Coming Soon . . . David VanDrunen's Book on Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms

David VanDrunen's long-expected book on the development of natural law and the two kingdoms in Reformed thought will soon be available (January 15, 2010).

This will be a monumental book!  Must reading.

Dr. VanDrunen has been working on this for some time, and it will be invaluable in shedding light on a very controversial topic.

Below is the publisher's blurb (from Eerdmans)

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Conventional wisdom holds that the theology and social ethics of the Reformed tradition stand at odds with concepts of natural law and the two kingdoms. This volume challenges that conventional wisdom by studying how Reformed social thought developed from the Reformation to the present.

David VanDrunen begins by exploring the early development of Reformed thought in its first few centuries on the continent, in Britain, and in America. He argues that natural law and the two kingdoms were common themes in this early theology. In fact, he says, these ideas were embedded in crucial anthropological, christological, and ecclesiological doctrines, shaping convictions about the state, civil rebellion, and the role of the church in broader social life.

VanDrunen then turns to more recent thinkers of the Reformed tradition — Abraham Kuyper, Karl Barth, Herman Dooyeweerd, and Cornelius Van Til — tracing how each contributed in his own way to the decline of these doctrines in Reformed theology and social ethics. Finally, he reflects on recent signs of renewed interest in natural law and the two kingdoms, suggesting how their recovery is a hopeful sign for the Reformed tradition.

"The strength of this book is the overwhelming amount of historical evidence, judiciously analyzed and assessed, that positions the Reformed tradition clearly in the natural law, two kingdoms camp. This valuable contribution to our understanding of the Christian life cannot and should not be ignored or overlooked. The growing acceptance of the social gospel among evangelicals puts us in jeopardy of losing the gospel itself; the hostility to natural law and concomitant love affair with messianic ethics opens us up to tyranny. This is a much-needed and indispensable ally in the battle for the life of the Christian community in North America."— John Bolt, Calvin Theological Seminary

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BTW--Scott Clark has posted a two kingdoms reading list in preparation for the upcoming conference at Westminster Seminary California.  You can find it here:  Clark's reading list

Comments

[Matt]

Sounds like a great read on a topic that is sadly misunderstood by so many, both within and without the Reformed faith. I hope this work helps to clear up at least some of the misconceptions of 2K theology.

[Andrew C]

I was just in Eerdmans this morning and they had a box of DVD's book that had just arrived. I almost bought a copy, but they had misquoted the price... I figured I'd wait and get it from the WSC bookstore! It looks REALLY great though!

[Kim Riddlebarger]

Andrew:

I see you've made the Reformed "haj" to Grand Rapids. Did you walk around in circles in the Baker used bookstore with the other pilgrims to the "holy" city?

[Andrew C]

Haha - I actually didn't make it to Baker. I got to Reformed Heritage Books, but not all the way to East Paris. Oh well ... my pilgrimage was still adequate!

[Bob McDowell]

The link to Clark's reading list is broken. (Or has changed since Dr. Riddlebarger posted this).
Try
http://heidelblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/christ-and-culture-reading-list/

[John]

Frame's critique: http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame_articles/2010VanDrunen.htm

[Federal criminal attorney]

Interesting information...

its just the information i was looking for. :)

Thanks mate.