Good for Calvinists, difficult for ArminiansDecember 26, 2008 This is very readable and solidly based on the scriptures. All evangelicals will find much that encourages, informs and edifies.
I found the text less than irenic. We Arminians are used to being belittled and listed with Pelagians and Socinians, but it's just hard to warm up to.
Pretribulation rapture fans will love how Ryrie discusses eschatology. If it made a difference, I'd vote in favor of a pretribulation rapture, but I'm not convinced of its accuracy or use in terms of producing the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
Don't let me discourage you from reading this book. It is very useful, but I would humbly recommend that you balance it with "The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity" by Roger E. Olson.
Cannot Recommend This Work Highly EnoughJuly 23, 2008 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Ryrie's 'Basic Theology' is one of balance, clarity, practicality, and assessability. This is the most important work currently which a new believer or Christian layperson should use to study the teachings of the Christian Faith. Ryrie is generous in his dealings with different perspectives, yet remains true to his own convictions in the process.
What is so worthwhile in this volume is not only the practicality of the work, but the usefulness of it on so many levels. It can be used for personal study of scripture, a reference guide, even a tool to formulate an outline for bible classes or a small bible study. Its worth can be seen on so many levels. This work is an excellent popular guide to basic systematic truth and should be used repeatedly in the Christian Church.
"Basically" Sticks to the Plain Written WordMay 20, 2008 7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Dr. Ryrie's "Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth" is indeed one of best "basic" theology handbooks available. It is systematic, but it remains faithful to the Bible--this just goes to show that "systematic" and "biblical" are not necessarily at odds with each other as in some systems. Ryrie's work is "basic" in that it devotes over 600 pages to the main areas of theology. This makes it not only a good place for all believers to start off, but also as a handy, quick-reference guide for those in ministry as well. Of course, Dr. Ryrie sticks to a single, normative method of interpretation that serves us well as we look deeper into God's Word.
One criticism: Although I agree with Dr. Ryrie on most issues, it is significant to note that Dr. Ryrie refers to himself, along with some other prominent teachers, as a "moderate" or "4-point" Calvinist. In fact, he is actually a 4-point Biblicist based on his acceptance of a modified form of Unconditional Election. However, if you study the Calvinist T.U.L.I.P. as described by mainstream 5-pointers since the Synod of Dort, you will find that all the "points" stand or fall as a unit--that is how they were developed.
Ignorance of this fact has lead many biblical evangelicals like Dr. Ryrie to misunderstand what each of the 5 points mean. For example, Unconditional Election does not simply mean that salvation is unmerited. Perseverance of the Saints is not to be equated with the biblical doctrine of Eternal Security. Total Depravity actually means total inability, etc. Actually, the author would do all of us a much better service by simply referring to himself as a Biblicist.
Even though his views on unconditional election are not exactly the same as the extreme or 5-point Calvinists, Ryrie nonetheless holds what he terms "unresolved tensions" with Scripture in that area. It is true that even Ryrie's "moderate" position eventually brings one back to nagging doubts about true free will, reprobation, and God being the author of sin. Up until a few years ago I also held to that same classical DTS position, but have since discovered a more scripturally harmonious view similar to the mediate/inductive one advocated by C. Gordon Olson in his books, Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism: An Inductive, Mediate Theology of Salvation and Getting the Gospel Right: A Balanced View of Calvinism and Arminianism.
In spite of our differences on election and use of theological labels, Dr. Ryrie's work remains very true to the Word. It would be hard to go wrong with his book!
FabulousJanuary 10, 2008 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
My husband and I have really enjoyed this book. It is packed with a lot of solid information and it has moved us to a deeper place in the Lord. The author lays out Biblical truth simply enough for anyone to understand yet the meaning feeds the soul.The Candidate: A Novel
excellent study tool for any christianSeptember 27, 2007 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am using the book for a class so we are working through it at a gradual pace, but I love how Ryrie expresses things very clearly in each and every part of the chapter.
