In Acts 2:42 we read, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine . . . ” All would agree that this should be one of our goals. But what is the apostles’ doctrine? You might answer that it is what was taught by the apostles as recorded in the New Testament. But is that right? Much of what was taught in the New Testament had its basis in the Old Testament. Stephen, for instance, preached the Gospel and many were won to Christ. And yet to the Sanhedrin he demonstrated that Israel’s real problem was that they neither believed nor obeyed the Old Testament. Paul consistently denied that he had in any way overturned or disobeyed any of the Hebrew Scriptures. The apostles’ doctrine is Old Testament doctrine blazoned forth in the person of Christ, the complete revelation of the Father (Heb. 1:1-3). The doctrine of the Church is the only exclusively New Testament revelation. The whole Bible is the revelation of God to man about Himself, His glory, and His purposes in mankind. We need to study the whole Bible in order to understand doctrine.
That is a tall order. For the Bible is not a Systematic Theology book. It is a collection of biography, poetry, prophecy, and exposition in which God is revealed in the crucible of history. But there is help along these lines. One way is to arrange what the Bible says about any one subject in topical form. Thus we can see the scriptural unfolding of any particular doctrine.
Two men who have done a great service in this direction are Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer and Dr. Herbert Lockyer. I have in my library fifteen volumes by Dr. Lockyer called the “All” series. One of those volumes is “All the Doctrines of the Bible.” In thirty-one short chapters, he has given a brief outline of what the Bible teaches on thirty-one doctrinal topics. Leading you through each of these doctrines, he gives good definitions, logical presentations of each subject and short synopses of what great theologians have to say on each subject. This book gives good overviews of these doctrines and will cause you to want to study each of them further. He includes Scripture passages that will help get you started on a study of your own.
Dr. Chafer was a prolific writer. One of his books that is excellent for those beginning a study of Bible doctrine is Major Bible Themes. As in Dr. Lockyer’s book, the chapters are short, but in this book there are forty-nine chapters. There is good reason to have both books because the books each cover some areas that the other doesn’t. One of the things I appreciate about Dr. Chafer’s book is the multitude of Scripture references. While Dr. Lockyer seems to synthesize a great deal of material for you, Dr. Chafer directs you to the passages that will give you a solid biblical basis for your beliefs. The other feature that I like about Dr. Chafer’s book is the question section at the end of each chapter; not just two or three, but fourteen questions relating to each doctrine. This makes it a valuable study tool and a good book for classroom situations. If you are able to answer each of the questions, basing your response on Scripture, you would have a fundamental grasp of Bible doctrine.
I’m afraid that many of us would be unable to answer most of the questions posed. If you think you would fail a test on basic Bible doctrine, you would do well to pick up a copy of each of these books to help you understand the Scriptures’ foundational truths.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Great Doctrines of the Bible (3 volumes), W. A. Criswell; Zondervan
Things Which Become Sound Doctrine, J. D. Pentecost; Revell
A Survey of Bible Doctrine, C. C. Ryrie; Moody
Lectures in Systematic Theology, H. C. Thiessen,
Revised by V. D. Doerksen; Eerdman.