In the late nineteenth century William Knight, who had been a constant companion of Professor John Duncan of New College, edited a collection of choice sayings from the famous ‘Rabbi’. They were published in a little book entitled ‘Colloquia Peripatetica’. Amid the many aphorisms and succinct comments was the following statement of Rabbi Duncan’s personal credo: “I'm first a Christian, next a Catholic, then a Calvinist, fourth a Paedobaptist, and fifth a Presbyterian. I cannot reverse this order.”

The statement reveals the genius of the speaker. For Rabbi Duncan, there were some things more important than being a Presbyterian; not all Christians (surprisingly, perhaps) are Presbyterians, after all, and John Duncan knew better than to define himself merely in terms of his churchmanship.

Yet being Presbyterian is not unimportant, which is why I want to plug an excellent book by Sean Michael Lucas of Covenant Theological Seminary. On Being Presbyterian is published by P&R, and although it comes out of the camp of the Presbyterian Church in America, it is applicable to Presbyterians the world over.

Subtitled ‘Our Beliefs, Practices and Stories’, the book subdivides into, first, a discussion of Presbyterian Beliefs. These include an emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the priority of grace, the work of God in the world, through covenant and kingdom, the church and the sacraments.

Secondly there is a discussion of Presbyterian Practices. The emphasis here is on personal piety, on corporate worship and on Presbyterian Church Government.

Finally, there is a cameo of Presbyterian history in ‘Presbyterian stories’, from the Reformation roots of Calvin and Knox to the founding and flowering of Presbyterianism in America. This is a good guide to the complex developments in American Presbyterianism both north and south.

This book meets an important need, not least in the American scene with its diversity of Presbyterianisms. If I were a PCA pastor, this would be my book for handing out to others who might be questioning my position. Outside of the PCA it has its uses too, not least in reminding us that even if Rabbi Duncan was correct to put ‘Presbyterian’ fifth in his list, he was right to put it in the top five.

After all, we are Presbyterians for a reason, our office-bearers avowing their belief that the system of government that makes us such is founded on biblical principles and practice. So even if we are not into American Presbyterian history, the first two parts are a useful guide to all of us.

Finally, however, think about another of Rabbi Duncan’s aphorisms. ‘All Christendom becomes Presbyterian on ordination day’, he says. And he’s right; even those who are less than five-point Duncanists need to join with others for ecclesiastical acts and functions. On Being Presbyterian explains why it makes sense to extend the corporate nature of church life beyond ordination!