Dr. Couch, I just purchased Dr. Lewis S. Chafer’s eight volume Systematic Theology. What do you think of it?
When I was in seminary all of us freshmen had to line up in the
bookstore and we were all handed this great set as our main textbook for
graduate work. There were no questions asked and no options. That was
our main systematic theology used for the four years in earning the
Th.M. Lining up in the bookstore was like being on a slave ship. The
beater was at one end hitting the drum, “Boom, boom”! To study through
Chafer was going to happen! Interestingly, the men who so studied his
works came out with the best theological training it was possible to get
in the U. S. at that time! Unfortunately, most of the students at
“that” school presently have not the faintest idea who the man was, and
they have never studied his theology!
Chafer’s Systematic Theology is not perfect but it is extremely basic
and gives the biblical guidelines for biblical dispensationalism. It is
still published by Kregel. I also highly suggest my own systematic
theology that has the contributions of some of the most outstanding
theologians of the past decade. It is also published by Kregel and is
entitled The Fundamentals for the Twenty-first Century.
Most other systematic theologies are woefully lacking in continuity,
clear dispensationalism, and solid scholarship. When I speak of
scholarship I do not speak of egg-headedness! I speak of the author’s
ability to properly see the whole of Scripture and the ability to
explain the most important passages of the Word of God.
For those of you who do not have either works mentioned above, I
highly recommend that you purchase them. We are orbiting away from such
works that give stability to the student of the Bible. We are in deep
trouble, and things are not getting better. I believe we are into the
first stages of the apostasy, the departure from the truth. You can
trust me and Chafer to give you the proper biblical goodies!
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
