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: With Jon Payne On Discipleship And Revoice

R. Scott Clark

on April 6, 2020

Our Lord Jesus called the church to make disciples (Matt 28:18–20) and he even ordained means by which we might become disciples and grow in our discipleship. The Apostles followed this pattern (Acts 2:42; Rom 10:14). Nevertheless, when we think about discipleship . . . Continue reading →

Vos: God Allowed The Republication Of The Covenant Of Works

R. Scott Clark

on April 6, 2020 | 1 Comment

Everyone will have to agree that for Adam, perfect keeping of the law for a fixed period of time was the means to acquire eternal beatitude that cannot be lost. When the covenant of works was broken, God could have rescinded this . . . Continue reading →

Hywel Jones On Psalm 119: An Edifying Resource (For Especially Trying Times)

R. Scott Clark

on April 5, 2020

Hywel Jones is one of God’s gifts to his church. He is a model of piety and grace. He gave devotions every week in chapel for several years during his career at Westminster Seminary in California. One of those series was on . . . Continue reading →

Bavinck: The Reformers Taught One Covenant Of Grace In Two Administrations Against The Anabaptists

R. Scott Clark

on April 5, 2020

Vos: The Substance Of The One Covenant Of Grace Was In The Old Covenant

R. Scott Clark

on April 5, 2020

What Augustine so strikingly formulated concerning the relation of the two historic economies of the history of redemption: “Novum Testamentum in Vetere latet, Vetus in Novo patet” [The New Testament hides in the old, the Old reveals itself in the New] permits . . . Continue reading →

Perkins: Two-Stage Justification Is Not Protestant

R. Scott Clark

on April 4, 2020

Witsius: One Covenant Of Grace, Multiple Administrations

R. Scott Clark

on April 4, 2020

I. It is a matter of the greatest moment, that we learn distinctly to consider the covenant of grace, either as it is in its substance or essence, as they call it, or as it is in diverse ways proposed by God, . . . Continue reading →

Owen: The New Covenant Was Inaugurated After The Fall And Christ Was Its Mediator

R. Scott Clark

on April 3, 2020 | 1 Comment

[5.] We on all accounts stand in need of a surety for us, or on our behalf. Neither without the interposition of such a surety could any covenant between God and us be firm and stable, or “an everlasting covenant, ordered in . . . Continue reading →

PCA General Assembly Rulings On Virtual Communion

R. Scott Clark

on April 2, 2020 | 2 Comments

For those who’ve inquired about any PCA precedent on digitally “administering” the Lord’s Supper, below is a pertinent string of excerpts from the Minutes of the 39th, 40th and 41st General Assemblies (2011, 2012 and 2013 in Louisville, Virginia Beach and Greenville SC). Continue reading →

Turretin: We Affirm The Unity Of The Covenant Of Grace Against The Socinians, Remonstrants, And Anabaptists

R. Scott Clark

on April 2, 2020 | 1 Comment

FIFTH QUESTION: THE UNITY OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE Was the covenant of grace one and the same as to substance under each dispensation? We affirm against the Socinians, Anabaptists and Remonstrants I. This most important controversy is waged by us with . . . Continue reading →

Ursinus: Christ Was The Author And Mediator Of The Old Covenant

R. Scott Clark

on April 2, 2020

IV. IN WHAT DO THE OLD AND THE NEW COVENANT AGREE, AND IN WHAT DO THEY DIFFER? Since there is but one covenant, and the Scriptures speak of it as though it were two, we must consider in what particulars the old . . . Continue reading →

Brakel: The Substance Of The Covenant Of Grace Is Identical In The Old And New Testaments

R. Scott Clark

on April 1, 2020 | 4 Comments

The Covenant of Grace Identical in both Old and New Testaments Question #1: When was this covenant of grace initiated? Answer: Due to a misunderstanding concerning the nature of the covenant of grace, the Socinians and Arminians, who are in this respect . . . Continue reading →

The Reformed Churches Do Not Confess Baptismal Union With Christ

R. Scott Clark

on March 31, 2020 | 36 Comments

A Preface On Paradigms As Baptists and Reformed folk engage each other’s theological traditions two things need to happen to make that engagement productive: 1) They need to realize that each tradition is theologically distinct. Some Baptists have historical and institutional relations . . . Continue reading →

Christianity Is An Explanation Not An Analgesic

R. Scott Clark

on March 31, 2020 | 3 Comments

As Philip Rieff once commented, in past times people did not go to church to be made happy; they went to have their misery explained to them. If the Book of Common Prayer is a guide, that is understandable: Life in the . . . Continue reading →

With Presbycast On Virtual Communion—UPDATED

R. Scott Clark

on March 29, 2020 | 3 Comments

Regular readers of this space will know that I am a regular (or perhaps, more properly, an irregular) guest of the Presbycast podcast hosted by Brad Isbell (Chortles Weakly) and Wresbyterian. This is a valuable (if sometimes quirky) resource for the confessional . . . Continue reading →

One Important Difference Between The Reformed And Some Particular Baptists: God The Son Was In, With, And Under The Types And Shadows

R. Scott Clark

on March 28, 2020 | 30 Comments

In reading Particular Baptist sources from the classical period of Particular Baptist theology, piety, and practice and from modern proponents of that tradition I have become more deeply impressed with how superficial my understanding was and how great the differences are in . . . Continue reading →

Update: John Owen Is Still Not A Baptist

R. Scott Clark

on March 27, 2020 | 5 Comments

Obs. III. Divine institutions cease not without an express divine abrogation.—Where they are once granted and erected by the authority of God, they can never cease without an express act of the same authority taking them away. So was it with the . . . Continue reading →

Brakel: If You Deny The Covenant Of Works, You Will Not Understand The Covenant Of Grace

R. Scott Clark

on March 24, 2020 | 7 Comments

James MacDonald Is Not A Pastor

R. Scott Clark

on March 23, 2020 | 2 Comments

In internet speak a “404” is the message that comes up when a link is broken. That is what happened when I searched the website of Calvary Chapel South Bay (Gardena, CA) for information about James MacDonald. This is good news because . . . Continue reading →

Video: Bob Godfrey Puts The Corona Virus Into Historical Perspective

R. Scott Clark

on March 23, 2020 | 1 Comment

Ligonier has released a video featuring Bob Godfrey putting the Corona virus pandemic into historical perspective. Watch it here. How to subscribe to Heidelmedia

The Heidelblog

Author Archives: R. Scott Clark

About R. Scott Clark

Office Hours: With Jon Payne On Discipleship And Revoice

Vos: God Allowed The Republication Of The Covenant Of Works

Hywel Jones On Psalm 119: An Edifying Resource (For Especially Trying Times)

Bavinck: The Reformers Taught One Covenant Of Grace In Two Administrations Against The Anabaptists

Vos: The Substance Of The One Covenant Of Grace Was In The Old Covenant

Perkins: Two-Stage Justification Is Not Protestant

Witsius: One Covenant Of Grace, Multiple Administrations

Owen: The New Covenant Was Inaugurated After The Fall And Christ Was Its Mediator

PCA General Assembly Rulings On Virtual Communion

Turretin: We Affirm The Unity Of The Covenant Of Grace Against The Socinians, Remonstrants, And Anabaptists

Ursinus: Christ Was The Author And Mediator Of The Old Covenant

Brakel: The Substance Of The Covenant Of Grace Is Identical In The Old And New Testaments

The Reformed Churches Do Not Confess Baptismal Union With Christ

Christianity Is An Explanation Not An Analgesic

With Presbycast On Virtual Communion—UPDATED

One Important Difference Between The Reformed And Some Particular Baptists: God The Son Was In, With, And Under The Types And Shadows

Update: John Owen Is Still Not A Baptist

Brakel: If You Deny The Covenant Of Works, You Will Not Understand The Covenant Of Grace

James MacDonald Is Not A Pastor

Video: Bob Godfrey Puts The Corona Virus Into Historical Perspective