The Doctrine of Justification (James Buchanan)

The Doctrine of Justification

An Outline of its History in the Church and of its Exposition from Scripture

“This is the classic work on this cardinal doctrine by which a church stands or falls. After lucidly covering the historical development of the doctrine through the Old Testament, the apostolic age, the scholastic divines, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, and in the Church of England, Buchanan expounds the doctrine itself by covering the scriptural meaning of the term, its relation to the law and justice of God, its relation to the mediatorial work of Christ, its relation to grace and works, and more.

Endorsement

“The chapter on justification in relation to the work of the Holy Spirit is alone worth the price of the book. Includes a new preface dealing with the New Perspective. If you can only afford to read one book on justification, read this definitive work.” – Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Contents

In numerous chapters, Buchanan’s Doctrine of Justification includes The History of this vital Doctrine in:

• The Old Testament
• Apostolic Age
• Times of the Fathers and Scholastic Divines
• During the era of the Reformation
• In the Romish church
• As a subject of controversy among Protestants
• In the Church of England

And then an Exposition of the Doctrine as to its:

• Scriptural Meaning
• Proper Nature of the Blessing
• In Relation to the Law and Justice of God
• Related to the Mediatorial Work of Christ
• Its Immediate and only Ground, the Imputed Righteousness of Christ
• Its Relation to Grace and Works
• The Nature and Reason of its Connection with Faith
• Its Relation to the Work of the Holy Spirit

About the Author

James Buchanan is mainly known now as a theologian.  This is owing to his two chief books, The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit and The Doctrine of Justification.  But in his times, Buchanan was most widely known as a preacher of unusual power and ability.

He studied theology under Dr. Thomas Chalmers in Edinburgh. In 1827 he was ordained to the ministry at Roslin, near Edinburgh at the young age of 23.  A year later his ministry moved to a large church at North Leith, which soon filled to overflowing to hear him.  Buchanan’s preaching was noted for its fullness and clarity as well as for its flights of impassioned oratory. One of his hearers, who had been to India, thought that his preaching was of the same stamp as that of Henry Martyn.

Buchanan seems to have been in poor health for most of his life and while he was at Leith most of his parochial duties were carried out by a succession of assistants. This gave him more time for study than he would otherwise have had and he read widely. During the twelve years of his ministrv at North Leith he wrote three books, two of them on the subject of affliction, the third being a practical treatise on the Holy Spirit.