Lectures from an American Theologian - Christ All in All, The Right Temper for a Theologian Book Review

If you’re a fellow internet theologian, raise your hand! 

This short booklet published by @logcollegepress contains two lectures given by William Plumer (whose Psalms commentary is legendary, up there with Spurgeon’s Treasury of David) as his inaugural addresses at the two faculty positions he held over the course of his academic career. Although his lectures were primarily directed toward an audience of seminary students (of which I am one), the second lecture is entitled “The Right Temper for a Theologian” and RC Sproul taught us that everyone is a theologian.

Plumer’s first inaugural lecture, “Christ All in All,” is a reminder that study of theology leads to godliness when it serves the ultimate end of beholding the person and work of Christ. Theology for its own sake is of no eternal value, it is our union with Christ which begins, continues, and perfects true piety in our lives. As we read from theological works and learn theology online, may it always use our learning to serve in devotion to Christ first and foremost. May we not grow in theological knowledge simply to feel better than others but instead to praise, love and trust Jesus.

His second lecture, “The Right Temper for a Theologian,” is just as motivating to pursue Christ. He runs through a list of characteristics that the theologian ought to be growing in, and as I read I found myself inspired to grow in every area. For example, I tend not to think of myself as the kind of person who needs to grow in modesty. But then, I read quotes like, “He who has real piety and much knowledge of himself, must be lowly, far removed from flippant self-conceit,” and I think of the way that Christ lived this out as he washed feet and showed mercy, and it draws me to a greater obedience in that area of character. His call to reverence is a much-needed counterbalance to my natural tendency to take the things of God lightly. It is clear that Plumer recognized that the head and the heart were inextricably connected.

I’d recommend this booklet especially to the kind of person who follows theological pages on social media!

This booklet was graciously given to me by @logcollegepress