The Person and Work of Christ: Revised and Enhanced (The Classic Warfield Collection)

“I am thrilled to see these new editions of B. B. Warfield’s classic works. Even for someone as brilliant and as influential as Warfield, his best writings have been hard to find gathered in one place, or in print at all. I hope every pastor, theological student, and interested layperson will get hold of these volumes. If they do, they will benefit from Warfield’s scholarly precision, biblical fidelity, and deep personal piety.”

“The Person and Work of Christ gathers seventeen extraordinary essays on Jesus in himself, Jesus as atoning sacrifice, and Jesus as the one we believe and follow. B. B. Warfield’s work always merits reading for its superb harmony of exegesis, systematic reflection, and personal devotion. Any number of Warfield’s articles are priceless for their unique contribution (see ‘The Emotional Life of Our Lord’), for their contribution of foundational theology (see ‘The Chief Theories of the Atonement’), or for their clear call to discipleship (see ‘Imitating the Incarnation’).”

“The Old Princetonians have received renewed attention today, as their theological method, doctrine of Scripture, and Reformed soteriology are resurrected. But they are not often analyzed in the domain of Christology. This new edition of B. B. Warfield’s works on Christology is therefore an invitation full of potential. Here is an opportunity to consider the variety of ways in which Warfield articulated Christology in an age still influenced by the effects of modernity. In view of today’s rising interest in retrieval, this volume should reenter the conversation as the next generation examines Warfield’s Christology in light of our church fathers and their famous definition of Christology at Chalcedon.”

“I purchased the 1970 edition of the five-volume set of the collected writings of B. B. Warfield published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company (now P&R) shortly after publication and have consulted them on numerous occasions since. The Person and Work of Christ is hugely important in addressing Apollinarian tendencies in our time that shy away from addressing Christ’s true humanity. The chapter on the emotional life of our Lord is legendary, and deservedly so. Recent Christological debates on the issue of subordination were anticipated and answered in this majestic volume. The section on the work of Christ brings out the very best that Calvinism has to offer. This updated edition is superbly done and a must-read for scholars, pastors, and anyone else desiring to be thoroughly orthodox.”

“The interpenetration of doctrinal judgment and biblical detail in B. B. Warfield’s work on Christology is an abiding marvel. Though these essays are over a century old, they startle readers with paragraphs and passages that remain unsurpassed as synthetic summaries of the most important aspects of Christian thought.”

“P&R Publishing has done the church an invaluable service by reprinting and updating many of the important works of B. B. Warfield. The articles contained in The Person and Work of Christ still represent some of the best scholarly evangelical and Reformed treatments of the nature of the second person of the triune God and his unique work as the Redeemer of the world. The updated edition of this seminal work should be enthusiastically welcomed by scholars and pastors alike. The diligent student of Scripture must become acquainted with Warfield’s far-ranging treatment of Christological themes. One will be richly rewarded in doing so.”

“B. B. Warfield’s clear and profound articles on the person and work of Christ are a gold mine of observation, clarification, and application. He is an astute biblical, historical, and doctrinal commentator who never leaves the reader unimpressed by the beauty and coherence of the orthodox biblical faith.”

“When we consider B. B. Warfield’s The Person and Work of Christ, and especially the context in which it was written, it stands out for a number of reasons. First, Warfield begins the book with a wonderful biblical-theological approach, akin to George Smeaton, taking the student of Scripture through progressive revelation in order to formulate doctrinal conclusions. Warfield does this with remarkable exegetical care and precision, which demonstrates that sound exegetical method and lofty theology are not mutually exclusive. Another reason that this book has stood the test of time is found in the second half, dealing with the work of Christ. In this portion of the book, Warfield masterfully, yet succinctly, outlines the various atonement theories—laying the groundwork to which the modern consensus is indebted. Finally, The Person and Work of Christ causes readers to reflect on the claims of Christianity and Christ in such a way that they can evaluate the authenticity of such claims. The Christ-centeredness of Warfield’s work is a heavenly height to which the pulpit and academy must once again ascend.”

“The two-part doctrine of the person and work of Christ was the single Christian doctrine that felt by far the most immediate impact of historical-critical scholarship in the modern period. Combining in typical fashion his expertise in dogmatics with meticulous biblical exegesis, B. B. Warfield defended a distinctive Reformed rendition of Chalcedonian Christology along with its soteric implications against modern challenges, including the life-of-Jesus tradition handed down from Schleiermacher and Strauss, neo-Kantian reinterpretations of the atoning significance of Christ made popular by the Ritschlian school, and kenotic theories that denied the immutability of God in ways reminiscent of Hegel and German idealism. The overall picture that this welcome volume presents is an ‘orthodox yet modern’ Christology that remains highly pertinent in our own day, when proposals to reject, revise, or repair Chalcedon seldom present any substantially new argument or evidence that was not already repudiated in Warfield’s works.”

“It is not often recognized that B. B. Warfield was first and foremost, at heart, a Christologian. His writings in this area are extensive, his analysis of the critical issues is exegetically precise, and his heart for our Redeemer pulses through it all. Essential reading.”

“I bought the original set of B. B. Warfield’s works by P&R in 1973. For me at the time, it was a lot of money, but I quickly found that they were pure gold. My copies today are worn out from constant use over the years. It’s hard to praise these new editions too highly. The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, because of our cultural moment, may be even more important than it was when I first read it almost fifty years ago. These enhanced editions will make Warfield’s writings more useful than ever. Needless to say, I highly recommend them.”

“The timeless relevance of the theological contributions of B. B. Warfield, the towering figure of Old Princeton, is reason enough for his works to remain in print. But this new edition offers numerous improvements that make his work more accessible, useful, and up to date. Reinvigorate your teaching and preaching through a renewed engagement with the precision, passion, and power of the theologian whom J. Gresham Machen described as ‘the greatest man I’ve ever met.’”

“There are very few authors whose works are so good, so important, and so timeless that they deserve to remain in print decades or even centuries after their first publication. Yet there is no doubt that Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield qualifies for this rarest of honors. For that reason I am thrilled to see this new series that will put his works before a whole new generation that, I trust, will read them, treasure them, and derive great benefit from them.”

“Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield was a skilled exegete and careful theologian. He was once a household name in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and well known for his voluminous writings on a wide range of topics, including exegesis and systematic, historical, and practical theology. Whether on Scripture, Christology, Calvin, the Westminster Assembly, perfectionism, evolution, eschatology, or his many book reviews, Warfield wrote with clarity, insight, and exegetical rigor. John J. Hughes has breathed new life into the works of Warfield so that the great ‘Lion of Princeton’ roars once again for a new generation.”

“What an incredible gift John Hughes and the P&R team have provided with this new edition of the works of B. B. Warfield! These volumes from the pen of the one who was arguably the greatest English-speaking Reformed theologian of all time still speak with power and relevance to today’s theological challenges, just as they did a century ago. The additional study notes, reference material, and other editorial additions have made the volumes more user-friendly for those reading Warfield for the first time, as well as for those who have previously learned from and benefited from these valuable works. I heartily recommend this entire series, while joining with countless others in expressing my immense gratitude for this twenty-first-century edition of the Warfield collection.”

“B. B. Warfield was a towering theologian of his day, and his work has stood the test of time. By republishing Warfield’s best work in a format that makes his work more accessible than ever, P&R offers a priceless contribution to the theology, faith, and intellectual life of the church.”

“Some theologians are so significant in the history of the church that their writings have an enduring value for decades and even centuries. Yet a modern audience would be well served to engage these writings in a form that does not change the substance of these classics, but makes them more accessible and readable. P&R Publishing has rendered an invaluable service to the body of Christ by republishing these classic works of B. B. Warfield in a revised and updated form. We dare not lose the influence of this theological titan. P&R has helped ensure that we won’t.”

“Many of us first encountered B. B. Warfield through the five Warfield volumes published by P&R from 1948 to 1958. My own Warfield volumes are thoroughly highlighted and well worn. I have purchased duplicate volumes over the years to mark up all over again. All but one of the Warfield volumes had fallen out of print, so I was thrilled to learn of the republication of this new and entirely updated version of the five-volume set. I cannot recommend these volumes highly enough or sufficiently thank the folks at P&R for bringing the ‘Warfield set’ back into print. May a new generation of readers discover America’s greatest theologian as I once did.”

“Few books draw notice in their own age. Fewer last beyond the lifetime of the author. Magnificent exceptions—the works of Augustine, Calvin, and Bavinck, for example—persevere for generations. Their writing is timeless precisely because it remains timely. As P&R has correctly discerned, B. B. Warfield rightly finds a place among this distinguished class of enduring theologians. Characterized by breathtaking breadth and depth of understanding, Warfield’s works render insights as fresh today as when they were written. Read and reread each of these five compelling volumes.”

“The project is in all respects an excellent one. Among the additions, I am especially enthusiastic about the fulsome abstracts and ‘For Further Study’ sections. The decision to break B. B. Warfield’s excessively long paragraphs was wise, and certainly aids the reader. All in all, I am very enthusiastic about what I have seen. Warfield has always been underestimated as a theologian with few peers, perhaps because he never wrote a systematic theology of his own. The publication of his masterful essays in this new format will, I hope, be a great blessing for Reformed theology and churches in our time.”

“We owe a great debt of gratitude to P&R Publishing for once again offering to the public the writings of Benjamin B. Warfield. Yet these are not simply the old volumes repackaged, which would have been service enough! These volumes have been supplemented with introductions, new footnotes, and sections for further reading and reflection. But despite the useful additions, the content itself would be warrant enough to claim that these books should be on the shelf of every pastor and every other serious believer who wants to train in the spiritual gymnasium of one of the faith’s giants. If you read Warfield, you will admire his thoughtful theological analysis, smile at his cutting wit, marvel at his endless insight into the Scriptures—and you will find yourself more in love with your God and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that these volumes find a warm and wide welcome among God’s people.”

“I applaud this new edition and congratulate P&R on the improvements.”

“More than a century after B. B. Warfield’s death, his writings are still read for their combination of profound insight into systematic theology, skill in defending the orthodox faith against attacks, and meticulous care in biblical exegesis. This new edition of his most important articles will serve as an excellent tool for the student, the scholar, the pastor, and the educated layman who aim to plunge deeply into the thought of one of Reformed Christianity’s greatest theologians. Highly recommended—‘take up and read.’”

“I am delighted to see this new, updated edition of the works of B. B. Warfield. His contributions should not be forgotten because they remain relevant for today’s exegetical and theological discussions. This new edition will make reading Warfield much easier to follow for a new generation, not least because of the many explanatory notes for more difficult references (including translation of foreign and obscure terms), the abstracts for each chapter, and the built-in headings to help readers find their way in Warfield’s detailed discussions. These updates are most welcome, and will enable interested readers of all levels to follow Warfield’s keen arguments more readily. John Hughes and his team have done yeomen’s work, and we are in their debt.”

“B. B Warfield stands head and shoulders above his contemporaries in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He is perhaps the greatest theologian ever to teach at Princeton and one of the leading defenders of the inspiration and infallibility of the Bible in any age. His written works are voluminous; they cover an incredibly wide range of topics and disciplines; and they are accessible and eminently helpful for everyone who takes them up. That is what makes this new edition of his works so meaningful and so timely, because it seeks to enhance the accessibility, readability, and helpfulness of many of Warfield’s best theological contributions—including two of his most significant works, The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible and The Person and Work of Christ. It does this in a variety of ways, ranging from the addition of an abstract at the beginning of every essay to the addition of discussion questions at the end. Scholars, pastors, students, and educated laypeople will want to take advantage of these resources and add them to their libraries.”

“B. B. Warfield’s writings are among the most significant—some would argue the most significant—in the last century and a half. His essays on Scripture are still landmark works. It is a pleasure to see them reissued in this new edition, together with a range of helpful aids. John Hughes and his team are to be congratulated on this important contribution for students, ministers, scholars, and the church.”

“Two things are true at once: We need to read B. B. Warfield, and we need help reading B. B. Warfield. I have seen it in the classroom over and over: the very same students who find Warfield’s work immediately appealing, richly nourishing, and mentally stimulating nevertheless misread him at key points or lose the thread of his argument while trying to sort through the details. These refreshed editions of Warfield’s works have all the right features to lead readers into the good stuff.”

“B. B. Warfield’s writings are a milestone in the history of Reformed theology. His writings on God’s revelation, in particular, have blessed the church as she faithfully confesses the authority of holy Scripture. These new enhanced editions of Warfield’s works will make even more accessible Warfield’s crucial contributions to Reformed theology to a new generation of readers.”

“In an age characterized by increasing academic specialization and intellectual skepticism (a description as true of the nineteenth century as it is of the twenty-first), B. B. Warfield towered as a unique blend of exegetical skill, theological insight, discerning engagement with historical criticism, and robust commitment to the Bible and to historic orthodox and Reformed theology. This revised edition of P&R’s original Warfield collection retains the great Princetonian’s precise argumentation and powerful language, adding features that make these essays more accessible to readers and more stimulating to students of Scripture and theology.”

“P&R’s original editions of B. B. Warfield have informed and encouraged a generation or two of Christians. This new edition improves it in several ways, and it will doubtless prove to be indispensable to all serious students of theology.””