Finis Dake’s Heretical Teaching on the Atonement

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: The Dangerous Deception
2. What Dake Actually Taught About the Atonement
3. The Orthodox Biblical View of the Atonement
4. Biblical Refutation of Dake’s Errors
5. Dangerous Theological Implications
6. Historical Orthodox Position
7. Related Errors in Dake’s Theology
8. Pastoral Concerns and Warnings
9. Conclusion: Standing for Biblical Truth
10. Sources and Bibliography

1. Introduction: The Dangerous Deception

Among the many theological errors that have crept into the modern church, few are as damaging to the gospel as the teaching that Christ’s death on the cross was insufficient to complete our atonement. This heretical view, prominently taught by Finis Jennings Dake in his various publications, represents a fundamental attack on the finished work of Christ and the sufficiency of His sacrifice at Calvary.

Finis Dake, through his Annotated Reference Bible (first published in 1963) and his systematic theology work “God’s Plan for Man” (1949), has influenced countless Christians with his detailed notes and seemingly scholarly approach. However, beneath the veneer of biblical scholarship lies a dangerous departure from orthodox Christianity that strikes at the very heart of the gospel message.

This comprehensive examination will demonstrate, using Dake’s own words and extensive biblical evidence, that his teaching about Jesus suffering in hell to complete the atonement is not merely a minor theological disagreement but a heretical doctrine that undermines the entire foundation of Christian salvation. As the apostle Paul warned the Galatians, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

2. What Dake Actually Taught About the Atonement

To understand the severity of Dake’s error, we must examine his actual teachings in detail. Throughout his works, particularly in “God’s Plan for Man,” Dake consistently teaches that the atonement for sin was not completed at Calvary but required Jesus to suffer in hell under Satan’s dominion.

Dake’s Teaching on Christ’s Spiritual Death

In “God’s Plan for Man,” Dake makes the astounding claim that Jesus died spiritually and had to suffer the full penalty of spiritual death in hell. He teaches that physical death alone could not atone for sin because Adam’s sin brought both physical and spiritual death. According to Dake, just as humanity suffers both types of death, so Christ had to experience both to provide complete redemption.

The Three Days and Three Nights in Hell

Dake goes further to specify that during the three days and three nights between Christ’s death and resurrection, Jesus was suffering in the torments of hell. He interprets Christ’s statement “It is finished” (John 19:30) not as the completion of redemption, but merely as the completion of His earthly suffering. According to Dake, the real work of atonement was just beginning as Christ descended into hell.

In his interpretation of Ephesians 4:8-10 and 1 Peter 3:18-20, Dake teaches that Christ didn’t descend to hell as a victor but as a victim. He claims that Jesus went to hell bearing our sins, subject to Satan’s authority, and had to suffer there until God the Father was satisfied that justice had been met.

Satan’s Legal Authority Over Jesus

Perhaps most shocking is Dake’s teaching that Satan had legal authority over Jesus in hell. He argues that because Jesus bore our sins, He became legally subject to Satan’s dominion just as any sinner would be. This teaching essentially makes Satan a necessary participant in our redemption, giving him power over the Son of God.

The “Born Again” Jesus

Following this line of reasoning, Dake teaches that Jesus had to be “born again” in hell. He claims that after suffering sufficiently in hell, God declared “It is enough,” and Jesus was spiritually reborn, becoming the “firstborn from the dead” in a spiritual sense. Only then, according to Dake, could Jesus triumph over Satan and rise from the dead.

This teaching fundamentally alters the nature of Christ’s victory over death. Instead of the resurrection being the vindication of Christ’s completed work on the cross, Dake makes it the result of a spiritual transformation that occurred in hell. This is not merely a different interpretation; it is a different gospel entirely.

3. The Orthodox Biblical View of the Atonement

In stark contrast to Dake’s heretical teachings, the orthodox Christian position, held consistently throughout church history and firmly grounded in Scripture, proclaims that the atonement was fully and completely accomplished through Christ’s death on the cross. This truth is not peripheral but central to the Christian faith.

The Finished Work of the Cross

When Jesus cried out “It is finished” (Greek: tetelestai) in John 19:30, He was declaring the complete accomplishment of redemption. This Greek word was commonly used in commercial transactions to indicate that a debt had been paid in full. It appears on ancient receipts with the meaning “paid in full.” Christ’s declaration was not merely that His suffering was ending, but that the entire work of atonement was complete.

The book of Hebrews makes it abundantly clear that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was singular, sufficient, and complete. The author emphasizes that Christ “offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:12). There is no mention of additional suffering in hell, no suggestion that the cross was insufficient, and no indication that Satan had any role in completing our redemption.

The Blood of Christ: The Price of Redemption

Scripture consistently teaches that our redemption was purchased by the blood of Christ shed on the cross, not by suffering in hell. The apostle Peter declares, “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The book of Revelation reinforces this truth, describing the redeemed as those who “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). It is the blood of Christ, shed on Calvary, that cleanses us from sin—not any supposed suffering in hell.

Christ’s Descent: Victory, Not Defeat

The orthodox understanding of Christ’s descent, as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed (“He descended into hell” or better translated “He descended to the dead”), has nothing to do with suffering for sins. The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, along with most Protestant reformers, understand this as Christ’s triumphant proclamation of victory to the spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:19) and His liberation of the Old Testament saints from Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22).

As the Eastern Orthodox Church beautifully expresses it in their Paschal liturgy: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.” Christ descended not as a victim but as a victor, not to suffer but to proclaim His triumph, not to be tormented but to set the captives free.

The Nature of Christ’s Death

Orthodox Christianity maintains that while Christ truly died physically, He never died spiritually in the sense of being separated from the Father due to sin. Even in His cry of dereliction, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), Christ was quoting Psalm 22, maintaining His relationship with the Father while experiencing the weight of humanity’s sin.

The union of Christ’s divine and human natures (the hypostatic union) means that even in death, the divine nature remained united to both His human soul and body. As the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) affirmed, Christ’s two natures are “without confusion, without change, without division, without separation.” God cannot die spiritually or be separated from Himself.

4. Biblical Refutation of Dake’s Errors

The Scriptures provide overwhelming evidence against Dake’s heretical teaching. Let us examine the biblical texts that definitively refute the notion that Jesus had to suffer in hell to complete our atonement.

The Testimony of the Cross

Colossians 2:13-15 provides one of the clearest refutations of Dake’s teaching: “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Notice carefully what this passage teaches:

• Our debt was canceled at the cross, not in hell
• The legal demands against us were nailed to the cross
• Christ triumphed over principalities and powers at the cross
• Satan and his demons were disarmed at the cross, not given authority over Christ

This passage alone devastates Dake’s entire theological construct. If Satan was disarmed and defeated at the cross, how could he have had legal authority over Jesus in hell? If our debt was nailed to the cross, why would additional payment be needed in hell?

The Sufficiency of Christ’s Sacrifice

The book of Hebrews repeatedly emphasizes the sufficiency and finality of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross:

The phrase “once for all” (Greek: ephapax) appears repeatedly in Hebrews to emphasize the complete sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. If additional suffering in hell were necessary, the author of Hebrews would be guilty of gross deception in his repeated assertions of the finality of the cross.

The Paradise Promise

Jesus’s words to the thief on the cross provide another powerful refutation of Dake’s teaching. In Luke 23:43, Jesus declares, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” This statement creates insurmountable problems for Dake’s theology:

1. If Jesus went to hell to be tormented, how could He promise the thief they would be in paradise that very day?
2. Paradise (Greek: paradeisos) refers to a place of blessedness, not torment
3. Jesus speaks with authority about where He is going, not as one about to be subjected to Satan’s dominion
4. The thief’s salvation is assured before any supposed suffering in hell could occur

The Nature of Christ’s Substitution

While 2 Corinthians 5:21 states that God “made him to be sin who knew no sin,” this does not mean Christ became sinful or came under Satan’s authority. The Greek word hamartia (sin) can mean “sin offering,” which is likely Paul’s meaning here, echoing Isaiah 53:10 where the Messiah’s soul is made “an offering for sin.”

Christ bore our sins in a legal, substitutionary sense, not by becoming actually sinful. As 1 Peter 2:24 clarifies, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (not in hell). The location is specific: “on the tree” (the cross), not in hell.

The Immediate Effects of Christ’s Death

The Gospels record immediate effects of Christ’s death that demonstrate the completion of atonement at that moment:

These supernatural signs occurred at the moment of Christ’s death, not three days later after some supposed completion of atonement in hell. The tearing of the temple veil is particularly significant, as it symbolized immediate access to God through Christ’s completed work.

5. Dangerous Theological Implications

Dake’s teaching about Jesus suffering in hell is not merely an academic error; it has devastating implications for core Christian doctrines and the practical life of faith. Understanding these implications helps us grasp why this teaching must be vigorously opposed.

Undermining the Gospel

At its heart, Dake’s teaching undermines the gospel itself. If the cross was insufficient, then:

• Paul’s determination to “know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2) was misguided
• The preaching of “Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23) is an incomplete message
• Our boasting in the cross (Galatians 6:14) is premature
• The “word of the cross” (1 Corinthians 1:18) lacks saving power

By shifting the focus of redemption from the cross to hell, Dake creates what Paul would call “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6-7). This is not a minor variation but a fundamental alteration of the Christian message.

Diminishing Christ’s Deity

Dake’s teaching necessarily diminishes the deity of Christ. If Jesus could be held under Satan’s authority and tormented by demons, then He is not truly God. The Scripture declares that Christ upholds “the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). How could the One who sustains all creation be simultaneously under the power of a created being?

Destroying Assurance of Salvation

If the cry “It is finished” didn’t actually mean our redemption was complete, how can believers have assurance? Dake’s teaching introduces uncertainty into the finished work of Christ. If Jesus had to suffer in hell after the cross, what else might be required that we don’t know about? This teaching inevitably leads to a works-based mentality where believers can never be certain their salvation is secure.

The biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone (Romans 5:1) depends on the completed work of Christ. If that work wasn’t completed at the cross, then our justification remains uncertain. This strikes at the heart of Protestant theology and returns us to a system of uncertain salvation based on incomplete atonement.

Corrupting the Nature of God

Dake’s teaching presents a distorted view of God’s character:

1. God’s Justice: It suggests God’s justice requires more than what He Himself declared sufficient (“It is finished”)
2. God’s Love: It portrays a Father who subjected His Son to unnecessary torment beyond the cross
3. God’s Power: It implies God had to negotiate with Satan or submit to Satan’s legal claims
4. God’s Truthfulness: It makes God’s Word deceptive in its emphasis on the cross

Elevating Satan’s Position

Perhaps most dangerously, Dake’s teaching elevates Satan to a position Scripture never gives him. By claiming Satan had legal authority over Jesus, Dake makes Satan:

• A necessary participant in redemption
• Temporarily more powerful than Christ
• The holder of legal rights that even God must respect
• The administrator of divine justice in hell

This is a complete reversal of biblical teaching. Scripture presents Satan as a defeated foe (Colossians 2:15), a liar and murderer (John 8:44), and one whose works Christ came to destroy (1 John 3:8), not as a legal partner in redemption.

Impact on Worship and Prayer

If Dake’s teaching were true, it would fundamentally alter Christian worship:

• We could not truly “glory in the cross” (Galatians 6:14)
• The Lord’s Supper would commemorate an incomplete work
• Our prayers in Jesus’ name would lack the authority of completed redemption
• Hymns celebrating the cross would be theologically deficient

The entire focus of Christian worship would need to shift from the cross to include Christ’s supposed suffering in hell—something completely absent from New Testament worship.

6. Historical Orthodox Position

Throughout church history, orthodox Christianity has consistently affirmed that the atonement was completed on the cross. This unanimous testimony of the church through the ages stands as a powerful witness against Dake’s novel interpretation.

The Early Church Fathers

The early church fathers unanimously testified to the sufficiency of Christ’s death on the cross:

Notice that these early witnesses all focus on Christ’s suffering and victory through the cross, with no mention of additional suffering in hell being necessary for our redemption.

The Ecumenical Creeds

The great creeds of the church affirm the sufficiency of Christ’s death:

The phrase in the Apostles’ Creed, “He descended into hell,” has been historically understood not as suffering for sins but as Christ’s triumphant proclamation of victory. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (§632) states: “Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him.”

The Medieval Theologians

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) in his work “Cur Deus Homo” (Why God Became Man) argued that Christ’s death was of infinite value because of His divine nature, making any additional suffering unnecessary and even impossible.

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) in his Summa Theologica explicitly taught that Christ’s soul descended to hell not to suffer but to deliver the souls of the just: “Christ’s soul descended into hell not to suffer punishment, but to deliver those who were detained there because of original sin.”

The Protestant Reformers

The Protestant Reformers were unanimous in their affirmation of the sufficiency of the cross:

Modern Orthodox Statements

Every major Christian denomination today maintains the sufficiency of Christ’s death on the cross:

• The Catholic Church: “By his death Christ liberates us from sin” (Catechism §654)
• Eastern Orthodox: “By death He conquered death” (Paschal Troparion)
• Lutheran Churches: “We are justified freely for Christ’s sake, through faith, when we believe that Christ suffered for us” (Augsburg Confession)
• Reformed Churches: “Christ’s death is the only and most perfect sacrifice and satisfaction for sin” (Heidelberg Catechism)
• Anglican Communion: “There is but one oblation of Christ finished upon the cross” (Thirty-Nine Articles)

7. Related Errors in Dake’s Theology

Dake’s error regarding the atonement does not stand in isolation but is part of a broader pattern of theological deviations that demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of biblical truth. These related errors help us understand the systematic nature of his departure from orthodoxy.

Denial of the Trinity

While Dake claimed to believe in the Trinity, his actual teaching contradicts orthodox Trinitarian doctrine. He taught that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have separate physical bodies and are three separate beings who merely work in unity. This is tritheism, not Trinitarianism.

This teaching is remarkably similar to Mormon theology and completely contradicts the biblical and historical doctrine of the Trinity, which maintains that God is one in essence while existing in three persons.

Physical God with Human Characteristics

Dake taught that God the Father has a physical body with specific dimensions. He claimed God is “about six feet tall, weighs about 190 pounds, and has a hand span of 9½ inches.” This bizarre teaching reduces the infinite, omnipresent God to a finite, physical being.

Jesus explicitly taught that “God is spirit” (John 4:24), and Scripture consistently presents God as transcendent and infinite. By giving God physical limitations, Dake denies fundamental attributes of deity such as omnipresence and infinitude.

Gap Theory and Pre-Adamite Race

Dake promoted the “gap theory,” teaching that there was a pre-Adamite race that lived on Earth before Genesis 1:2. He claimed this race was ruled by Lucifer and was destroyed when Lucifer fell. While this theory has been held by some Christians, Dake’s version includes unbiblical speculations about multiple floods, pre-Adamite demons, and other fantasies not found in Scripture.

Women Inferior to Men

Dake taught that women are inferior to men in the order of creation and will remain subordinate even in eternity. He claimed that resurrected saints will continue to procreate in heaven, with women bearing children throughout eternity. This teaching has no biblical basis and contradicts Jesus’s clear teaching that “in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage” (Matthew 22:30).

Racial Segregation

Perhaps most troubling, Dake promoted racial segregation as biblical, teaching that interracial marriage was sinful and that God intended the races to remain separate. He even suggested that segregation would continue in heaven. This racist teaching contradicts the clear biblical message that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek” (Galatians 3:28) and that God has made “from one man every nation of mankind” (Acts 17:26).

The Pattern of Error

These various errors reveal a consistent pattern in Dake’s theology:

1. Literalism Gone Wrong: Dake often took anthropomorphic language about God literally while missing the actual literal meaning of clear passages
2. Speculation Presented as Fact: He frequently presented his own speculations as biblical truth
3. Ignoring Church History: He showed little regard for 2,000 years of Christian interpretation
4. Systematic Reinterpretation: He redefined orthodox terms while claiming to be biblical

8. Pastoral Concerns and Warnings

The errors promoted by Dake are not merely academic concerns for theologians to debate; they have serious pastoral implications that affect the spiritual health and wellbeing of believers. Pastors, teachers, and church leaders must understand these concerns to protect their flocks from this dangerous teaching.

The Danger to New Believers

New believers are particularly vulnerable to Dake’s teachings because his Reference Bible appears to be a helpful study tool. The extensive notes and cross-references give an impression of scholarly authority. Young Christians, eager to understand the Bible better, may accept his notes as trustworthy commentary without realizing they are being led into serious error.

Impact on Assurance and Peace

Believers exposed to Dake’s teaching often experience a crisis of assurance. If Christ’s work on the cross wasn’t sufficient, how can they know their salvation is secure? This teaching can lead to:

• Chronic doubt about salvation
• Fear that their faith might be insufficient
• Anxiety about whether all conditions for salvation have been met
• Loss of peace and joy in Christ
• Return to works-based righteousness

Pastors may find themselves counseling believers who have been robbed of their assurance by these teachings. The remedy is a clear presentation of the finished work of Christ and the sufficiency of His sacrifice on the cross.

Confusion in Worship

Churches influenced by Dake’s teaching may find confusion entering their worship. Traditional hymns that celebrate the cross become problematic. How can we sing “Jesus Paid It All” if He didn’t actually pay it all at Calvary? How can we proclaim “It Is Well With My Soul” based on Christ’s blood if that blood wasn’t sufficient?

The Lord’s Supper particularly becomes confused. Jesus said, “This is my body, which is given for you” and “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:19-20). If the body and blood weren’t sufficient, the Lord’s Supper becomes a memorial of an incomplete work.

Evangelistic Confusion

How does one present the gospel if the cross wasn’t sufficient? Dake’s teaching complicates evangelism by adding elements to the gospel that Scripture doesn’t include. Should evangelists tell sinners that Jesus suffered in hell for them? Should they proclaim a gospel of “Jesus plus His suffering in hell”? This confusion can lead to:

• Unclear gospel presentations
• Addition of unbiblical requirements for salvation
• Confusion about what exactly saves us
• Weakened confidence in sharing the faith

Creating Division

Dake’s teachings often create division within churches. Those who accept his teachings may view themselves as having special insight, while viewing those who reject them as less spiritual or enlightened. This can lead to:

• Formation of study groups centered on Dake’s materials
• Challenges to pastoral authority when pastors contradict Dake
• Subtle (or not so subtle) spiritual pride
• Division between those who accept and reject these teachings

Recommendations for Church Leaders

Dealing with Those Deceived

When dealing with believers who have been influenced by Dake’s teachings, pastors should:

• Approach with gentleness and patience (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
• Focus on Scripture rather than attacking Dake personally
• Help them see the joy and peace of the finished work of Christ
• Provide clear biblical teaching on contested points
• Be patient—deception often takes time to overcome
• Pray for wisdom and discernment

9. Conclusion: Standing for Biblical Truth

The examination of Finis Dake’s teaching about Jesus suffering in hell to complete the atonement reveals not a minor theological disagreement but a fundamental departure from biblical Christianity. This is not a secondary issue over which Christians can agree to disagree; it strikes at the very heart of the gospel message.

The Non-Negotiable Truth

The sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is non-negotiable. When Jesus declared “It is finished,” He meant exactly that. The debt of sin was paid in full. The requirements of divine justice were completely satisfied. The power of Satan was broken. Death was defeated. Redemption was accomplished. To add anything to this completed work is to diminish its value and to preach another gospel.

The Call to Vigilance

This examination of Dake’s errors serves as a sobering reminder of the need for constant vigilance in protecting the purity of the gospel. False teaching often comes packaged in religious language, supported by proof texts, and promoted by those who appear to be biblical scholars. The church must remain alert to such deceptions.

As Jude exhorted the early church, we too must “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). This faith centers on the completed work of Christ on the cross. Any teaching that adds to, subtracts from, or modifies this central truth must be rejected, regardless of how learned or sincere its proponent may appear.

The Beauty of the True Gospel

In contrast to Dake’s complicated and horrifying scenario of Jesus being tormented in hell, the biblical gospel shines with beautiful simplicity and power:

• Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
• He was buried and rose again the third day
• His blood cleanses us from all sin
• By His wounds we are healed
• In His death, we died to sin
• In His resurrection, we are raised to new life
• Nothing can separate us from His love

This is the gospel that has transformed lives for two thousand years. This is the message that brings hope to the hopeless, peace to the troubled, and salvation to the lost. We must not allow it to be corrupted by the additions and speculations of false teachers.

A Final Warning

To those who have been influenced by Dake’s teachings, we issue this loving but urgent warning: Return to the simplicity and purity of the biblical gospel. Find your assurance in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Rest in the sufficiency of His sacrifice. Reject any teaching that adds requirements to what Christ has already accomplished.

To pastors and teachers, we urge vigilance in protecting your flocks from these errors. Do not assume that because something is in a “Reference Bible” it is trustworthy. Test all things by Scripture, hold fast to what is good, and reject what is false.

To the broader church, we call for a renewed commitment to biblical literacy and theological education. When believers are grounded in sound doctrine, they are less likely to be swept away by every wind of false teaching.

The Triumph of Truth

Despite the persistence of false teachings like those of Dake, we can be confident that truth will ultimately triumph. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church built on the rock of Christ’s completed work. The gospel that Paul preached, that the apostles died for, that the reformers recovered, and that countless believers have treasured will continue to save souls until Christ returns.

Moving Forward in Truth

As we move forward, let us do so with both courage and compassion. Courage to stand against false teaching, no matter how popular or widespread it may become. Compassion for those who have been deceived, remembering that but for the grace of God, we too could be led astray.

Let us commit ourselves anew to the study of God’s Word, the fellowship of sound biblical churches, and the proclamation of the true gospel. Let us teach our children these truths, ground new believers in them, and defend them against all attacks.

Most importantly, let us live in the joy and freedom that comes from knowing our salvation is complete in Christ. We don’t need to fear that something was left undone. We don’t need to worry that Satan has some claim on us. We don’t need to wonder if the payment was sufficient. The Son of God has declared it finished, and on that declaration, we stake our eternal destiny with complete confidence.

10. Sources and Bibliography

Primary Sources – Dake’s Works

• Dake, Finis Jennings. God’s Plan for Man. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1949.
• Dake, Finis Jennings. The Dake Annotated Reference Bible. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1963.
• Dake, Finis Jennings. Revelation Expounded. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1950.
• Dake, Finis Jennings. Bible Truths Unmasked. Lawrenceville, GA: Dake Bible Sales, 1936.

Biblical Texts

• The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001.
• The Greek New Testament, 5th Revised Edition. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2014.
• Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 5th Edition. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1997.

Historical Sources

• Anselm of Canterbury. Cur Deus Homo. Translated by Sidney Norton Deane. Chicago: Open Court, 1903.
• Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. New York: Benziger Brothers, 1947.
• Augustine. The City of God. Translated by Marcus Dods. New York: Modern Library, 1950.
• Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Edited by John T. McNeill. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960.
• Luther, Martin. Luther’s Works. 55 vols. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1955-1986.

Early Church Fathers

• Roberts, Alexander, and James Donaldson, eds. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. 10 vols. Buffalo: Christian Literature Company, 1885-1896.
• Schaff, Philip, ed. The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Series 1, 14 vols. Buffalo: Christian Literature Company, 1886-1889.
• Schaff, Philip, and Henry Wace, eds. The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Series 2, 14 vols. Buffalo: Christian Literature Company, 1890-1900.

Creeds and Confessions

• Schaff, Philip. The Creeds of Christendom. 3 vols. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1877.
• The Book of Confessions. Louisville: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 2016.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997.
• The Augsburg Confession. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1980.

Contemporary Theological Works

• Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1941.
• Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.
• Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology. 3 vols. New York: Scribner, 1872-1873.
• Morris, Leon. The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965.
• Murray, John. Redemption Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1955.
• Packer, J.I. Knowing God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1973.
• Stott, John. The Cross of Christ. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1986.

Critical Analyses of Dake

• Hanegraaff, Hank. Christianity in Crisis. Eugene: Harvest House, 1993.
• Hunt, Dave. The Seduction of Christianity. Eugene: Harvest House, 1985.
• MacArthur, John. Charismatic Chaos. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.
• Rhodes, Ron. The Counterfeit Christ of the New Age Movement. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990.

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