We Believe (4-Volume Set)

“We’re told that biblical studies and systematic theology should be totally separate. But then comes along Guy Waters, a New Testament scholar and a superb systematic theologian. There has never been a greater need for a biblical doctrine of the church. I hope this is read widely for the health of every church not only in the US but in the Majority World.”

“Guy Prentiss Waters provides an insightful, precise, readable, and thorough doctrinal account of ecclesiology. His masterful work encompasses biblical revelation, doctrinal matters, and practical wisdom. While there is much with which I agree, there is one significant point of difference: in contrast to a traditional Reformed continuity perspective, I place the church’s inauguration on the day of Pentecost, representing a baptistic discontinuity viewpoint; that is, there is one people of God with two expressions: old covenant Israel (which was not the church) and the new covenant church. However, Waters’s clarity in discussing these matters prompts me to use his book when I teach ecclesiology, to serve as a different yet well-articulated and argued position. Highly recommended!”

“In his typically warm and readable style, Dr. Guy Prentiss Waters presents a rich gift to the church. In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, he invites us into a sweeping (biblico-theological) survey of the church through Old and New Testaments, and then, while fearlessly probing the perennial questions (including such topics as government, worship, discipline, mission, and church/state relations), draws summary (systematic-theological) conclusions about Christ-honoring principles for the church’s life and practice. In this welcome work about the church, Waters has produced a new go-to resource for the church.”

“We welcome another volume in the We Believe series of books edited by Murray J. Smith and John McClean, this one by Guy Prentiss Waters on one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. This volume displays the interests of the series (in promoting exegetical theology, biblical theology, systematic theology, and history of dogma) while also displaying the special interest Dr. Waters has taken over the years in the areas of ecclesiology and worship. Dr. Waters has consistently and winsomely promoted worship that is regulated by Scripture (i.e. Reformed worship) and he has done so again in this interesting and thorough volume.”

“As a Baptist seminary professor, I want my students to read the best from other traditions, which is why I assign Guy Waters’s first ecclesiology book on Presbyterian polity, How Jesus Runs the Church. Yet now they'll get his full ecclesiology: holy, catholic, and apostolic. In this eminently readable volume, Waters both provides a fuller biblical theology than most ecclesiologies offer. Then he draws on the best of the Reformed tradition to give a straightforward treatment of the traditional systematic categories for a doctrine of the church. It’s faithful, reliable, biblical, and, frankly, a joy to read, even if I as a Baptist don’t make all the same theological judgments as him.”

“Guy Waters embodies a rare combination of being a sharp biblical scholar, excellent theologian, and clear writer. This addition to what is proving to be an excellent series on the Nicene Creed, develops the doctrine of the church biblically, systematically, and practically. Filled with a robust array of post-Reformation, Scottish, and American sources, he showcases the best of Presbyterian ecclesiology and polity, achieving in a short volume what many authors have taken a long time to say. Summarizing the book’s primary arguments with seven theses on the church at the close of the book, Waters presents his material with characteristic clarity and exceptional usefulness.”

“Guy Waters is one of the most reputable names in Reformed theology for good reason, which this book puts on display in application to ecclesiology. Building further than his previous work about church polity, this book is a more comprehensive statement of the church’s origins, calling, attributes, mission, and ordering. Certainly, this volume will enrich its readers. What an honor to commend it!”

“This wonderfully wide-ranging and astute study draws on discussion from throughout church history. Waters situates the rise and constitution of the church in God’s Old Testament redemptive plan as well as in the work of Jesus and the apostles. He does justice to the church’s doctrinal construction, its mission, and its place relative to the state. Students, pastors, and scholars alike will profit from Waters’s Christ-centered and Scripture-normed survey and synthetic proposals.”

“The Giver of Life is a comprehensive treatment of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, providing the reader with exegetical, theological, and pastoral reflections on his person and ministry. J. V. Fesko has captured this historic doctrine beautifully, expressing the ‘faith once delivered to the saints’ in clear, contemporary terms. Christ’s church is enriched by this study.”

“A spirited soteriological synthesis, gathering up a distinctively Protestant doctrine of salvation under the sign of Nicene pneumatology. Fesko is clear in his decisions, transparent in his method, particular about his (covenantal and Reformed) confession, and generous in his scope. This volume is an exemplary entry in the We Believe series.”

“Too often an attempt to recover the resources of ‘the great tradition’ ends up effectively giving those resources priority over the biblical text. Not so in this book! It is Fesko’s determination to keep a clear focus on the teaching of Scripture throughout while taking seriously the contributions of those who have come before us that makes this a refreshing and edifying contribution.”

“The Giver of Life will prove to be a treasure for the church and a standard in systematic theology. Fesko has taken the often neglected, misunderstood, and, to many, mysterious doctrine of the Holy Spirit and showed its connection to every sphere of our theology. His book is thoroughly researched and provides a fair, balanced treatment of the various views on the pertinent issues under this head of theology.”

“These pages simply increase our admiration for Dr. Crowe’s gifts and our debt of gratitude for the particular gift he offers us in this study. The Lord Jesus Christ is to be treasured—and so is this wonderful book about him.”

“We have here the solid and clear communication of orthodox doctrine, in a way that combines careful attention to the biblical texts and to the history of doctrine.”

“Here is a solid, readable, faithful Reformed Christology. Comprised of three sections—biblical, historical/dogmatic, and practical—the book provides a clear introduction to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Crowe’s joy in ‘the abiding grace of Jesus Christ’ is manifest on every page.”

“Brandon Crowe has produced a substantial systematic statement of Christology for our day, uniting exegetical rigor, historical sensitivity, and theological profundity as well as igniting proclamation and mission by giving the church plenty of fuel for our highest end: knowing Jesus Christ.”

“The precise intertwining of exegesis, systematic theology, and devotion makes this one of the best recent books on Christology that I have read. It is solid, thorough, and readable.”