Doctrine of the Word of God, The

FORTHCOMING TITLE, ETA MAY 2026

God communicates to us in richly personal terms. Discussing God’s Word in modern theology, Frame explores how it comes to us as his controlling power, meaningful authority, and personal presence.

Note: This is a retypeset and reindexed edition of the original 2010 publication. Pagination has changed; the text remains the same.

728 pages.

 

“This fourth volume in John Frame’s Lordship series is the best of them—and that is high praise. Frame thinks through what Scripture is, what authority means, and how to understand inspiration, canon, and a host of other categories intrinsic to any responsible treatment of revelation, especially the revelation provided by holy Scripture. Frame’s style is highly personal, occasionally sliding all the way to an almost stream-of-consciousness set of associations, but his reflections are invariably so fresh (even when he is articulating old truths) and so thought-provoking (not least where one wants to demur or introduce a caveat) that this reader, at least, overlooks the style. This book works hard at developing its theology, the theology of the Word of God, out of Scripture itself—and without descending to vicious circularity. This is an important book, and those who write on this subject in the near future without wrestling with Frame will merely testify to their own narrowness.”

—D. A. Carson, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“We all need to read John Frame. At different times he provokes, informs, irritates, illuminates, and excites. He is—thankfully!—not easily categorized, and therefore he must be wrestled with and not simply embraced or dismissed. This is the case here. Frame approaches issues in a fresh and stimulating way, anchored in classic Reformed orthodoxy, but often asking unexpected questions or giving surprising analysis and reaction. Supporters and opponents should read this volume, as it proves to be a truly significant addition to literature on the Word of God.”

—Kelly M. Kapic, Professor of Theological Studies, Covenant College

“It is a rare event when evangelical theologians publish primary rather than secondary texts, but Frame has done it with this work, a constructive proposal that is as creative as it is conservative, ‘something close to biblicism’ concerning the Bible itself. This book is a fitting capstone for not only his Theology of Lordship but his whole career. It demands not only our admiration but, more importantly, our attention. Those who do take up and read will come away with an expanded and enhanced vision of biblical authority and a renewed confidence in Scripture as the compelling personal communication of the triune Lord.”

—Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School