The Dutch Reformed Church in the American Colonies
The Dutch Reformed Church in the American Colonies

Author: Gerald Francis De Jong

Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Published: 1978

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13:

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"The Dutch Reformed Church in the American Colonies remains the best study of the early years of the Reformed Church in North America. De Jong's careful account takes the readers on a fascinating journey from the establishment of a Dutch church at a mill in New Amsterdam to the early years of an indigenous American denomination. Along the way we become acquainted with issues in the colonial period that are pertinent in the twenty-first century for the Reformed Church in America: church multiplication, leadership training, discipleship, regional tensions, adaptation to cultural changes, worship, and liturgy. De Jong helps us to see that, in many respects, the more things change, the more they remain the same." The Rev. Dennis N. Voskuil, Ph.D. President and De Witt Professor of Church History Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan "The reissue of De Jong's classic study is very welcome. Though of course there has been other important work on various aspects of the colonial Dutch Reformed experience in the thirty years since the book's first appearance, still it remains the standard comprehensive account - a careful and thorough work that shows a mastery of the sources and sticks close to them." The Rev. John Coakley, Ph.D L. Russel Feakes Professor of Church History, New Brunswick Theological Seminary New Brunswick, New Jersey

Grace Worth Fighting For: Recapturing the Vision of God's Grace in the Canons of Dort
Grace Worth Fighting For: Recapturing the Vision of God's Grace in the Canons of Dort

Author: Daniel R. Hyde

Publisher:

Published: 2019-03-03

Total Pages: 438

ISBN-13: 9781949716924

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Calvinists are well known for their fighting, and on the rare occasions when the Synod of Dort is remembered, it is often highlighted as an example of Calvinist squabbling and dogmatism. But few know the real story, or why the battles at Dort were worth fighting. In celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Canons of Dort, pastor and scholar Daniel Hyde reminds us what Dort was all about: protecting and proclaiming the glorious gospel of grace!Dispelling harsh caricatures and whitewashed hagiographies alike, Hyde leads us on a patient journey through the history and text of the Canons, illuminating the fine-grained theological distinctions and simple Scriptural truths encapsulated in their ninety-three articles. Along the way, the reader will discover the startling catholicity and breadth of this foundational statement of Calvinism, and its remarkable pastoral value for nourishing Christian faith, hope, and love today.

The Synod of Dort
The Synod of Dort

Author: Joel R. Beeke

Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht

Published: 2020-06-08

Total Pages: 236

ISBN-13: 3647540773

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The Synod of Dort was an international conference of Reformed leaders held in 1618–1619 in the Netherlands. It is famous for its so-called Five Points of Calvinism which were a refutation of the Five Remonstrances of the followers of Arminius on the nature of divine grace and the perseverance of believers unto eternal salvation. As an international Synod, Dort made a significant impact on the definition and development of Reformed orthodoxy for decades and centuries to come. In countries such as France, the Canons of Dort served as a confessional boundary for Reformed orthodoxy and all pastors had to swear allegiance to them. Despite its tremendous influence, the decisions of the Synod of Dort remain a mystery to many today and are subject to caricatures and stereotypes of an extreme divine determinism and the hijacking of Calvin's pure theology. This volume seeks to shed light on various aspects of the Synod of Dort in order to inform the contemporary reader of its proper historical and theological context and its experiential emphases. Some leading scholars of post-Reformation Reformed thought and the Synod have contributed essays to this work. The book is divided into three major sections designed to deliver a better overall perspective on the Synod. The first section focuses on the reception of the Canons of Dort among the Reformed churches in France where they were accepted and enforced. However, there were some internal questions, concerns, and even objections to the canons which are detailed in these chapters. The second section hones in on the theology of the Canons of Dort with particular attention to the doctrines of election and the nature of the atonement. This section also includes an important chapter on the relationship between church and state, always a central concern in the Reformation and post-Reformation eras. Finally, the third major section looks at how believers could apply the theology to their daily lives and devotion to Christ. These chapters indicate that this was not merely a theological conference, but one that had practical and experiential implications as well. The book concludes with a chapter on the application of the Synod for believers today.