Teologia Concisa de J.I. Packer tem todas as qualificações que podemos esperar do seu autor: teologia bíblica e espiritual; bem resumida, porém, segura; escrita graciosamente com a intenção de gerar obediência e louvor. Servirá muito bem, tanto como introdução doutrinária, manual de termos teológicos ou estudo devocional. - Sinclair B. Ferguson, Westminster Theological Seminary

Este livro que nos conduz aos pressupostos da fé cristã histórica – produzido por quem é, sem dúvida, um dos maiores teólogos da nossa geração – é extremamente apto como resumo doutrinário. Escrito em um estilo lúcido, não se amarra em controvérsias teológicas, mas provê uma pronta e compreensível declaração das doutrinas bíblicas, comprovadas em todos os pontos por citações das Escrituras. - Roger Nicole, Reformed Theological Seminary

Tenho constantemente buscado resumos sucintos do pensamento cristão que possam ser confiáveis para distribuição geral nas igrejas. Este é um dos melhores. - D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Review on my blog at https://www.wordsandbottles.com/blog/2022/04/24/concise-theology-review/

Concise Theology is well worth the read. In short bursts of two to three pages each (usually), J.I. Packer proceeds to lay out historic Christian beliefs for his readers. While I would have loved to see just a bit more at times, overall, I thought the pacing and breakdown was excellent.

Packer is pastoral, caring for the body of Christ, and passionate, reveling in the glories of Christ, the work of the Spirit and the majesty of the Father. Even when I either disagreed or would have stated something slightly differently, I found him to demonstrate humility and patience, no easy task when your intent is to be concise.

For example, in addressing the old testament law, I would argue against the tri-partite breakdown of a "moral, judicial and ritual law", fleshed out more fully as "moral...political...and ceremonial." (pp.90-92). Certainly, the Mosaic law contained all of these, but that it had a self-aware division along these lines, such that the ceremonial/ritual law could be of "limited application" in contrast to the moral law, is not apparent. Instead, the whole law, even the decalogue, seems to intermix these various statutes and regulations in a way that is difficult to unwind.

Dealing with baptism, I found his handling to be amazingly understanding. He acknowledges historical and present disagreements, while maintaining the deep connection among those with a reformed soteriology (specifically speaking of Presbyterian and Baptistic formulations). From a baptistic perspective, I wished that he was consistent in applying the regulative principle, as I believe he would likely find the admitted lack of scriptural warrant for paedo-baptism (p.214) as a powerful argument in favor of believer's baptism. But I was thoroughly appreciative of his patient and measured approach. His last statement gives just a bit of the flavor of that: "The ongoing debate is not about nurture but about God's way of defining the church." (p.216) I heartily agree!

And as a way of wrapping that thought up, and finishing my response to this book, I offer the following quote:

"The task of the church is to make the invisible kingdom visible through faithful Christian living and witness-bearing. The gospel of Christ is still the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:23; 24:14; Acts 20:25; 28:23, 31), the good news of righteousness, peace, ad joy in the Holy Spirit through entering a disciple's relationship to the living Lord (Rom. 14:17). The church must make its message credible by manifesting the reality of kingdom life." (Concise Theology, p.194)

If the task of the church is to "make the invisible kingdom visible", and I whole-heartedly agree it is, then let's baptize accordingly!

Again, a well-written, helpfully concise overview of historic Christian beliefs. Get it, read it, and dig deep into God's word. ( )

巴刻博士說：「渴慕認識神的引導是屬靈健康的標記。」因此，他在這本豐富的屬靈作品中提供了最佳處方，同時列出一份令人靈魂飽足的菜單，包含了深度的默想， 悉心編排的經文，內容則是由巴刻系列著作中採擷摘錄，以精簡易記形式展現出巴刻神學思想的精華。每月主題均引導讀者追溯到一切真喜樂的源頭──神自己，幫 助您隨時隨地思想神的旨意，享受祂的豐富與奇妙。

The various articles are all exceptionally brief (2-3 pages), so this isn't a place for in-depth reading on the various doctrines of the Bible. But it is a good source for quick summaries and biblical references on the topics addressed. ( )

《简明神学》这本书，是巴刻牧师将他认为属基督教永久的要理，以精简的篇幅表达出来。这些要理是我们的信仰系统，也是我们的一种生活方式。本书作者巴刻认为，神学是为赞美神与操练敬虔用的，所以神学表达之路，是引人注意神的同在。最佳的神学是能使人感受到活在神的注目之下，并且歌颂祂的荣耀。巴刻将这永久的要理以简明的篇幅表达出来，帮助读者更容易掌握神学之道。