by R. L. Dabney
in ePub, mobi and .pdf formats
Syllabus and Notes of the Course of Systematic and Polemic Theology Taught In Union Theological Seminary, Virginia.
A few explanations may be necessary for the understanding of the method of study, of which these notes form a part. The system consists of recitations on lessons from textbooks, chiefly the Confession of Faith and Turrettin's Elenctic Theology, oral instructions and explanations of the Professor, the preparation and reading of Theses by the students upon the topics under discussion, and finally, review recitations upon the whole.
The main design, next to the establishment of Divine Truth, has been to furnish students in divinity, pastors, and intelligent lay-Christians, a view of the whole field of Christian theology, without swelling the work to a size too unwieldy and costly for the purposes of instruction. Every head of divinity has received at least brief attention. The discussion is usually compact. The reader is requested to bear in mind, that the work is only styled "Syllabus and Notes" of a course in theology. The full expansion or exhaustive illustration of topics has not been promised. Therefore, unless the reader has already a knowledge of these topics derived from copious previous study, he should not expect to master these discussions by a cursory reading. He is candidly advised that many parts will remain but partially appreciated, unless he shall find himself willing either to read enough of the authorities referred to in the Syllabus, to place him at the proper point of view; or else to ponder the outline of the arguments by the efforts of mature and vigorous thought for himself, and thus fill out the full body of discussion.
The work is now humbly offered again to the people of God, in the hope that it may assist to establish them in the old and orthodox doctrines which have been the power and glory of the Reformed Churches.
Union Theological Seminary, Va., Aug. 15th, 1878
Table of Contents:
Note To The Reader
Preface to the Second Edition
Section One—Defending the Faith
Chapter 1: The Existence of God
Chapter 2: Evolution
Chapter 3: Divine Attributes of God
Chapter 4: Materialism
Chapter 5: Immortality of the Soul and Defects of Natural Religion
Chapter 6: Sources of Our Thinking
Chapter 7: Free Agency and the Will
Chapter 8: Responsibility and Province of Reason
Chapter 9: Arminian Theory of Redemption—Part 1
Chapter 10: Arminian Theory of Redemption—Part 2
Chapter 11: Faith
Section Two—Basic Doctrines of the Faith
Chapter 12: Revealed Theology: God and His Attributes
Chapter 13: The Trinity
Chapter 14: The Divinity of Christ
Chapter 15: The Divinity of the Holy Spirit and of the Son
Chapter 16: Personal Distinctions in the Trinity
Chapter 17: The Decrees of God
Chapter 18: Predestination
Chapter 19: Creation
Chapter 20: Angels
Chapter 21: Providence
Chapter 22: Effectual Calling
Chapter 23: Justification
Chapter 24: Repentance
Chapter 25: Sanctification and Good Works
Chapter 26: Perseverance of the Saints
Chapter 27: Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Section Three—The Condition of Man
Chapter 28: Man's Estate of Holiness and the Covenant of Works
Chapter 29: The Fall and Original Sin
Section Four—God's Law
Chapter 30: The Decalogue, or Ten Commandments
Chapter 31: The First Table of the Law—Commandments 1-4
Chapter 32: The Second Table of the Law—Commandments 510
Section Five—God's Relationship with His People
Chapter 33: The Covenant of Grace
Chapter 34: Mediator of the Covenant of Grace
Section Six—Christ, Man's Hope
Chapter 35: The Nature of Christ's Sacrifice
Chapter 36: Results of Christ's Sacrifice
Chapter 37: Christ's Humiliation and Exultation
Chapter 38: Union to Christ
Section Seven—The Practices of the Church
Chapter 39: Prayer
Chapter 40: The Sacraments
Chapter 41: Baptism
Chapter 42: The Lord's Supper
Section Eight—Life After Death for Believers
Chapter 43: Death of Believers
Chapter 44: The Resurrection
Chapter 45: General Judgment and Eternal Life
Chapter 46: Nature and Duration of Hell Torments
Section Nine—The Church and the World Around It
Chapter 47: The Civil Magistrate
Chapter 48: Religious Liberty and Church and State
Appendices
Appendix A:
Geologic Theories and Chronology.
Appendix B:
Apostolic Succession and Sacramental Grace Shown to be a Blunder