In the manner of justifying, the two covenants (law and gospel) are locked in frontal combat. This is because the gospel justifies through grace through faith, not works. Samuel Rutherford, The Works of Samuel Rutherford: Arminianism: A Systematic and Theological Response, ed. . . . Continue reading →
Historical Theology
Rutherford: Contra The Remonstrants, Rome Does Deny The Doctrine Of Salvation
They hold that the Roman Church does not teach fundamental errors but only errors conditionally and improperly so, which do not undermine the foundation. But our theologians, like Perkins and Whitaker, have demonstrated that the papal church as such does not teach . . . Continue reading →
Contra Noll & Livingstone: Warfield Did Not Become A Theistic Evolutionist
This study concludes that Warfield’s position is best understood as a principled openness to scientific inquiry governed by his commitment to the harmony of general and special revelation, coupled with a sustained critique of evolution’s scientific and theological adequacy. … According to . . . Continue reading →
Turretin: Good Works Are Necessary Not As The Instrument But As Evidence Of Salvation
Although we acknowledge the necessity of good works against the Epicureans, we do not on this account confound the law and the gospel and interfere with gratuitous justification by faith alone. Good works are required not for living according to the law, . . . Continue reading →
Pelikan: It Was The Heretics Who Hellenized The Faith
It is even more a distortion when the dogma formulated by the catholic tradition is described as “in its conception and development a work of the Greek spirit on the soil of the gospel.” Indeed, in some ways it is more accurate . . . Continue reading →
Packer: Baxter Sowed The Seeds Of Moralism, Arianism, And Liberalism
Thus Baxter, by the initial rationalism of his ‘political method’, which forced scripture into an a priori mould, actually sowed the seeds of moralism with regard to sin, Arianism with regard to Christ, legalism with regard to faith and salvation, and liberalism . . . Continue reading →
Beeke And Pederson: Baxter’s Doctrines Of The Decrees, Atonement, And Justification Were Not Reformed
Baxter’s writings are a strange theological mix. He was one of a few Puritans whose doctrines of God’s decrees, atonement, and justification were anything but Reformed. Though he generally structured his theology along Reformed lines of thought, he frequently leaned towards Arminian . . . Continue reading →
Baxter’s Biographer: He Adhered To His Errors On Justification To The End
To give a concise and accurate opinion of these Aphorisms, is no easy task. This difficulty arises from the great number of separate propositions, which are neither always consistent with truth nor with one another. As a book, it abounds in moral . . . Continue reading →
Heidelvideo #4—On The Distinction Between Law And Gospel (Part 3)
In Heidelvideo episode 4 Dr Clark responds to some criticisms of the Reformation distinction between law and gospel. Continue reading →
Heidelvideo #3—On The Distinction Between Law And Gospel (Part 2)
In Heidelvideo episode 3 Dr Clark continues a three-part series on distinguishing law and gospel. Continue reading →
Video: Is Mary Co-Mediator With Jesus?
In the statement, Mater Populi Fidelis, the Roman Catholic Church clarifies and modifies some of its language about Mary. As a Protestant, Pastor Adriel Sanchez shares what he appreciates, and where he still pushes back, on Marian Catholic teaching. RESOURCES Subscribe To . . . Continue reading →
A Partial Explanation of Psalm One By Girolamo Zanchi
Zanchi’s explanation of the psalm provides an excellent introduction to his orations and to his thinking about theological education. In it he reckoned that the psalmist’s main message was simply that “we should devote ourselves, with our whole soul, to the pursuit of God’s law and piety and [that] we should meditate upon that law day and night.” As simple as is this plain reading of the text, it is a keynote to which Zanchi returned over and over. Continue reading →
New Translation In Print: Rollock On Romans
Robert Rollock (1555–98) did not live very long but he was a hard-working Scotsman who left his mark on Reformed theology and especially in biblical commentary and the development of Reformed covenant theology. In his introduction to Rollock’s commentary on Ephesians, Casey . . . Continue reading →
Owen Versus Tombes On Infant Baptism
The passages are these:— He was thirty years old when he came up to be baptized. Then, when he had the mature age of a teacher, he came to Jerusalem, so that all would reasonably accept him as a teacher. For he . . . Continue reading →
Luther On Bound Choice: Celebrating The Recovery Of The Doctrine Of Sola Gratia (Part 2)—Erasmus Of Rotterdam
When Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536) was born, the printing press was about fifteen years old. Paul II was Pope. Frederick III was Holy Roman Emperor. What we think of today as the Netherlands was ruled by the House of Burgundy. Luther would not . . . Continue reading →
Muller On Beza’s Translation And The Limbus Patrum
Rendering “sheol”: Beza and Acts 2:27. Beza, for example, worried textually and linguistically over the problem of the citation of Psalm 16:8–11 in Acts 2:25–28. Specifically, verse 10 of the Psalm (Acts 2:27) had been used in the church as one of the . . . Continue reading →
Benedict Pictet Contra The Limbus Patrum
We must observe, also, that the soul, after this life, goes either into heaven or into hell, and into no other place; for the scripture mentions no other, neither purgatory, nor limbus, nor subterranean caverns, nor Lethean streams; whatever is asserted in . . . Continue reading →
New Insight Into Olevianus And Ursinus On The Imputation Of Active Obedience
The publication of this new research, completed only in the last month, may surprise some readers, disappoint others, and delight still others but it is important research that changes what we know about the origins and development of the controversy over the . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck On The Limbus Patrum
Moreover, all have their own task and place. Roman Catholics assume that after death Old Testament believers waited in the limbo of the fathers and were not released until Christ freed them at his descent into hell; and they also believe that . . . Continue reading →
Vos On The Limbus Patrum
What is the limbus patrum of Roman Catholics? The limbus patrum (limbo of the fathers) is the place where the believing fathers of the Old Testament had to stay in a state of expectation before the coming of the Messiah. After His death on the cross, . . . Continue reading →