Thanks to Wes for this intro to the missionary (missional?) theology of Johannes Hoornbeek.
History of the Reformed Churches
Reformation History Resource: Zwingli Online
Zwingli is the forgotten Reformer. Hated by the Lutherans as a “sacramentarian” moralist and not terribly favored by the mature Reformed Reformation, he’s the ugly step son of the Reformation. Here’s a blog (operated by whom?) which collects Zwingli resources. (HT: Jim West)
Post-Thanksgiving Cartoons: Reply to James White
Yes, I’m aware that James White has posted a caricature of my views. Thanks to everyone who wrote to make sure I saw that. Rather than trying to respond to all of his claims, let me focus today on just one to . . . Continue reading →
Was the Covenant of Works Gracious?
It is widely held in the modern period that it was. To deny that strikes many today as absurd, as impossible. The 16th and 17th century Reformed writers were not so troubled by that idea since they had much less difficulty than . . . Continue reading →
Calvin on Psalm Singing in Worship
As for public prayers, there are two kinds: the one consists simply of speech, the other of song…And indeed, we know from experience that singing has great strength and power to move and to set on fire the hearts of men in . . . Continue reading →
Guy de Bres Before His Martyrdom
Thanks to Wes for posting this extract from Guy de Bres’ defense of the faith before his martyrdom, at the hands of the Romanists, in 1567. de Bres was the author of the Belgic Confession, which is the confession of faith held . . . Continue reading →
St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
Thanks to Gil Garcia for reminding us that the week of August 23 is the anniversary of the 1572 St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. One of the great paradoxes of the history of Reformed theology is that “Calvinism” is often pictured as marching . . . Continue reading →
Of Calvin and Genevan Dogs
With no reference to our gracious Genevese hosts for the last 8 days I thought it would be fun to bring my experience of the 2009 Calvinpalooza to a close with a few more mundane observations. You know, of course, that Calvin . . . Continue reading →
Farel's Baptismal Form
William (Guillaume) Farel preceded Calvin in Geneva and worked alongside him in advancing the Reformation there and elsewhere in the Francophone world in the 16th century. Wes Bredenhof has a fascinating account of his baptismal liturgy, which features a strong emphasis on . . . Continue reading →
New in Print Godfrey on Calvin as Pilgrim and Pastor (Updated)
Bob Godfrey, President and Professor of Church History at WSC has an excellent new book out just in time for Calvin’s 500th birthday: John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor. I’ll review it in this space later this month or early next month, Dv. . . . Continue reading →
Servetus Wasn't the Only One
But he’s the anti-Trinitarian who gets all the ink because he’s a convenient stick with which to beat Calvin. There were other anti-Trinitarians who were put to death for heresy. There’s more about this in my book on Olevianus.
When Was Zwingli an Anabaptist? Updated
Robert G. Torbet, A History of the Baptists (Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1950), 35 contains this striking subordinate clause, “…when Zwingli became reluctant to continue his Anabaptist teaching…” I’ve read this claim before and I’ve heard it repeated. I’ve never seen any . . . Continue reading →
"Thus Think and Smoke Tobacco"
This is the refrain from a poem by Ralph Erskine. He anticipated the NTJ by two hundred fifty years. Erskine (d. 1752) was one of those who upheld the gospel against the moralists of his day and he was one of the . . . Continue reading →
This Looks Really Good
A book on the Rev. John (“Rabbi”—because his Hebrew was so good) Duncan, a 19th-century Scottish missionary to Hungary. When you follow the link the Banner of Truth website will ask you where you are and then take you to the book . . . Continue reading →
Bucer on Pastoral Care Now in English
And available from the Bookstore at WSC.
Molly Worthen on Mark Driscoll (and Calvin)
You should probably read Molly Worthen’s essay on Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill (HT: Justin Taylor). I don’t know if she gets Driscoll right. If (that’s a big condition. It means if the condition isn’t met then what follows is irrelevant) what she . . . Continue reading →
Did the Reformation Spawn a Million Churches? or Who’s the Modernist Here?
That’s the old canard that the Emergent Village folks appear to be trotting out (HT: Daily Scroll). Honestly, I wonder where this lot went to school. I noted the strange historical story that EV folk tell themselves in my essay in Brian . . . Continue reading →
Kick Off Calvin’s 500th Birthday Celebration with WSC!
Westminster Seminary California is very happy to begin the year-long birthday bash for our favorite Reformer, John Calvin (1509-1564). We’re doing so with a conference 16-17 January, on the WSC campus, Calvin’s Legacy: Reforming the Church Today.
Re-Thinking the Old Paradigm From Within
One of the reasons I wrote Recovering the Reformed Confession was to help professedly Reformed Christians re-connect to their heritage. When, in the early 1980s, I began researching the Reformed tradition I was surprised to learn not only how the Reformed theology, piety, . . . Continue reading →
The Eschatology of the Westminster Divines
The CTC guys interview WSC alumnus as WTS prof, Jeff Jue. Another WSC grad at WTS prof, Lane Tipton, is on the panel.