Bible Doctrine

Wayne Grudem is research professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds degrees from Harvard (AB), Westminster Theological Seminary (MDiv, DD), and Cambridge (PhD). He is the author of more than a dozen books including the bestselling Systematic Theology.

Abbreviations xii
Preface to the Second Edition xiii
Preface to the First Edition xv

1. Introduction to Systematic Theology 1
What is systematic theology? Why should Christians study it?
How should we study it?

PART 1: The Doctrine of the Word of God
2. The Authority and Inerrancy of the Bible 21
How do we know that the Bible is God’s Word?
Are there any errors in the Bible?
3. The Clarity, Necessity, and Sufficiency of the Bible 48
Can only Bible scholars understand the Bible rightly? For what purposes is the Bible necessary? Is the Bible enough for knowing what
God wants us to think or do?

PART 2: The Doctrine of God
4. The Character of God: "Incommunicable" Attributes73
How do we know that God exists? Can we really know God?
How is God different from us?
5. The "Communicable" Attributes of God 94
How is God like us?
6. The Trinity 117
How can God be three persons, yet one God?
7. Creation 147
Why, how, and when did God create the universe?
8. God’s Providence 180
What is the extent of God’s control over creation? If God controls
all things, how can our actions have real meaning?
9. Prayer 201
Why does God want us to pray? How can we pray effectively?
10. Angels, Satan, and Demons 213
What are angels? Why did God create them? How should
Christians think of Satan and demons today?

PART 3: The Doctrine of Man
11. The Creation of Man 233
Why did God create us? How did God make us like himself?
What does Scripture mean by "soul" and "spirit"?
12. Man as Male and Female 246
Why did God create two sexes? Can men and women be equal and yet
have different roles?
13. Sin 259
What is sin? Where did it come from? Do we inherit a sinful nature
from Adam?

PART 4: The Doctrine of Christ
14. The Person of Christ 281
How is Jesus fully God and fully man, yet one person?
15. The Atonement 303
Was it necessary for Christ to die? What really happened in the
atonement? Did Christ descend into hell?
16. Resurrection and Ascension 319
What was Christ’s resurrection body like? What is its significance
for us? What happened to Christ when he ascended into heaven?

PART 5: The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption
17. Common Grace 331
What are the undeserved blessings that God gives to all people,
both believers and unbelievers?
18. Election 340
When and why did God choose us? Are some not chosen?
19. The Gospel Call 356
What is the gospel message? How does it become effective?
20. Regeneration 361
What does it mean to be born again?
21. Conversion (Faith and Repentance) 369
What is true repentance? What is saving faith? Can people accept
Jesus as Savior and not as Lord?
22. Justification and Adoption 381
How and when do we gain right legal standing before God? What are
the benefits of being a member of God’s family?
23. Sanctification (Growth in Likeness to Christ) 399
How do we grow in Christian maturity? What are the blessings of
Christian growth?
24. The Perseverance of the Saints (Remaining a Christian) 411
Can true Christians lose their salvation? How can we know if we are
truly born again?
25. Death, the Intermediate State, and Glorification 426
What is the purpose of death in the Christian life? What happens to
our bodies and souls when we die? When will we receive resurrection
bodies? What will they be like?

PART 6: The Doctrine of the Church
26. The Nature of the Church 443
How can we recognize a true church? What are the purposes of the
church? What makes a church more or less pleasing to God?
27. Baptism 467
Who should be baptized? How should it be done? What does it mean?
28. The Lord’s Supper 480
What is the meaning of the Lord’s Supper? How should it be observed?
29. Gifts of the Holy Spirit (I): General Questions 490
What are spiritual gifts? How many are there? Have some gifts
ceased? How do we seek and use spiritual gifts?
30. Gifts of the Holy Spirit (II): Specific Gifts 507
How should we understand and use specific spiritual gifts?

PART 7: The Doctrine of the Future
31. The Return of Christ: When and How? 533
When and how will Christ return? Could he come back at any hour?
32. The Millennium 548
What is the millennium? When does it occur? Will Christians go
through the great tribulation?
33. The Final Judgment and Eternal Punishment 566
Who will be judged? What is hell?
34. The New Heavens and New Earth 580
What is heaven? Is it a place? How will the earth be renewed?
What will it be like to live in the new heavens and new earth?
Appendix 1: Historic Confessions of Faith589
Appendix 2: Glossary 597
Appendix 3: Annotated Bibliography of Evangelical Systematic Theologies . . . . . 619
Author Index 627
Subject Index 629
Scripture Index 637