In this installment, we focus on the major Baptist figure present at the debate, William Kiffin (1616–1701). He is worthy of attention, first because he was a central figure in the debate between Featley and the Baptists, but also because he was, as a nineteenth-century Baptist historian wrote, “FATHER OF THE PARTICULAR BAPTISTS. He played a “significant role” in the drafting of the London Confession of Faith (1644) and was the second signatory to the Second London Baptist Confession (1677) in 1689. A nineteenth-century historian called Kiffin an “extraordinary” person in the Particular Baptist tradition. One anonymous writer called him the “ordained Mufti of all heretics and sectaries. Continue reading →
Church History
Featly: The Sweet Dipper (Part 1)
In this series I intend to consider what was perhaps the earliest Reformed response to the Particular Baptist movement, a treatise by the Anglican theologian and Westminster Divine, Daniel Featley (1582–1645), which recounts a disputation (think of a debate) between Featley, an . . . Continue reading →
Our Aim Is Love: Dr. A. Craig Troxel—WSC 2024 Annual Conference
Wisdom says, “keep the heart with all vigilance, because from it flow the springs of life.” Paul agrees. To safeguard love as the proper aim of the ministry, we must also consider its source in a “pure heart.” The fountainhead impacts everything . . . Continue reading →
Our Aim Is Love: Dr. Bradley J. Bitner—WSC 2024 Annual Conference
Paul argues in 1 Timothy 1:5-7 that being mindful of the goal in Christian ministry and discipleship keeps us from swerving and wandering. That goal is love–not a love of power or position or platforming, not a love of winning the argument, . . . Continue reading →
Review: The Case for Christian Nationalism By Stephen Wolfe
The rise of Donald Trump, the renewed call for a “Christian America,” the novel promotion of Christian nationalism—these three things are recent realities in the American political and religious scenes. Indeed, they are related realities. Furthermore, these three realities are not helping . . . Continue reading →
Video: Trueman On Why Protestants Need Classical Christian Theology
©R. Scott Clark. All Rights Reserved. RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The Heidelberg Catechism Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008) Why I Am A Christian What Must A . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: What Distinguishes Dispensationalists From Reformed Christians?
Dr Clark answers a question asking about some of the differences between Dispensational and Reformed Christians. Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: Is The “Wider Hope” Of Salvation Through Natural Revelation Orthodox?
Dr Clark answers a question about the possibility of a “wider hope” of salvation through natural knowledge. Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: What About The Reformed Church In America?
Dr Clark answers a question on how Reformed Christians should think about the Reformed Church in America. Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: The St Nicholas Of History
Dr Clark tells the true story of St Nicholas. Continue reading →
Review: The Trial of the 16th Century: Calvin and Servetus By Jonathan Moorhead
Jonathan Moorhead (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) has taught at The Master’s Academy International in Russia and the Czech Republic. He specializes in church history, theology, and apologetics. Drawing from his expertise, his recent monograph on the trial of Michael Servetus and Calvin’s . . . Continue reading →
Dr. Clark on the Active Obedience of Christ: WSC Annual Conference
R. Scott Clark on The Foolishness of the Gospel at the Westminster Seminary California Annual Conference. Note: This audio was originally recorded in 2004. RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The . . . Continue reading →
Review: Zwingli, God’s Armed Prophet By Bruce Gordon
Zwingli, God’s Armed Prophet is Bruce Gordon’s most recent contribution to Reformation history. Gordon is the Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale University and formerly headed up the Saint Andrews Reformation Study Institute in Scotland. Professor Gordon is also affiliated . . . Continue reading →
Dr. Clark on The Crusades: The Pilgrim Radio Interview
R. Scott Clark joined Pilgrim Radio Network to talk about the Crusades. Note: This audio was originally recorded in 2012. RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The Reformed Confessions The Heidelberg Catechism Resources On . . . Continue reading →
Review: Preaching the Whole Counsel of God By Julius Kim
Not all preaching is good preaching. Some preachers do not exposit the text when they preach on Sunday. Other preachers exposit the text in ways that fit their agendas. And some preachers simply do not have a Christ-centered approach to preaching. The . . . Continue reading →
Talking With Kids About Medieval Theology, Piety, And Practice
Almost a year ago we let you know about a new church history podcast for kids, Kids Talk Church History. Our own Dr. Clark recently appeared on this podcast to talk with Lucy, Linus, and Mina about how well the ancient Christian theology, . . . Continue reading →
Review: The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes By Nancy Pearcy
The content of Nancy Pearcy’s The Toxic War on Masculinity is as thought-provoking as the title of the book itself. The fact that I had to train myself to stop saying, “The War on Toxic Masculinity” proves Pearcy’s point—whether a person agrees . . . Continue reading →
Video: Lessons For Exiles On Main Street—Huguenots As A Christian Minority
Dan Borvan traces a path for Christian life in a post-Christian culture by studying the French Reformed as a suffering church. Continue reading →
The Establishment Principle
In my mind, the Old Testament model of theocracy doesn’t clearly correlate with the New Testament or Apostolic Church practices, or even the Patristics for that matter, which suggests that applying Old Testament concepts to Christian statecraft might be anachronistic or misguided. . . . Continue reading →
The Early Church Fathers On The Anti-Christ
The earliest Christian documents which mention the Antichrist contain slight theological reflection, apart from a brief mention of him in connection with a particular biblical passage. Over time, the short-shrift given him begins to change. Some tie Antichrist to heresy (appealing to . . . Continue reading →