Customer Reviews

Reformed Dogmatics (4 Volume Set)

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Reformed Dogmatics by Bavinck is an extremely desirable resource for individuals who want a practical, thorough, and systematic treatment of Reformed theology. He writes from a thoroughly Christo-centric paradigm, illuminating the redeeming character of the triune God. God to Bavinck is a God who condescends towards us and provides a means for us to receive forgiveness and redemption. Given the richness of Reformed Dogmatics, it would be helpful for the reader to have a least a prior basic understanding of topics found with in systematic theology before engaging this set. In other words, this set is not the best introduction to systematic theology. But coupled with something on a more introductory level such as Grudem's Systematic Theology or Berkhof's Systematic Theology, one would greatly benefit from Reformed Dogmatics.

This magnificent and towering work was first published from 1895-1899, and Gereformeerde Dogmatiek has inspired many of the most important Reformed theologians and apologists of the 20th and 21th centuries. It now comes in a four volume set, from Baker in partnership with the Dutch Reformed Translation Society, and contains GD in English for the first time in its totality. Masterful, outstanding, and comprehensive.

Apologist Cornelius Van Til admitted his debt to the scholarship and insights of Bavinck; Van Til stated: "Bavinck shows us that if we are to have a truly broad foundation for the concept of Christian dogmatics, we must begin with a discussion of the general principles of knowledge. He points out that the absolutely self-conscious God is the source of all human knowledge. " Van Til: IST, Sigward 1949.

Greg Bahnsen demonstrates his esteem for Bavinck's work and quotes him in his article: For Whom Was God's Law Intended? Biblical Worldview 4:12 (December, 1988).

"This is one of those seminal works that embodies a significant portion of our Reformed theological heritage. We all should rejoice to see this material finally available in English!"(Samuel T. Logan, Westminster Theological Seminary).

Herein is all four volumes of Herman Bavinck's complete Reformed Dogmatics. WSB: "This masterwork will appeal not only to scholars, students, pastors, and laity interested in Reformed theology but also to research and theological libraries."

This Power-packed set includes:

Volume 1: Prolegomena
Volume 2: God and Creation
Volume 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ
Volume 4: Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation

"Arguably the most important systematic theology ever produced in the Reformed tradition - I have found it to be the most valuable" (Richard B. Gaffin, Professor of Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary).

- God glorifying.
- Christ centered
- Wonderful precision

This is a necessary set for all ministers, theologians, and apologists.

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I have heard many people recommend Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics for pastors and those in ministry. But as a layperson, some of my friends suggested I read more "practical" books. Yet I have found this rich theological work to be incredibly practical for my life. The wonderful reason for this is that it is difficult to read Reformed Dogmatics and keep your faith in a compartmentalized, comfortable fashion. Bavinck, by writing in a way that glorifies and reveres the Lord, implicitly but very effectively challenges you to do the same.

If you are looking for weightier or more profound endorsements, then find the book at Westminster Theological Seminary's online bookstore and see the endorsements listed there. I cannot recommend this work too highly.

Over the past couple months I have slowly worked my way through the four volume Reformed Dogmatics of Herman Bavinck. While I have yet to finish the fourth volume of this massive work I can safely say that this is one of the finest works on Christian Theology I have ever read. I would recommend that any who have an interest in knowing their faith in a deeper way take it upon themselves to work through these volumes. Those who take the time to study these volumes will be richly rewarded with a deeper knowledge of the great God we serve.

For those who are not familiar with Herman Bavinck, he is a Dutch Reformed theologian who lived from the mid 19th-century to the early 20th-century who was a Professor of Systematic Theology at the Free University of Amsterdam (VU) in the Netherlands. Bavinck was friends with Abraham Kuyper who invited Bavinck to the VU to teach theology. Bavinck has had a wide influence upon the Reformed church in the Netherlands with his dogmatics being published early in the 20th-century. Until a couple years ago, the Reformed Dogmatics was available in its totality only in Dutch. Now, thanks to Baker Academic, the whole work is now available in English having been translated by the late John Vriend and edited by John Bolt of Calvin Theological Seminary.

The fourth volume was published in 2008 making the whole set available to the English-speaking world. There are a number of reasons that Bavinck's work is so valuable to students of theology. The first reason is that Bavinck's work is eminently Scriptural. Bavinck recognizes the need for theology to be based upon the Word of God and while Bavinck is philosophically rigorous he achieves a careful balance between speculative theology and not going beyond what the Scriptures teach on any particular subject.

The second reason is that Bavinck recognizes the importance of church history and throughout each of the volumes Bavinck is in conversation with the whole history of the church. Each doctrine includes a survey of the views of theologians throughout the history of the church appropriating biblical views of these theologians and rejecting the others. Bavinck has a deep respect for the traditions of the church and achieves a careful balance between Scripture and confession.

The third reason is that Bavinck is incredibly balanced. Bavinck understands the danger of erring in different directions in the construction of dogmatics and seeks to balance these by balancing Scripture, confession, and the existential perspective and individual faith of the person. Scripture stands at the top regulating both confession and individual faith. Bavinck sees the importance of both confession and experience and gives them their proper place while respecting Scripture as the final word on all matters.

The fourth reason is that Bavinck interacts with theologians of all sectors, whether liberal, Romanist, Lutheran, Arminian and so on. Bavinck does not simply dismiss these various views but interacts and defeats them and constructs a positively reformed position from the Scriptures that are in line with the Reformed confessions.

For these and other reasons, Bavinck's work is extremely valuable to study and for those who read it, it will deepen their knowledge of their own faith and give them a solid Biblical and Reformed foundation upon which they can defend the faith once for all delivered unto the saints (Jude 3).

I had the distinct privilege to live in Kampen, where Bavinck taught for almost 20 years before accepting the chair of Dogmatic Theology at the Free University of Amsterdam. My Bavinck biography is due out in July. After having studied this man, written my doctoral dissertation on him doctrine of the "unio mystica," and now written a biography about him, I remain in awe of his greatness and balance.
The 4-volume translation of his "Gereformeerde Dogmatiek" was very well done and will serve professors, pastors, students, and the man and the woman in the pew very well. How can it be that Bavinck's work is so effective on so many levels? The answer is quite simple: Bavinck wrote, spoke, and taught in concert with Scripture, which means that his insights are always fresh, clear, and easily understood.
His balance regarding the history of dogma, scriptural exegesis, and practical application will capture the serious Christian reader's attention and will provide you with a thorough grasp of every "locus" in theology. These volumes come with the highest recommendation and will serve you well for years and years. Bavinck's "Reformed Dogmatics" is on par with John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion" and Heinrich Bullinger's "Decades."