Book Description

Auguste Lecerf was one of the ablest 'reformed' theologians of the twentieth century. His lectures at the University of Paris were praised for their succinctness, controversial skill and deep learning. His Introduction to Reformed Dogmatics was incomplete at the time of his death in 1943. The first two volumes, translated here, entitled De la Nature de la Connaissance Religieuse and De Fondement et de la Specification de la Connaissance Religieuse, stand on their own and form a major contribution to theology. Part I discusses the nature of religious knowledge whereas Part II concentrates on the question of apologetics in Calvinism whist exploring philosophy and dogma. Lecerf's work forms a profound study of the nature and basis of religious knowledge and offers a valuable critique of European philosophy from the standpoint of authentic or classical Calvinism. The work has become an influential and widely regarded Calvinist work, and is valued for its penetrating insights and strong Biblical emphasis. Anyone with an interest in Calvinism should remember the enigmatic words of the visitor to Lecerf's door in 1930 who introduced himself with these words: "M. Lecerf is a unique personality, they say, he is in fact the last of the Calvinists and when he dies the type will be extinct. So whatever happens, do not fail to pay him a visit.".