Customer comments on this selection.
 Excellent teaching tool
This book is being used in a 52 week Bible study at church. Each person has their own book and does the reading for the coming week and then we discuss any questions or feelings about what was read. The class has grown as a result of this study and it is an excellent resource book.
A Brief Systematic Work, Excellent as a Reference Guide
This work by Dr. Chafer, edited by the late Dr. Walvoord, is one of the best study tools for evangelicals. The updating by Walvoord was well done and the views presented in this book clearly include the historical distinctives of Dallas Theological Seminary. Some will disagree with these distinctives (Systematics, Eschatology, areas in Sanctification) as many come from different backgrounds, but a careful study of the historic Christian doctrines will still be very beneficial for every believer (Christology, Trinity, Angels, etc.).
The work contains a 52-week survey of each area then ends with reflective questions on each section. This work is meant for careful biblical study and could be used both individually and collectively in bible study. This is a must-have for every Christian library. Highly-recommended.
Dispensational Theology explained
This is the best book I have come across for serious systematic dispensational theology students. It sets forth key theological principals and provides biblical references to back up and support the theological principals. This book is designed to be a reference book and/or a course of study, requiring much reflection and follow-through to fully benefit from what it has to offer. Each chapter covers a key truth, and there are study questions at the end of each chapter to challenge the student to re-affirm the lesson. This is a must have book for anyone assembling a personal theological library.
 Some Truth with a little drop of POISON!
How much poison does it take to make one sick? How much to kill you? Chafer's works have been around a long time, and his systematic theology (dispensationalism), as well as this book (Major Bible Themes) has done (in my opinion) much harm to the church. He is subtle and misleading on key issues. While his writings did not kill me they definitely made me sick.
I have no problem with dispensationalism (if it confines itself to eschatology), but Chafer does not confine it to end times. He messes with the gospel. His soteriology is very subtle and misleading. It is un-Biblical. As is his interpretation of security, and assurance. Very aggravating is that he was one of the first in the modern era to promote carnal Christianity in direct opposition to the clear passages of the Bible (by ignoring them) or by twisting them to come to a different meaning than that which has been the historical and plain reading of the various texts.
There is much information in the book not all of it is bad. Question is how much poison do you want to drink? How much does it take to kill you? I recommend if you purchase this book that you read every single Bible verse he references in every single chapter in context and pray for the truth.
A great resource that I would not be without
This excellent book is the combined work of Lewis Sperry Chafer (1871-1952) and John F. Walvoord (1910-2002), who were both well-respected theologians, teachers and authors. Dr. Chafer founded Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924, and served as its president until his death in 1952. Dr. Walvoord was a graduate of DTS, who took over the school as its second president, a position he held until he retired in 1986.
This book was designed for study by pastors and laypeople alike, and covers 52 Christian doctrines or Biblical themes. Each of the relatively short chapters ends with an interesting set of questions for discussion. Everything is covered herein from the inspiration of Scripture, through the Trinity, the attributes and work of Christ, the attributes and work of the Holy Spirit, Satan and angels, sin, sanctification, the Church and its form and purposes, eschatology, and so much more.
Now, this book was written from the premilleniarian, dispensationalist viewpoint, and if you disagree with that then you will find a lot in this book that you disagree with. However, even if you skip those chapters, you will find that this book is an excellent resource, written in a clear and easy-to-understand manner that is filled with copious supporting Scripture references.
I have found this book to be a great resource that I would not be without. If you are a serious student of the Bible, then I really suggest you get this book and read it through - repeatedly.
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