About R. Scott Clark

R. Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. Read more» He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

Office Hours: The Theology Of The Westminster Standards

by R. Scott Clark on September 8, 2014

The Westminster Standards are a collection of churchly documents, a confession of faith, and two catechisms drafted by an assembly of pastors and theologians called to meet to provide a confession and catechisms that would unify a nation divided internally by civil . . . Continue reading →

Discomfort As Ground For Silencing Dissent

by R. Scott Clark on September 6, 2014

When you invite very conservative speakers here who perhaps have controversial views on Islam or homosexuality, you essentially make Yale a very uncomfortable place for a large percentage of the people here on campus, and everyone should feel at home at college…. . . . Continue reading →

Ameer Saves The Day

by R. Scott Clark on September 6, 2014

The Cruelty Of Political Correctness

by R. Scott Clark on September 6, 2014

Even though reports were reaching social workers of the crimes in Rotherham as far back as the 1990s, nothing of consequence was done for more than a decade. The police were pigheaded and clueless, and the fear of being called “racist” paralyzed . . . Continue reading →

Mr Murray Distinguishes Law And Gospel

by R. Scott Clark on September 5, 2014

Recognition of this datum of awful sanctity, and republication of it with conviction and authority is the only path of repentance and restoration. As we recognize the awful sanctity that surrounds the law, we shall certainly be crushed with a sense of . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 33: God’s Eternally And Only Begotten Son And His Adopted Sons (3)

by R. Scott Clark on September 4, 2014

We are considering how we understand the language of the Apostles’ Creed, when we say, “only begotten Son” and how we explain it in our catechism. In Question 33 we say: 33. Why is He called God’s “only begotten Son,” since we . . . Continue reading →

God’s Twofold Kingdom in Belgic Confession Art. 36

by R. Scott Clark on September 4, 2014

By using this language, the Belgic Confession grounds the civil government in God’s goodness, not his grace, in creation, not redemption. God rules over all things, but in two different ways, as the two kingdoms doctrine of the Reformers expressed. This doctrine . . . Continue reading →

Mr Murray On The Distinction Between Law And Grace

by R. Scott Clark on September 4, 2014

…the purity and integrity of the gospel stands or falls with the absoluteness of the antithesis between the function and potency of law, one the one hand, and the function and potency of grace, on the other. —John Murray, Principles of Conduct: . . . Continue reading →

Recovering The Reformed Confession on Kindle for $1.99

by R. Scott Clark on September 3, 2014

Thanks to HB reader Frank Aderholdt for letting us know that, for the moment anyway, the publisher is selling the Kindle version of Recovering the Reformed Confession for the paltry sum of $1.99. It is available in paper. The regular Kindle price . . . Continue reading →

Limousine Greens

by R. Scott Clark on September 3, 2014

If greens were going to match their advocacy with concrete action, they would move from Santa Cruz or Mill Valley to Eureka or Yuba City where the rain falls — or at least inward to Fresno and Visalia where for eons runoff . . . Continue reading →

It’s Not Unusual

by R. Scott Clark on September 2, 2014

To borrow from that paragon of 1960s Welsh hipness: It’s not unusual for one generation to doubt the mores (the customs) of the previous generation. What we think of as the “teen culture” rebellion of the 1950s (e.g., Elvis) and 60s (e.g., . . . Continue reading →

An Ambiguity About “Historic” Worship

by R. Scott Clark on September 1, 2014

Using a word like historic in connection with worship can immediately raise defenses and lead to misunderstandings. When some folks hear “historic” they think: “Oh no, you want a boring formal service with no new songs” or “you are trying to impose . . . Continue reading →

The Fugitive, The Truth, And Social Media

by R. Scott Clark on August 31, 2014

One of the television shows I remember watching as a boy, briefly when it was first run (1963–67) and then again re-runs, was The Fugitive. It was the story of a man who was falsely convicted of murder and who sets out . . . Continue reading →

Westerkamp Does It Again

by R. Scott Clark on August 30, 2014

A Topical Index To Luther’s Sermons

by R. Scott Clark on August 30, 2014

Trans. J. N. Lenker et al. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001) prepared by Shane Lems, M.Div © 2007 Shane Lems. All Rights Reserved. Usage: You may link to this index but it may not be copied wholesale without the permission of the author . . . Continue reading →

The Atrium Of Hell

by R. Scott Clark on August 29, 2014

Hence the horrors of conscience, which are to the elect a preparation for faith (Rom. 7. v. 9. 10. 24) inasmuch as the Holy Spirit kindles in them a desire for reconciling themselves to God. To the reprobate, however, they are the . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 33: God’s Eternally And Only Begotten Son And His Adopted Sons (2)

by R. Scott Clark on August 29, 2014

In part 1 we took a quick trip through the fundamentals of Christology: one person, two natures. Any doctrine of Christ that confuses the two natures (Eutychianism) or that makes them into two persons (Nestorianism) is heresy. It denies fundamental, biblical, catholic . . . Continue reading →

Act Like Elders Nonetheless

by R. Scott Clark on August 28, 2014

While the current bylaws greatly restrict our authority, we believe we must act like elders none-the-less,” they write. “It is time to take responsibility for our church, regardless of how much our current bylaws prevent us from exercising that authority. —Sarah Pulliam . . . Continue reading →

Heidelberg 33: God’s Eternally And Only Begotten Son And His Adopted Sons (1)

by R. Scott Clark on August 28, 2014

One of the most basic doctrines of the New Testament is that Jesus is God the Son and the Son of God. In Matthew 4:3 we read when “the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, . . . Continue reading →

Bavinck On Eternal Generation

by R. Scott Clark on August 27, 2014

[226] The special qualification of the second person in the Trinity is filiation. In Scripture he bears several names that denote his relation to the Father, such as word, wisdom, logos, son, the firstborn, only-begotten and only son, the image of God, . . . Continue reading →