Knowing God's Truth: An Introduction to Systematic Theology

by Jon Nielson

An Accessible Guide to Systematic Theology from Pastor Jon Nielson  When you consider theology, you may think of confusing, lofty terminology that only concerns scholars and pastors. But in reality, theology is for anyone who wants to better understand God and learn more about the Bible. Theology―the study of God and his word―should be personal, accessible, and worshipful.  Pastor Jon Nielson has written  Knowing God’s Truth , a part of the Theology Basics suite, to make systematic theology clear, meaningful, and practical for those looking for a highly accessible guide to studying God. In this introduction, Nielson defines systematic theology as “theological study done in a highly organized, topical way” and covers the 12 basic categories―Scripture, man, sin, church, and more. He also helps readers learn to apply theology in their everyday lives by integrating invitations to pray and meditate on what they’ve learned.

Genres: Theology, Faith, Christian, Religion

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 9, 2023

About the author

Jon Nielson has worked as director of training for the Charles Simeon Trust, an organization that provides training in biblical exposition. He is currently college pastor at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, and is author of Bible Study: A Student's Guide.

Reviews

[Tristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't finish the 2nd time around, but still a great intro systematic to get people familiar with systematic theology before diving into something with more depth.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a basic introduction to Systematic Theology, this was not bad, hitting all the major foci of theology with helpful explanations of terms and concepts. Its devotional and God-centred approach with plentiful invitations to prayer are appreciated.

However, there were some interesting and less than satisfying choices in this book. One is about putting the doctrine of trinity under the heading, "Attributes of God". While I can appreciate the difficulty of keeping things simple and succinct, especially as great a doctrine as the trinity, to place it under the heading of "attributes of God" can lead one to think the Triune nature of God is merely "what God is like", not "who He truly and really is". Another was the choice of treating the Holy Spirit in the very last chapter. The order of chapters do not tell the whole story and does not necessarily indicate relative importance. But it seemed an odd choice still, and I wonder what impression it leaves to the readers of this book.

In the hands of theologically trained pastors, this book can still be useful in teaching great doctrines of the Bible about God in a sunday school setting, both adults and youths. Accompanying videos and workbook can save the time for the busy pastor in preparing the material too. The book's main strength is in its accessibility and its repeated reminders to be humble before God as we grow in the knowledge of God.

[Maddox Mosher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first systematic I have read through fully, and I believe it was a great introduction to all the topics included in it. I am excited to read the rest of the books within this series.

[Ryan Cable · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, dense ideas but new believer friendly

[Erik Bonkovsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s solid as an introduction to theology, so solid in fact, that I may use it for Leadership Training. But the style (for me) is a little hard to read and it doesn’t warm my soul the way the best theology does.

[Joshua Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took WAY too long. I was hoping to work through it over time.. but it became a drag. I did enjoy it.. just dense.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence from the introduction: This book is designed to help you think more deeply about the most important topic--the most important person--in the entire universe: God himself.

First sentence from chapter one: What comes to mind when you hear the word theology?

Knowing God's Truth is an introduction to systematic theology. Unfamiliar with theology? with systematic theology? No worries, this book was written for you. This book breaks everything down into basic building blocks so that anyone can understand the foundations of the christian faith. For those more familiar with theology and/or systematic theology, this one is a good refresher course. I'm guessing that even those with many years of study behind them have strengths and weaknesses.

One thing that makes this one stand out is that it accessible, organized, precise, concise, logical. Each chapter is broken down into smaller chunks. Each chapter also BUILDS IN prayer time. I've never seen a book quite like this one that encourages readers to pray as they are reading/studying. It also includes summaries reviews at the end of each chapter. It is a thing of beauty in how simple yet uncompromising it is.

There are twelve chapters.

What is Theology?
The Doctrine of Scripture
The Doctrine of God
The Doctrine of Man
The Doctrine of Sin
The Doctrine of Jesus Christ
The Doctrine of Salvation
The Doctrine of Heaven and Hell
The Doctrine of the Church
The Doctrine of Angels and Demons
The Doctrine of Last Things
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

My only small complaint--and it is by no means a deal breaker--is why save the Holy Spirit for last???? Why not place the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit either before or after Salvation? I do think one needs to study the Holy Spirit before one studies the doctrine of the Church.

I would recommend this one to essentially anyone and everyone. I think it would be good for individual use. But I also think it would be excellent for group(s). I could see it coming in handy for private Christian schools as curriculum. I could see it being a great fit for Christian homeschoolers. I could see it being good for Sunday school classes or bible studies. I think it would work for small Christian book clubs. (Though I don't know how many small Christian book clubs read nonfiction.)

[Jennifer Ritchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid, concise, well-written introduction to systematic theology. It seems to be aimed at young believers, perhaps teenagers. I am excited to be able to provide it to my own children.

When I first started reading it, the simple, modern, straightforward style made me think, “Uh-oh. This is going to be dumbed-down.” However, I was wrong. The author, Jon Nielson, is careful to avoid intimidating his readers early on, but he is not afraid to start teaching terms like propitiation and aseity and ecclesiology and all those good things. I was more and more impressed as I went along. The Scripture readings for every section are great, and my favorite thing about the book was its many sections of guided prayer, leading the reader to appreciate and worship God in the light of all these truths. When I was a young person, I was continually confused about how to pray, so this is a great resource for young believers. It isn’t the most in-depth theology book out there, but that’s not its aim: the author himself admits that he’s only scratching the surface of all these subjects, and he encourages his readers to continue learning. All the same, I was pretty amazed at the amount of ground he was able to cover in 300 pages.

The subjects covered are:
-What is theology?
-Scripture
-God
-Man
-Sin
-Jesus Christ
-Salvation
-Heaven and Hell
-The Church
-Angels and Demons
-Last Things
-Holy Spirit

When dealing with controversial issues, the author does a good job of establishing which issues are essential, and explaining the different positions held by different groups of orthodox believers. I couldn’t believe how concise (and yet accurate) his summaries of various eschatological views were. I’ll be telling the elder in charge of the youth ministry in my church about this book, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who wants a good basic (and worshipful) theology book.

[David Crews PhD · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Knowing God's Truth: An Introduction to Systematic Theology," Jon Nielson offers a clear and accessible entry point into what can often be an intimidating subject. Published by Crossway in 2023, this book is designed for those new to theology, including students and young adults, who desire a foundational understanding of Christian doctrine.

Nielson structures the book around the core tenets of systematic theology, dedicating chapters to topics such as the doctrine of God, Scripture, humanity, sin, and the church. A standout feature of the book is its practical and devotional approach. Each chapter is broken down into smaller, digestible sections that include Bible readings, memory verses, and prompts for prayer, encouraging the reader to not just learn about God, but to engage with Him personally.

The writing is straightforward and largely avoids overly technical jargon, making complex theological concepts understandable to the layperson. While some readers may find the exclusion of certain nuanced theological debates a drawback, Nielson's focus remains on presenting a solid, orthodox framework of Christian belief from a Protestant perspective.

Overall, "Knowing God's Truth" serves as an excellent introductory text. It is a valuable resource for individuals seeking to build a more robust theological foundation for their faith in a way that is both intellectually stimulating and spiritually formative.

This review was in cooperation with Crossway Publishers

David Crews PhD

[Pat Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickly, I would recommend this book to anyone who has never studied Systematic Theology. It is really very basic, but a great entry point for some who have never delved into the subject.

I also found the book to be very devotional, and that is the way I would recommend using it. I intend to continue using the summaries at the end of each chapter daily to keep these truths in my heart, and prayer life. I also think this would be great for a Bible study in your church.

“Take Up and Read” - Saint Augustine

[Day Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great textbook on theology! Knowing God's Truth is focused on teaching through many different topics within systematic theology with a focus on prayer every step of the way and staying rooted in scripture to help blend the academics of this topic with the heart and personal nature of it. Although I may be biased by the course I took alongside this book, I would recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about "God talk".

[Mikey Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book.
If you’ve never studied some of these topics then this intro is perfect. It’s geared towards the young believer ready to jump into systematics.
Even so, there are times it feels too simplistic.

The biggest strength of the book is that it is saturated with scriptures and it pushes and encourages prayer on almost every page.

Worth the read and a good resource.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish this book had made more clear up front that it was not a neutral exploration of systematic theology, but would advocate for the doctrinal positions of the PCA, even when other denominations disagree with those positions. For me, those are two different books, and I thought I was getting the former.

[shannon johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Introduction

I like that anyone can pick up this book read it and come away with a basic understanding of systematic theology. It covers all of the basics and is probably great for a new person to the faith.

[David J. Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. The best lay introduction to systematic theology I have encountered. Clear scriptural defense of positions, not bogged down by jargon, and does a great job of differentiating between first and second order doctrines.

[Sarah Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this book had more definitions and more scripture references to back things up. I was constantly wanting more detail and more references. I think since it’s meant to be an introduction, it’s very light on those things, maybe to not overwhelm. But I found it lacking.

[Arnold Keifer Navey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give anything to go back in time and make this the first theology book I read.

[Adzira · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️