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Louis Berkhof
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Summary of Christian Doctrine Kindle Edition

by Louis Berkhof (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 174 ratings
Berkhof’s Summary of Christian Doctrine is a very concise version of his 1932 magnum opus, Systematic Theology. Berkhof’s theological views do not differ significantly from that of earlier Reformed theologians such as Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck, but his skilled summaries have proven very useful for teaching and instruction, particularly to young people and those beginning a deeper study of the Reformed tradition. This edition features an artistic cover, a new promotional introduction, a hierarchical table of contents, an index of scripture references, and links for scripture references to the appropriate passages.
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  1. Accessibility
    Learn more
  2. Publication date
    February 25, 2013
  3. Language
    English
  4. File size
    762 KB
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

We admire this book for its clarity and for its fresh presentation of familiar material. The lessons are short and to the point. We know of no book on doctrine we would rather recommend to those who want a volume to which they can turn for a brief but sufficiently complete statement of the Bible's teachings.

About the Author

(1874-1957) He taught for thirty-eight years at CalvinTheological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BLQK4JE
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 25, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 762 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 184 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #2,608,356 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 174 ratings

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Louis Berkhof

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
174 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find this book to be a great introduction to Systematic Theology, providing a concise overview of major doctrines and including scripture lists for memorization. The book is easy to read and understand, with one customer noting it's particularly useful for ordination examinations preparation.

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Introduction to theologyChristianityReadabilityLanguage quality
14 customers mention "Introduction to theology"14 positive0 negative

Customers find this book to be a great introduction to Systematic Theology, serving as an excellent aid to learning important doctrines, with one customer noting it provides a short overview of Berkhof's larger works.

"...Good book on the subject and easily understandable. Delivery was quick and the price was the cheapest I found." Read more

"...group to be introduced to Reformed Doctrines, then this is a good starting point. Highly recommended!" Read more

"This is a great introduction to Systematic Theology...." Read more

"This is a concise overview of the major doctrines of the Christian faith...." Read more

11 customers mention "Christianity"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the theological content of the book, which includes scripture lists for memorization and scriptural support for its teachings.

"...their views of God and their salvation and therefore their worship of God is not general, but focused and clear, seeing who God is...." Read more

"trustworthy as it is based on the truth of scripture" Read more

"...The questions at the end of each chapters also helps solidify the theology in ones heart so it becomes more than head knowledge...." Read more

"...Also included in this summary are review questions and memorization verses for each topic...." Read more

11 customers mention "Readability"10 positive1 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand, with one mentioning it serves well as a quick study guide for ordination examinations.

"...Good book on the subject and easily understandable. Delivery was quick and the price was the cheapest I found." Read more

"...and therefore their worship of God is not general, but focused and clear, seeing who God is...." Read more

"Absolute must reading, for all who wish to grow in HIM!!!!" Read more

"Easy to read, concise, and backed with scriptural support. I would recommend this book if you want to know the basics of the reformed tradition." Read more

4 customers mention "Language quality"3 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the book's clear and concise language.

"Easy to read, concise, and backed with scriptural support. I would recommend this book if you want to know the basics of the reformed tradition." Read more

"...It does it with a clear language. I recommend it very much. It is a good book to start studding theology." Read more

"This typesetting is ugly, hard to read, and sprinkled full of OCR copy errors, cheaply thrown together without review...." Read more

"...The best, succinct and clear book of the sound doctrine." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Aletheia
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic That is Good for Teenagers and Adults
    Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    During the Stay-at-Home order due to Covid-19, I wanted to use that time to introduce my family (wife and 2 teenagers) to Reformed Doctrines. I had several options, but in the end, I thought this was an excellent choice. I wanted my kids to understand classic Reformed doctrines. I have used Berkhof's materials in the past, and they were always useful. This book is only 166 pages total so it is not overwhelming. And each chapter is short enough for my kids to pay attention to the basic concept of the doctrines. Twice a week, we met together as a family and reviewed and discussed the chapters read. This was extremely beneficial to my teenage (15 and 17) kids. They said, the study helped them to deepen their views of God and their salvation and therefore their worship of God is not general, but focused and clear, seeing who God is. So if you want your family or a small group to be introduced to Reformed Doctrines, then this is a good starting point. Highly recommended!
    12 people found this helpful
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  • boxem
    5.0 out of 5 stars High View Of Our Creator
    Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2025
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    Absolute must reading, for all who wish to grow in HIM!!!!
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  • genev
    5.0 out of 5 stars genev
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2013
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    Quotes from this entry include:

    "The greatest name of God, however, always held sacred by the Jews, is the name Jehovah (Yahweh). Its origin and meaning is indicated in Ex. 3:14, 15. It expresses the fact that God is always the same, and especially that He is unchangeable in His covenant relationship, and is always faithful in the fulfillment of His promises."

    "But the Bible clearly teaches not only that God has decreed the free acts of man, but also that man is none to the less free and responsible for his acts, Gen. 50:19, 20; Acts 2:23; 4:27-29. We may not be able to harmonize the two altogether, but it is evident from Scripture that the one does not cancel the other."

    "Predestination is the plan or purpose of God respecting His moral creatures. It pertains to men, both good and bad, to angels and devils, and to Christ as the Mediator. Predestination includes two parts, namely, election and reprobation."

    "The Bible teaches us clearly that God created the world for the manifestation of His glory...Since God not only created the world but also upholds it, we naturally pass from the doctrine of creation to that of divine providence. This may be defined as that work of God in which He preserves all His creatures, is active in all that happens in the world, and directs all things to their appointed end."

    "The Bible teaches us that the atonement finds its moving cause in the good pleasure of God, Isa. 53:10; Luke 2:14; Eph. 1:6-9; Col. 1:19, 20. It is best to say that the atonement is rooted in the love and justice of God: love offered sinners a way of escape, and justice demanded that the requirements of the law should be met, John 3:16; Rom. 3:24-26."

    "It is customary to distinguish a twofold obedience of Christ. His active obedience consists in all that He did to observe the law in behalf of sinners, as a condition for obtaining eternal life; and His passive obedience in all that He suffered in paying the penalty of sin and discharging the debt of His people. But while we distinguish these two, we should never separate them."

    "God is the author of regeneration. Scripture represents it as the work of the Holy Spirit, John 1:13; Acts 16:14; John 3:5, 8. Over against the Arminians we maintain that it is exclusively the work of the Spirit of God, and not in part the work of man."

    "In the last analysis the object of saving faith is Jesus Christ and the promise of salvation in Him. John 3:16, 18, 36; 6:40; Acts 10:43; Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:16. This faith is not of human origin, but is a gift of God, I Cor. 12:8, 9; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 2:8. But its exercise is a human activity, to which the children of God are repeatedly exhorted, Rom. 10:9; I Cor. 2:5; Col. 1:23; I Tim. 1:5; 6:11."

    "Justification may be defined as that legal act of God by which He declares the sinner righteous on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ."

    "It is perfectly evident from Scripture that every individual of the human race will have to appear before the judgment seat, Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 12-36-37; 25:32; Rom. 14:10; 2Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12."
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Mary
    5.0 out of 5 stars good book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024
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    trustworthy as it is based on the truth of scripture
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  • Bruce Hunt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2015
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    This is a great introduction to Systematic Theology. The wets the appetite for the person who may want to go further on in their studies and read Berkhofs full systematic theology. The chapters are short enough where the person can read and study in small portions. The questions at the end of each chapters also helps solidify the theology in ones heart so it becomes more than head knowledge. I recommend this for anyone who is just starting out in their study of theology.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars excellent resource
    Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a concise overview of the major doctrines of the Christian faith. I highly reccomend this book to anyone looking for a short overview on this subject.
    One person found this helpful
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  • rkveale
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent aid to learning the important doctrines
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I have Berkhof's larger Systematic Theology but still appreciate this summary. It is a great way to learn the important doctrines of the Christian faith. My recommendation is to read this in one hand and have your (electronic) Bible in the other hand so that you can quickly look up the referenced passages as you are reading. This can really solidify these doctrines. Also included in this summary are review questions and memorization verses for each topic. If you desire to dig deeper then you can reference his larger book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Ben W
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great summary of Reformed doctrine.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Easy to read, concise, and backed with scriptural support. I would recommend this book if you want to know the basics of the reformed tradition.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Felipe
    4.0 out of 5 stars Não confundir com o Manual de Doutrina Cristã!
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    O autor, Louis Berkhof, promoveu duas "simplificações" (resumos) de sua clássica Teologia Sistemática: a primeira delas resultou no "Manual de Doutrina Cristã", publicada em português pela Editora Cultura Cristã, que também publica a TS do autor. Mais adiante em sua vida, constatando que o Manual, em que pese ser consideravelmente menor do que a TS, ainda não era simplificado o bastante para uso corrente na igreja pelos leigos, Berkhof produziu o "Sumário de Doutrina Cristã", que é o presente livro. Em português, o Sumário é publicado pela Editora Monergismo.

    O Sumário não é propriamente um resumo do Manual, como este é da TS. O que o autor quis foi tornar as lições do Manual mais claras para os leigos, suprimindo os pontos mais polêmicos e às vezes promovendo um rearranjo dos assuntos. É que o Manual, embora "simplificado" quanto à TS, terminou por padecer de um sério problema: as questões mais polêmicas e aquelas mais complicadas, as quais são objeto de explicações mais amplas na TS, ficaram meio como afirmações soltas no Manual, muitas vezes sem qualquer explicação. Isso porque o Manual é a TS, só que sem as contextualizações históricas e sem o desenvolvimento das explicações; isso fez com que, curiosamente, em certo sentido fosse mais fácil ler a TS do que o Manual, e a leitura deste sempre fica exigindo a complementação do estudo pela TS. O Manual, portanto, é muito bom para ser usado para se fazer revisões rápidas por quem já leu a TS, mas deixa a desejar para quem vai direto ao Manual e somente a ele.

    O Sumário resolve isso em grande medida. Ele de fato é mais adequado para um uso independente (embora isso não seja verdade em todos os temas, obviamente) da TS, e é excelente para uso na igreja (escola dominical, por exemplo). Recomendo.
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  • Tomo
    4.0 out of 5 stars 満足しています
    Reviewed in Japan on February 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    厚さや大きさが手頃なので満足しています。惜しむらくは、印刷された字がきちんと写っていないところが間々あったので、その点だけが残念です。
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  • Ronnie Murphy
    5.0 out of 5 stars good
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    this book arrived as described in good condition.
    another good book for reading and study and discussion
    great to have it on self
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  • licas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    So good i immediately bought the complete Systematic Theology by the same scholar. A book for life
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Great service and a quality prooduct. Thank you.
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