Example of the value of Berkhof's Manual of Christian Doctrine

Here's an example of how valuable it is to get Berkhof's Manual into you, in memory and understanding. Here's a short passage from Gurnall's Christian in Complete Armour. I'll bold four terms within it. If you were just reading the passage you'd pass over each term not having a good idea what he was referring to, yet each term is covered in the Manual's short section on faith.

‘Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.’ — Ephesians 6:16

FIRST INQUIRY. What faith is it that here is
commended? This will soon be known, if we consider
the use and end for which it is commended to
the Christian, and that is to enable him to ‘quench all
the fiery darts of the wicked;’ i.e. of the wicked one,
the devil. Now, look upon the several kinds of faith,
and that among them must be the faith of this place
which enables the creature to quench Satan’s fiery
darts, yea, all his fiery darts. Historical faith cannot
do this, and therefore is not it. This is so far from
quenching Satan’s fiery darts, that the devil himself,
that shoots them, hath this faith. ‘The devils believe,’
James 2:19. Temporary faith cannot do it. This is so
far from quenching Satan’s fiery darts, that itself is
quenched by them. It makes a goodly blaze of profession,
and ‘endures for a while,’ Matt. 13:21, but soon
disappears. Miraculous faith, this falls as short as the
former. Judas’ miraculous faith, which he had with
other of the apostles—for aught that we can read
—enabling him to cast devils out of others, left himself
possessed of the devil of covetousness, hypocrisy,
and treason; yea, a whole legion of lusts, that hurried
him down the hill of despair into the bottomless pit
of perdition. There is only one kind of faith remains,
which is it the apostle means in this place, and that is
justifying faith [or, saving faith]. This indeed is the grace that makes him, whoever hath it, the devil’s match.

This is the value I see in using specifically Berkhof's Manual of Christian Doctrine. It is organized so as to give you the complete, foundational teaching; it is concise enough to master as a whole; and it gives you the classical categories and terminology that you will find in the best of other Christian works (like the one cited above). Download (so to speak) Berkhof's Manual into you and you will have a basic, solid foundation of theological knowledge. Understanding is different, of course, and is gained through many means, but to have what is in Berkhof's Manual in you as a foundation is invaluable.