---
title: 'Have you heard of these 19th century Presbyterian systematic theologies?'
type: post
author: 'Caleb Cangelosi'
date: 2017-08-08
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2017-have-you-heard-of-these-19th-century-presbyterian-systematic-theologies
---

# Have you heard of these 19th century Presbyterian systematic theologies?

Most pastors and seminary students are aware of [Charles Hodge’s three volume](/authors/charles-hodge) *[Systematic Theology](/authors/charles-hodge).* It is one of the most recognized works of the 19th century, and can be purchased [here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565634594/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=logcollegepre-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1565634594&linkId=28ac75187cfb79d46b13cb6573e5c8b1). But this set certainly was not the only systematic theology published by Presbyterians in the 19th century. Sometimes remembered are [William Greenough Thayer Shedd’s *Dogmatic Theology*](/authors/william-greenough-thayer-shedd) (you can purchase the modern edition of this book [here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0875521886/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=logcollegepre-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0875521886&linkId=cdc71a422b930c9b5b5ad3f276a8f544)) and [Robert Lewis Dabney’s](/authors/robert-lewis-dabney) *[Systematic Theology](/authors/robert-lewis-dabney)* (you can purchase the Banner of Truth reprint of this volume [here](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0851514537/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=logcollegepre-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0851514537&linkId=60a8ad52c2b9dafc745bf50ee377e938)). Very few people know that Robert Jefferson Breckinridge published a two volume systematic theology, entitled [*The Knowledge of God Objective Considered* and](/authors/robert-jefferson-breckinridge) *[The Knowledge of God Subjectively Considered](/authors/robert-jefferson-breckinridge).*

Older systematic theologies weren’t asking all the same questions we ask today, of course - but that’s a big reason why they are so helpful to use. They ask questions we don’t even know we need to be asking. So the next time you’re wrestling with a theological question, dip into one of these volumes and see what riches you might find.