authors do a good job of presenting the views of their subjects in a way that lets you, the reader, see the substance of the Reformers' views. That made it useful for weighing their views against Scripture.
Matthew Barrett has done great work in editing this volume. Unlike many edited works, its hard to pick out stand out chapters, because they were all done really well. I particularly enjoyed Barrett's chapters on Genuine Reform and the Bondage and Liberation of the Will. Gerald Bray's chapter introducing late medieval theology was clarifying in showing the context the Reformers came out of. Thompson on Sola Scriptura was also excellent. Lillback's chapter on the relationship of Church and State was much more interesting and provocative than I expected. He helpfully showed how the discussions around this were fundamentally tied not so much to a view of politics, as much as a view of the extent of the church's authority (significant emerging from papacy!).
Recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about the theology behind the Reformation, or simply anyone who wants to be led carefully through significant points of biblical teaching deliberately and thoughtfully.
The authors do a good job of presenting the views of their subjects in a way that lets you, the reader, see the substance of the Reformers' views. That made it useful for weighing their views against Scripture.
Matthew Barrett has done great work in editing this volume. Unlike many edited works, its hard to pick out stand out chapters, because they were all done really well. I particularly enjoyed Barrett's chapters on Genuine Reform and the Bondage and Liberation of the Will. Gerald Bray's chapter introducing late medieval theology was clarifying in showing the context the Reformers came out of. Thompson on Sola Scriptura was also excellent. Lillback's chapter on the relationship of Church and State was much more interesting and provocative than I expected. He helpfully showed how the discussions around this were fundamentally tied not so much to a view of politics, as much as a view of the extent of the church's authority (significant emerging from papacy!).
Recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about the theology behind the Reformation, or simply anyone who wants to be led carefully through significant points of biblical teaching deliberately and thoughtfully.
March 30, 2021
I had dipped in and out of this one through a course of study and found it shed light on subjects covered in a straightforward, but pretty comprehensive manner, so it was a delight to have no pressure, but just to slow-time work my way through it. Great material, seems well balanced. It's not all you might like to know on any of the topics covered, but acts as a thumping good primer on all of them in my view. A good one to have on the shelf.
November 25, 2024
Good. Very neat list of prominent theologians contributing. Broad scope of topics covered. The repeated insistence at the beginning of each chapter that the Reformers were detracting from Rome, but not on all points, grew tiresome quickly. Barrett's contributions very good, particularly chapter on bondage and liberation of the will. Chapters on the person of Christ and work of Christ, respectively, also quite good, if I recall correctly. A difficult book to review, per se, due to variety of authors involved, and the mixed styles and approaches to the topics. Certainly not an entry-level book to the subject, as it is very information-heavy. All this to say that it was not a terrible slog to get through, and certainly a good resource for reference. I give it a 3.5/5.
December 4, 2024
I found most of the essays in this book just okay. There were a few good ones (justification, baptism, Eucharist), but there were a couple of lame ones.
November 20, 2022
4.5 Stars
An excellent collection of essays demonstrating the gospel recovery, biblical commitment, and unity and diversity of Reformation Theology.
An excellent collection of essays demonstrating the gospel recovery, biblical commitment, and unity and diversity of Reformation Theology.
June 21, 2017
This is a collection of essays edited by Matthew Barrett. Foreword by Michael Horton, Contributions by R. Michael Allen, Gerald Bray, Graham A. Cole, Aaron Clay Denlinger, JV Fesko, Eunjin Kim, Douglas F. Kelly, Robert Kolb, Robert Letham, Peter A. Lillback, Korey D. Maas , Donald Macleod, Keith A. Mathison, Michael Reeves, Kim Riddlebarger, Scott R. Swain, Mark D. Thompson, Carl R. Trueman, Cornelis P. Venema, Matthew Barrett. Baptists and Presbyterians Authors, motivated by the celebration of 500 years of reform, the authors present 700 pages with various themes that make up Reformed theology, the content seems more focused on people who have a notion of what reform was historically and the Doctrines that resurged. Readers learn the thinking of historical figures such as Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin, and others. And their contributions on topics such as Union with Christ, Scripture, Justification and Sanctification, etc. Presenting the thinking of the reformers, but also analyzing the doctrines in the technical and academic way may seem a bit tedious reading nonetheless, It is digestible for the voracious reader. It is not so much a systematic theology itself, but a historical theology And for this, it will not only benefit those who consider themselves reformed but also in other traditions. It is a good contribution which will enrich our knowledge in the area of historical theology not only for the pastoral theological library but also for the lay reader pacient.
In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Crossway.
In compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, I was provided a review copy of this book from Crossway.
September 17, 2017
A systematic summary of Reformation theology, written by a collection of writers who really know what they're talking about. Each chapter outlines the views of a number of key Reformation figures, against the backdrop of medieval thought and divergent 16th/17th century perspectives. The topics covered go beyond the "five solas" and the sacraments to embrace lesser-discussed areas of Reformation theology, such as the Trinity, the attributes of God, and anthropology.
How much you enjoy this book will probably depend on why you're reading it. As a moderately accessible overview for people in an academic context, it's probably the best thing out there. People with a serious interest in historical theology will want to take a look too. For my own pastoral purposes, I was looking for something a bit more systematic, i.e. with each chapter providing a synthesis of Reformation thought against which different distinctives could be drawn. This, however, remains primarily a work of historical theology, with individual Reformers being treated largely separately. Some of the discussion was also a little too specialised and abstruse for my tastes.
In short, this was certainly a beneficial read, but the profitability was far from evenly spread from cover to cover. Highlights for me were the background chapters by Gerald Bray and Carl Trueman, and the sections on Scripture, Predestination, Creation, the Work of Christ, and the Bondage and Liberation of the Will.
How much you enjoy this book will probably depend on why you're reading it. As a moderately accessible overview for people in an academic context, it's probably the best thing out there. People with a serious interest in historical theology will want to take a look too. For my own pastoral purposes, I was looking for something a bit more systematic, i.e. with each chapter providing a synthesis of Reformation thought against which different distinctives could be drawn. This, however, remains primarily a work of historical theology, with individual Reformers being treated largely separately. Some of the discussion was also a little too specialised and abstruse for my tastes.
In short, this was certainly a beneficial read, but the profitability was far from evenly spread from cover to cover. Highlights for me were the background chapters by Gerald Bray and Carl Trueman, and the sections on Scripture, Predestination, Creation, the Work of Christ, and the Bondage and Liberation of the Will.
December 21, 2017
A thorough audit of the systematic theology of the Reformers. This book is made up of individual articles written by some of our better modern Christian scholars detailing the history and theology of the early reformers. Very informative.
October 31, 2017
Succeeded in finishing (finally) by Reformation day. Some general remarks to come.
April 9, 2018
Fantastic read
This book is a great summary of the theology of the reformers. It shows them in their historical contexts and theological developments.
This book is a great summary of the theology of the reformers. It shows them in their historical contexts and theological developments.
April 25, 2019
Very well done. A great team of scholars and collection of essays.
January 3, 2022
Livro didático, bem organizado e escrito por autores que fizeram uma boa pesquisa bibliográfica. A tradução é boa e o livro físico é bonito.
April 21, 2023
Great overview of Reformed Theology! Not too in depth but not too shallow either.
June 29, 2025
Very good; it contains introductions to the Reformation perspectives on twenty different areas of doctrine.
June 10, 2017
"Michael Horton is entirely right to point out in the Preface that the Reformation really had, and still has, two enemies: Roman Catholicism (which everyone knows) and the ‘enthusiasts.’ If the Roman Catholics then and now added their human beliefs and traditions to Scripture, the enthusiasts (mostly Anabaptists) would take away from Scripture by replacing it with the desires of their own hearts in the name of being moved by the Spirit. Individuals making up revelation from God that pretends to be from the Holy Spirit is as anathema to the Gospel and the Christian life as individuals making it up in the name of the Magisterium or the tradition. In both cases. Reformation Theology provides a needed corrective, and is well worth your time and attention."
Read the whole thing here: http://sixseeds.patheos.com/schaeffer...
Read the whole thing here: http://sixseeds.patheos.com/schaeffer...
June 22, 2017
“Reformation Theology”, edited by Matthew Barrett (book review)
Those who enjoy “heady” theological reading will most likely receive a ton of benefit from this massive volume. Numerous Reformed theologians, including Michael Horton, Graham Cole, and Carl Trueman, to name a few, have contributed to this work as principal authors. The book, as Barrett explains, “provides a systematic summary of Reformation thought.” If you’ve read or studied any other systematic theology works, then that word…systematic…should give you a good idea what you’re in for when you dive into this one.
I’m not a theologian of high-level academic education, but I am indeed a theologian in the sense that R.C. Sproul uses it: “Everyone’s a theologian”. I am a theologian merely in the sense that I enjoy reading and studying theology and learning to apply it to all of life. That said, Barrett writes, “This book is written in such a way that the specialist and the nonspecialist alike will enjoy it.” Barrett went on to explain how academic specialists will benefit from Reformation Theology, and then continued, “Nonspecialists, however, will benefit the most. Each chapter serves as an introduction to the doctrine at hand, explaining what the major Reformers believed, why they believed it, and what impact their beliefs had.”
I write all of that in order to explain that the term “nonspecialist” is very likely limited in scope, rather than broadly applied to all “interested readers”. When I first encountered the phrase, I thought I was the kind of nonspecialst Barrett in mind. While reading, however, I quickly discovered that Barrett may actually have had Master’s and PhD level readers in mind, general practitioners with higher education, so to speak. I’m no dummy, but I found that many of the concepts contained in the book required more than mere interest. Instead, a good grounding in deeper theological matters is crucial. However, even given some difficulties, I still took away from this book some lasting theological truths that will continue to shape and sharpen my understanding of God’s Word.
According to Barrett, Reformation Theology was written because “At the center of the Reformation was a return to a gospel-centered, Word-centered church. No question about it, this was the great need in the sixteenth-century church.” I concur, and would add that this is the great need even today in the church. Preachers abound who preach an easy-believism Jesus, a Jesus who merely wants to help us be successful or have better marriages, a Jesus who doesn’t require anything more from us than a slight wave of the hand on a Sunday morning to tell the preacher, “Yeah, I’m in.” The Reformers, however, fought and died for the doctrinal purity of the Church, something far different than we’re accustomed to reading and hearing today. Yet many today have allowed what the Reformers’ gave blood to obtain to slip away into obscurity. For that reason, I’m thankful for the resurgence of great books and works on Reformation theology.
As a general outline, each chapter following the history of the Reformation introduces 17 theological concepts: Sola Scriptura, the Trinity, Predestination & Election, the Person of Christ, Sanctification, Eschatology, etc. The chapters begin with an introduction to traditional Reformed views, followed by the evolution of what various reformers (such as Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, to name a few) have taught. Each chapter typically concludes with a short portion allotted to dissenting opinions.
Recommendations: I think this book would be a great gift to one’s pastor who has interest in deeper theological writings. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received “Reformation Theology” free of charge from Crossway Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review of it. All opinions are mine, and I was not forced to provide a positive review.
Those who enjoy “heady” theological reading will most likely receive a ton of benefit from this massive volume. Numerous Reformed theologians, including Michael Horton, Graham Cole, and Carl Trueman, to name a few, have contributed to this work as principal authors. The book, as Barrett explains, “provides a systematic summary of Reformation thought.” If you’ve read or studied any other systematic theology works, then that word…systematic…should give you a good idea what you’re in for when you dive into this one.
I’m not a theologian of high-level academic education, but I am indeed a theologian in the sense that R.C. Sproul uses it: “Everyone’s a theologian”. I am a theologian merely in the sense that I enjoy reading and studying theology and learning to apply it to all of life. That said, Barrett writes, “This book is written in such a way that the specialist and the nonspecialist alike will enjoy it.” Barrett went on to explain how academic specialists will benefit from Reformation Theology, and then continued, “Nonspecialists, however, will benefit the most. Each chapter serves as an introduction to the doctrine at hand, explaining what the major Reformers believed, why they believed it, and what impact their beliefs had.”
I write all of that in order to explain that the term “nonspecialist” is very likely limited in scope, rather than broadly applied to all “interested readers”. When I first encountered the phrase, I thought I was the kind of nonspecialst Barrett in mind. While reading, however, I quickly discovered that Barrett may actually have had Master’s and PhD level readers in mind, general practitioners with higher education, so to speak. I’m no dummy, but I found that many of the concepts contained in the book required more than mere interest. Instead, a good grounding in deeper theological matters is crucial. However, even given some difficulties, I still took away from this book some lasting theological truths that will continue to shape and sharpen my understanding of God’s Word.
According to Barrett, Reformation Theology was written because “At the center of the Reformation was a return to a gospel-centered, Word-centered church. No question about it, this was the great need in the sixteenth-century church.” I concur, and would add that this is the great need even today in the church. Preachers abound who preach an easy-believism Jesus, a Jesus who merely wants to help us be successful or have better marriages, a Jesus who doesn’t require anything more from us than a slight wave of the hand on a Sunday morning to tell the preacher, “Yeah, I’m in.” The Reformers, however, fought and died for the doctrinal purity of the Church, something far different than we’re accustomed to reading and hearing today. Yet many today have allowed what the Reformers’ gave blood to obtain to slip away into obscurity. For that reason, I’m thankful for the resurgence of great books and works on Reformation theology.
As a general outline, each chapter following the history of the Reformation introduces 17 theological concepts: Sola Scriptura, the Trinity, Predestination & Election, the Person of Christ, Sanctification, Eschatology, etc. The chapters begin with an introduction to traditional Reformed views, followed by the evolution of what various reformers (such as Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, to name a few) have taught. Each chapter typically concludes with a short portion allotted to dissenting opinions.
Recommendations: I think this book would be a great gift to one’s pastor who has interest in deeper theological writings. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received “Reformation Theology” free of charge from Crossway Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review of it. All opinions are mine, and I was not forced to provide a positive review.
February 19, 2021
Reformation Theology is an excellent source to further one's understanding of the theological formation of the sixteenth century reformers. It is well laid out and clearly presents the material for ease of study. The contributors go in depth on the varying topics by leaning heavily on original sources such as formal writings and personal correspondence from the reformers in order to draw their conclusions. This book is a much needed contritubtion to the academic world regarding this period in Christian thought. It will serve as an excellent textbook or additional reading for seminary or graduate level classes on the Reformation. The book is also a great resource for the lifelong learner who desires to grow in their knowledge of the subject. I highly recommend this timely book and hope that it is utilized to rekindle the flame of the Reformation in our day.
Continue reading here: https://readingfortheglory.wordpress....
Continue reading here: https://readingfortheglory.wordpress....
December 9, 2023
An enlightening collection of essays that first explore history, and then various areas of theology from Sola Scriptura to justification to the sacraments. The essays are so well done that I find myself lamenting the short length of each essay at the end of every one.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews