Great Doctrines of the Bible (Three Volumes in One): God the Father, God the Son; God the Holy Spirit; The Church and the Last Things

Great Doctrines of the Bible #1-3

by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Theology isn't just for scholars-it is for everyone. For that reason Martyn Lloyd-Jones gave a series of lectures at Westminster Chapel to help ordinary people understand and apply theology to their own lives. This book is the fruit of those lectures.

Previously published in three separate volumes, they are now combined into one work-a complete systematic Christian theology. Among others, the book covers Christian beliefs about Scripture, the attributes of God, the life and work of Jesus, the Fall, redemption, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, the nature of the church, and last things. The book is written in clear language and contains guidance for application. Anyone who wishes to learn more about the great doctrines of the Bible but doesn't want to wade through lengthy academic works should read this book. God the Father, God the Son

This volume focuses on the very character of God and the life and work of his Son, including his eternal decrees, his attributes, original sin, redemption, the covenant of grace, and the Incarnation. God the Father, God the Son will help you to truly know God and his Word better. And in that pursuit, you can never go wrong. Because someday, somewhere, you will need to know-and share-the Truth with someone else. God the Holy Spirit

This volume explores in detail the person and vital work of the Holy Spirit. He is a divine and mighty power who is active in conversion, redemption, regeneration, sanctification, and the assurance of salvation. Martyn Lloyd-Jones also considers within these pages Pentecost, baptism of the Spirit, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit-all to give you a better understanding of this least-known member of the Trinity. The Church and the Last Things

This volume explores in detail two doctrines that bear great impact on your today and all your tomorrows: the nature of the church, and the doctrine of the last things. Here is perspective on the Bible's various references to the church, plus a study of unity, baptism, church government, and the sacraments-all according to Scripture. Martyn Lloyd-Jones also carefully considers the various views regarding Christ's second coming, what God's Word communicates about the last days, and the meaning of Jesus' return for ourselves as well as the world. It's important reading, not just for admirers of this great preacher, but for Christians everywhere.

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

928 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 2003

About the author

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh Protestant minister, preacher and medical doctor who was influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century. For almost 30 years, he was the minister of Westminster Chapel in London. Lloyd-Jones was strongly opposed to Liberal Christianity, which had become a part of many Christian denominations; he regarded it as aberrant. He disagreed with the broad church approach and encouraged evangelical Christians (particularly Anglicans) to leave their existing denominations. He believed that true Christian fellowship was possible only amongst those who shared common convictions regarding the nature of the faith.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was married to Bethan Lloyd-Jones

Books about D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: https://www.goodreads.com/characters/...

Reviews

[Nathanaël · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce livre regroupe les trois volumes originaux qui sont eux-mêmes la retranscription de leçons données par D. Lloyd-Jones à l'Église baptiste Westminster Chapel, dont il était le pasteur, à Londres.

Le tout forme donc un ouvrage de théologie systématique au style très abordable, avec un aspect dévotionnel très marqué. On reconnait bien ici le style des prédications de Lloyd-Jones : Le but de l'enseignement n'est pas atteint si la vérité présentée à la raison n'a pas enflammée les affections du cœur.

C'est ainsi que dans chaque chapitre, l'auteur a le souci de nous montrer en quoi ces doctrines bibliques doivent tour à tour nous pousser à l'adoration, nous remettre en question, nous encourager, nous reprendre, etc. Il ne faut pas s'attendre ici à se retrouver face à un ouvrage de théologie systématique scolastique à la Turretin. Celui-ci est plus proche de l'institution de la religion chrétienne de Jean Calvin par exemple.

Je le considère comme une très bonne première approche à la théologie systématique. Suffisamment complet pour ressortir de cette lecture avec une compréhension précise des doctrines, sans pour autant être dérouté par un style trop technique, souvent décourageant pour ceux qui se lancent tout juste dans ce type de littérature.

Il est à noté que bien que l'auteur donne régulièrement son avis, il présente à chaque fois les différentes positions (bibliques ou non) qui existent sur telle ou telle doctrine, si bien que le lecteur aura une vue d'ensemble des différentes interprétations possibles sur un sujet donné. Bien entendu, certains chapitres manquent d'exhaustivité, ce qui est inévitable vu le format initial, mais cela participe grandement à rendre la lecture de ce livre très abordable.

Je le recommande donc aux lecteurs anglophones (il existe également en portugais) qui hésiteraient à se lancer dans la lecture d'ouvrages de théologie systématique trop techniques à leur goût. Celui-ci me semble être un juste milieu qui devrait convenir au plus grand nombre.

[Junior · Rating 4 out of 5]

Com'on somebody!!

[Bille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished it. Took awhile because there is so much in it. It clearly explains doctrines that I skimmed over before, but as a growing follower of Jesus Christ( not sure what a Christian is anymore) the detailed explanations help immensely in understand God and how He interacts with His creation and us.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of sermons in the vein of systematic theology.... while I have not finished the entire 3 volume work, I am shelving it for a while to focus on other studies.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read, Jones systematically goes through the foundational doctrine of the bible.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, a number of times, suggests a substitute for a word or wording with that from another translation or by offering a better translation he found elsewhere. I found this rather distracting as I read this book. I think his book would have been better had he not engaged in such behavior and attempted to offer improvements. With that being said I do think that the reader could have learned and understood the major doctrines of the Christian faith without being too distracted by what I’ve just related above.

My other complaint is that the author appears to be attaching too much symbolism to the Book of Revelation. Among other things he apparently regards most if not all of the numbers in the Book of Revelation not as a fixed period of time but as symbolic. I’ve always wondered how one person can be so sure of how they are able to draw symbolic meaning themselves and yet no one else has.

However, I cannot recommend this book as I’m sure there are better expositions of the Doctrines of Christianity available.

[Andrew Mcneill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and readable systematic theology

Lloyd-Jones has produced a systematic theology in sermonic form based on lectures delivered on Wednesday evenings at Westminster Chapel. The three volumes cover the traditional loci of systematic theology and exhibit a breadth of learning that often leads to devotional thoughts. The quality is somewhat uneven, as are his views. Most of his views are fairly standard reformed positions, whereas some are slightly idiosyncratic (e.g. on the baptism of the Spirit). Overall I found the third volume of the church and end times to be most helpful since here he covered material that I was unfamiliar with.

[Vaclav · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very helpful book in understanding the whole scope of the Evangelical doctrine. Theology is the study of God. And as Christians, we need to know and understand what we believe and why we believe it. This clear, biblical and not technical preaching on the doctrines of the Bible truly built up my faith. I feel blessed!

[Mike Viccary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although not really a systematic theology it is an excellent sweep of Bible doctrines. You may not accept all his conclusions but it is generally a balanced treatment. This is the second time I have read it and am now re-reading it!

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might be the most thrilling book I have ever read, besides the Bible!1

[Peter Chon · Rating 5 out of 5]

His writing style makes this a brilliant introduction to the Bible. After reading this, I've also found much more meaning in sermons, hymnals, and fellowships.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are certain theological topics that can be stated as being of foremost importance. Among those which should fall into that category are studies on the Godhead, the Church, and events that will precede and encompass the final days of humanity on earth as it exists today. Subsumed within those “big ideas” are a number of other discussion points which on their own right deserve a great deal of attention. When it comes to matters of doctrine, the Godhead, the Church, and events of the last days are right up at the top.

Recognizing this, noted pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones delivered a series of lectures on matters of doctrine. These lectures served as the basis for what would become the three volume series written by Jones aptly called Great Doctrines of the Bible. Crossway Books has thankfully encapsulated all three volumes into one handy volume, thus providing a compendium and comprehensive tool for readers to engage when studying the aforementioned issues of the faith.

This is quite a collection and given together these three volumes run just short of 1000 pages, it will make for many hours of enjoyable reading. I have longed enjoyed the overall style of how Lloyd-Jones approaches Scripture as he is an excellent combination of theological acuity and practical application, both born out of the heart of a pastor for his flock.

Lloyd-Jones saliently begins his discussion of these great doctrines by rightly noting, “The Bible is a book which has a very definite objective. All its teaching is designed to a certain end; it is concerned with putting before us its doctrines, the particular truths which it wants to emphasize and to impress upon the minds of all of us.” These truths weave their way throughout Scripture and being able to recognize how they tie the entirety of Scripture into a coherent and consistent message that focuses on the gospel is of utmost importance. Lloyd-Jones contribution found in these three volumes is a marvelous and necessary guide to help believers root themselves and to understand these vital truths.

His theological methodology is founded in a love for and in the authority of the Bible. He does recognize that at times a variety of theological opinions exist on matters of doctrine. This is especially true when it comes to eschatology (doctrine of last things). With that said, he correctly avers “there must be no disputing about the person of Christ, about the miraculous and the supernatural, about the substitutionary death upon the cross and about the literal, physical resurrection. There is no argument there. This is final; this is absolute.” To that I shout a hearty amen.
Lloyd-Jones covers a great deal of doctrinal ground in these three volumes such as the existence and being of God, the moral attributes of God, good angels and the devil and his fallen angels, creation, the fall, sin, redemption, the Godhead, atonement, and matters of eschatology. He discusses all these issues in great detail utilizing as noted earlier a style that is both scholarly and accessible.

I greatly appreciated his discussion on a number of matters, but to note a few specifics, he rightly notes in relation to the topic of sanctification that when the Apostle Paul speaks of us being dead to the law, it does not mean God’s law is no longer important for us today. Conversely, “The law cannot touch you. Christ has died, He is the end of the law once and forever for sin. So the law has nothing more to say to me by way of condemnation.” He also states that the law continues to define sin and outlines how we are to live in obedience to Christ. Lloyd-Jones wonderfully declares, “We are married to Christ and we ought to bring forth the fruit of a good and a sanctified life.”

There is much to appreciate in this collection of theological truth. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has provided a tremendous treasure trove of vital biblical truths, one which I will return to many times in the future. His ability to relay deep theological doctrine in a way that can be appreciated and understood by both scholar and layman is a true gift. Moreover, his underlying aim was not only to share doctrine, but also to help the reader incorporate these truths into everyday life. These volumes are dripping with that approach and thus I highly recommend this collection for all believers.

I received this book for free from Crossway Books and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Jason Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read some of this in very large doses. What I read was outstanding in the author's attempt to bring the reader to a worship of God. It was put off by all the introductions and postludes which Lloyd-Jones seemed to include in every section. However, he somehow managed to keep his arguments pretty lean ... giving you the meat and not bothering with all the fat. Perhaps the most helpful aspect of this book is the conviction of the author - he comes off as less argumentative and more convicted.

A great resource for contending with the central tenants of different doctrines. I'll come back to it a bit, I imagine.

[Jess Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Une bonne introduction à l'ensemble des doctrines de la Bible. Étant un rassemblement de prédications ce livre n'a pas la profondeur d'une "vraie théologie systématique" mais c'est ce qui lui donne un côté plus accessible et "pastorale".
Utile aussi pour les prédicateurs cherchant des exemples de comment enseigner de la doctrine.

[Benjamin Kittleson]

So far what I've learned is that I do not know much about the Bible at all - but how I love to meditate on His message of redemption.

I am loving how much I am challenged to think as I turn each page...

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Lloyd Jones, in this series of lectures, does a great job of explaining the roles/relationship of God the Father & God The Son. Well worth the read. I challenge you to read it and not have the Dr's voice in your head!

[Caleb Plattner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most used book on my shelf - not only is it engaging enough to read a large portion in one sitting, it is helpfully organized to be a quick reference on a vast number of topics relating to scripture.