• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Things Above Us

Missions - Evangelism - Theology - Sports

  • About TAU
    • Our Mission
    • The Gospel of Grace
    • Writers
    • Contact Us
    • Comment Policy
    • Attribution/Content Usage Policy
  • Resources
    • Before the Throne
    • From Death to Life
    • Our Tract
  • Articles/Blog Posts
    • Missions
    • Evangelism
    • Theology
    • Sports
    • Book Reviews
    • Kid’s Book Reviews
    • pSaturday Psalms
    • Movie Reviews
    • Go Therefore!
    • Something to Think About
  • Things Above Us Roundtable
  • Evangelio de Cristo
  • Store
    • Cart

Book Review — Theoretical-Practical Theology, Vol 2: Faith in the Triune God

April 24, 2020 by Chuck Ivey

van Mastrich, Petrus. Theoretical-Practical Theology, Vol. 2: Faith in the Triune God. Edited by Joel R. Beeke. Translated by Todd M. Rester. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage, 2019. 704 pp. $50.00.

As the title to this book reveals, this is only the second volume in a planned seven-volume series from Reformation Heritage Books. Volume 2 is subtitled, “Faith in the Triune God,” which can create the false impression that it only deals with the nature of faith. Yes, there is plenty of material on faith, but the main emphasis is actually on God himself, or what theologians call “theology proper.” The author is very much concerned with the intricacies of faith, but even more so with the Triune God in whom we are called to place our faith. The editors explain how unique van Mastricht was in organizing his work this way (xxxi–xxxii). Each chapter in the book moves from exegesis of a relevant biblical text, to dogmatic (systematic theology), to elenctic (persuading), and finally to the practical.

Biographical Sketch of the Author

Petrus van Mastricht (1630–1706) was a Dutch theologian who pastored churches in the Netherlands and taught at Duisburg and Utrecht. Theoretical-Practical Theology is van Mastricht’s magnum opus and until now, was only available in Latin or Dutch. No less than Jonathan Edwards has said that this work is “much better than Turretin or any other book in the world, excepting the Bible, in my opinion.” It has now been translated into English thanks to the painstaking work by translator Todd M. Rester and editor Joel R. Beeke (Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary).

The Nature of Saving Faith

Petrus van Mastricht and other Reformed theologians of his day taught that the three elements to saving faith are knowledge, assent, and consent of the will to accept God and Christ the Mediator (31). It is not enough to simply possess knowledge about God or even to assent to right understanding of that knowledge. Saving faith must also include what van Mastricht called “consent of the will,” or what others called “fiducia” or trust.

The Attributes of God

The author covers all the major points of the doctrine of God that one would expect. In his section on divine simplicity, van Mastricht reasons that “… if [God] were composite, he would require someone to compose him who was prior to the first being” (144). In other words, God cannot be made of “parts” since that would require another being before God who would have put the parts of God together.

In the practical part on God’s immutability (unchangeableness), van Mastricht argues that the doctrine “directs us to despise all creatures, however stable and brilliant they seem, when we consider that God alone is immutable, and thus that anything under the sun that is different from him is fragile, fleeting, and passing away” (161). Passages like this force the reader to stop and contemplate how great God is, and consequently, how petty and insignificant so much of our concerns can be. I seriously doubt the author was saying we should “despise” God’s creation in the sense that we hate what God created and called good (cf. Genesis 1:31). Instead, it is fair to say that our love for God should make our “love” for creation and our fellow creatures seem like “hate” by comparison (cf. Luke 14:26).

The perfections of God’s attributes force us to recognize Him as the greatest good and only worthy object of our love and worship. God loves himself most of all, as He should. As the author puts it, “In his love God is first and foremost occupied with himself, insofar as he is the highest good, on account of which he has made and does make all things (Prov. 16:4)” (351). There is eternal love between the Father and Son, and only then love pouring out to creation, “because he has rendered (all things) suitable for promoting his own glory.”

The Trinity

Anyone familiar with recent debates over what’s been called “Eternal Functional Subordinationism” (EFS) will appreciate what the author had to say about this issue. Theologians have had to explain the difference between the ontological Trinity (the being of God) and the economic Trinity (the operations or work of God). Petrus van Mastricht was already dealing with these concerns in his day. His discussion on the economic Trinity develops over several pages into a discussion of the covenant of redemption within the Godhead (505–506).

Adoption

As an amateur theologian and adoptive parent to 7 children, I have grown more and more fascinated and moved by the beauty of the doctrine of adoption. (You can find my series on adoption here.) Whenever I come across a book on theology, I immediately check to see what the author has to say about adoption. Petrus van Mastricht does not disappoint, even in this volume focused on theology proper. For van Mastricht, “the end or fruit of (saving) faith or reception, namely, union and communion with Christ, is contained in that one word ‘adoption’” (6, emphasis added). Yes, salvation is a work of God, but the goodness and trustworthiness of God the Father “invites us to seek adoption from the Father” (537, emphasis added). Insights like these make me all the more excited to see the future volumes in this series focused on soteriology.

Conclusion

Theoretical-Practical Theology Vol. 2 is a dense but profitable work of theology proper. The author’s serious commitment to the truth of Scripture comes through clearly, and yet it is surprisingly warm hearted and well…practical. Like the proverbial Eskimo with 100 words for snow, Petrus van Mastricht was a theologian with countless ways to describe faith and the Triune God we are called to place our faith in. Highly recommended.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Chuck Ivey

Chuck Ivey

By God’s grace, Chuck Ivey grew up in a Christian home and came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at a young age. He has been married to his wife Ashley for 18 years. They have two high energy children by adoption and are currently fostering to adopt more, also by God’s grace. Chuck works full time in local law enforcement and serves as a deacon and teacher at Beech Haven Baptist Church in Athens, GA. He teaches for the Bible Training Center for Pastors, writes Christian book reviews, and occasionally speaks on apologetics for Ratio Christi. Chuck is currently pursuing an MDiv at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Coffee and books are involved. You can follow him on Twitter @3378Ivey

Filed Under: Theology Tagged With: book review, Chuck Ivey, Doctrine of God, faith, Petrus van Mastricht, Reformation Heritage Books, theology

Liked what you read? Subscribe!


Views expressed in posts are those of their individual authors and may not be shared by all writers on Things Above Us.

Primary Sidebar

On Sale Now

  • From Death to Life $14.99 $13.99
  • Before the Throne $17.00 $14.99

Subscribe To Things Above Us

Sign up for our RSS newsfeed and stay up-to-date with the latest blog posts on Things Above Us!

Things Above Us Roundtable

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Play | Stitcher | Email | RSS

Pull up a chair to the TAU Roundtable as the writers from ThingsAbove.Us and other special guests discuss current events, theology, missions, evangelism, and sports!

The Bible Memory App - Bible Memory Verses
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Rightly Understanding John 3:16 — Applications
  • Go, Therefore: Family Worship
  • “Antiracism” Deserves a Capital Letter: A Preview of Voddie Baucham’s Fault Lines
  • Rightly Understanding John 3:16
  • 2 Peter 1 in the Legacy Standard Bible

The Team

Garrett O’HaraGarrett O’Hara

Garrett appears to have originated the term, but not the theology, "dispybapticalvinistic-expialidocious." He ...

“Antiracism” Deserves a Capital Letter: A Preview of Voddie Baucham’s Fault Lines
Chuck IveyChuck Ivey

By God’s grace, Chuck Ivey grew up in a Christian home and came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at a y...

The Living Logos and True Mythos: A Response to “Satanic Panics and the Death of Mythos”
Allen Nelson IVAllen Nelson IV

Allen S. Nelson IV is the pastor of Perryville Second Baptist Church in Perryville, Arkansas. He and his wife Steph...

Rightly Understanding John 3:16 — Applications
Michael CoughlinMichael Coughlin

Michael Coughlin lives near Columbus, OH, and leads local outreaches to glorify our Lord and reach the lost with...

Go, Therefore: Family Worship
George AlvaradoGeorge Alvarado

George Alvarado is an almost retired member of our Armed Forces (yes, he's older than he looks). He has a beautiful w...

A Open Letter to Afflicted Saints
Tim BatesTim Bates

Tim lives in Akron, Ohio with his wife, Melanie and two children, Calvin and Caroline. He serves as a deacon, teacher...

Reflections on a World Without Sports

Click a term to see related posts.

Adoption atonement Bible book review Cessationism children Christ Christian Life Christmas Chuck Ivey church conversion Culture Devotional discipleship evangelism Foster Care From death to life Genesis gospel grace imputation Jesus Justification local church love Marriage mercy NFL preaching Psalm 119 Psalms reformed baptist Reformed Baptist Theology reformed theology Roundtable sanctification scripture sin sola scriptura Something To Think About Suffering theology Things Above Us worship

Click the image below if you got one of these cards.

Other Posts You May Like…

Any Given Sunday

Frankly, I have zero desire to be a so-called “discernment blogger.” I simply don’t have the time to fulfill my God given duties of a Christian, husband, father, and pastor while also monitoring all the happenings of the evangelical world at large. Furthermore, I can’t find the motivation to blog or tweet about every single […]

3 Most Important Parts of a Marriage Ceremony

There are truckloads of webpages about how to officiate a marriage ceremony. And for the most part, what the couple wants may dictate the majority of those details. But I believe there are three essential parts of a marriage ceremony where I encourage every Bride and Groom, and Officiant, to focus the majority of their […]

Family Game Nights

The Christmas season is upon us and parents are scrambling to consider what sort of gifts we might bless our children with this year. As Christian parents, we want to not only “make our children happy” but we’d also like to invest in them with the gifts we buy. So, instead of the latest gadget […]

Book Review — Bavinck – A Critical Biography

In Kingdom Through Covenant – 2nd Edition, Gentry and Wellum have given us a much needed updated to their seminal work on the biblical covenants. Whether one finds their arguments convincing or not, theologians who argue for or against covenant theology or dispensationalism will eventually have to consider the claims made by the authors.

Received Into the Number: A Theology of Adoption Part IX- Wilhelmus à Brakel’s Doctrine of Adoption

As a theologian in the Puritan tradition, Wilhelmus à Brakel was part of a movement which developed the doctrine of adoption as an experiential reality, not merely an academic theory.

The Need for Justification (book excerpt)

Back in 2013, there arose a drunk driving case here in Texas which made national headlines not so much because of its severity but because of its legal defense and sentencing. Ethan Couch, aged 16 at the time, stole two cases of beer from a Walmart, drove his dad’s Ford F-350 pickup truck at 70-mph […]

2018 © Things Above Us

Copyright © 2021 · Things Above Us on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in