Abbreviations
Tables
Preface

Part 1: Prolegomena: Introduction to Theology and the Doctrine of Revelation

Analytical Outline: Prolegomena

Section A: Introduction to Theology

1. What Is Theology? Part 1: An Academic Discipline
2. What Is Theology? Part 2: A Spiritual Discipline
3. Who Does Theology? Where? When?
4. Which Theology Do We Do? Part 1: Christian, Catholic, Evangelical
5. Which Theology Do We Do? Part 2: Reformed: Historical, Confessional, Theological, and Hermeneutical Perspectives
6. Which Theology Do We Do? Part 3: Reformed: Polemical and Experiential Perspectives
7. Why Do We Do Theology?
8. How Do We Do Theology? Part 1: Spiritual Dynamics
9. How Do We Do Theology? Part 2: Academic Methods

Section B: The Doctrine of Revelation

10. Theological Fundamentals of Divine Revelation
11. General Revelation, Part 1: Biblical Teaching
12. General Revelation, Part 2: Philosophy and Science
13. General Revelation, Part 3: Natural Theology and Theistic Arguments

Excursus: Some Historical Perspective on Natural Theology and Theistic Proofs

14. Special Revelation: Biblical Teaching
15. Errors Regarding Special Revelation, Part 1: Romanism and Liberalism
16. Errors Regarding Special Revelation, Part 2: Liberalism’s Offspring
17. The Bible as the Word of God
18. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 1: Authority and Clarity
19. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 2: Necessity, Unity, and Efficacy
20. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 3: Inerrant Veracity
21. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 4: Objections to Inerrancy
22. The Properties of the Written Word, Part 5: Sufficiency
23. The Cessation of Special Revelation, Part 1: Charismatic Continuationism
24. The Cessation of Special Revelation, Part 2: Prophecy Today
25. Applied Revelation for Practical Fruit

Part 2: Theology Proper: The Doctrine of God

Analytical Outline: Theology Proper

Section A: The Doctrine of God’s Triune Glory

26. Introduction: The True Knowledge of God
27. Introduction to God’s Nature and Attributes, Part 1: Biblical Teaching
28. Introduction to God’s Nature and Attributes, Part 2: Theological Issues
29. The Name of “the Lord” (YHWH)
30. The Holiness of the Lord
31. Gods That Are Not God
32. God’s Spirituality
33. God’s Simplicity: “The Lord Our God Is One Lord”
34. God’s Infinity, Part 1: Incomprehensibility, Aseity, and Immensity
35. God’s Infinity, Part 2: Eternity: Infinity with Respect to Time

Excursus: Problems of Time and Eternity

36. God’s Immutability, Part 1: Biblical Teaching
37. God’s Immutability, Part 2: Theological Questions
38. God’s Knowledge, Part 1: Omniscience and Wisdom
39. God’s Knowledge, Part 2: Foreknowledge
40. God’s Sovereignty: An Introduction to Omnipotence
41. God’s Moral Excellence, Part 1: Goodness and Love
42. God’s Moral Excellence, Part 2: Truth and Righteousness
43. God’s Moral Excellence, Part 3: Jealousy, Impassibility, and Joy
44. God’s Moral Excellence, Part 4: Wrath and Compassion
45. The Trinity, Part 1: Biblical Teaching
46. The Trinity, Part 2: Historical Development
47. The Trinity, Part 3: Theological and Practical Considerations

Section B: The Doctrine of God’s Sovereign Purpose

48. The Decree of God: General Considerations
49. Predestination, Part 1: Election and Reprobation
50. Predestination, Part 2: Historical Development through Reformed Orthodoxy
51. Predestination, Part 3: Questions and Uses
52. God’s Providence, Part 1: Biblical Teaching
53. God’s Providence, Part 2: Problems and Applications

Section C: The Doctrine of Angels and Demons

54. The Holy Angels of God
55. Satan and the Demons

Bibliography
General Index
Scripture Index

“Some people think Reformed theology is all about doctrine and has little to do with doxology. Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley have proved otherwise. Chapter after chapter of their Reformed Systematic Theology not only takes readers into the depths of our triune God, but also shows what these great truths have to do with the Christian life. No contemporary systematic theology will bring the reader to a greater understanding of how theology blossoms into doxology than this one.”
Matthew Barrett, Professor of Christian Theology, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, Simply Trinity and None Greater

“This book splendidly avoids turning systematic theology into something dry, dull, and merely theoretical. It declares without hesitation that the essential prerequisites for doing theology are repentance and regeneration. It is a delightful read because real-life, Christ-focused application permeates its pages.”
Jonathan F. Bayes, UK Director, Carey Outreach Ministries; Pastor, Stanton Lees Chapel, Derbyshire, England; author, Systematics for God’s Glory and The Weakness of the Law

“As is true of Beeke’s recently published work Reformed Preaching, the publication of his Reformed Systematic Theology in collaboration with his gifted assistant, Paul Smalley, is also the ripe fruit of his lifelong engagement as a preacher and as a teacher of preachers. This is not a systematic theology written by an ivory-tower theologian, but rather by a seasoned preacher for whom the doctrines he expounds have become, by the grace of God, an experiential reality.”
Bartel Elshout, Pastor, Heritage Reformed Congregation, Hull, Iowa; translator, The Christian’s Reasonable Service and The Christian’s Only Comfort in Life and Death

“Already the most prolific Reformed author of his generation, Joel Beeke (helped by his theological Barnabas, Paul Smalley) now harvests the fruit of a lifetime of study, reflection, teaching, and writing in this impressive magnum opus. Throughout the centuries, theologians have debated whether systematic theology is an intellectual or practical discipline. Reformed Systematic Theology rightly treats it as both, for the Great Theologian of the church underlined that we cannot love the Lord our God with our mind unless we also love him with heart, soul, and strength. Thus, in these pages, doctrine leads to doxology and also to further enquiry. Each locus is expounded biblically, is understood ‘together with all the saints,’ and leads to practical implications and applications, with psalms, hymns of praise, and probing questions for further reflection. This is catechesis at its best, in the great tradition of Augustine, Anselm, and Calvin, where ‘faith seeks understanding’ and leads to worship and obedience. Here is a major contribution to the education of theological students, but also a work for preachers to have close by as a constant go-to resource, and indeed for every Christian family to own and frequently consult. While today it may seem that ‘of the making of systematic theologies there is no end,’ Reformed Systematic Theology makes a distinctive, deeply engaging, and welcome contribution and deserves a place of honor. Many will be grateful to Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley for giving this immensely valuable gift to the twenty-first-century church.”
Sinclair B. Ferguson, Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries

“Calm theological waters that have deep exegetical currents flow wonderfully through this accessible and highly practical systematic theology. Beeke and Smalley have written a work useful to the church at large that teaches Christians what they should believe and how they should love, but they have not sacrificed academic rigor to achieve these goals.”
J. V. Fesko, Harriet Barbour Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson

“Joel Beeke has continued his decades-long service to Christ and his church by presenting us with his mature reflections on the nature of systematic theology. This text is fully reliable, well written, easily understood, and thoroughly researched. This first volume of four will undoubtedly be a blessing to the church, and I look forward to the following volumes!”
Richard C. Gamble, Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

“This account of the doctrines of revelation and of God, built on biblical exegesis, is rich in theological discussion and practical implications. It is very accessible and will be of interest to a wide readership. Beeke and Smalley are to be congratulated, and I look forward to further volumes in the future.”
Robert Letham, Senior Research Fellow, Union School of Theology

“‘Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!’ This expression of praise from Paul’s great doxology is a fitting response to reading this wonderful work of doctrine and devotion. Though the Reformed faith is often caricatured as merely intellectual, this work demonstrates that Reformed theology is also profoundly experiential, as no chapter fails to move from theology to doxology. This resource will instruct the mind and inflame the heart.”
John MacArthur, Pastor, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California; Chancellor, The Master’s University and Seminary

“Although many excellent books on systematic theology have been published in recent years, this new contribution by Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley covers the range of biblical truth in a fresh and unique way. While recognizing the importance of academic scholarship, they insist that what the church needs more than anything is ‘a theology that engages the head, heart, and hands.’ This new systematic theology will be welcomed and appreciated by theologians and laypeople alike as a treasure trove of biblical and Reformed doctrine.”
Cornelis (Neil) Pronk, Emeritus Minister, Free Reformed Church, Brantford, Ontario

“This comprehensively argued book faithfully exposes error and guides the reader in the God- honoring path to right living and eternal happiness. Few are the books in our day that fix our eye firmly on God and his truth. But here is one book that does just that. I commend it heartily as a God-honoring and life-changing volume of real biblical theology.”
Maurice Roberts, Former Editor, The Banner of Truth magazine; author, The Thought of God and The Mysteries of God

“Here is truth presented to make you think, pray, and sing. This is theology functioning as it ought to function—calling us to worship. You will not need to agree with the authors at every point to believe and to hope that this, and its sister volumes, will serve Christ’s church well in our generation and for generations to come.”
Jeremy Walker, Pastor, Maidenbower Baptist Church, Crawley, UK; author, Life in Christ; Anchored in Grace; and A Face Like a Flint