Article XI Concerning Things Commanded and Not Commanded Of self law (Autonomia) or power in the conscience, Relinquished to Christ alone in the church We confess that no one ought to command in any manner that which Christ has not commanded; also, . . . Continue reading →
Recovering the Reformed Confession
A Wonderful Illustration Of The Necessity Of An Objective Definition Of Reformed
Trevin Wax and David Fitch have been in a dialogue in which each of them has published a post expressing appreciation for the other’s tradition. Wax identifies as Reformed and Fitch as Anabaptist. The reader can draw his own conclusions as to . . . Continue reading →
Back In Print: Beza On The Christian Faith
Theodore Beza (1519–1605) was one of the most significant Reformed theologians in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a humanist (a classics scholar), Calvin’s successor in Geneva, a New Testament scholar, minister, and a teacher in the Genevan Academy. . . . Continue reading →
Volume 3 Of Perkins’ Works Available Now
William Perkins (1558–1602) is one of the most important of the English Reformed writers of the late 16th and early 17th centuries but, until recently, his works were mostly unavailable. Until this new series by RHB, his works had been out of . . . Continue reading →
A New Online Resource For Bible Study
Travis Fentiman wrote to let me know about a resource site he has compiled which is built on Spurgeon’s recommended list of commentaries and upon resources such as the Post-Reformation Digital Library (PRDL). It is a gateway to older, online biblical commentaries. . . . Continue reading →
When Confessional P & R Congregations Do Not Exist Or Disappoint
A reader writes: “I’ve followed your blog and podcast for a while now. I have not been a Reformed/Presbyterian for very long, but I do know that I want to be a part of a specific congregation that is committed to confessional . . . Continue reading →
Which Classic Reformed Works To Read In English?
Rob writes, Listening to you on the Heidelblog/Heidelcast and Office Hours, you have given me a enormous desire to read more “classic reformed theology.” I am currently reading Turretin’s Institutes and I would love to know who are some more classic reformed . . . Continue reading →
With The Reformed Collective On Reformed Piety
Piety. It is a short but it is a very important word in the Reformed tradition. It is Latin word, pietas, which, in classical usage referred to one’s duty toward the gods and toward one’s parents. In traditional Christian usage it has . . . Continue reading →
Help Recover One Of The Most Important (And Neglected) Reformed Theologians For English Readers
Gijsbertus Voetius (1589–1676) is perhaps the linchpin of Dutch Reformed theology in the 17th century. To shift metaphors, he is the Grand Central Station of Reformed orthodoxy in the Netherlands. In one way or another all the various trains seem to run . . . Continue reading →
The Allure Of Unwritten Tradition
The earliest post-apostolic Christians (some of whom are denominated the Apostolic Fathers) knew of an apostolic tradition but they did not know about a secret and unwritten apostolic tradition on the authority of which the church could justify virtually anything it wanted. . . . Continue reading →
Pies, Docs, Kuyps, And Confessionalists
The first time I heard the expression, “Pies, Docs, and Kuyps” was during a seminary lecture by Derke Bergsma. He was relating what had already become a fairly standard sociological taxonomy in the Reformed world. There are three kinds of Reformed folk: . . . Continue reading →
What Is Your Line In The Sand? (Updated)
I am not certain what it means but pastors resort to military analogies with surprising frequency. One of them is the metaphor of “dying on a hill.” The image is that of a marine charging up a hill or fighting to hold . . . Continue reading →
Help Create A New Tool For Learning The Westminster Shorter Catechism
More info (including a nice video).
Church Or Conventicle? (Updated)
Resources On A Covenantal Approach To The Christian Life
Chris writes to the HB to ask about moving from the conversionist paradigm for the Christian life to the covenantal vision for the Christian life, how does a “covenantal” approach to the Christian life appear? This is an important question. Since the . . . Continue reading →
Jackson, “Unto” And “Toward” In Ephesians 4:11–12, And Every Member Ministry
American evangelical Christianity has both influenced and been influenced by shifts in American culture since before the founding of the Republic. One of the shifts, which has had lasting effects, was the turn toward a more radically democratic turn in politics at . . . Continue reading →
Resources For Those Discovering The Reformed Confession
Heidelcast listener Wes, who describes himself as a “newcomer to the Reformed faith,” writes to ask for recommendations to build a “firm foundation in Reformed theology.” Here are some preliminary recommendations. You are welcome to add your recommendations in the comments. To . . . Continue reading →
What Good Are Confessions And Catechisms If They Are Not Inerrant?
A correspondent writes to the HB to ask, in effect, if confessions are not infallible, what good are they? He asks, Westminster Confession 31:4 seems to be problematic, since it says all synods…have erred or may err, and thus are not to . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 117—Calvinist: The Movie With Les Lanphere
We are interrupting our series on covenant and baptism to talk to a special guest, Les Lanphere. He is one half of the Reformed Pubcast and co-moderator of the Reformed Pub on Facebook. He’s also a film maker and he is in . . . Continue reading →
Tillich: Pietism And The Enlightenment Both Fought Against Orthodoxy
It is entirely wrong to place the rationalism of the Enlightenment in contradiction to pietistic mysticism. It is popular nonsense that reason and mysticism are the two great opposites. Historically, Pietism and the Enlightenment both fought against Orthodoxy. The subjectivity of Pietism, . . . Continue reading →