{Book Review} Theoretical-Practical Theology, Vol. 1: Prolegomena

Theoretical-Practical Theology will (God-willing) consist of seven total volumes to be published by Reformation Heritage Books (RHB). This review is of the introductory volume in the series, entitled Prolegomena.

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Theoretical-Practical Theology, Vol. 1: Prolegomena

Reformation Heritage Books (along with the Dutch Reformed Translation Society) has done the church a great service by taking on a translation project that will place Petrus van Mastricht’s works on the bookshelves of English-speaking Christians. This first volume was translated by Todd Rester, and edited by Joel Beeke. 

About the Author: Petrus van Mastricht

Van Mastricht (1630-1706) was a Dutch Reformed theologian and pastor who served the Lord and His church in the Netherlands. A student of Gisbertus Voetius, he is known as one who has produced one of the greatest systematic theologies for the church. Originally written in Latin and then translated into Dutch, this is the first time Mastricht’s work has been translated into English!

If one has any familiarity with other Dutch Reformed authors (i.e. a Brakel, Witsius, Vandergroe, Bavnick, etc.) Mastricht’s work will have some similar pleasing aromas to you. He definitely shares some similarity with Turretin due to his incorporation of elenctic theology in his approach. Mastricht has his own system of theology that flows from an exegesis of 1 Timothy 6:2-3. This four-part system will be applied to every topic that is discussed in his seven volumes. 

Mastricht’s Four-Part System of Theology

1. The Exegetical Part
2. The Dogmatic Part
3. The Elenctic Part 
4. The Practical Part 

Some may say that Mastricht isn’t quite as devotional as Brakel or as precise as Turretin, but it must be noted that Mastricht is extremely precise and wonderfully devotional, and he provides an exegetical part to very doctrine that certainly can be said to surpass Brakel and possibly at times surpass Turretin (that may be up for debate). Regardless, every author has their strengths and weaknesses.

I believe that where Mastricht’s weaknesses show up, his strengths overshadow them. The way in which he applies this four-part system (a theoretical and practical theology) seems to be done so well that it makes up for any deficiencies in one area or another. For this reason and many more, we can be extremely thankful for this gift to the church!

There is a reason that Jonathan Edwards said that Theoretical-Practical Theology is “much better than…any other book in the world, excepting the Bible, in my opinion.” That’s high praise! 

Almost one half of this introductory volume is Mastricht’s work on prolegomena, with the other half including sections on:

• Editor’s preface
• Translator’s preface
• Van Mastricht’s life and work (a very nice biography)
• Funeral oration for Van Mastricht by Henricus Pontanus
• Mastricht’s The Best Method for Preaching

Following that part of the book, the reader then gets into the prolegomena. Mastricht has three chapters: (1) The Nature of Theology, (2) Holy Scripture), and (3) The Distribution of Theology. 

I was constantly amazed at how Mastricht’s work stirred me up to worship the living God! I was challenged, encouraged, and often brought to a place of thanksgiving and fear of the Lord. I asked myself quite a few times why Mastricht included a “practical” section considering his ability to incorporate the practical into the other three sections so seamlessly. This work is Dutch Reformed theology at its finest! Let me provide just one quote to demonstrate how Mastricht writes: 

So then, first, it is not true theology, and a person is not a true theologian-and thus not a genuine Christian-(1) who either in speech or in deed, makes theology and the Christian religion the art of knowing and disputing, while at the same time he ignores and neglects the practical knowledge of living and is one who has merely the words of the saints, but not their life, as Bernard of Clairvaux said somewhere. Even Seneca calls this a fatal itch of clever men, that they prefer disputing rather than living; (2) who passes himself off as a theologian and a Christian, but in the meantime does not live for God through Christ, but rather lives-be it for the world, or the flesh, or leisure-fundamentally, for himself; or (3) who though perhaps he even strives to live for God, does not live for God so much through Christ as through his own strength.

Petrus van Mastricht

Conclusion

This volume is a great addition (I would even say a necessary addition) to the bookshelves of any pastor, seminarian, or serious Bible student (which all Christians should be)! Allow Mastricht to guide you through the beauties of God’s Word and how it relates to our lives.

As Mastricht notes, “This theoretical-practical Christian theology is nothing less than the doctrine of living for God through Christ, in other words, the doctrine that is according to godliness, and the likewise the knowledge of the truth that is according to godliness.”

I am thankful that RHB and the Dutch Reformed Translation Society have taken on the giant task of translating and publishing this most excellent work that has been written by Petrus Van Mastricht. Tolle lege, take up and read! 

Disclaimer: My thanks to Reformation Heritage Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.