The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God
Overview
This first volume in the Theology of Lordship series addresses the implications for life and thought of the fact that God is the Lord and we are his servants by creation and redemption. Accordingly, Frame develops an epistemology based on the idea of servant thinking—the way a servant is to think in the presence of his Lord. In the course of his inquiry, Frame focuses on the nature of theology (the application of God’s word to all areas of life) and its various methodological aspects. The book is also an introduction to apologetics, for it attempts to show what it is to know God and how people can come to know him as a friend rather than an enemy.
Like other books in the Theology of Lordship series, this volume analyses God’s lordship by means of threefold distinctions that derive ultimately from the doctrine of the Trinity. Lordship is God’s control, authority, and presence, and that triad provides three “perspectives” essential to human knowledge.
Interested for more from Dr. Frame? Also check out his Systematic Theology and Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology.
- Discusses God’s lordship through Trinity doctrine
- Presents the concept of servant thinking
- Analyzes the knowledge of God through perspectivalism and other methods
- Part One: The Objects of Knowledge
- Part Two: The Justification of Knowledge
- Part Three: The Methods of Knowledge
Top Highlights
“To summarize, knowing God is knowing Him as Lord, ‘knowing that I am the Lord.’ And knowing Him as Lord is knowing His control, authority, and presence.” (Page 18)
“If God is covenant head, then He is exalted above His people; He is transcendent. If He is covenant head, then He is deeply involved with them; He is immanent.” (Page 13)
“Authority is God’s right to be obeyed, and since God has both control and authority, He embodies both might and right.” (Page 16)
“To summarize those points: throughout redemptive history, God seeks to identify himself to men as Lord and to teach and demonstrate to them the meaning of that concept. ‘God is Lord’—that is the message of the Old Testament; ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’—that is the message of the New.” (Page 12)
“Second, errors in our knowledge arise from immaturity and weakness.” (Page 20)
A magnificent treatment that will be a standard work for decades. Frame stands in the great Reformed tradition of Calvin and Charnock, Hodge and Bavinck, yet in his treatment of the doctrine of God, he surpasses them all with an amazing breadth of knowledge and depth of understanding. In every section, Frame brings fresh insight to old doctrines.
—Wayne Grudem, research professor of Bible and theology, Phoenix Seminary
A meticulously biblical, remarkably cogent, and powerfully transforming presentation.
—Richard L. Pratt Jr., president, Third Millennium Ministries
- Title: The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God
- Author: John Frame
- Publisher: P&R
- Print Publication Date: 1987
- Logos Release Date: 2008
- Pages: 437
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: God › Knowableness; Knowledge, Theory of (Religion); Apologetics › 20th century
- ISBNs: 9780875522623, 0875522629
- Resource ID: LLS:DCTRKNWGOD
- Resource Type: Systematic Theology
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T23:13:53Z
John M. Frame (b. 1939) is an American philosopher and a Calvinist theologian especially noted for his work in epistemology, presuppositional apologetics, systematic theology, and ethics. He is one of the foremost interpreters and critics of the thought of Cornelius Van Til. Dr. Frame formerly taught at Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, and Westminster Theological Seminary.
Reviews
2 ratings
Mac McClanahan
8/26/2023
