Paul: An Outline of His Theology [Paperback]

Herman Ridderbos (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 11, 1997

In many ways this is the most comprehensive and thorough exposition of the teaching of the apostle Paul. Here we find sound exegesis, perceptive analysis, profound insight, and a humble listening to the voice of Paul. This comprehensive study is not only highly recommended; it is a must for every student of the New Testament and its message.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Dutch (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

(1909–2007) Herman Ridderbos was professor of New Testament at the Theological School of the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands in Kampen.

Product Details

• Paperback: 587 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (September 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802844693
• ISBN-13: 978-0802844699
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breath-taking in its scope and depth., November 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Paul: An Outline of His Theology (Paperback)

This is the classic modern exposition of Paul's thought and theology. Topically arranged, Ridderbos exposes the structure and Paul's system and sheds a calm, thorough light on such matters as Paul's meaning of law/grace, flesh/spirit, present age/age to come. Ridderbos is in line with Geerhardus Vos' biblical theology without being dependent on the great Princeton theologian.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect scholarly complement to E. W. Keyon's books., August 9, 1998

By 

Kelly M. Johnson (Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul: An Outline of His Theology (Paperback)

I first read this book in 1980 as part of my Bible school curriculum. I bought another copy because my old one was deteriorating from so much use. This is the only book I've found that explains Paul's Revelation from a theological standpoint, but without making it stiff and difficult to understand. A must for any Christian who shares Paul's desire to "comprehend the One by whom he has been apprehended."

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Securing The Baptismal Form, September 14, 2008

By 

Jacques Schoeman (SA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul: An Outline of His Theology (Paperback)

'It is the redemptive-historical transition, effected in Christ's death and resurrection, that is working itself out in this process. And it all rests on their being-in-Him, as the second Adam.' p 64

One of the greatest ongoing challenges to the historic faith is the conception of baptism promulgated by Anabaptism (those whom Luther called 'Schwärmerei' or Enthusiasts). The corporate dimensions of salvation that affect the ekklesia or 'assembly of God' are often overlooked in favor of the individual's conversion experience, whereby the soteriology of Paul suffers from a lack of objectivity in its ecclesiological dimension. 'We have already determined that with this old and new man one is not to think in the first place of the conversion of individual believers, but of the common mode of existence of 'the many' in Adam and in Christ respectively.' p 401

Ridderbos firstly began with the elimination of the relevant non-Pauline texts which refer to Spirit baptism and may have a bearing on the polemic. An unhealthy preoccupation with 'the anointing' is rejected as he placed the undivided intent of those texts on the gift at regeneration, and definitely not a separate or second blessing: 'To our mind one will with the 'anointing' have to think directly of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; 1 John 2:20, 27).' p 400 Furthermore, Ridderbos denied the prospect of regenerational baptism in stating that the proper perspective of baptism 'does not denote conversion.' p 404 A homiletical error that is often heard at baptismal events is the analogy that the baptized is himself/herself undergoing a symbolic burial and resurrection. Ridderbos rebuked this fanciful reading of Scripture: 'The death, burial and resurrection of which there is mention here are undoubtedly the death, burial and resurrection of Christ; to be buried with Him in baptism consequently means to participate by baptism in that death and that grave.' p 403

Ridderbos certainly did not share the convictions as reflected in the content of modern commentators regarding baptism, and motivated his point even further with well-founded biblical exegesis: 'For this reason the expression 'to be baptized into Christ' (Rom 6:5 and Gal 3:27) cannot be simply interpreted as an abbreviation of the formula, 'to be baptized in the name of Christ', as is often assumed. Rather, this compressed expression has a more pregnant significance, in that it is the denotation of the union of the one baptized with Christ in this corporate sense, and thus with His death, burial and resurrection.' p 403

'...because we have concluded this: that One has died for all, therefore all have died' 2 Cor 5:14
'...so in Christ shall all be made alive' 1 Cor 15:22

Augustine insisted: 'Therefore, just as that one man was predestined to be our head, so we being many, are predestined to be His members.' A Treatise On The Predestination Of The Saints, c.15; idem, On The Gift of Perseverance c.14 In a faithful exegesis of the Rom 6 and Col 2 references to baptism, Herman Ridderbos soberly assessed the issue at stake when stating that the preference for the Anabaptist position contains 'within it the danger of diverting attention from the specific significance Paul here ascribes to baptism'. p 403 For Paul the significance lies entirely in the new creation brought about by the redemptive-historical death and resurrection of Christ, which is entirely appropriated to the believer in his participation through baptism: 'For the old man, too, has once been crucified with Christ (Rom 6:6) and the laying aside of the old man in baptism signifies above all, therefore, participation in that unique event.' p 404 and 'To be baptized means also to participate in an actual sense in what once took place in Christ.' p 405

Calvin exhorted us to see the greater truth in baptism as expressed by Paul in Romans 6:3-4: 'By these words, he not only exhorts us to imitation of Christ...but he traces the matter much higher, that Christ by baptism has made us partakers of His death, engrafting us into it.' Institutes 4:15:5 On this FF Bruce was agreed: 'Incorporation into this body is effected by personal faith in Christ, sacramentally sealed in baptism and sustained by the eucharist.' Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free p 138 Robert Reymond inserts an even broader pericope: 'When such passages as Rom 6:3-6, 1 Cor 12:13, Gal 3:27-28, and Col 2:11-12 are taken into account, it becomes plain that the nature of the relationship is one of union with Christ, more particularly, union with Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection - not just union with Him in the last two.' A New Systematic Theology Of The Christian Faith p 925

Demonstrating our union with Christ as our corporate Head and Archegos, Ridderbos continued to amaze with an invaluable study of the Israelite fathers who 'were baptized into Moses' from 1 Cor 10, illustrating Paul's use of typology for incorporation into Christ comprehensively.

'Christ has brought it to pass, that those that the Father has given Him should be brought into the household of God; that He, and His Father, and His people, should be, as it were, one society, one family; that the church should be, as it were, admitted into the society of the blessed Trinity.' Jonathan Edwards, Sermons p 196