Systematic Theology: Soteriology

LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Systematic Theology: SOTERIOLOGY

Volume III

By

Charles Hodge

A Theological Critique Submitted to

Liberty Theological Seminary

in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for completion of the course.

THEO 530

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY II

By

Johnny Payne

Clarksburg, WV

July 30, 2006

Table of Contents

I. Introduction ii

II. Brief Summary iii

III. Critical interaction with author's work 1

IV. Conclusion 4

Bibliography

i

Introduction

The third volume of Hodge's Systematic Theology Volume III (published by Hendrickson Publisher) broad classification is Soteriology but with in the book there are a variety of areas in which the reader can study. The areas that are covered in this Third Volume are: Regenerations, Faith, Justification, Santification, The Law, The means of Grace, Eschatology: The State of the Soul after Death and the Resurrection. The Author, Charles Hodge, "Charles Hodge (1797-1878) was the principal of Princeton Theological Seminary between 1851 and 1878. In 1825 he founded the Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, and during forty years was its editor and the principal contributor to its pages. In 1840 he was transferred to the chair of didactic theology, retaining, however, the department of New Testament exegesis, the duties of which he continued to discharge until his death. He was moderator of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1846. His magnum opus is the Systematic Theology (1871-1873), of 3 volumes and extending to 2,260 pages." 1

Charles Hodge

1. Wikipeda The Free Encyclopedia. "Article on Charles Hodges" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hodge.

ii

Brief Summary

Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge is a series of books design to teach Christian Theology. There are three volumes by Charles Hodge that covers the various teaching of Christian Theology. Since he was the Principal of what is now Princeton Theological Seminary and as a Presbrytarian it surprised me that today we would agree with most of Dr. Hodges wrote and how far the Presbrytarian Church has strayed.

Dr. Hodge's Systematic Theology his magnum opus of his career and teaching. These Volumes are helpful for the person who wants to know Christian Theology and cover studies from Basic Theology to what happens to the Christian after they die and the resurrection of all mankind. Dr, Hodges covers judgment of the believer and the unsaved. Dr. Hodge's writings are in a concise format and are not too academic or "high browed" for those who are not studying theology for a degree or as someone in full time ministry.

This series of books are divided into four parts with each section containing a various numbers of Chapters for the various areas of study. The books are divided into parts are as follow: Introduction with six chapters; Part I - Theology Proper with thirteen chapters; Part II - Anthropology with nine chapters; Part III- Soteriology with twenty chapters and Part IV with four chapters.

Volume III in which this paper is concerned about deals with the following subjects of theology. Chapter XV Regeneration; Chapter XVI Faith; Chapter XVII Justification; Chapter XVIII Santification; Chapter XIX The Law [overview of the Ten

iii

Commandments]; Chapter XX The Means of Grace. Part IV Eschatology with Chapter I

State of the Soul After Death; Chapter II Resurrection; Chapter III Second Advent; and Chapter IV Concomitants of the Second Advent.

These writing, as stated before, are easy to understand and the writer does not seem to be trying to push a particular agenda except for the teaching of the Bible. His main purpose seems only to want to convey the truth of God's Word and all that is in the Bible to teach us. The main thrust of the book is exactly that. To teach the doctrines of the Christian faith in a manner that is easy to understand.

The reader of these volumes will find the reading easier than in some of the more modern books and I know of several Pastor and Bible Study leaders who have used use these books and recommended them to other, to include myself. These books are worth reading.

iv

Critical Interaction with Dr. Charles Hodge' System Theology Volume III

This series of books by Charles Hodge is his magnum opus, the Systematic Theology is and was Dr. Hodges crowning work of his years of preaching and teaching and has been a source of study and reference for Pastors, Preachers, Evangelist, Professors and of course the Bible College and Seminary student. The writing here while a little hard to read for some readers but is none the less concise and to the point and is not as "dry language" as some of the more modern books that I have read for classes.

Some of my past professors have compared Dr. Charles Ryrie Systematic Theology to that of Dr. Hodge's work. I will though leave this comparison up to the individual reader and student. It is not for me to compare these two men's writings in this paper so I will not.

Dr. Charles Hodge became Professor of New Testament at what is now known as Princeton