John Henry Gerstner (November 22, 1914 – March 24, 1996) was an American Reformed and Presbyterian theologian and professor of Church History at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Knox Theological Seminary. He was an expert on the life and theology of Jonathan Edwards.

Career

Gerstner earned both a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Theology degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Church History from Harvard University in 1945. He was originally ordained in the United Presbyterian Church of North America, then (due to church unions) with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 1990, he left the PCUSA for the Presbyterian Church in America.

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

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

In 1976, a Festschrift was published in Gerstner's honor. Soli Deo Gloria: Essays in Reformed Theology included contributions by Cornelius Van Til, J. I. Packer, Philip Edgecumbe Hughes, John Murray, R. C. Sproul, John Warwick Montgomery, and Roger Nicole.

Works

Books

  • Gerstner, John H. (1958). The Epistle to the Ephesians: A Study Manual. Shield Bible Study Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. OCLC.
  • ——— (1959). Steps to Salvation: The Evangelistic Message of Jonathan Edwards. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press. OCLC.
  • ——— (1960). . New York, NY: Harper. OCLC.
  • ——— (1960). The Theology of the Major Sects. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. OCLC.
  • ——— (1960). A Predestination Primer. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. OCLC.
  • ——— (1963) [1948]. The Gospel According to Rome (2nded.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. OCLC.
  • ——— (1965). A Bible Inerrancy Primer. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. OCLC.
  • ——— (1978). The Teachings of Mormonism. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. ISBN978-0-801-03719-1. OCLC.
  • ——— (1978). The Teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. ISBN978-0-801-03718-4. OCLC.
  • ——— (1978). The Teachings of Seventh-Day Adventism. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. ISBN978-0-801-03720-7. OCLC.
  • ——— (1980). Jonathan Edwards on Heaven and Hell. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. ISBN978-0-801-03749-8. OCLC.
  • ——— (1982). A Primer on Dispensationalism. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co. ISBN978-0-875-52273-9. OCLC.
  • ———; 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. OCLC.
  • ——— (1987). Jonathan Edwards: A Mini-Theology. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House. ISBN978-0-842-31956-0. OCLC.
  • ——— (1990). Repent or Perish: With Special Reference to the Conservative Attack on Hell. Soli Deo Gloria Publications. ISBN978-1-877-61114-8.
  • ——— (1991). . Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt. ISBN978-1-561-21021-3. OCLC.
  • ——— (1991). The Rational Biblical Theology of Jonathan Edwards (in 3 volumes). Powhatan, VA: Berea Publications. OCLC.
  • ——— (1995). . Soli Deo Gloria Publications. ISBN978-1-573-58019-9.
  • ——— (1995). Primer on Roman Catholicism. Soli Deo Gloria Publications. ISBN9781573580137. OCLC.
  • ——— (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

  • ——— (1961). "Christian Science". In Christianity Today (ed.). The Challenge of the Cults: a Christianity today symposium. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. OCLC.
  • ——— (1968). "The Message of the Word". In Tenney, Merrill C. (ed.). . Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. OCLC.

Festschrift

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

External links

  • atFind a Grave
  • John Gerstner sermons/lectures at Aisquith Presbyterian Church