Calvin, Bavinck, and Beeke! Oh My!

I recently wanted to take up reading Bavinck’s Wonderful Works alongside Calvin’s Institutes. I haven’t read either of them, and both are systematic theology staples in reformedom. I had been hoping to find a reading list that matched the authors’ chapters up with their systematic topics sequentially. After not finding anything, I decided to take the plunge and make my own.

However, after starting with the tedious task of building the reading list, I came across another systematic that I’ve dabbled in, but as of yet haven’t read all the way through, Beeke’s Puritan Theology. So… after mulling it over a while, I decided to include it too. Why not right? 

Below you’ll find a reading list for Herman Bavinck’s Wonderful Works of God, John Calvin’s Institutes (final revision), and Joel Beeke’s A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life – ordered sequentially by theological topic. I did my best to get the chapters in order so that one will read each author in the corresponding section back to back to back. Most likely there will be some mistakes, but all in all I think I did a fair job of it. Also, Beeke’s Puritan Theology has several chapters that are practical in nature (There’s an entire section at the end of the book devoted to practical life and sanctification). I evenly distributed these chapters throughout the reading list. I thought this would make for some good breaks from the more heady theological reading. The list below includes the chapter name in the original book, then the author name of that chapter, followed by the chapter number in the original book. Be prepared to have your reading schedule booked out!

Enjoy!

Prologema

1. Man’s Highest Good Bavinck 1
2. The Knowledge of God Calvin 1-2
3. The Knowledge of God Bavinck 2
4. The Knowledge of God Calvin 3-5
5. General Revelation Bavinck 3-4
6. Manner of Special Revelation Bavinck 5
7. Content of Special Revelation Bavinck 6
8. Scripture Calvin 6-9
9. Scripture Bavinck 7-8
10. Puritans on Nat. & Sup. Rev Beeke 1
11. Puritan Exegesis Beeke 2
12. William Ames’ Marrow Beeke 3
13. Pilgrim Mentality Beeke 52

Theology Proper

1. The Being of God Calvin 10-12
2. The Being of God Bavinck 9
3. Charnock on the Attributes Beeke 4
4. The Trinity Calvin 13
5. The Trinity Bavinck 10
6. Puritans on Trinity Beeke 5
7. Owen on the Trinity Beeke 6
8. Creation Calvin 14
9. Man Calvin 15
10. Providence Calvin 16
11. Creation & Providence Bavinck 11
12. Man Bavinck 12
13. Godly Home Beeke 53
14. Puritans on Providence Beeke 10
15. Angels Beeke 11
16. Demons Beeke 12

Anthropology & Covenant Theology

1. Sin Calvin 2.1-3
2. Sin Bavinck 13
3. Puritans on Sin Beeke 13
4. Redemption & the Law Calvin 2.4-8
5. Puritans on Works Beeke 14
6. Covenant of Grace Calvin 2.9-11
7. Covenant of Grace Bavinck 14
8. Puritans on Redemption Beeke 15
9. Puritans on Grace Beeke 16
10. Henry on Prayer Beeke 54
11. Puritans on Old & New Cov. Beeke 17
12. Owen on Sinai Beeke 18
13. Puritans on Cov Cond. Beeke 19
14. Puritans on Law & Gospel Beeke 20
15. Christ Mediator Calvin 2.12
16. Natures of Christ Calvin 2.13-14
17. Christology Cont. Calvin 2.15-17
18. Christ Mediator Bavinck 15
19. Christ’s 2 Natures Bavinck 16
20. Humiliation of Christ Bavinck 17
21. Exaltation of Christ Bavinck 18
22. Puritan Christology Beeke 21
23. Puritan Meditation Beeke 55
24. Puritans on the Offices Beeke 22
25. Blood of Christ Beeke 23
26. Burgess on Intercession Beeke 24
27. Goodwin on Christ’s Heart Beeke 25
28. Promises of God Beeke 26

Soteriology

1. Spirit, Faith, Regeneration Calvin 3.1-3
2. Distortions of the Gospel Calvin 3.4-5
3. The Christian Life Calvin 3.6-10
4. The Holy Spirit Bavinck 19
5. Puritans on the Spirit Beeke 27
6. Puritan Prep. Grace Beeke 28
7. Christian Calling Bavinck 20
8. Puritans on Conscience Beeke 56
9. Puritans on Regeneration Beeke 29
10. Justification Calvin 3.11-14
11. Justification Contd. Calvin 3.15-18
12. Justification Bavinck 21
13. Puritans on Justification Beeke 30
14. Owen on Justification Beeke 31
15. Puritans on Coming to Christ Beeke 32
16. Christian Freedom Calvin 3.19
17. Prayer Calvin 3.20
18. Sanctification Bavinck 22
19. Puritans on Living Beeke 33
20. Puritans on Adoption Beeke 34
21. Puritan Causistry Beeke 57
22. Third Use of the Law Beeke 35
23. Sibbes on Entertain. the Sp. Beeke 36
24. Perkins Conscience Beeke 37
25. Eternal Election Calvin 3.21-22
26. Eternal Election contd. Calvin 3.23-24
27. Perkins on Predest. Beeke 7
28. Goodwin on Et. Just. Beeke 8
29. Goodwin’s Supralapsarianism Beeke 9
30. Puritans on Perseverance Beeke 38

Ecclesiology

1. The Church (1) Calvin 4.1-3
2. Puritans on Offices Beeke 40
3. The Church (2) Calvin 4.4-6
4. Sacrificial Zeal Beeke 58
5. Church Government Beeke 39
6. The Church (3) Calvin 4.7-9
7. Owen on Sabbath Beeke 41
8. The Church (4) Calvin 4.10-13
9. Puritan Preaching Beeke 42-43
10. Bunyan’s Preaching Beeke 44
11. The Sacraments Calvin 4.14
12. Baptism Calvin 4.15-16
13. Puritan Paedo. Beeke 45
14. Baptism Berkhoff (for us Reformed Baptists)
15. Baptism Grudem (for extra credit)
16. Lord’s Supper Calvin 4.17
17. Practical Lessons Beeke 59
18. Puritans Lord’s Supper Beeke 46
19. False Sacraments Calvin 4.18-19
20. The Church Bavinck 23
21. Puritan Missions Beeke 47
22. Civil Government Calvin 4.20

Eschatology

1. Final Resurrection Calvin 3.25
2. City on a Hill Beeke 48
3. Eternal Life Bavinck 24
4. Manton’s Works Judgment Beeke 49
5. Goodwin’s Revelation Beeke 50
6. Love’s Heaven & Hell Beeke 51
7. Interlude: Beeke 60