Systematic Theology (4 Volumes)/Two Volumes in Each Book [Hardcover]

Lewis Sperry Chafer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 1993

The original eight volumes now complete and unabridged in four! "Though scholarly in the true sense of the word, this work can also be read and understood by those not formally trained in theology." —Charles C. Ryrie

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lewis Sperry Chafer (1871-1952), American Presbyterian clergyman and educator, was born in Rock Creek, Ohio; studied at New Lyme Academy and Oberlin Conservatory and College, both in Ohio; studied under C. I. Scoffield; and was ordained in 1900. In 1924, he founded the Evangelical Theological College (now Dallas Theological Seminary) and was its president and professor of systematic theology until his death. His many other works include Satan, True Evangelism, Grace, Major Bible Themes, and the eight-volume Systematic Theology.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 2880 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional; Four book edition (January 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825423406
• ISBN-13: 978-0825423406
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #398,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Systematic Theology is an Outstanding Theological Work, December 30, 2005

By 

G. Kukis "Loserboy" (Humble, tx USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Systematic Theology (4 Volumes)/Two Volumes in Each Book (Hardcover)

To be quite frank with you, I was simply going to come online and recommend that you do not buy the abridged version, but make certain that you are getting the full, unabridged 4 volume set. However, I was surprised at reading one review which makes a comparison to Monty Python. That reviewer also suggested that Chafer's approach was for a believer to check their mind at the door of a church before entering.

I must admit, I have no idea where this person is coming from. Chafer has one of the most careful, logical and systematic approaches to theology that I have ever read (and I have a huge library). I know of several pastors whose ministry was changed profoundly because of this one book. There is nothing anti-intellectual about Chafer's approach; there is nothing which is dumbed-down. Bear in mind, this is a 4 volume set. My abridged version is about 1000 pages. In particular, Chafer's approach to the Angelic Conflict is exemplary.

I have only one criticism, and that is with the abridged version: somethimes, a point will be made which is true, but the Scripture quoted is not directly on point. I do not know if that is the fault of Chafer or the fault of the abridged text.

My recommendation is, if you are going to own just one book (or set of books) which cover nearly the entire realm of doctrine, this should be it.

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST for every serious Bible student, September 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Systematic Theology (4 Volumes)/Two Volumes in Each Book (Hardcover)

Chafer's eight volume Systematic Theology is skillfully written from a premillinnial, dispensational view. He not only beautilfully covers all the disciplines from Theology Proper to Eschatology, but also the various uses of the word "theology" as well as the eight Biblical Covenants and the Dispensations. It is a comprehensive work on each topic but not written in a lofty manner which would be tedious for the reader. Chafer has made the study of Systematic Theology alive and exciting.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Systematic Work, But Read With Caution, July 10, 2008

By 

William Turner "John 5:24" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Systematic Theology (4 Volumes)/Two Volumes in Each Book (Hardcover)

Chafer's Systematic Theology is truly a monumental and deeply thorough treatment of theology in the field of systematics. I began reading this work about three years ago and have benefitted so much from it. I would have to agree with the previous Dallas grad, that though Chafer's work is still the 'Dispensational Standard' it does have its moments of sheer brilliance and some of eisegesis. Like all works of such depth and length, there are major high points and low points in the work. Briefly, I will speak a little about both.

The best areas are found in the study of Prolegomena (Study Prior to the Task of Theology), Angelology (Angels), Harmartiology (Sin), and, yes, Eschatology (End Times). His Prolegomena is simply superb, I love his thorough treatment and he quotes quite often from another giant in the field during his time, B.B. Warfield. It is clear that though he and Warfield disagreed on the Doctrines of Grace (somewhat), and the Sanctification of the Christian, they most definitely did not disagree on Bibliology and all that it means to the Evangelical community.

His treatment of Angelology has more depth than the normal Systematic Theology gives, excellent treatment here. His excellent work is also shown in his book 'Satan' from a much earlier period in his life, a preparation period in his thinking on the subject. His Doctrine of Sin is very good and works closely with that of the Reformed views on depravity. One must be honest that His explanation of 'depravity' does not mean that a person is a spiritually immovable 'rock' that has no spiritual sensitivity. The charges of Arminianism and 'Semi-Pelagianism' are unwarranted and irresponsible. Chafer, throughout his systematic work, distances himself from both of these positions. It has become all too common for the Reformed to label people like this instead of express clearly the man's views. If one must 'label' him, we would say he is 'Semi-Augustinian' not 'Semi-Pelagian' (in accord with the Synod of Orange, 529 AD) and deeply orthodox. Chafer simply believed there was a genuiness to the call to believe in the Savior, though He holds to the work of 'irresistible grace' in some manner. He stresses more the side of the human response of faith, with the background/foundation in the work of God's grace, than the Reformed community would like here. This is a more honest treatment of Chafer, both in the Doctrine of Sin and His Doctrines on Salvation.

Lastly, Eschatology is strong not because of its common applications to the End Times from the Dispensational Hermeneutic (Historical-Grammatical), but because of the place Chafer gives it in his overall Systematic Theology. In his Prolegomena, Chafer explains how (during his time) there is a great lack of focus on the study of eschatology. Chafer meant to remedy this and the movement he so popularized and systematized (Dispensationalism) has done so, much to the disdain of many. Though I believe Chafer's views to be somewhat dated (at times), as well as problematic in expression in part, I believe given the historical context of his life Chafer's work in Eschatology is of dire importance. Historical setting is everything to truly capture a man's theology and voice.

Chafer (and many others with his sympathies) lived in a time where the Reformed community did not have a multitude of great proponents and expositors of the progressiveness of God's revelation in human history. They lacked focus on the earthliness/materialness of God's promises and were weak (and commonly have always been) in 'Biblical Theology' as opposed to Systematic/Dogmatic Theology. Chafer came at a time when the Church needed a man to refocus it gaze upon the immanency of Christ's return and the focus of God's social/political promises to Israel. This is captured fully in his work, though it does have its problems. For this section alone, Chafer needs to be read. However, after Chafer's death (1952), many within and outside the Reformed community came to recognize the growing need for a reworking of Reformed expression and a refocus on the earthly/material elements of God's promises and the progressiveness of revelation in human history. Men such as Geerhardus Vos had already been moving this direction at the time of Chafer and set the stage for this reformation of focus within the Reformed community which lead to later greats within the Reformed tradition, such as Herman Ridderbos and Anthony Hoekema, who gave important contributions to areas where Reformed theology has historically been weaker. Areas such as 'Reformed Biblical Theology' (Vos/Ridderbos) and a reworking on the earthly character of the New Heavens and New Earth in Reformed Eschatology (Hoekema).

Chafer's weaker areas: Ecclesiology, Soteriology (I hesitate here, but it is so at times) which includes the spiritual walk of the Christian, and a few other subjective areas to watch for in his references (Vol. 7 in the Old Ed., Part I of Vol. 4 in the 1993 Ed.). I think the weakest part of the Bible Church Movement (and notice I did not say Dispensationalism, for they are not the same essentially) is its lack of confessionalism and unity. The 'Free Church/Independent Church' movement has done much good, but overall it weakens the confession of the church to a lost world, it breaks unity/fellowship in many areas of the overall life of the church, and creates an almost exclusivity. I have grown up and been a part of the bible church movement for 25 years now and have recognized the movement is lacking in so many ways; it truly is a disservice to the Body of Christ. Notice I did not say Dispensational views 'on the Church', but the practices of the Bible Church movement which Chafer, though a Presbyterian/Congregationalist, popularized. I think much of what he said about the program of the church within the overall outworking of God's plan is very beneficial to the Church and gives us a clear view of discontinuity with God's program for the Church (though too much at times).

Soteriology is very strong on many areas (Forensic Justification, Imputation, Positional Righteousness, Glorification, Propitiation, Expiation) but I find Chafer wanting on the area of sanctification. Understand that my sympathies are not with the Reformed view essentially, but because Chafer, in his reaction against the 'Oxford Movement' and others of its kind during his time, seems to overemphasize sometimes the positional/objective truths of scripture. I say this hesitantly because I know Chafer held to subjective assurance (Rom. 8:16, Jas. 2, 1 Pet. 1:5-11) as well. Occasionally, Chafer does seem to overemphasize the first truth too much which allows people to charge him with 'Antinomianism' like a previous reviewer. I think that charge is also unwarranted since Chafer clearly held (as the majority of Dispensationalists do) to the 'Law of Christ' as rule for this Dispensation. There is no Antinomianism in that, there never has been. This argument is a straw man and should be left behind. A more careful analysis of Chafer's views on the Christian life needs to be set forth.

Though I do slightly disagree with his 'emphasis' on objective/positional truths, which to a degree takes away from the essential command to 'Follow Jesus', I do understand what he was combating at the time. I'm not sure what he would say today given the current climate of the Evangelical tension between 'Lordship/Free Grace'. Previous reviewers like to call him 'no-lordship', once again, another straw man. I've worked for and with ministries of Zane Hodges, and to be sure, Chafer would not be a FG'er to the expression of Hodges or others of His ilk. He would be somewhere in the middle like the majority of people today, yet probably sympathetic to the FG view. I believe the area most problematic in Chafer's Soteriology is around his filled/not filled view of walking in the Spirit, a view I held for a while. It's incorrect, plain and simple. The filling of the Holy Spirit does not come when you simply confess sin (1 Jn. 1:9) and have fellowship with God (1 Jn. 1:1-5), then you are not filled when you knowingly sin, thus losing fellowship. The filling of the Spirit is not an 'On/Off' button. The Filling of the Spirit is an active, growing obedience to the things of God by the power of the H.S. I thank God Charles Ryrie corrected this problem in His work, 'The Holy Spirit'. This is a much more accurate treatment on the subject of walking/living by the Spirit and being filled in Him.

In conclusion, Chafer held a few different (some even unorthodox) views on a couple secondary issues. He does hold to some form of Gap Theory (between Gen. 1:1, 2), which was very popular back in his time. What seemed heretical was his quotation of E.W. Bullinger in his references section on the 'Immediate State'. Bullinger is an annihilationist and doesn't fully hold to human consciousness after death. Chafer quotes Bullinger in this section and he clearly sympathizes somewhat with his view. Clearly unfortunate.

Overall, Chafer's 'Systematics' is an excellent work. He is very conservative, evangelical, orthodox, Dispensational, and has written a very thorough treatment on the essential doctrines of the Christian Faith. It is also a work that is well-written and easy to follow for the layperson. Every person in or thinking about ministry should have his work. Chafer truly was a great systematizer and writer; this is most ably shown in his Magnum Opus, his Systematic Theology.