Dr. Trueman examines the origins of contemporary Reformed theology in the Reformation world of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. After tracing how this heritage shaped and transformed the intervening period, he then describes some of the major challenges being faced by the evangelical church at the present time and suggests ways of responding which remain faithful to the Scriptures and the theology of the Reformers drawn from it and points towards a future that embraces and disseminates these wonderful doctrines of grace.
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“Carl Trueman’s Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow is a needed corrective and powerful antidote for the spiritual anemia that has infected our chapter of church history.”, Rick Holland, Executive Pastor, Grace Community Church, "A great introduction to the present-day meaning of this world-changing event.“, Michael A. G. Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, "“With knowledge, wit, and clarity, Carl Trueman brings key insights from the Reformation on Christ, Scripture, and our appropriation of both to bear on the life of the modern evangelical church.” Michael Lawrence, Senior Pastor, Hinson Baptist Church, Portland, Oregon "This fine book should be required reading for all Christians—and especially for those who doubt whether the Protestant Reformation has anything left to say to us in our day…Along the way, he scatters nugget after nugget of insight into what is core to the Reformation legacy, motivating his readers to embrace this core again.” Mark Talbot, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. "Dr Trueman calls us to build on the work of Reformers by a continuing reformation of the church under the Word; especially with regard to the cross of the Christ, the written and preached Word, and thirdly, the assurance of salvation…”. Eryl Davies, Head of Research, Wales Evangelical School of Theology.
About the Author
Carl Trueman is Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. He has contributed to the Dictionary of Historical Theology, the Dictionary of National Biography, The Cambridge Companion to Reformation Theology and the Blackwell Companion to Modern Theology.
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“ Trueman ardently examines the landscape of the Reformation and provides valuable insight as to its practical and theological importance for the church today. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
What bearing and import does a movement, nearly half a century old, have on the church today? Lest we be counted guilty of what C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield called "chronological snobbery", viewing the thinking of our own day as far superior to those who have gone before, we would do well to be reacquainted with the life, thought, and convictions of the Reformation. Carl R. Trueman, in his recently republished book, Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Christian Focus, 2011), hopes to encourage the church by examining the movement known as "the Reformation," and demonstrating how "a critical appropriation of the Reformation is vital to a healthy church today."
Originally written in 1999 in order to be delivered at the Evangelical Theological College in Wales, Reformation is no less filled with the lively wit and searing insight that characterizes much of Trueman's writing today. The book is a clear demonstration that Trueman, nearly a decade younger, was still a diligent exegete of history and its significance upon contemporary Christianity.
Reformation is divided into 4 brief chapters:
Chapter 1: "The Pearl of Great Price: The Relevance of the Reformation Today" - Here, Trueman argues that "the key insights of the Reformers are as relevant today--and as applicable to situations today--as they were in the sixteenth century." Defining the Reformation in light of its broad theological contribution to the church, Truman proposes the following definition: "the Reformation represents a move to place God as he revealed himself in Christ at the centre of the church's life and thought."
Chapter 2: "Meeting the Man of Sorrows" - Trueman focuses largely upon Luther's Christology in this chapter, and particularly his "theology of the cross." In my estimation, Trueman surpasses the work of Gerhard Forde in his explanation and application of Luther's "theology of the cross." Trueman's ability to effectively articulate Luther's position, with a thorough knowledge of the historical context within which it arose, allows him to draw out applications in plain language which are accessible to even the one never exposed to this facet of Luther's theology before. This chapter exceeds its size in its importance for effective gospel preaching and understanding within the context of human suffering!
Chapter 3: "The Oracles of God" - A chapter devoted to the Reformers' view of Scripture and its impact on the church today. Trueman examines the nature, authority, purpose, and significance of the Scriptures noting how it played a central role in the piety of the Reformers. Ringing of "Machen-esque" insight and lucidity, this chapter is especially helpful as it notes the necessity of a high view of Scripture and its central place within the church today; especially as it relates to the preacher in the pulpit.
Chapter 4: "Blessed Assurance" - Noting that one of the key elements of Protestant theology is the experience of assurance in the life of the believer as it pertains to salvation in Christ, Trueman begins by briefly summarizing Luther's struggle with personal righteousness and how he came to understand that righteousness is something God graciously credits to the believer through faith because of Christ (cf., Rom 1:17). The significance of Luther's discovery of justification by faith, Trueman notes, is "that God's love is unconditional and total, that it brings us salvation as a gift, and that, most amazing of all, we can know this salvation for certain ourselves."
Though the volume as a whole is brief, it is an excellent primer on the practical significance of the Reformation upon the church today. Trueman ardently examines the landscape of the Reformation and provides valuable insight as to its practical and theological importance for the church today. A note of caution to the reader: if you're looking for a book primarily devoted to the history of the Reformation you'd do well to read Reeves' The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation or Nichols' The Reformation: How a Monk and Mallet Changed the World. However, if you're looking for a book by a first rate historical theologian that effectively draws out the significance of the Reformation for the church today, you couldn't choose a better volume than Trueman's Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Additionally, this book is by all means accessible and beneficial to those of varying levels of knowledge of Reformation history. This volume is a valuable addition to the church that understands or is growing to understand, "ecclesia reformata semper reformanda est." (trans: "The reformed church is always in need of reforming.")
I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Originally written in 1999 in order to be delivered at the Evangelical Theological College in Wales, Reformation is no less filled with the lively wit and searing insight that characterizes much of Trueman's writing today. The book is a clear demonstration that Trueman, nearly a decade younger, was still a diligent exegete of history and its significance upon contemporary Christianity.
Reformation is divided into 4 brief chapters:
Chapter 1: "The Pearl of Great Price: The Relevance of the Reformation Today" - Here, Trueman argues that "the key insights of the Reformers are as relevant today--and as applicable to situations today--as they were in the sixteenth century." Defining the Reformation in light of its broad theological contribution to the church, Truman proposes the following definition: "the Reformation represents a move to place God as he revealed himself in Christ at the centre of the church's life and thought."
Chapter 2: "Meeting the Man of Sorrows" - Trueman focuses largely upon Luther's Christology in this chapter, and particularly his "theology of the cross." In my estimation, Trueman surpasses the work of Gerhard Forde in his explanation and application of Luther's "theology of the cross." Trueman's ability to effectively articulate Luther's position, with a thorough knowledge of the historical context within which it arose, allows him to draw out applications in plain language which are accessible to even the one never exposed to this facet of Luther's theology before. This chapter exceeds its size in its importance for effective gospel preaching and understanding within the context of human suffering!
Chapter 3: "The Oracles of God" - A chapter devoted to the Reformers' view of Scripture and its impact on the church today. Trueman examines the nature, authority, purpose, and significance of the Scriptures noting how it played a central role in the piety of the Reformers. Ringing of "Machen-esque" insight and lucidity, this chapter is especially helpful as it notes the necessity of a high view of Scripture and its central place within the church today; especially as it relates to the preacher in the pulpit.
Chapter 4: "Blessed Assurance" - Noting that one of the key elements of Protestant theology is the experience of assurance in the life of the believer as it pertains to salvation in Christ, Trueman begins by briefly summarizing Luther's struggle with personal righteousness and how he came to understand that righteousness is something God graciously credits to the believer through faith because of Christ (cf., Rom 1:17). The significance of Luther's discovery of justification by faith, Trueman notes, is "that God's love is unconditional and total, that it brings us salvation as a gift, and that, most amazing of all, we can know this salvation for certain ourselves."
Though the volume as a whole is brief, it is an excellent primer on the practical significance of the Reformation upon the church today. Trueman ardently examines the landscape of the Reformation and provides valuable insight as to its practical and theological importance for the church today. A note of caution to the reader: if you're looking for a book primarily devoted to the history of the Reformation you'd do well to read Reeves' The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation or Nichols' The Reformation: How a Monk and Mallet Changed the World. However, if you're looking for a book by a first rate historical theologian that effectively draws out the significance of the Reformation for the church today, you couldn't choose a better volume than Trueman's Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Additionally, this book is by all means accessible and beneficial to those of varying levels of knowledge of Reformation history. This volume is a valuable addition to the church that understands or is growing to understand, "ecclesia reformata semper reformanda est." (trans: "The reformed church is always in need of reforming.")
I wholeheartedly recommend it!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
What is it about the Reformation that continues to captivate and frustrate so many even to this day? Why has its theology endured; why, despite the sweeping cultural changes of the last four hundred years is it still relevant? Carl R. Trueman addressed these questions in a series of lectures delivered in July, 2000, which became the short, but poignant book, Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tommorrow, first published by Bryntirion Press and now by Christian Focus in 2011.
Chapter one, "The Pearl of Great Price," examines the question of why we should study the Reformers at all. After all, some would say, they lived so long ago that the issues they faced don't apply to us anymore. And they would be correct. But as Trueman argues, the need is not to return to their practices per se, but rather to the principles that guided them. He explains that in studying the Reformers, "I am interested in the theological principles underlying [their] work and in understanding how those principles might be applied in practice today, given that God has not changed, our theology has not changed, but certain aspects of our culture and society have changed" (p. 18). In light of this goal, he helpfully defines the Reformation as representing "a move to place God as he has revealed himself in Christ at the centre of the church's life and thought" (p. 19). Therefore, if the Reformers are relevant today, it is only because of their desire to place Christ at the center of all things. This naturally led them to place a high emphasis on a theology of the Cross, the Scriptures and the blessedness of the assurance of salvation, each of which Trueman covers in the subsequent three chapters.
Chapter two, "Meeting the Man of Sorrows," explores the difference between what Luther called the theology of glory and the theology of the cross. The former looked at all things and "calls evil good and good evil," while the latter "calls the thing what it actually is." The theologian of glory, according to Trueman, essentially was creating God in his own image, "creating a picture of God which reflected merely humanity's own expectations of what God should be like" (p. 41). So, God loves what (and whom) they love and hates what (and whom) they hate. It's a disturbing view, to be sure, but as we've seen even in recent months, it continues to have a strong pull.
The theologian of the cross, on the other hand, "knows what God is really like because his or her thinking about God starts with God's revelation of himself and not with human expectations" (p. 42). And for Luther, this revelation took place primarily in the person of Christ on the cross. "That is where theology must begin and end; that is the source and the principle by which all theological statements must be judged and understood," writes Trueman. It's a view that is profoundly experiential in its nature. It forces us to wrestle with a powerful truth: that suffering and weakness are "part and parcel of the Christ-centred life" (p. 53). Christ doesn't save us from these things, He saves us to them and refines us through them.
Chapter three, "The Oracles of God," deals with the place of Scripture in the Church. Essentially, it's a question of what you believe about the Bible. Is it the Word of God or is it something else? "It was only because Luther and his fellow Reformers believed that the Bible was God's Word, and was the only way in which they could come to know of God's grace in Christ, that it took on its central role in their lives and their churches" (p. 74). Our view of the Bible affects how we see preaching (and how we preach), what we teach, how we worship--it impacts everything. I particularly appreciated this chapter from a preacher's perspective. It seems that more and more, people cannot abide by preaching. Some think it doesn't work anymore or that people simply don't want to listen to anything longer than 22 minutes (a sitcom minus commercials). But if the Spirit is, as Trueman rightly puts it, charged with witnessing to Christ in and through the Scriptures, and if He is so entwined with the Word that it is "supremely powerful," we dare not minimize its importance.
Finally, chapter four, "Blessed Assurance," looks at one of the most beautiful--yet neglected--doctrines in all of Scripture: the assurance of salvation. Today, it's not uncommon to hear that one who has truly been saved can still wind up spending an eternity in hell. All he has to do is die before forgiving someone. This kind of wicked teaching strips the believer of any hope and joy, and paints God as a fickle taskmaster rather than a loving Father. But the Reformers put a high emphasis on assurance because they aw that "salvation depends upon the action of God, not upon the cooperation of God and humanity" (p. 104). Simply, assurance rests upon the character and actions of God throughout all of history. And because God always fulfills His promises, one whom He has given new life will not perish--even if that one doesn't always feel like he's secure in his faith. This is perhaps one of the doctrines rediscovered by the Reformers that we must embrace in our day. We have become so introspective that we've become paralyzed, unable to pursue the things that God calls us to as His witnesses in this world. Assurance frees us from needless introspection and offers us opportunities to share in what God is doing throughout creation.
In Reformation, Trueman shows himself not only to be a superb scholar but a very gifted writer. Just as we dare not minimize the importance of preaching, we likewise dare not make theology dull. Trueman's quick wit shines through in his writing, allowing him to keep the text lively and engaging. With that in mind (and although some might be initially put off by the British spelling--as a Canadian, I find it refreshing), Reformation is a book that I'd highly encourage any reader in which to invest their time. It will encourage and inspire you as you gain a new appreciation of Reformation theology and why it still matters today.
Chapter one, "The Pearl of Great Price," examines the question of why we should study the Reformers at all. After all, some would say, they lived so long ago that the issues they faced don't apply to us anymore. And they would be correct. But as Trueman argues, the need is not to return to their practices per se, but rather to the principles that guided them. He explains that in studying the Reformers, "I am interested in the theological principles underlying [their] work and in understanding how those principles might be applied in practice today, given that God has not changed, our theology has not changed, but certain aspects of our culture and society have changed" (p. 18). In light of this goal, he helpfully defines the Reformation as representing "a move to place God as he has revealed himself in Christ at the centre of the church's life and thought" (p. 19). Therefore, if the Reformers are relevant today, it is only because of their desire to place Christ at the center of all things. This naturally led them to place a high emphasis on a theology of the Cross, the Scriptures and the blessedness of the assurance of salvation, each of which Trueman covers in the subsequent three chapters.
Chapter two, "Meeting the Man of Sorrows," explores the difference between what Luther called the theology of glory and the theology of the cross. The former looked at all things and "calls evil good and good evil," while the latter "calls the thing what it actually is." The theologian of glory, according to Trueman, essentially was creating God in his own image, "creating a picture of God which reflected merely humanity's own expectations of what God should be like" (p. 41). So, God loves what (and whom) they love and hates what (and whom) they hate. It's a disturbing view, to be sure, but as we've seen even in recent months, it continues to have a strong pull.
The theologian of the cross, on the other hand, "knows what God is really like because his or her thinking about God starts with God's revelation of himself and not with human expectations" (p. 42). And for Luther, this revelation took place primarily in the person of Christ on the cross. "That is where theology must begin and end; that is the source and the principle by which all theological statements must be judged and understood," writes Trueman. It's a view that is profoundly experiential in its nature. It forces us to wrestle with a powerful truth: that suffering and weakness are "part and parcel of the Christ-centred life" (p. 53). Christ doesn't save us from these things, He saves us to them and refines us through them.
Chapter three, "The Oracles of God," deals with the place of Scripture in the Church. Essentially, it's a question of what you believe about the Bible. Is it the Word of God or is it something else? "It was only because Luther and his fellow Reformers believed that the Bible was God's Word, and was the only way in which they could come to know of God's grace in Christ, that it took on its central role in their lives and their churches" (p. 74). Our view of the Bible affects how we see preaching (and how we preach), what we teach, how we worship--it impacts everything. I particularly appreciated this chapter from a preacher's perspective. It seems that more and more, people cannot abide by preaching. Some think it doesn't work anymore or that people simply don't want to listen to anything longer than 22 minutes (a sitcom minus commercials). But if the Spirit is, as Trueman rightly puts it, charged with witnessing to Christ in and through the Scriptures, and if He is so entwined with the Word that it is "supremely powerful," we dare not minimize its importance.
Finally, chapter four, "Blessed Assurance," looks at one of the most beautiful--yet neglected--doctrines in all of Scripture: the assurance of salvation. Today, it's not uncommon to hear that one who has truly been saved can still wind up spending an eternity in hell. All he has to do is die before forgiving someone. This kind of wicked teaching strips the believer of any hope and joy, and paints God as a fickle taskmaster rather than a loving Father. But the Reformers put a high emphasis on assurance because they aw that "salvation depends upon the action of God, not upon the cooperation of God and humanity" (p. 104). Simply, assurance rests upon the character and actions of God throughout all of history. And because God always fulfills His promises, one whom He has given new life will not perish--even if that one doesn't always feel like he's secure in his faith. This is perhaps one of the doctrines rediscovered by the Reformers that we must embrace in our day. We have become so introspective that we've become paralyzed, unable to pursue the things that God calls us to as His witnesses in this world. Assurance frees us from needless introspection and offers us opportunities to share in what God is doing throughout creation.
In Reformation, Trueman shows himself not only to be a superb scholar but a very gifted writer. Just as we dare not minimize the importance of preaching, we likewise dare not make theology dull. Trueman's quick wit shines through in his writing, allowing him to keep the text lively and engaging. With that in mind (and although some might be initially put off by the British spelling--as a Canadian, I find it refreshing), Reformation is a book that I'd highly encourage any reader in which to invest their time. It will encourage and inspire you as you gain a new appreciation of Reformation theology and why it still matters today.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Carl Trueman is always worth reading. This little gem of a book really attempts to take the heart of the Reformation's teachings - especially as expressed and taught by Luther, and apply them to the problems in theology and practice facing the evangelical church today. There are wonderful comments on preaching, worship, assurance, and suffering. A worthwhile read even if you are not fond of history, as the application is rich and the writing style is, as Trueman always is, provocative and lively. Pick it up - it's worth your valuable reading time!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
God-centred!
This short book is super good! Trueman is clear, articulate, and passionate about exalting Christ. This book is founded upon the premise that the past--specifically the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Yehoshua
4.0 out of 5 stars
Semper Reformanda!
A number of months ago, I read Republocrat by Carl R. Trueman. Frankly, the book angered me. I didn't like anything about it. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Dr. David Steele
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Reading
This is a great little book that would introduce and discuss the heart of the Reformed theology and Reformed churches. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Jim Kang
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Helpful Summary
This short work by Carl Trueman is a great little summary of the reformation and some of its application. Read more
Published 22 months ago by G. A. Dietrich
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