Summary of Christian Doctrine

Chapter 1

1. The Nature of Religion The Bible informs us that man was

created in the image of God. When he fell in sin, he did not entirely cease to be the image-bearer of the Most High. The seed of religion is still present in all men, though their sinful nature constantly reacts against

Chapter 2

2. The Seat of Religion. There are several wrong views respecting

the seat of religion in man. Some think of religion primarily as a sort of knowledge, and locate it in the intellect. Others regard it as a kind of immediate feeling of God, and find its seat in the feelings. And still o

Chapter 3

3. The Origin of Religion. Particular attention was devoted

during the last fifty years to the problem of the origin of religion. Repeated attempts were made to give a natural explanation of it, but without success. Some spoke of it as an invention of cunning and deceptive priest

Chapter 4

1. Revelation in General. The discussion of religion naturally

leads on to that of revelation as its origin. If God had not revealed Himself, religion would have been impossible. Man could not possibly have had any knowledge of God, if God had not made Himself known. Left to himself

Chapter 5

2. General Revelation. The general revelation of God is prior to

His special revelation in point of time. It does not come to man in the form of verbal communications, but in the facts, the forces, and the laws of nature, in the constitution and operation of the human mind, and in the

Chapter 6

3. Special Revelation. In addition to the revelation of God in

nature we have His special revelation which is now embodied in Scripture. The Bible is preeminently the book of God's special revelation, a revelation in which facts and words go hand in hand, the words interpreting the

Chapter 7

1. Revelation and Scripture. The term 'special revelation' may be

used in more than one sense. It may denote the direct self- communications of God in verbal messages and in miraculous facts. The prophets and the apostles often received messages from God long before they committed them

Chapter 8

2. Scripture Proof for the Inspiration of Scripture. The whole

Bible is given by inspiration of God, and is as such the infallible rule of faith and practice for all mankind. Since the doctrine of inspiration is often denied, it calls for special consideration. -- 16 of 209 -- Thi

Chapter 9

3. The Nature of Inspiration. There are especially two wrong

views of inspiration, representing extremes that should be avoided. a. Mechanical inspiration. It has sometimes been represented as if God literally dictated what the human authors of the Bible had to write, and as if th

Chapter 10

5. The Perfections of Scripture. The Reformers developed the

doctrine of Scripture as over against the Roman Catholics and some of the Protestant sects. While Rome taught that the Bible owes its authority to the Church, they maintained that it has authority in itself as the inspir

Chapter 11

1. The Knowledge of God. The possibility of knowing God has

been denied on several grounds. But while it is true that man can never fully comprehend God, it does not follow that he can have no knowledge of Him at all. He can know Him only in part, but nevertheless with a knowledg

Chapter 12

2. The Knowledge of God as Known from Special Revelation.

While it is not possible to define God, it is possible to give a general description of His being. It is perhaps best to describe Him as a pure -- 23 of 209 -- Spirit of infinite perfections. The description involves t

Chapter 13

Chapter V:

The Names of God When God gives names to persons or things, they are names which have meaning and give an insight into the nature of the persons or things designated. This also applies to the names which God has given Hi

Chapter 14

1. The Old Testament Names of God. Some of the Old Testament

names denote that God is the High and Exalted One. 'El and 'Elohim indicate that He is strong and mighty and should therefore be feared, while 'Elyon points to His exalted nature as the Most High, the object of reverence

Chapter 15

2. The New Testament Names of God. The New Testament

names are simply the Greek forms of those found in the Old Testament. The following deserve particular attention: a. The name Theos. This is simply the word for 'God,' and is the most common name employed in the New Test

Chapter 16

Chapter VI:

-- 30 of 209 -- The Attributes of God God reveals Himself not only in His names, but also in His attributes, that is, in the perfections of the divine Being. It is customary to distinguish between incommunicable an

Chapter 17

1. The Incommunicable Attributes. These emphasize the

absolute distinction between God and the creature, and include the following: a. The independence or self-existence of God. This means that God has the ground of His existence in Himself, and unlike man, does not depend

Chapter 18

2. The Communicable Attributes. These are the attributes of

which we find some resemblance in man. It should be borne in mind, however, that what we see in man is only a finite (limited) and imperfect likeness of that which is infinite (unlimited) and perfect in God. Here we have

Chapter 19

1. Statement of the Doctrine. The Bible teaches that, while He

exists in three Persons, called Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are not three persons in the ordinary sense of the word; they are not three individuals, but rather three modes or forms in which the Divine Being exist

Chapter 20

2. Scripture Proof for the Trinity. The Old Testament contains

some indications of more than one Person in God. God speaks of -- 41 of 209 -- Himself in the plural, Gen. 1:26; 11:7; the Angel of Jehovah is represented as a divine Person, Gen. 16:7-13; 18:1-21; 19:1-22; and the Spi

Chapter 21

3. The Father. The name 'Father' is frequently applied in

Scripture to the triune God, as the creator of all things, I Cor. 8:6; Heb. 12:9; Jas. 1:17; as the Father of Israel, Deut. 32:6; Isa. 63:16; and as the Father of believers, Matt. 5:45; 6:6, 9, 14; Rom. 8:15. In a deeper

Chapter 22

4. The Son. The second person in the Trinity is called 'Son' or

'Son of God.' He bears this name, however, not only as the only begotten of the Father, John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; Gal. 4:4, but also as the Messiah chosen of God, Matt. 8:29; 26:63; John 1:49; 11:27, and in virtue of His

Chapter 23

5. The Holy Spirit. Though Socinians, Unitarians, and present

day Modernists speak of the Holy Spirit merely as a power or an influence of God, He clearly stands out on the pages of the Bible as a Person, John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:1-15; Rom. 8:26. He has intelligence, John 14:2

Chapter 24

1. The Divine Decrees in General. The decree of God is His

eternal plan or purpose, in which He has foreordained all things that come to pass. Since it includes many particulars, we often speak of the divine decrees in the plural, though in reality there is but a single -- 45 o

Chapter 25

2. Predestination. Predestination is the plan or purpose of God

respecting His moral creatures. It pertains to men, both good and bad, to angels and devils, and to Christ as the Mediator. Predestination includes two parts, namely, election and reprobation. a. Election. The Bible spea

Chapter 26

Chapter IX:

Creation The discussion of the decrees naturally leads on to the study of their execution, which begins with the work of creation. This is the beginning and basis of all revelation, and also the foundation of all religio

Chapter 27

1. Creation in General. The word creation is not always used in

the same sense in the Bible. In the strict sense of the word it denotes that work of God by which He producers the world and all that is in it, partly without the use of pre-existent materials, and partly out of material

Chapter 28

2. The Spiritual World. God created not only a material but also

a spiritual world, consisting of the angels. a. Proof for the existence of angels. Modern liberal theology has largely discarded the belief in such spiritual beings. The Bible, however, assumes their existence throughout

Chapter 29

3. The Material World. In Gen. 1:1 we have the record of the

original creation of heaven and earth. The rest of the chapter is devoted to what is often called secondary creation, the completion of the work in six days. a. The days of creation. The question is frequently debated, w

Chapter 30

Chapter X:

Providence Since God not only created the world but also upholds it, we naturally pass from the doctrine of creation to that of divine providence. This may be defined as that work of God in which He preserves all His cre

Chapter 31

1. The Elements of Divine Providence. We distinguish three

elements: a. Divine preservation. This is that continuous work of God by which He upholds all things. While the world has a distinct existence and is not a part of God, it nevertheless has the ground of its continued exi

Chapter 32

2. Misconceptions of Divine Providence. In the doctrine of

providence we should guard against two misconceptions: a. The Deistic conception. This is to the effect that God's concern with the world is of the most general nature. He created the world, established its laws, set it

Chapter 33

3. Extraordinary Providences or Miracles. We distinguish

between general and special providences, and among the latter the miracles occupy an important place. A miracle is a supernatural work of God, that is a work which is accomplished without the mediation of secondary cause

Chapter 34

1. The Essential Elements of Human Nature. The usual view is

that man consists of two parts, body and soul. This is in harmony with the self-consciousness of man, and is also borne out by a study of Scripture, which speaks of man as consisting of "body and soul," Matt. 6:25; 10:28

Chapter 35

2. The Origin of the Soul in Each Individual. There are three

views respecting the origin of the individual souls. a. Pre-existentialism. Some advocated the idea that the souls of men existed in a previous state, and that something that happened then accounts for their present cond

Chapter 36

3. Man as the Image of God. The Bible teaches that man is

created in the image of God. According to Gen. 1:26, God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." The two words 'image' and 'likeness' evidently denote the same thing. The following passages show that th

Chapter 37

4. Man in the Covenant of Works. God at once entered into

covenant relationship with man. This original covenant is called the covenant of works. a. Scripture proof for the covenant of works. (1) Paul draws a parallel between Adam and Christ in Rom. 5:12-21. In Adam all men die

Chapter 38

1. The Origin of Sin. The Bible teaches us that sin entered the

world as the result of the transgression of Adam and Eve in paradise. The first sin was occasioned by the temptation of Satan in the form of a serpent, who sowed in man's heart the seeds of distrust and unbelief. Scriptu

Chapter 39

2. The Essential Nature of Sin. At present many substitute the

word 'evil' for 'sin,' but this is a poor substitute, for the word 'sin' is far more specific. It denotes a kind of evil, namely, a moral evil for which man is responsible and which brings him under a sentence of condemn

Chapter 40

3. Sin in the Life of the Human Race. Three points deserve

consideration here: -- 72 of 209 -- a. The connection between Adam's sin and that of his descendants. This has been explained in three different ways. (1) The earliest explanation is called the realistic theory, which

Chapter 41

Chapter XIII:

Man in the Covenant of Grace For the sake of clearness we distinguish between the covenant of redemption and the covenant of grace. The two are so closely related that they can be and sometimes are, considered as one. Th

Chapter 42

1. The Covenant of Redemption. This is also called "the counsel

of peace," a name derived from Zech. 6:13. It is a covenant between the Father, representing the Trinity, and the Son as the representative of the elect. a. The scriptural basis for it. It is clear that the plan of redem

Chapter 43

2. The Covenant of Grace. On the basis of the covenant of

redemption God established the covenant of grace. Several particulars call for consideration here. a. The contracting parties. God is the first party in the covenant. He establishes the covenant and determines the relati

Chapter 44

Chapter XIV:

The Names and Nature of Christ 1.The Names of Christ. The most important names of Christ are the following: a. Jesus. This is the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, Jos. 1:1; Zech. 3:1, or Jeshua, Ezra 2:2. Derived from th

Chapter 45

2. The Natures of Christ. The Bible represents Christ as a Person

having two natures, the one divine and the other human. This is the great mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh, I Tim. 3:16. a. The two natures. Since many in our day deny the deity of Christ, it is necessar

Chapter 46

Chapter XV:

-- 94 of 209 -- The States of Christ We often use the words 'state' and 'condition' interchangeably. When we speak of the states of Christ, however, we use the word 'state' in a more specific sense, to denote the relati

Chapter 47

1. The State of Humiliation. The state of humiliation consists in

this that Christ laid aside the divine majesty which was His as the sovereign Ruler of the universe, and assumed human nature in the form of a servant; that He, the supreme Lawgiver, became subject to the demands and cur

Chapter 48

2. The State of Exaltation. In the state of exaltation Christ

passed from under the law as a covenant obligation, having paid the penalty of sin and merited righteousness and eternal life for the sinner. Moreover, He was crowned with a corresponding honor and glory. Four stages mus

Chapter 49

1. The Prophetic Office. The Old Testament predicted the

coming of Christ as a prophet, Deut. 18:15 (comp. Acts 3:23). He speaks of Himself as a prophet in Luke 13:33, claims to bring a message from the Father, John 8:26-28; 12:49, 50; 14:10, 24, foretells future things, Matt.

Chapter 50

2. The Priestly Office. The Old Testament also predicted and

prefigured the priesthood of the coming Redeemer, Ps. 110:4; Zech. 6:18; Isa. 53. In the New Testament there is only a single book in which He is called priest, namely, Hebrews, but there the name is found repeatedly, 3:

Chapter 51

3. The Kingly Office. As Son of God Christ naturally shares in the

universal dominion of God. In distinction from this we speak of a kingship that was conferred on Him as Mediator This kingship is twofold, namely, His spiritual kingship over the Church, and His kingship over the univers

Chapter 52

1. The Moving Cause and Necessity of the Atonement. It is

sometimes represented as if the moving cause of the atonement lay in Christ's sympathy for sinners. God in His anger, it is said, was bent on the sinner's destruction, but the loving Christ steps in between and saves the

Chapter 53

2. The Nature of the Atonement. The following particulars

should be noted here: a. It served to render satisfaction to God. It is often said that the atonement served primarily, if not exclusively, to influence the sinner, to awaken repentance in his heart, and thus to bring hi

Chapter 54

3. The Extent of the Atonement. Roman Catholics, Lutherans,

and Arminians of every description regard the atonement of Christ as universal. This does not mean that in their estimation all men will be saved, but merely that Christ suffered and died for the purpose of saving all wi

Chapter 55

Chapter XVIII:

The Common Operation of the Holy Spirit: Common Grace -- 115 of 209 -- The study of the work of redemption wrought by Christ is naturally followed by a discussion of the application of this redemption to the hearts and

Chapter 56

1. Nature of Common Grace. When we speak of common grace,

we have in mind either (a) those general operations of the Holy Spirit whereby He, without renewing the heart, exercises such a moral influence on man that sin is restrained, order is maintained in social life, and civil

Chapter 57

2. Means of Common Grace. Several means may be

distinguished: (a) The most important of these is the light of God's general revelation. Without this all other means would be impossible and ineffective. It lightens every man, and serves to guide the conscience of the

Chapter 58

3. The Effects of Common Grace. The following effects may be

ascribed to the operation of common grace: (a) The execution of the sentence of death on man is deferred. God did not at once fully execute the sentence of death on the sinner, and does not do so now, but gives him time

Chapter 59

1. Calling. Calling in general may be defined as that gracious act

of God whereby He invites sinners to accept the salvation that is offered in Christ Jesus. It may be either external or internal. a. External calling. The Bible speaks of this or refers to it in several passages, Matt. 2

Chapter 60

2. Regeneration. Divine calling and regeneration stand in the

closest possible relation to each other. With respect to regeneration several points deserve consideration: -- 121 of 209 -- a. Its nature. The word 'regeneration' is not always used in the same sense. Our Confession u

Chapter 61

1. Conversion in General. The Bible does not always speak of

conversion in the same sense. The conversion we have in mind here may be defined as that act of God whereby He causes the regenerated, in their conscious life, to turn to Him in faith and repentance. From this definition

Chapter 62

2. Repentance, the Negative Element of Conversion. Repentance

looks to the past, and may be defined as that change wrought in the conscious life of the sinner by which he turns away from sin. It includes three elements, namely, (a) an intellectual element, in which the past life is

Chapter 63

3. Faith, the Positive Element of Conversion. In distinction from

repentance, faith has a forward look. a. Different kinds of faith. The Bible does not always speak of faith in the same sense. It refers to a historical faith, consisting in an intellectual acceptance of the truth of Scr

Chapter 64

1. The Nature and Elements of Justification, Justification may be

defined as that legal act of God by which He declares the sinner righteous on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is not an act or process of renewal, such as regeneration, conversion, or sanctific

Chapter 65

2. The Time of Justification. The word 'justification' is not

always used in the same sense. Some even speak of a fourfold -- 134 of 209 -- justification: a justification from eternity, a justification in the resurrection of Christ, a justification by faith, and a public justific

Chapter 66

3. Objections to the Doctrine of Justification. Various objections

are raised to this doctrine. It is said that, if man is justified on the basis of the merits of Christ, he is not saved by grace. But -- 135 of 209 -- justification, with all that it includes, is a gracious work of God

Chapter 67

1. Nature and Characteristics of Sanctification. Sanctification

may be defined as that gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Spirit by which, He purifies the sinner, renews his whole nature in the image of God, and enables him to perform good works. It differs from justificat

Chapter 68

2. The Imperfect Character of Sanctification in This Life. While

sanctification affects every part of man, yet the spiritual development of believers remains imperfect in this life. They must contend with sin as long as they live, I Kings 8:46; Prov. 20:9; Jas. 3:2; I John 1:8. Their

Chapter 69

3. Sanctification and Good Works. Sanctification naturally leads

to a life of good works. These may be called the fruits of -- 140 of 209 -- sanctification. Good works are not perfect works, but works that spring from the principle of love to God or faith in Him, Matt. 7:17, 18; 12:

Chapter 70

4. Perseverance of the Saints. The expression 'perseverance of

the saints' naturally suggests a continuous activity of believers whereby they persevere in the way of salvation. As a matter of fact, however, the perseverance referred to is less an activity of believers than a work of

Chapter 71

1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH. The principal Old

Testament word for Church is derived from a verb meaning 'to call' and the principal New Testament word, from a verb meaning 'to call out'. Both denote the Church as an assembly called by God. -- 145 of 209 -- a. DIFFE

Chapter 72

2. THE ATTRIBUTES AND MARKS OF THE CHURCH. There are

especially three attributes of the Church, and also three marks or external characteristics. a. ITS ATTRIBUTES. These are the following three: (1) ITS UNITY. According to the Roman Catholics this is the unity of an impos

Chapter 73

Exodus 19:6. "And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and

a holy nation." 1Peter 2:9. "But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show -- 152 of 209 -- forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darknes

Chapter 74

Chapter 24:

The Government And Power Of The Church Christ is the Head of the Church and source of all its authority, Matt. 23:10; "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, [even] the Christ. (Matthew 23:10)" John 13:13;

Chapter 75

1. THE OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. The officers of the Church

mentioned in the New Testament are of two kinds: a. EXTRAORDINARY OFFICERS. The most important of these were the apostles. In the strictest sense this name applies only to the Twelve chosen by Jesus and Paul, but it is a

Chapter 76

2. THE ECCLESIASTICAL ASSEMBLIES. The Reformed Churches

have a number of governing bodies. Their relation to each other is marked by a careful graduation. They are known as consistory, classis, and synod. The consistory consists of the minister and the elders of the local chu

Chapter 77

3. THE POWER OF THE CHURCH. The power of the Church is

spiritual, because it is given by the Holy Spirit, -- 161 of 209 -- Acts 20:28, "Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he

Chapter 78

40. For that reason He made provision for the proper regulation of

the affairs of the Church, and gave the Church power to carry the laws of Christ into effect, John 21:15-17; Acts 20:28; -- 162 of 209 -- 1 Pet. 5:2. "Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight,

Chapter 79

1. THE WORD OF GOD. The Word of God is the most important

means of grace, though Catholics ascribe this honor to the sacraments. a. THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT. While the term 'means of grace' can be used in a broader sense, it is here used as a designation of the means which the C

Chapter 80

2. THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL. The Word of God is complete

as a means of grace, but the sacraments are not complete without the Word. This must be maintained over against the Roman Catholics, who teach that the sacraments contain all that is necessary unto salvation. The Word an

Chapter 81

Chapter 26:

Christian Baptism Christ instituted baptism after the resurrection, Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:16. He charged His disciples to baptize those who were made disciples "into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy S

Chapter 82

1. THE PROPER MODE OF BAPTISM. Baptists not only maintain

that the proper mode of baptism is by immersion, but even assert that immersion belongs to the very essence of baptism. Baptism applied in any other way is not baptism at all. They hold that the fundamental idea of bapti

Chapter 83

2. THE PROPER SUBJECTS OF BAPTISM. There are two classes to

whom baptism is applied, namely, adults and infants. a. ADULT BAPTISM. Baptism is intended for believers and their seed. In the words of the institution Jesus undoubtedly had in mind primarily the baptism of adults, for

Chapter 84

34. The Church should require a profession of faith of all adults

seeking baptism. When such a profession is made, this is accepted by the Church at its face value, unless there are good reasons to doubt its sincerity. b. INFANT BAPTISM. Baptists deny the right of infant baptism, since

Chapter 85

Chapter 27:

The Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper was instituted at the time of the passover shortly before the death of Jesus, Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; 1Cor. 11:23-25. The new sacrament was linked up with the cen

Chapter 86

1. THE LORD'S SUPPER AS A SIGN AND SEAL. Like every other

sacrament, the Lord's Supper is first of all a sign. The sign includes not only the visible elements of bread and wine, but also their eating and drinking. It is a symbolical representation of the Lord's death, 1Cor. 11:

Chapter 87

2. THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE LORD'S SUPPER. The

question as to the nature of the presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper is one that has long been debated, and one on which there is still considerable difference of opinion. Four views come into consideration here. a.

Chapter 88

3. THE PERSONS FOR WHOM THE LORD'S SUPPER IS

INSTITUTED. The Lord's Supper was not instituted for all indiscriminately, but only for believers, who understand its spiritual significance. Children, who have not yet come to years of discretion, are not fit to partake

Chapter 89

1. PHYSICAL DEATH. Physical death is variously represented in

Scripture. It is spoken of as the death of the body, as distinguished from that of the soul, Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:4, as the termination or loss of animal life, Luke 6:9; John 12:25, and as a separation of body and soul,

Chapter 90

2. THE INTERMEDIATE STATE. Opinions differ very much as to

the condition of man between death and the general resurrection. The most important theories call for a brief discussion. a. THE MODERN IDEA OF SHEOL-HADES. The idea is very prevalent at present that at death both the pi

Chapter 91

Chapter 29:

The Second Coming Of Christ The New Testament clearly teaches us that the first coming of Christ will be followed by a second. Jesus referred to His return more than once, Matt. 24:30, 25:19; 26:64; John 14:3; angels cal

Chapter 92

1. GREAT EVENTS PRECEDING THE SECOND COMING.

According to Scripture several important events must precede the return of Christ. a. THE CALLING OF THE GENTILES. The gospel of the kingdom must be preached to all nations before the coming of Christ, Matt. 24:14; Mark

Chapter 93

2. THE SECOND COMING ITSELF. After these signs the Son of Man

will be seen coming on the clouds of heaven. a. THE TIME OF HIS COMING. Some believe that the coming of Christ is imminent, that is, may now occur at any time. But the Bible teaches us that the events and signs mentioned

Chapter 94

3. THE QUESTION OF THE MILLENNIUM. Some believe that the

second coming of Christ will either be preceded or followed by a millennium. -- 197 of 209 -- a. POST-MILLENNIALISM. Post-millennialism teaches that the second coming of Christ will follow the millennium. The millenniu

Chapter 95

1. THE RESURRECTION. Scripture teaches us that at the return of

Christ the dead will be raised up. The Old Testament clearly speaks of it in Isa. 26:19, Dan. 12:2. The New Testament contains more abundant proof if it, John 5:25-29; 6:39-40, 44; 11:24-25; 1Cor 15; 1Thess. 4:13-17; Rev

Chapter 96

2. THE LAST JUDGMENT. The doctrine of the resurrection leads

right on to that of the last judgment. The Bible speaks of the coming of a final judgment in no uncertain terms, Ps. 96:13; 98:9; Eccl. 3:17; 12:14; Matt. 25:31-46; Rom. 2:5-10; 2Cor. 5:10. 2Tim. 4:1; 1Pet. 4:5; Rev. 20:

Chapter 97

3. THE FINAL STATE. The final judgment serves the purpose of

setting forth clearly what the final state of each person will be. -- 203 of 209 -- a. THE FINAL STATE OF THE WICKED. The wicked are consigned to the place of punishment called "hell". Some deny that hell is a place an

Chapter 98

14. What will be the reward of the righteous?

-- 208 of 209 -- MONERGISM BOOKS Summary of Christian Doctrine by Louis Berkhof, Copyright © 2015, 2017 All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, yo