John Henry Gerstner(November 22, 1914 – March 24, 1996) was an AmericanReformedandPresbyteriantheologian and professor ofChurch HistoryatPittsburgh Theological SeminaryandKnox Theological Seminary.He was an expert on the life andtheologyofJonathan Edwards.[1][2]

John Henry Gerstner
Born(1914-11-22)November 22, 1914
DiedMarch 24, 1996(1996-03-24)(aged 81)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationProfessor ofChurch History
Academic background
EducationWestminster Theological Seminary,Harvard University
Academic work
DisciplineChurch History
School or traditionReformed
InstitutionsPittsburgh Theological Seminary
Knox Theological Seminary

Career

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Gerstner earned both a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Theology degree fromWestminster Theological Seminary.He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Church History fromHarvard Universityin 1945.[3]He was originally ordained in theUnited Presbyterian Church of North America,then (due to church unions) with theUnited Presbyterian Church in the United States of Americaand thePresbyterian Church (USA).[1]In 1990, he left the PCUSA for thePresbyterian Church in America.

Gerstner counted among his students noted author and preacherR. C. Sproul,founder ofLigonier Ministries;[1]Dr. Arthur Lindsley, Senior Fellow at theC.S. Lewis Institute,[1]Dr. Walter (Wynn) Kenyon, Professor of Biblical Studies and Philosophy, Chair of the Philosophy Department and Division of Ministry and Human Services atBelhaven University;Rev. Robert Ingram, founding board member and Headmaster ofThe Geneva School;and Dr. Mark Ross, the John R. de Witt Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Institute for Reformed Worship atErskine Theological Seminary.

In addition to his books, Gerstner recorded several lengthy audio courses giving a survey of theology, church history, andChristian apologetics,which are distributed throughLigonier Ministries.Gerstner was non-dispensationalist.

In 1976, aFestschriftwas published in Gerstner's honor.Soli Deo Gloria: Essays in Reformed Theologyincluded contributions byCornelius Van Til,J. I. Packer,Philip Edgecumbe Hughes,John Murray,R. C. Sproul,John Warwick Montgomery,andRoger Nicole.

Works

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Books

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  • Gerstner, John H. (1958).The Epistle to the Ephesians: A Study Manual.Shield Bible Study Series. Grand Rapids, MI:Baker Book House.OCLC3596644.
  • ——— (1959).Steps to Salvation: The Evangelistic Message of Jonathan Edwards.Philadelphia, PA:Westminster Press.OCLC1284551.
  • ——— (1960).Reasons for Faith.New York, NY: Harper.OCLC1431880.
  • ——— (1960).The Theology of the Major Sects.Grand Rapids, MI:Baker Book House.OCLC261412.
  • ——— (1960).A Predestination Primer.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.OCLC2795930.
  • ——— (1963) [1948].The Gospel According to Rome(2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI:Baker Book House.OCLC812525104.
  • ——— (1965).A Bible Inerrancy Primer.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.OCLC3124256.
  • ——— (1978).The Teachings of Mormonism.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.ISBN978-0-801-03719-1.OCLC4559460.
  • ——— (1978).The Teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.ISBN978-0-801-03718-4.OCLC4458000.
  • ——— (1978).The Teachings of Seventh-Day Adventism.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.ISBN978-0-801-03720-7.OCLC4546053.
  • ——— (1980).Jonathan Edwards on Heaven and Hell.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.ISBN978-0-801-03749-8.OCLC6686333.
  • ——— (1982).A Primer on Dispensationalism.Phillipsburg, NJ:Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co.ISBN978-0-875-52273-9.OCLC8934193.
  • ———;Sproul, R. C.;Lindsley, Arthur (1984).Classical Apologetics: A Rational Defense of the Christian Faith and a Critique of Presuppositional Apologetics.Grand Rapids, MI:Zondervan.ISBN978-0-310-44951-5.OCLC10277371.
  • ——— (1987).Jonathan Edwards: A Mini-Theology.Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.ISBN978-0-842-31956-0.OCLC16104486.
  • ——— (1990).Repent or Perish: With Special Reference to the Conservative Attack on Hell.Soli Deo Gloria Publications.ISBN978-1-877-61114-8.
  • ——— (1991).Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth: A Critique of Dispensationalism.Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt.ISBN978-1-561-21021-3.OCLC23253845.
  • ——— (1991).The Rational Biblical Theology of Jonathan Edwards (in 3 volumes).Powhatan, VA: Berea Publications.OCLC23470994.
  • ——— (1995).Reasons for Duty.Soli Deo Gloria Publications.ISBN978-1-573-58019-9.
  • ——— (1995).Primer on Roman Catholicism.Soli Deo Gloria Publications.ISBN9781573580137.OCLC34209019.
  • ——— (1997).Theology in Dialogue.Soli Deo Gloria Ministries.ISBN978-1-573-58038-0.
  • ——— (1997).Primitive Theology: The Collected Primers of John H. Gerstner.Soli Deo Gloria Publications.ISBN978-1-573-58045-8.
  • ——— (1998).The Early Writings of John H. Gerstner (2 volume set).Reformation Heritage Books.ISBN978-1-573-58108-0.
  • ——— (2001).The ABC's of Assurance.Soli Deo Gloria Publications.ISBN978-1877611391.
  • ——— (2003).Jonathan Edwards: Evangelist.Soli Deo Gloria Publications.ISBN978-1-573-58006-9.

Chapters

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Festschrift

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  • Sproul, R. C.,ed. (1976).Soli Deo Gloria: Essays in Reformed Theology: Festschrift for John H. Gerstner.Nutley, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co.OCLC3304866.

References

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  1. ^abcd"John H. Gerstner, Ph.D., D.D. - Legacy Professor".christianuniversity.org.RetrievedAugust 24,2016.
  2. ^Jeffrey Stephen McDonald (2014).John Gerstner and the Renewal of Reformed Evangelicalism in Modern America(PDF)(Ph.D.). University of Stirling.RetrievedAugust 24,2016.
  3. ^"Who is Gerstner?".Geneva University. 26 November 2019.Retrieved23 August2022.
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