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@@ReformedAudio one of my absolute favorite books is Frame’s History of Western Theology and Philosophy. A book I think everyone should read.

@@classicchristianliterature I saw that on your shelf. I own a copy, but haven't read it. Frame doesn't write many small books.

@@ReformedAudio I wouldn’t say I have “read it” as much as I am “reading it” and have been doing so for the past 4 years or so on and off. He’s fairly balanced in the apologetics debate too.

@@johnhall42 did you watch the video?

@@classicchristianliterature I did.

@@classicchristianliterature I do not find ‘there are things I cannot explain, so I will adopt a belief in something even less explicable as an explanation’ to be persuasive.

@@johnhall42I don’t think that’s what Aquinas was arguing at all. He says demonstration can be made in 2 ways a priori and a posteriori. He then goes on to argue from the effect to the cause (a posteriori) and in his next section discusses the need for a first cause. Do you refute that there must be a first cause?

A first cause for what in particular?

@@gnhman1878 Berkhof is not going to be as hard as Bavinck. He’s basically just “concise Bavinck”. I would google search “berkhof systematic pdf” and you can read Berkhof for free at “a puritans mind dot com”. If you are good with the PDF version you can save some money.

@@gnhman1878 I also have his whole section “man in the state of sin” recorded on my channel. You can listen to those and see what you think

@@classicchristianliterature Ok, thanks.

@@classicchristianliterature I also own Calvin's Institutes and I've read parts of it and I really enjoy it.

@@gnhman1878 it’s hard to beat Calvin. His commentaries are great too. People who aren’t in our tradition are missing out not reading him.

@@bowsermario3563 some of the big volumes I just read a chapter every once in a while. Hard to read 800 pages plus without wanting some variety in between.

@@user-galations_2-20-KJV I think the video is a good representation of my doctrinal statement, that and the larger catechism / Westminster confession. Question 3 gives a brief answer that the word of God is “the only rule of faith and obedience”. So yes, I would say that the word of God is infallible/inerrant, sufficient, and complete. I am a Cessationist. I promote any faithful translation that accurately reflects the words and meaning of the original monographs. This is best accomplished through comparing multiple English translations. King James is fine. I’m not King James Only.

@@accordio321 I do not actually. Reading his bio, seems like he was greatly used by Christ. Many reformed folks like myself seem to like him even though he would not fall into our camp. He has some book that’s massive (1300 pages), do you have that one?

@@bigtobacco1098 Berkhof is good. Fairly brief in some areas. Different theologians emphasize different areas so it’s good to have multiple.

@@classicchristianliterature agree... the context was "first"

What denomination are you?

@@classicchristianliterature Lately I've been going to an AG church, but I just call myself a "charismatic with a seatbelt". LOL The three that I also have are A Body of Divinity, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, and Grudem's Systematic Theology. (Craig Keener is one of my favorite theologians.) A few others that I'd recommend (which transcend denominational lines) are The Christian In Complete Armor by William Gurnall, Critical Dilemma by Neil Shenvi/Pat Sawyer, and Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks.

I don’t know what to think of all the Bible only comments. Are there really that many Church of Christ folks on TH-cam? Why are they visiting my channel? They usually last 1-2 questions and then dip out. Thanks for watching the channel! I’m with you, Van Mastricht was a master theologian.

@@classicchristianliterature The best explanation i can come up with is that there will always be opposition to what is good and right and true. And as we live in increasingly darker times, it will become more and more ferocious and inescapable. Keep up the good work, always love seeing appreciation for Reformed theology, God bless!!

No but seriously, you have a great library. I have many of the same books.

@@willIV9962 that’s awesome, tell me how you tolerate the dust covers? Lol

@@classicchristianliterature Dear sir, we are not here to discuss your many errors in stripping bare the designer's most illustrious and beautiful artwork, which serves no practical purpose. If the book was to be left without a dustcover, then the creator would not have made one. The mere fact that Bavinck's Wonderful Works of God still has a dust cover on it is an admission of your guilt. No, thou shalt recant and properly cover books!

I can’t read your comment because it’s not a direct quote from Scripture.

@@classicchristianliterature Indeed it is not a direct quote from Scripture, but at least I am pointing directly to Scripture!

@@Bijbelstudies so none of these books point to scripture? Is pointing to Scripture the only legitimate function of non-scriptural words?

Thanks for your comment. I’ll have to explore that a little deeper. Both Augustine and Thomas believed in sovereign grace / predestination. Both believed something quite different about baptism and original sin from the reformers. Augustine taught that in the baptized “concupiscence is not sin any longer”. This is in line with Rome’s current teaching. Augustine had a vastly different view of marriage and sex from the reformers too. His comments on concupiscence that I am aware of are written in that context. I think that there is a lot of overlap between Augustine, Thomas, and the Reformed… but they certainly differ here.

@classicchristianliterature I am Catholic and I actually believe that the thomistic view of predestination isn't that far off from Calvin other than sufficient grace vs common grace. I also don't think that protestant justification is that different from Rome. I think trents anathemas of Sola fide are more aimed against antinomianism

@@nickynolfi833 I have to say I admire that you are reading and exploring outside of your tradition. I have a great appreciation for Thomas, Bernard of Clairvaux, Anselm, Augustine…etc. I’m encouraged by the recent “ressourcement movement”. We as Christians can be clear on where we disagree and we should be. False ecumenism is no good. However, I think disagreement should be contextualized by love and humility. Thanks for watching the channel, hopefully I can make some more Reformed / Catholic comparison videos. I tried to represent all viewpoints fairly here.

I’ll have to read through that one and post it, good idea

Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve been reading his book on Roman Catholicism. I also may obtain his historical theology as well. Any thoughts on that work?

@@classicchristianliterature I have it but have not read it yet.

And the Son is biblical

Why was “and the Son” not in the Nicene Creed as formed by the Church fathers who gave us the Creed itself? Also, according to the Church (pre-schism) who has the right to add or remove from the Creed? Is it not so that all who did not accept the Creed as delivered to us from the Church councils (again, pre-schism) were, in effect, no longer in communion with the Church? Was the Creed not a litmus test as well as a declaration of the Faith? Does truth matter? Are we to believe and trust a religious group who for many centuries perpetuated an enormously consequential and revolutionary concept - such as that asserted in the so-called ‘Donation of Constantine’ which is a hoax, and was finally admitted to be a false and forged document by the RC church herself, but not until after that church had amassed power, wealth and influence impossible without the aggressive invocation of that very document? @@classicchristianliterature

@@brunocapolongo9883 why was the chalcedonian definition not in the original nicene creed?

I have lots of thoughts actually. I may need to make a video on this. First, Frame is brilliant and he loves Jesus. I’ve benefited a lot from his “history of theology and philosophy” lectures and book. I am concerned about his theology proper (doctrine of God) not being entirely orthodox. He proposes 2 divine existences. There has been a lot of discussion about this. A book “All that is in God” by James Dolezol discusses this briefly. He advocates something called triperspectivalism which I have not found to be clarifying in his discussions. Frame and Poythress both are influenced a little too much by modern philosophy I would say as opposed to older paradigms that have shaped historic Christian faith. Perhaps a lot of what they provide the church does contain useful answers to modern questions and modes of thinking. Just for me, I try to be careful when reading them. If I was limited on time and money I was willing to sink into a systematic, I would look elsewhere.

@classicchristianliterature thanks for your response. That's helpful... I have read All that is in God, I need to revisit it now... I remember being blown away by the "simplicity of God." I actually just recommended it to a friend.

@@VisionOnDuty have you read “confessing the impassible God”? It’s in the same vein as Dolezol’s book, but probably even better at answering some of the knotty questions.

@@classicchristianliterature I have not

Agree. Also nothing wrong with studying theology. It’s not an either/or but a both/and. Scripture obviously is the only infallible rule for faith and practice.

@classicchristianliterature I read nothing but the Scriptures for the first 20 years of my walk with Jesus. In 2010, I read Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, but only chapters 16 and 32. I thought he stole my notes. It only confirmed that what I had learned was from the Lord. A fellow walked up to me after teaching a Bible study in a local prison. He asked me if I was a Calvinist. My response was, who is John Calvin? That was in 2009. I actually learned of Calvin from Grudem's notes. That is when I purchased a copy of the Institutes. I love reading Calvin. My contention is the emphasis that many "reformed" thinkers place on the confessions of the faith. The Westminster and London Baptist specifically. I had copies of both, but have since disposed of them. While they are identical, with the exception of baptism, the tendency for teachers and reformed ministers is to lean more on these confessions than the Scriptures from which they come. Ex: Calvinist or Christian? I choose the biblical identification. I simply teach and preach the Scriptures. I am truly Sola Scriptura. Question: How much time do you spend reading the Scriptures as opposed to books about them? Did your time in the Scriptures outweigh the time spent in other books? If you are honest, you will admit that it is not even close. Time spent in other books far outweighs that of time spent in the text of scripture. You can quote the 5 Solas, but are you truly Sola Scriptura? I await your response.

@@Pastor-Brettbyfaith I don’t think we can assume that the way you have approached the Christian life is more appropriate than others. Paul clearly read other things and desired that they be brought to him in prison. 2 Timothy 4:13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Ignoring how the Holy Spirit has worked in other Christian’s hearts as they read and reflected on the Scriptures throughout 2000 years of church history with the assumption that I can figure it all out on my own is a good way to fall into heresy. Arians, Socinians, and other heretical groups all claimed to be putting the text of the Bible over the confession. It’s not an either/or, it’s a both/and.

@@classicchristianliterature Your response was expected. I will respond to this later.

Of course it is the Bible and the teaching of the Holy Church. We should not forget that it was the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, that compiled the Bible.

Systematics were few and far between before the reformation. Lombard’s Sentances…etc begin to show systematic expression. It’s the post reformation protestant scholastics that really give rise to the modern systematic theology.

True

Considering Aquinas came and left by this time, theology was not a new concept of Christianity.

Very well said sir.

Unfortunately those early Protestants were still caught up in Roman theology with their post and amillennial views due to Rome’s desire to diminish Israel. Then add in their inability to say sometimes god works in mysterious ways-there is no scriptural way to reconcile sovereignty and free will with human understanding. The Arminians are also guilty of that

That’s quite a charge. How is Calvin comparable to Mormonism?

@@classicchristianliterature IMHO, Calvin is basically a commentary on the Reformation. His OPINIONS are an insult to The Cross. Takes less than a minute to refute Total Depravity which collapses TUPLIP. Blessings to you and yours.

BTW, to directly answer, Mormons blindly follow Joseph Smith as many blindly follow Calvin. I’m a Christian and I follow THE CHRIST. Period.

@@rickward2977 as a “calvinist” I can tell you I don’t know anyone who blindly follows Calvin. Second, you don’t have a pastor? The Bible commands us to follow and imitate others who follow Christ. Hebrews 13:7 ESV Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 1 Corinthians 4:16 KJV Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

For something non Calvinist you basically only have Lewis sperry chafer, or Norman geisler for more moderate Calvinist

Haha yes no fancy recording study on my end. Thanks for watching

So you are a monophysite?

@@classicchristianliterature I believe I am - the Logos was made a man. But that does not mean Jesus was not deity. He just did not have the miraculous attributes of deity, but his identity stayed the same. The two natures concept is really a paradox where they say the natures were separate yet united. It really makes no sense and Scripture does not witness to this. Now in his exalted state he does have the attributes of deity, but it does not appear that way when he was here in the flesh.

@@Mike65809 my issue with Monophysitism and I think what the church was getting at in this creed, is that nature / substance and person / hypostasis are indispensable for this discussion. The unity of Christ is in His person. 2 natures (Divine and human) united in one person. If Monophysitism is correct, then there is a “third” thing. That is, if Jesus is a mixture of divine and human natures (one nature), He ceases to be either. He would be less than God because of a mixed nature with man and He would be different than man because mixed with God. The natures are preserved and in fact Jesus is both God and man.

@@classicchristianliterature Okay thanks for your reply. My understanding of Monophysitism is that there are two kinds, one Jesus was all God, the other is he was all man. I've never heard of the one you just mentioned. But that's fine. I think the two nature approach is not Biblical. Chalcedon acted like Jesus did his miracles by his own power, that is, by his divine substance. But John makes it clear he did his works by the Father in him. Not only this, but he was given the Holy Spirit without measure. So the Father worked in him by the HS. So he didn't have his own attributes of deity. He was deity in his identity, however. So the two natures approach only causes confusion and is not biblical. And I might add, it can only explain why Jesus didn't know the hour of his return in his human nature only, which is a Nestorian understanding. So he had a human nature, given the HS without measure, and was deity in his identity of the Logos. Now in his exalted state he has all attributes of deity again.

@@Mike65809 correct me if I’m wrong, but perhaps you are arguing for kenosis? Even so, it doesn’t solve the issue. You stated that now “in his exalted state he has all the attributes of deity”. The issue remains because Christ in His exalted state remains human. He arose from the dead and ascended to heaven in a human body. How does the problem remain? Omnipresence is an aspect of divinity - is the human body of Jesus everywhere in its fullness at all times? The reformed orthodox approach this issue by affirming Chalcedon and the “extra calvinisticum”.

All TH-cam comments are erroneous too because not sanctioned by the RC church. Self-defeating argument

@@classicchristianliterature Wrong

Excrementum tauri ‘[Y]ou protestants’ is adversarial and generalization.

@grammaticopedanticus9727 And yet extremely accurate like saying "you people" or "you men" or "you women." All protestants are a contradiction to Christianity because all protestants deny Jesus Authority for having done what he did in John chapter 20 vrs 20-23

@@peterxuereb9884 again, why are we appealing to Scripture to disprove Scripture?

@grammaticopedanticus9727 Sounds like you're happy to accept any interpretation of the truth rather than the truth itself. Going by that I guess you also accept that there are variables to the mathematical truth that 1+1=2

@@peterxuereb9884, thank you for your response. There is much I don’t know but I suspect little you do. To adapt from a comment posted elsewhere in this forum, one doesn’t have to agree with everything [someone writes] to be enriched and edified by [it].

@grammaticopedanticus9727 There are no compromises with truth. Once you start to do so, truth ceases to play a part in the discussion. St Paul did not compromise with the truth he called it like it is. To make alterations then, it is no longer the truth but only ones opinion of it, and a wrong one at that.

@@peterxuereb9884, thank you for your response. So? As The Theologian observed, all truth is God’s truth. And also (incidentally, in accord with ancient rabbinic dictum (to my mind not superseded by Gospel)) we are to heed truth whencever spoken. And another observation (from US southern Appalachia (perhaps less kashrut) remarks, even a blind pig finds an acorn now and then (which is not to be interpreted as everything that blind pigs find is acorns - or isn’t (there can be, and I suspect much is) a rich mix to the mast)). To my mind it is a regrettable thing to deny that all eggs not in one’s own basket are eggs. But, coming back to your opening comment on truth, an ancient pledge in baptism into the community of the Rabbi of Nazareth and Capernaum is rejection of evil. Do you repudiate former President of the USA Donald John Trump, baptised and confirmed in a Presbyterian congregation, some years back?

@grammaticopedanticus9727 Why should I repudiate Donald on what grounds???

Desire is temptation. To say temptation is sin, than no one is saved. Even Jesus was tempted by Satan.

@@sleepystar1638 temptation is desire that is sin were you to commit the act?

@@NONEOFYOURBIZ69yes commit the act is the requirement for sin, diabolical influence makes you less culpable, you need full knowledge to commit mortal sin.

Keep watching this series. There is a distinction between good desire and bad desire. I do not agree with the original statement here that "desire is sin". Being hungry is a good desire because it prompts us to eat (desire --> action). Desiring someone else's wife is a bad desire... adultery in the heart as Jesus calls it. This is bad whether you act on it or not. Will continue to post videos giving the more nuanced views of this and discussing how the guilt and pollution of Adam's sin affects us all.

@@classicchristianliteratureConcupiscence in a higher subject matter, honestly with the state of the church they need all forms of Catechism. but I do appreciate the more advanced stuff, as lots of modern theology is surface level stuff.

Thanks for sharing that. It has been an enlightening study for me and has caused me to dig deeper into Scripture and my own tradition.

Don't know why those labels matter at all. Papist? What are you, in the 18th century or what