Systematic Theology, Volume 7: Doctrinal Summarization
Overview
This resource contains Volume 7: Doctrinal Summarization from Chafer's Systematic Theology. Written by Lewis Sperry Chafer, the founding president of Dallas Theological Seminary and long-time editor of Bibliotheca Sacra, this is the first dispensational, premillenial systematic theology ever published. It is a complete, unabridged systematic theology meaning it covers a lot of ground that many earlier theologies did not, such as ecclesiology (e.g., the doctrine of the universal church, the church's rule of life), angelology (e.g., the relationship between Satan and sin), and typology. This is truly one of the heavyweight works of the evangelical movement, very much in demand today.
Top Highlights
“Security as a doctrine comprehends only the continuation of salvation for those who are saved. It should be distinguished accordingly from the doctrine of assurance. Also, it has no relation to the unregenerate person or mere professor.” (Volume 7, Page 285)
“If there be, as Covenant theologians contend, but one covenant of grace and that covenant operating uniformly in every age, to what, indeed, must the Apostle be referring when he asserts that a dispensation respecting a hitherto unrevealed economy of divine grace is committed unto him?” (Volume 7, Pages 122–123)
“Therefore, to come now to the third definition, grace is what God may be free to do and indeed what He does accordingly for the lost after Christ has died on behalf of them.” (Volume 7, Page 178)
“The branch is not in Christ because it bears fruit; but being in Christ, the branch may or may not bear fruit. Thus it is demonstrated that abiding in Christ is not a matter of maintaining union with Christ, but of maintaining communion with Him. When communion with Christ is preserved on the part of one in Christ, the sap of spiritual vitality is imparted which results in fruit being borne. This verse declares plainly that there are those in Christ, by so much therefore saved and safe forever, who at a given time are not bearing fruit. Respecting such, God reserves the right to remove them from their place in this world (cf. 1 Cor. 11:30; 1 John 5:16), directly to heaven’s glory.” (Volume 7, Page 4)
“A distinction must be observed here between just men of the Old Testament and those justified according to the New Testament. According to the Old Testament men were just because they were true and faithful in keeping the Mosaic Law. Micah defines such a life after this manner: ‘He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’ (6:8). Men were therefore just because of their own works for God, whereas New Testament justification is God’s work for man in answer to faith (Rom. 5:1).” (Volume 7, Page 219)
- Title: Systematic Theology, Volume 7: Doctrinal Summarization
- Author: Lewis Sperry Chafer
- Publisher: Kregel
- Print Publication Date: 1976
- Logos Release Date: 2005
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Theology, doctrinal
- ISBNs: 9780825423406, 0825423406
- Resource ID: LLS:CHAFERSTV7
- Resource Type: Encyclopedia
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:36:07Z
Lewis Sperry Chafer (1871–1952) was a Presbyterian clergyman, an educator, and the founder of Dallas Theological Seminary (originally Evangelical Theological College) in 1924, where he served as president and professor of theology until his death in 1952. Chafer was ordained in 1900 and traveled as an evangelist for 14 years before becoming a Bible lecturer from 1914–1924. Some of his most notable students include C. C. Ryrie, J. Vernon McGee, John Walvoord, and many others.
Chafer authored the eight-volume Systematic Theology, which was the first dispensational, premillennial systematic theology ever published. Several of Chafer’s other writings, such as Dispensationalism, Satan, and The Kingdom in History and Prophecy, can be found in the Lewis Sperry Chafer Collection (9 vols.). He also served as the editor of Bibliotheca Sacra, which was acquired by Dallas Theological Seminary in 1933.