Institutes of Elenctic Theology

Institutes of Elenctic Theology #1-3

by Francis Turretin

This is Francis Turretin's magnum opus, a massive work of Reformed scholasticism. Written originally in Latin with sentences frequently lasting nearly a half a page, Turretin's Institutes are at once familiar, profound, erudite, thorough and precise, detailed, comprehensive, historically significant, and truly Reformed, etc. Turretin organized his Institutes into 20 topics (loci) that range from "Prolegomena" (that is, very necessary introductory considerations) to "The Last Things." Each topic (locus) is organized by specific questions. The work is Elenctic (polemic or argumentitive), for a large chunk of this work is written against the Roman Catholics, Arminians, Socinians, Anabaptists, Molinists and others.

Translated by George Musgrave Giger Edited by James T. Dennison Jr.

Volume 1: Topics 1-10

Topic I: Theology

Topic II: The Holy Scriptures

Topic III: The One and Triune God

Topic IV: The Decrees of God in General and Predestination in Particular

Topic V: Creation

Topic VI: The Actual Providence of God

Topic VII: Angels

Topic VIII: The State of Man Before the Fall and the Covenant of Nature

Topic IX: Sin in General and in Particular

Topic X: The Free Will of Man in a State of Sin

Volume 2: Topics 11-17

Topic XI: The Law of God

Topic XII: The Covenant Of Grace And Its Twofold Economy In The Old And New Testaments

Topic XIII: The Person And State Of Christ

Topic XIV: The Mediatorial Office Of Christ

Topic XV: Calling And Faith

Topic XVI: Justification

Topic XVII: Sanctification And Good Works

Volume 3: Topics 18-20

Topic XVIII: The Church

Topic XIX: The Sacraments

Topic XX: The Last Things

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

2223 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1997

About the author

Francis Turretin (also known as François Turretini) was a Swiss-Italian Protestant theologian.

Turretin is especially known as a zealous opponent of the theology of the Academy of Saumur (embodied by Moise Amyraut and called Amyraldianism), as an earnest defender of the Calvinistic orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and as one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus, which defended the formulation of double predestination from the Synod of Dort and the verbal inspiration of the Bible.

Reviews

[G Walker]

I know the importance of this work. And I paid my dues in reading and not just reading but actually studying it. That said, in the end, I was underwhelmed. I expected so much more. This is a massive set. And, it isn't for the faint of heart. It takes a substantial amount of time to wade through - and its return on investment is (in my humble opinion) not really worth the effort. You can find much more profitable and theologically edifying work in many others in the reformed tradition. Despite the recommendations and endorsements from other Godly men that I respect and admire, and while I would still pick this set over many other sets like it, I still believe that one's time is better spent mining riches elsewhere. His theological method is too sterile... his theology though "reformed" is too scholastic... and his overall approach, I believe, does not comport well with reality... it is too abstract... it leads to God and the things of God being thought experiments. There are many other better places to spend your money and your time... other books too to keep on your shelf that will nurture and mature you more in your knowledge of "theology".

[Benjamin Alexander]

I am sure he has some stellar and very thorough sections but I don't believe God intends for us to do theology like science... We need to do theology like the Apostles did--redemptive history centered around covenant.

[Deb]

Theology nerds and those who love them,

If you don't have Turretin in your library, P&R Publishers has is offering a great deal on all three volumes. This was the standard Systematic Theology in pretty much all seminaries until students could no longer read Latin. Charles Hodge replaced Turretin at some point and then Berkhoff replaced Hodge.

Now, with English translations of key historic Dutch and Latin authors, Turretin’s set is among the “must haves”.
Bavinck is going to be better on all round coverage.
But Turretin answers all the polemic issues that are contra-reformed.
I love it!

[Arnold Guikema]

Finished volume one, and it’s definitely one of the hardest books I’ve read. I absolutely loved the section on providence, and I think his view on assurance is somewhere in the ballpark of what I believe. Definitely some things I don’t agree with though, as he is very extreme on bearing others’ punishments and his view on predestination seemed contradictory. Overall, this volume helped me build biblical arguments against what I disagree with, as well as reminded me how much we can be assured that God is for us in His providence and promises.

[Mark Goddard]

This book definitely deserves its reputation as the pinnacle of Reformed Scholastic Theology. It is comprehensive.

[Aditya]

Excellent, obvious disagreements with Turretin as a Reformed Baptist, but this is an excellent systematic theology.

[Luke Thompson]

Absolutely love it.

[Paul]

Turretin's systematics is simply profound.