Doctrine According to Godliness: A Primer of Reformed Doctrine

Doctrine According to Godliness

by Ronald Hanko

When the older youth or adults in a church have questions on Reformed theology, where do they go? To their busy pastor? To a lengthy book on dogmatics? Often searches for answers become to daunting to pursue. But not any more. With the publication of Doctrine according to Godliness , the average reader, late teens through senior citizens, members in the pew or officebearers, will have exactly the tool they need to get informed quickly. The author has prepared short, easy-to-read explanations of more than 235 topics of Reformed theology. The sections are, amazingly, both comprehensive yet succinct, each only a page or two long. An index to the subject titles will allow the reader to find a title under any of its key words. The book makes an especially good resource for older young people in doctrine classes, for newcomers to the Reformed faith on domestic or foreign mission fields, and for those studying doctrine with a view toward church membership. One would expect a book of this kind to be quite dry and tedious to read, but Doctrine according to Godliness is warm, personal, and has a definite devotional feel to it. "Fantastic!" said an elder who used it in manuscript form as enrichment for an "Essentials of Doctrine" class he taught for the youth at his church. Here is a book to buy, keep, and use for a lifetime. Even those who are sure they know their doctrines from A-Z may be surprised at all the new insights they are sure to gain from it.

Genres: Theology

352 pages, Hardcover

Published December 11, 2012

Reviews

[Nancy Almodovar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous reading. Rev Hanko makes reading the doctrines more devotional than dry. Would be good for a book club reading.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a book of systematic theology, which is theology organized into categories. In the book Doctrine according to Godliness by Ronald Hanko, the grace-filled theology I have believed and loved my whole life, became legalistic, strict and exacting.
The category Christ and His Work was particularly hard to read. Every truth represented there I believe but the breakdown of these truths into sections was troubling. It dissected my beautiful Savior into parts.
I have come to believe that systematic theology is a box with holes in it. It is riddled with holes as God cannot be put into a box. Any attempt to put God in a box is vain.
Another problem with systematic theology is forcing topics to fit into a system for the sake of consistent doctrine.
A temptation of systematic theology is that it can become a passion, rather than God. A seemingly, well-constructed theology, can become a god if we treasure it more than God Himself.
My overall impression of this book is, you will love it or you will hate it. There is no middle ground. This book was not a joy to read. I am a bit crestfallen. In spite of this, I appreciated some of the topics discussed. It is a clear, understandable read.