Reddit reviews Institutes of Elenctic Theology (3 Volume Set)

I'd recommend John Owen's Overcoming Sin and Temptation and Communion with the Triune God. The first book quite literally changed my life. Then if you want to read the Reformed response to Bellarmine, check out Turretin's Institutes of Elenctic Theology. This book is seen in Reformed circles the way Aquinas is in Catholic ones. Calvin's Institutes are incredible, too, and far more accessible.

I'll definitely check out John Paul II's stuff, any other authors or books you recommend I may check out, too.

I highly recommend Francis Turretin's Institutes of Elenctic Theology . This is perhaps the best multi-volume systematic theology defending Reformed Orthodoxy. Turretin engages with Catholic Theology extensively and offers Protestant answers to Catholic problems.

Anything by Peter Martyr Vermigli is worth reading, but especially check out his treatises on Predestination and Justification. Vermigli was a conservative Protestant reformer who was very familiar with Thomist philosophy and Scholastic theology. His best work was in Eucharistic theology.

Finally, I recommend Allen & Swain's Reformed Catholicity: The Promise of Retrieval For Theology And Biblical Interpretation for an interesting read. Modern Evangelical Christianity has strayed far away from the principles of the Reformation. Doctrines like Sola Scriptura have been perverted and maimed by Evangelicals until they no longer mean what the Reformers meant for them to be. Moreover, Evangelicals are known for "Tradition is bad" arguments wherein they flat reject Christian orthodoxy or the consensus of the Church. This book is a call for Evangelicals to engage with the Ecumenical Councils and Creeds, Patristic Theology, and Reformed Orthodoxy; viewing ourselves as being in continuity with the Great Tradition.

I overall agree with most of the suggestions here. I have some suggestions on what to read following, but I wanted to say one thing first:

The best way to learn to write is to write. If you don't start writing you won't ever start writing. Don't be afraid to write, but:

1. Remember humility. You might have an idea or a question or a suggestion. That's fine. Keep them that when you are writing: ideas, questions, suggestions. Every article, paper and book doesn't have to be an authoritative statement of history, theology and law - we have the Bible for that. What you're trying to do is explore and expound the faith, and to expose this to the attention of other Christians who may have other ideas or knowledge. In the same vein you might write something which you think is a good idea. Someone might point out that it has problems, and scripture doesn't support it the way you've put it up. If the criticisms are sound just take them up, engage them and write something back acknowledging the problems, and expanding on the implications of it.
   
2. Before/while/after you write continue to do research, to consult scripture, to pray and to do your best. If you are going to discuss the faith do not take it lightly - this is not a video game review or a Facebook post. When you write try to do your best, commit it to the honor of God, and see what other men of the faith past and present have had to say on this question. It is impossible to read everything and ever get anything done, but just keep yourself honest - if there is something that seems pertinent to read before going into a topic, then read it. If you write something but later read something that you think modifies your conclusions then use that as a reason to write again.
   
   Four of my favorite teachers and writers in the Reformation tradition are John Calvin, R. J. Rushdooney, Gary North and R. C. Sproul. All of these men wrote and read voluminously, on a wide variety of topics; almost always a consideration of God and his laws enters the picture - whether it's music, movies, war or marriage it is its relationship to the proper Christian life in obedience to God. While writing and reading never saved anyone's soul it can be a profound vehicle for proclaiming the good news and sharing the truth of God to those who have ears to hear it.
   
   Always keep the faith, the mission and works of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God in Scripture foremost in any proposal or statement regarding the church and the Christian individual. This doesn't mean you have to give verse and chapter citations for every paragraph, but keep your perspective and goal fixed by these things. If you are going to dispute something you need to dispute it according to the laws of God's truth, you need to do it with a Christian objective of charity and gospel - and this should be true even if you're just writing sports articles, much less actually looking into things Holy and speaking on scriptural matters.
   
   Recommended Reading:
   
   The Three Forms of Unity, the Heidleberg Catechism, the Canons of Dort. This is my church's creedal declaration. They are very important in continental Reformed churches for defining what it meant to be Christian and Reformed.
   
   The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin. If you're going to write on theology and systematic points of Christian doctrine this book is an essential starting point.
   
   Turretin's Elentic Theology if you're SRS.
   
   On specific topics you want to research or write on it is often beneficial to start by visiting Ligonier Ministries and trying to find a book, article, sermon or lecture on it. These will give a good introduction and what the Reformed perspective is usually understood as, and you can get authors, books, scriptural references to look into further.
   
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