Christian Theology: Biblical, Historical, and Systematic
Adam Harwood
Lexham Academic (2022). 796 pp.
Book Review
Adam Harwood has been a theology faculty member of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for nearly a decade. This volume seems to be the fruit of those years of training men and women for ministry, and is aimed at graduate and upper-level undergraduate students (xxii).
His goals are stated plainly enough: “to address most doctrines through a biblical survey, historical survey, and systematic treatment,” aiming to answer several specific questions: “What does the Bible reveal about this doctrine? What has the church believed about this doctrine? What questions arise and what models aid for understanding the doctrine?” (xxi).
With regard to presentation, his book presents the information in an organized and easily-referenceable way. Students wanting to jump in and jump out of the volume, quickly locating relevant information about a particular doctrine, will be pleased. Each chapter begins with an outline of the doctrine, helping to keep the reader from getting lost in the otherwise hefty tome. Additional features will prove helpful in the classroom environment: lists of key words at the end of each chapter, along with review questions and discussion points; helpful charts and diagrams to organize and relate competing ideas (e.g., Orthodox and Heretical views of the Person of Christ, Figure 15.1, p. 416); and a selected list of classic, confessional, and contemporary sources for additional reading on the doctrine being examined.
Regarding content, Hardwood covers all the major loci of theology in roughly the proportions you’d expect. He begins each section with a survey of relevant biblical data, progressing along the canon and highlighting texts. He often includes answers to typical objections given to particular Christian ideas, which many students will likely find helpful.
He then will survey pertinent historical figures or ideas, analyzing and critiquing the progression of thought throughout the centuries. He’ll conclude doctrinal sections with reflection upon the contemporary significance of the doctrine. Here the reader is given some of the “rubber meets the road” material that many students crave. He uses this space to inject some ethical reflection, and help the reader apply the doctrine to the modern world.
I found Harwood’s material quite easy to read. He is clear, well organized, and anticipates questions that might arise in the mind of the reader. I also appreciated his even-handedness. He presents contrary positions in a fair way. For example, even though he would not embrace reformed doctrine, several times he presented the reformed position on a doctrine in a way that was honest, even going so far as to praise the contrary position for its strengths. While I may not have been convinced of his doctrinal argumentation, I appreciated the care with which he wrote, and the charity he extended to differing doctrinal formulations.
One point which would have strengthened this volume is greater attention to the redemptive historical movement across the canon, particularly the covenantal shape of scripture. At times, the biblical analysis felt like simply a fly-by of texts that mention a particular idea, without any attention paid to the development of a concept across the canon. More analysis on the escalation of ideas and concepts, with attention paid to typology and covenantal timing, would have strengthened this volume.
One final note, which I wrestled with even mentioning, is the physical edition of the book itself. The lamination on the hardback volume began to separate almost immediately upon arrival, leaving me to wonder about the longevity of such a binding. Additionally, the font selection in the book proved difficult on my eyes while reading. Neither of these observations are the fault of the author, but do impact my desire to reach for this volume while researching.
In sum, Harwood’s volume is well structured and clear. However, in the sea of single volume undergrad/graduate-level systematic textbooks (e.g., Grudem, Erickson, Sproul, Berkhof, Frame, Horton…), Harwood’s struggles to find its place. He’s faithfully presented his well-organized material, but I’m not sure his contribution has bested any of the contemporary volumes mentioned above.
Jon English Lee is Pastor of Discipleship at Morningview Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL. He has earned a Bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in Montgomery, a Masters of Divinity from Southern Seminary, and a PhD in Systematic and Historical theology at Southern Seminary. Prior to serving at Morningview, he served various churches and para-church organizations in Alabama and Kentucky. He is a member of the St. Augustine Fellowship of the CPT.
