Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 1

by Herman Hoeksema

Second edition. Now a two-volume set. A clear, systematic study and exposition of Reformed theology written by one who held the Chair of Dogmatics for some forty years at a Reformed seminary. Divided into the six generally accepted branches of theology (theology, anthropology, Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology), this scholarly work is logical, scripturally sound, and faithful to the Reformed creeds and traditions.

Genres: Theology

621 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

Herman Hoeksema (1886-1965), a Dutch Reformed theologian, was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to the USA in 1904. After studying at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he began his ministerial career in the Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids - at that time one of the largest reformed congregations in the United States.

Hoeksema was one of the principal founders of the Protestant Reformed Churches (PRC). Founded as a separate denomination of Reformed churches in 1924, the PRC stand in the tradition of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Their origin as a denomination was the doctrinal controversy over "common grace" within the Christian Reformed Church in the early 1920s, occasioned by that church's adoption of the doctrine of common grace as official church dogma. The result of the controversy was that several ministers with their congregations were put out of the Christian Reformed Church. These men then established the Protestant Reformed Churches.

The newly-formed PRC denomination established the Protestant Reformed Seminary where Hoeksema served as professor of theology for 40 years.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable work. It is truly Reformed and dogmatic. The genius of Hoeksema, in my estimation is, that he is not an original thinker. And I mean that as a compliment of the highest order. He has studied Scripture and has seen that his church's Three Forms of Unity agree with Scripture, and therefore he persistantly tenaciously insists on toeing the line of Reformed orthodoxy. He was never out to make a name for himself by means of theological speculations or innovations. Ultimately, it takes more courage to be satisfied with the truth and then to stand for it, than to be a “free-thinker.”