Everyone's a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology

by R.C. Sproul

Many people react negatively to the word theology, believing that it involves dry, fruitless arguments about minute points of doctrine. Yet as Dr. R.C. Sproul argues, everyone is a theologian. Any time we think about a teaching of the Bible and strive to understand it, we are engaging in theology. Therefore, it is important that we put the Bible’s varied teachings together in a systematic fashion, using proper, time-tested methods of interpretation so as to arrive at a theology that is founded on truth.

That is precisely what Dr. Sproul does in Everyone’s a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology. This book is anything but a dry discussion of minute points of doctrine. Dr. Sproul, demonstrating his trademark ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, surveys the basic truths of the Christian faith, reminding us once more of what God is like and of what He has done for His people in this world and the next.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion, Audiobook, Faith

357 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2014

About the author

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.

Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.

He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.

Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great overview of Systematic Theology!

While I didn't agree 100% with all the views presented (infant baptism, amillennialism, etc.), I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and learned a lot from it. My copy has lots of underlining in it! :) I loved his treatment of dominion, and the image of God in man, some of the points in canonicity were new to me, and there were a few other places that I will have to refer back to in the future.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful introduction to systematic theology and to theology in general. Sproul is a fantastic teacher making difficult concepts easier to grasp. He is also gracious as he shares not only his view, but also camps he disagrees with. And he is biblical. Scripture is the authority, not human experience or reason. I learned so much reading this book.

[Jesus Salgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

RC Sproul over and over has proven himself to be the easiest and most effective communicator of theology that I have ever read in my life. No man can simplify a systematic theology book better than what RC does here. Very simple and very helpful.

[Natalie Herr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough introduction to the main doctrines of the Christian faith. Sproul does a great job of writing simply and defining terms- a much needed skill in the writing of theology books! He makes sure to present opposing viewpoints and interpretations to bring clarity to the Protestant position. It is a lot of content, so definitely worth taking your time with it. Would also make a good reference material, though it’s not organized as particularly as a formal systematic theology text.

[Vianny D'Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant! I usually don't give 5 stars unless I've thoroughly enjoyed every moment with the book. With this book I did. Many a people relate theology with two words- boring and difficult. RC Sproul proves just the opposite with this wonderful book. Everyone who's interested in theology (knowledge of God) and everyone who believes himself to be a Christian should go through this book at least once. It's one of the most easiest and palatable systematic theology book. Covers all the major theological points like Christology, Ecclesiology, Eschatology etc.(and many more!).
For me, I see it as a start up point before I plunge into the deep waters of Wayne Grudem, Louis Berkhof, John Calvin etc! So I'm really thankful for this resource.
Once again, absolutely brilliant!

[Tyler Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Andrew for buying me this book. Sorry it took me a year and a half to read it.

Sproul delivers a concise exposition into systematic theology. What I’m starting to really appreciate about Sproul is how he is intentionally surface level because he wants Christians to read the works of the early church and the reformers.

Sometimes though, I feel like he does himself a disservice because I know Sproul is extraordinarily intelligent and could say so much more in each chapter. Though he’s no Luther, Knox, or Calvin, I do think Sproul’s name will be remembered for at least a few hundred years.

This book is excellent and covers a lot of ground. Each chapter is about 5-6 pages. I particularly enjoyed reading the ecclesiology and eschatology portions at the end because in some sense, I feel like I know the least about those, even though one will never ever reach the end of God and His majesty (Romans 11:33).

Systematic theologies have a lot of value and are certainly valued less in a culture that says that you can believe whatever you want. Even Christians often unknowingly have issues where they hold to two contradictory ideas at the same time, myself included. But we can fix these by gaining a better understanding of God and His law through systematics like this.

Sproul also doesn’t tell you where he stands on a number of issues, but he will certainly tell you that one view is completely absurd or wrong (i.e. full preterism). It’s kind of nice because it forces the reader to come to his own conclusion rather than solely clinging to whatever Sproul says. Overall, good book. Enjoyed it a lot. (It’s also very easy to read, because it’s an introduction).

[Neil Kruger · Rating 4 out of 5]

2021 reads: #07
Rating: 4 Stars

A clear introduction to systematic theology. Sproul has done what few Christians authors are capable of, he has managed to cover a diverse range of topics related to doctrine and theology with brevity. Sixty chapters, each 5 to 7 pages long, cover some of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith. Sproul is strong on the essentials, but also writes with conviction and occasional charity on non-essentials. He has this wonderful ability to supplement the theological picture with historical theology and insights from other disciplines. This ability is on full display, and occasionally leads to assuming rather than explaining underlying biblical data. I came to this volume knowing that differences on ecclesiology and eschatology were significant, and despite finding agreement on the essentials in these areas, I still find Sproul's covenantal framework lacking in these particular areas.

A great introductory text. Despite its brevity attention is given to explain terms used. Its readability ensures that it can be used in many contexts.

[Leslie Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall I was encouraged to go through this simple systematic theology. It was my second time reading it, and I was able to understand more and make more connections. Although I disagree with Sproul on some things (I.e. Baptism), his writing is easy to understand and makes going through the book simple. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to dip their toes into a systematic theology.

[The.Saved.Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! If you are afraid of theology, please read this book.

[Gibbs Bedenbaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing wrong with this book, but I wish it went more in depth on certain topics, and it could’ve explained and cited scripture a little more to disprove heresies instead of just identifying them. Overall enjoyed it though.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I am taking a class on systematic theology at my church, and our instructor relies heavily on this text for material. From what I understand, this book is the more accessible of texts regarding systematic theology.

For the most part, I found this book very helpful in defining systematic theology as well as different branches of theology. Sproul takes the reader through 60 chapters on various topics such as angels and demons, salvation, the Resurrection and grace.

I have only a couple of complaints about this text. First, I feel like I went into it with a fairly decent understanding of the Trinity, and his explanation completely confused me. If you are struggling with understanding the Trinity, I recommend C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" (which I will be re-reading shortly). I feel it is much easier to understand. My second issue with this text is that the author basically says 5-point Calvinism is the only Scripturally sound way to view salvation. If I may paraphrase, Sproul says that God chooses "the elect," gives them the desire to have faith, then gives them faith, then saves them. There is no choice involved in faith, and we should just be amazed that God chooses to save anyone at all. So if that's true, what is the point of doing anything? Why would it matter if we evangelize or do good deeds since we would ultimately have no effect on anyone else? And also, why would God create people for no other reason than to send them to Hell after a short time on earth? There are too many unanswered questions for me to accept 5-point Calvinism.

I would recommend this book to serious students of the Christian faith. Not really for new believers but a great resource for those wishing to go deeper.

[Andrei Jitareanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uimitoare din punct de vedere pedagogic! Lucruri de baza spuse într-un mod cât se poate de simplu, clar, concis și Cristocentric.

Ar trebui sa fie lectură obligatorie pentru cursurile de introducere in Teologie sistematică.

[Willy Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente. Sproul consegue ser resumido sem perder profundidade. O livro tem uma linguagem clara e é bem objetivo. Recomendado para usar como uma introdução à Teologia Sistemática.

[Michael Santini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what qualifies your pastor or priest to lead the local church? Or for that matter, have you ever questioned what is taught in seminary? Then, this book is definitely for you. Written by a Reformed Protestant theologian, the author covers almost every theological aspect pertaining to the Bible. Admittedly, the book is a little dry. However, make no bones about it - you will be greatly informed as to the knowledge gained by clergy, without actually attending any classes.

[Alex Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a solid book. Love the readability of Sproul and his ability to explain complex topics in a clear meaningful way without getting bogged down in details that would confuse most non-scholarly folk like myself. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to increase their knowledge of doctrine, and more importantly, their love for Christ.

“God never punishes innocent people, but He does redeem guilty people. He does not redeem them all, and He is under no obligation to redeem any. The amazing thing is that He redeems some.”

[Danny Pelichowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great discussion starter with church members! I’ve taught through this with both a men’s group, and now even going through it again with a co-ed group discussing it during our discipleship table talks, and it has been so great! Short enough to assign to a wide variety of church members, and helpful to spur discussion on a variety of important doctrines covered in systematic theology. Sproul is a master teacher, and is the best I’ve found at comprehensive brevity!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went through this book here and there over a few months. Would recommend for anyone wanting an introduction to Christian theology (specifically from a reformed author) that is easy to understand.
This book will be on my son’s high school reading list.

[Aaron Speer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what Systematic Theology even was, but I was very pleasantly surprised

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic book to help beginners understand different topics of theology! Definitely recommend.

[Nick Carrico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best intro to systematic theology. Perfect balance of informative and concise.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very basic introduction to systematic theology for laymen.

[T.K. CHAPMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and concise. Sproul is great at explaining theology and doctrine. He is Reformed/Presbyterian, so you should expect that slant in his writing, but, in my opinion, he does a fair job of explaining other viewpoints. This is a great place to start for an overview of systematic theology. Sixty short chapters divided into seven or eight sections.

[William Schrecengost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good introduction to systematic theology

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books requires careful listening and would be good to listen to more than once. Great narrator - Grover Cleveland!

[Edwin Ramirez]

I read this book with a group of men from my church. Many of the men in our group have never been exposed to Reformed theology or an eschatology other than dispensationalism, so having them think through different categories was good for them and created many spirited conversations. Though this is an introductory systematic theology book, it was good and worth a recommendation, especially for a new believer.

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book on the recommendation of a friend--I don't think I would have read it of my own accord, but I'm not sorry that I did.

Sproul takes the sometimes esoteric language and subject matter of theology and demystifies it, making it much more accessible to the average reader. As one who has taken several classes on theology, I know just enough to make me dangerous, but I would by no means call myself a great theologian. This book was helpful to me in defining certain terms I was unfamiliar with or unsure of and making me aware of positions other than my own.

One thing Sproul does excellently is defining his terms. He would often begin by explaining what words do not mean (since theology tends to take a lot of words to mean what they meant decades or even centuries ago and it's easy to confuse the modern meanings with the more obsolete definitions) and continue by breaking them down into their component Greek or Latin roots. Obviously, as a word person, I appreciated his care in this regard.

This book is marketed as one that takes the often dry topic of theology and breathes new life into it. While it is better than most of my theology textbooks, I definitely wouldn't call it a page-turner. I suppose my perception could be blamed partly on the narrator (I listened to the audiobook version), who didn't have a particularly engaging voice. However, I doubt that even the most heroic efforts to write an engaging systematic theology book could render it as thrilling as most people like their pleasure reading to be. I do applaud the author's effort, though, and I daresay he came as close as any to that ideal. Of course, if theology is your cup of tea, then you'd probably find it as engaging as I'm currently finding my book on the history of The Silmarillion.

I try to give ratings based on execution and soundness of reasoning, not whether I actually agree with the author's assertions. But I think I would be telling an untruth if I said that my disagreement with the author on a few doctrines had no effect on my rating whatsoever. I respect Dr. Sproul and realize that he's been studying and thinking about these matters far longer than I've even been alive. He evinces a humble spirit about his theology that I find refreshingly invites discussion and doesn't cast aspersions on dissenters. At the same time, while respecting his views, I must say that he failed to convince me of some of his eschatological and soteriological positions.

Final word: I'm glad I read this book. Take-away: I now am aware of some areas where my own personal convictions regarding certain areas of theology require reflection.

[júlia · Rating 5 out of 5]

um dos primeiros argumentos de sproul no livro é que todos nós somos teólogos (ou seja, pensamos e temos conceitos enraizados em nós a respeito de Deus), a questão é se somos teólogos que entendem verdadeiramente quem é o verdadeiro Deus, revelado nas Escrituras. e acredito que ele escreveu esse livro para nos ajudar a olhar para a direção certa.

quando pensamos em teologia, normalmente nos vem a cabeça algo complexo ou algo que só os pastores deveriam estudar. mas, teologia nada mais é que o conhecimento de Deus e eu acredito fortemente que todos os cristãos devam ter uma vontade enorme de conhece-lo. e pra nos ajudar, r.c. sproul escreveu um livro com uma linguagem simples e acessível, mas profunda e transformadora.

esse livro nos permite aprender sobre a doutrina da Trindade, sobre Cristo e Sua obra, sobre criação, sobre o porvir, sobre o que significa ser igreja e muito mais. tudo isso como se estivéssemos sentados no sofá escutando um avô falar. e apesar dos assuntos terem sido tratados por alto, temos boas referências para nos aprofundar no que quisermos.

e o mais importante, é que esse livro usa como base não o achismo de homens ou teorias filosóficas a respeito do cristianismo, usa a própria Palavra de Deus. eu o recomendo fortemente para quem tem interesse de estudar temas difíceis abordados na Bíblia e que desejam crescer cada dia mais no conhecimento do Senhor Jesus Cristo.

hoje sproul está na glória, ele finalmente está na presença daquEle que o motivou a estudar, pastorear e ensinar. com esse livro, principalmente com a conclusão, o desejo do meu coração não é me sentir intelectualmente superior, mas é contemplar a face de Deus na glória e vê-lo como Ele realmente é, só assim poderei conhecê-lo plenamente!

(jonas madureira’s voice) você não pode passar dessa vida sem ler esse livro!

[Roger Leonhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.C has always been my favorite Theologian. I was introduced to the reformed faith through many of his writings. So when he writes a new book, I jump at the chance to read it. In this case I was blessed to listen to it.

This book is basically a short Systematic Theology. But do not let that description fool you. It contains much depth. He called in an introduction but it covers every major theme in Theology.

Each chapter takes a subject from the Bible and explains it out using scripture. It is written with the average person in mind. R.C. has always had an ability to explain doctrine to the average person. Here he is at his finest.

The book alone would be worth listening to even if read by an average Joe, but this one was narrated by the one and only Grover Gardner. Gardner is an award winning narrator, and he is my personal favorite. He could probably read the phone book and make it interesting. So what do you get when you put a top notch theologian and an award winning narrator? A perfect combination. It reminds me of the old commercial – “You put peanut butter on my chocolate.”

I truly loved this audiobook and highly recommend it to all

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book courtesy of the Christian Audio review program at http://christianaudio.com and received the audio book, free of charge, from ChristianAudio.com in exchange for an honest review.

[Randall Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book at least twice on my commute. The title gives the reason for the book - we all have a view, level of knowledge, and understanding of God; the only question is whether our understanding is grounded in the Bible or made up on our own.

Sproul clearly and in an organized and disciplined fashion walks through numerous important aspects of historic, orthodox, apostolic Christian faith. He explains complex ideas simply and clearly using many examples that illumine. He's direct when God's word is clear and honest when there is more than one possible, legitimate interpretation.

I'd like to get a hard copy so that I have it to refer to on a more regular basis. I recommend it as a panoramic overview of Christianity and the fundamental beliefs that underlie our faith. Again, this is a resource I wish I had been aware of decades ago.

[Patrick Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second reading through this fantastic little systematic Theology book. Sproul has short and concise chapters covering the standard reformed theological systematic headings. He brings his unique insights and focuses to bear, some of which are fascinating.

If you have never read a systematic theology before this one is easily accessible and a good introduction. However, at times, if you are a beginner of reading theology or systematic theology, you may have to do a little extra research in order to fully understand some of the theological issues Sproul assumes you know.

Overall this is a delightful systematic and I highly recommend it!