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Handout Church History
John H. gerstner
2
Contents
Part OneIntroductionThe Bible and Church HistorySecond Century: The Church of the Apostolic Fathers and ApologistsThird and Fourth Centuries: nicaea and the Deity of ChristFifth Century in the east: Two natures of Christ in one Divine PersonFifth Century in the Westearly Middle Ages: ecclesiastico-Political romanismThe Thirteenth CenturyThe end of the Middle: A Summary
Part TwoForerunners of lutherMartin lutherUlrich ZwingliColloquy of MarburgPhilip Melanchthon and lutheran SlippageThe lutheran Book of Concord and Saxon Visitation ArticlesJohn Calvin and the CalvinistsCalvinistic Creeds and the Westminster StandardsThe Anabaptists
Part Threeromanism’s Counter reformation: TrentThe Thirty Years Warorthodoxy on the Continent and BritainPuritanism in england and new englandArminianism and the external Attack on reformation orthodoxyCovenant Theology and the internal Attack on reformation orthodoxyenlightenment: root and Branch Attack on reformation orthodoxyThe Modern Missionary MovementThe Twentieth CenturyConclusion
3
1
introduction
1. “ChurchHistory”isheredefinedastheperiodfromtheendoftheapostolicperiodtothereturnofJesus
2. Inthesethirty-ninesteps,Iwilltrytobringthestoryofthechurch’sascentanddescenttotheendofourowntimeinwhicheachofusiswritinghisownpage.
3. YourteachersubscribestothechildhooddictumthatallhistoryisHis story.
4. AllthatcomestopassiseternallyordainedbyGod(Lamentations3:37),forHisownglory,andthegoodofmankind.
5. Thismayseemstrangebecauseallhistoryendswithheavenandhell(Matthew25:31ff.).Allcanseethatheavenisforthegoodofthosewhoarethere,buthell?
6. Thatisgood,too,becauseallhistoryisthe“forbearanceofGodthatleadstorepentance”(Romans2:4)andeternallife.
7. Itismanhimselfwhochoosesnottorepentandlive,anditisgoodthathereceivewhathehimselfchoosestoreceive.
8. Godissurelynotto“blame”forwhathappensonlywhenman,rejectingHim,leavesHim“outofthepicture.”
9. Everyhistorianhashisownspecialityinthisvastfield.Yourprofessor’sisthedevelopmentofdoctrine,andthatwillbeemphasizedinthisbriefsketch.ItookmyPh.D.atHarvardinhistoryandreligionandamprofessoremeritusofPittsburghTheologicalSeminary,whereItaughtthissubjectforthirtyyears.
10. ThiscourseiscalledHandout Church HistorybecauseeachstudentreceivesahandoutcontainingtenpointsfromwhichIlectureextemporaneously.Forthosewhowanttogodeeperwesuggestamongthousandsoftitles:
a. Heaviest:W.Walker,A History of the Christian Churchb. Lessheavy:E.E.Cairns,Christianity Through the Centuries: A History of the
Christian Churchc. Lighter:Eerdmans Handbook to the History of Christianityd. Lightest:Kuiper,Story of the Churche. Reference:Bettenson,Documents of the Christian ChurchandPhilipSchaff,
Creeds of Christendom,3volumes
Part O
ne
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2
the Bible and Church History
(Part 1)
1. TheBibleistheonlyinspiredchurchhistoryeverwritten(2Timothy3:16).
2. Or,thateverwillbewritten.
3. SinceitisGod’sWord,itis,ofcourse,withoutanyerrorinfactorjudgment.Yes,theBiblewaswrittenbymen;butifitisGod’sWord,Hewouldnotallowthehumanwriterstoerr.
4. Someonewillpersistandsay,“Thenthehumanwriterscouldnotbereallyhumaniftheycouldnoterr.”Ifthatwereso,Ireply,thenJesusChrist,whonevererred,wasnothuman.Enoughsaid?
5. SincetheBibleistheWordofGod,allmayreaditsinspiredchurchhistorywithabsoluteconfidenceinitscontents.
6. ButtheBiblealsohasgreatrelevancetothechurchhistorywearestudyinghere.
7. First,theBibletellsusmanythingsthatwillhappeninourage.Thishelpsusunderstandwhatisactuallyoccurring.Eventsthemselvesareoftenlikeatrainconductorcallingoutastation,almostindecipherably,untilweseethepostedsignoutsideourwindow.
8. Second,theBibletellsusthisisall“His”story,sotheChristiancanrejoiceineveryepisode,howeversaditmaybebyitselfalone.Wecanrollwitheverypunch.
9. Third,theBibletellsusallthatthisworld’shistorywillendwiththereturnofJesusChrist.TheChristianthenknowsthateverydaybringshistoryclosertotheblessedhope!
10. Fourth,dependingonone’sinterpretationofthelastbookoftheBible,muchofchurchhistoryhasbeenprogressivelyunfoldingsothattheChristianknowsthatthetimeoftheendisapproachingwithouteverknowingtheprecisedate.
5
3
the Bible and Church History
(Part 2)
1. Fifth,mostimportantofall,theBibleis“normative”history,whilemerelyhumanchurchhistoriesare“descriptive.”
2. ThatmeansthattheBibletellsuswhatchurchhistoryoughttobe,while“churchhistory”onlytellsuswhatitis.
3. Thenon-biblicallyorientedchurchhistoriancanonlyrelateeventsbutcannotjudgetheirgoodnessorbadnessascanthebiblicalchurchhistorian.
4. IfancyIhearanexpostulationfromsomemembersoftheclass:“Howcantherebeany‘badness’or‘oughtnot’inhistory,if,asyousay,allhistoryisHisstory?”
5. Answer:HisstorymeansdecreedorpredeterminedbyGodbutnotnecessarilyauthoredbyHim.Heeternallydecreed(aswesawabove)toallowmentochoosetoabusedivineforbearanceandbringjudgmentonthemselves,whichtheyoughtnottohavedone.
6. Backtothesequeltopoint#3above.ThebiblicalchurchhistorianshouldfollowEmerson’sadvice:“Hugthefacts;thencutloose.”Lethim,withthehelpofsecu-lar,non-biblicalhistorians,gatherthemereandsheerdataandonlythen“cutloose”withbiblicalevaluations.
7. Thedifferencebetweenbiblicalandnon-biblicalchurchhistoriansevensurfacesinthenamesofcoursestaught.Forexamplewhenyouseeacoursein“NewTes-tamentandEarlyChurch,”probablytheprofessordoesnotbelievethatthereisaqualitativedifferencebetweenNewTestamenthistoryandearlychurchhistory,whichtherecertainlyis.
8. Thatisnottosaythatthereisnoquantitativecontinuity.
9. So,youshouldunderstandthiscoursefarbetterforknowingyourBible.
10. And,youshouldunderstandyourBiblebetterforknowingthiscourse.
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4
Second Century:
the Church of the
Apostolic Fathers and Apologists
1. Asthechurchgrewitencounteredpersecution.Indeed,itwaspersecutionbywhichitgrew.
2. Alreadybytheendofthefirstandthroughouttheearlycenturies,itwasthe“bloodofthemartyrsthatwastheseedofthechurch.”
3. ItmaybethattheReformedchurchisnotnotablygrowingtodaybecausethereisnotenough“martyrdom.”
4. ThenatureofthechurchintheearlysecondcenturyisknownmainlyfromtheapostolicfatherssuchasClementofRome,Ignatius,Polycarp,andtheShepherdofHermas.
5. Theirswasarelativelysimple,trusting,biblicalChristianity.
6. Thesecondcenturywasgraduallyrecognizingthatintheapostles,andespe-ciallyPaul,GodhadgivenafinalsupplementofinspiredScripturetocompletethethirty-ninebooksoftheOldTestament.
7. Itwasthelater“apologists”(suchasAristides,Tatian,Athenagoras,andTheo-philus)whoweretodefendthedivinetruthoftheChristianreligionasitsimpactwasbeingfeltthroughouttheRomanEmpire,includingitseducatedclasses.
8. Thatdefensewaswhatwetodayusuallycall“classical”or“evidential.”
9. ItrestedchieflyonthefulfillmentofOldTestamentprophecy,themiracles(especiallyofChrist),andthechangedlivesChristproduced.
10. Generally,theapologists(asthemostfamous,JustinMartyr)out-diedaswellasout-thoughttheirheathencontemporaries.
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5
third and Fourth Centuries:
Nicaea and the deity of Christ
1. TheBibleteachesthedeityofChrist.
2. TheChristianchurchwasfoundedonChrist.ThosewhobelievedinHimmettogethertoworshipChrist.
3. SowhereChristwas,therewasthechurch.
4. ButjustastherewasaJudasamongtheapostlestherewereantichristsinthechurchfromitsbeginnings(1John4:1ff ).
5. ThosewholateropenlydeniedthedeityofChristwerecalledArians,afterArius(thepresbyterofBishopAlexanderofAlexandria);butitwasOrigen(c.185-254)who,thoughheapparentlylovedandworshipedChrist,neverthelessmayhaveledIsraeltosinbyseemingtodenyHisfulldeity.
6. WhateverquestiontheremaybeaboutOrigen’steachingandintention,therecanbenoquestionaboutArius’teachingandintention.
7. EmperorConstantiusshowedthatthesonofagodlyfather(EmperorConstan-tine)couldbecomeanArianandanantichrist,thoughitmustbeadmittedthathisfatherhadbeenmoretolerantofAriansthanAthanasiusapproved.
8. NotbeingforChrist,ConstantiusandothersturnedagainstChristandhisgreatadvocate,Athanasius,successorofAlexanderasbishopofAlexandria.
9. Thefirstecumenicalcouncil,Nicaeain325,mixedmultitudeofecclesiasticalleadersthatitwas,becameneverthelessthegreatesteverbecauseitaffirmedthatChristwasofthesamesubstanceasthedivineFather,God.
10. Afterahalfcenturyoffurtherstruggle,theFirstCouncilofConstantinople(381)reaffirmedthedeityofJesusChristandaffirmedthedeityoftheHolySpiritaswell.
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6
Fifth Century in the east:
two Natures of Christ
in One divine Person
1. ThetheologicalbattledidnotendatNicaeaorevenatConstantinople,thoughthestandardofadivineChristwasraisedforallofsubsequentchurchhistory.
2. GrantedthatJesusChristwasGod,whatwasthechurchtomakeofHishumanity?
3. Asonemodernhereticputitinanswertothequestion,IsJesusChristGod?“Ofcoursenot.GodisGod.”
4. TherewerealsothoseinthefourthcenturywhocouldnotseethatifChristwasGodHecouldbeman(theMonophysites)orifHeweremanHecouldnotbeGod(theNestorians).
5. ThegreatCouncilofChalcedonin451didnottelltheMonophysitesandNesto-rianshowChristcouldbebothGodandman,butitdidtelltheminalmostinspiredlanguage,thatitwasso.
6. JesusChrist,Chalcedonsaid,isGodandman.
7. JesusChristisoneGodwhohastwonatures:divineandhuman.
8. Thesetwonatureswerenotsocombinedthatthehumanwasabsorbedintothedivine(againsttheMonophysites).
9. NorsoseparatedthattheybecametwopersonsandChristasplitpersonality(againsttheNestorians).
10. From451tothisday,thechurchhasnotessentiallyimprovedonwhatChalcedondidforthegloryoftheincarnateSonofGod.
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7
Fifth Century in the West:
Augustine and the
“Whole Counsel of God”
1. Bythemiddleofthesecondcentury,thechurchhaddevelopedherApostles’Creedandbythemiddleofthefifthcentury,herclassicalaffirmationoftheper-sonofherLordJesusChrist.
2. ShewaspropagatingthiselementalGospeltothe“world”fromJerusalemtoIndiaintheEast,BritainintheWest,andAfricaintheSouth.
3. ItremainedforChrist’satoningworktobedeclaredasclearlyasHisdivineper-soninhumanformhadbeen.
4. InoteinpassingthatthechurchwasfollowingthedoctrinalpathoftheapostlesintheNewTestament.First,theapostleshadleanedthatChristwas“theSonofthelivingGod,”onlytobetoldthatHemustgotoJerusalemanddie(Matthew16:13ff.).
5. NothingbuthisactualdeathcouldpersuadethemthattheirGodcoulddie(inthehumannature).
6. ButthenChristand“Himcrucified”becametheheartoftheirGospel.
7. BeforetheAtonementwastoreceiveitsclassicalstatementbythechurch,however,the“wholecounselofGod”fromwhichPaulhadnotshrunklesthebeguiltyofthebloodofmen(Acts20:20)hadtobespelledout.
8. Forthis,Augustine(354-430),especially,wasthearchitect.
9. Heshowed,asneverbeforeinchurchhistory,thedepthsofhumandepravityandtheheightsofa“doublepredestination.”
10. Augustinedidnotshrinkfromthewholecounsel,butmostofthechurcheversincehasdoneso.
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Fifth Century in the West: tertullian to Cyprian to Augustine
and the true Church
1. OnenoticesthattheApostle’sCreedhasnomentionofpredestinationintheChristianlife,thoughtheapostlesstressedsuchprinciples.
2. AndNicaeaandChalcedon,preoccupiedwiththepersonofChrist,hadnotimeleftforstressingtheneedofChristianstotakeuptheircrossandfollowHim.
3. ButTertullian,whoprovidedmuchoftheverylanguageofChristology,didstressthelivingChrist.
4. Infact,hethoughtsomuchofthedutyoffollowingChrist,livinganddyingforHim,thathisethicalrigorismmadehimdisgustedwiththedevelopingeasy-believism.
5. Finally,hecouldstanditnolongerandbecameaseparatistfromthechurchcatholic(universal),joiningagroupthatwas,asmostseparatistsare,worsethanthefaultymotherchurchfromwhomtheyseparated.
6. Cyprian,anotherNorthAfrican,affectedbyTertullian,insistedonthepurityofthechurchtothepointofnotacceptingbaptismbyanimpurepriest.
7. Cyprianmatchedhispracticetohisstrictpreachingbydyingamartyr.ThushemadehiserrorseemasgoodasCyprianwashimself.
8. ThatmadeitallthemoredifficultforAugustinetoshowthechurchthatthoughCyprian’sheartwasright,hisheadwasnotalwaysscrewedontightly.
9. But,thankstoAugustineagain,wehaveadoctrineofthechurchthatstrivesforaperfectionsheneverreaches.
10. Thechurch’sunworthyministersdonotdestroythesacramentstheyadministerevenwhentheydestroythemselvesbyhypocriticallyadministeringthem.
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9
Fifth Century in the West: Fall of imperial Rome and Rise
of ecclesiastical Rome
1. WhilethemissionarychurchwasusingRomanroads,language,andcivilizationtoChristianizetheworld,Romeandherculturewerecollapsingbeforethebar-barianspouringoverherborders.
2. AlarictheVisigoth,pushedbytheHunsandlaterfollowedbytheHunsthem-selvesunderAttila,pouredintoRome,andonlyitsbishopcouldpersuadethemtoleave.
3. ThusbeganthefallofoneRomewhichtyrannizedoverthebodiesofmentobesucceededbyanotherRome,whichultimatelytyrannizedoverthebodiesandsoulsofmen.
4. ImperialRomeadvancedbytheswordandruledbythesword.EcclesiasticalRomewastoconquerandrulebytwoswords:ecclesiasticalandpolitical.
5. TherecanbenoquestionthatpoliticalRomegavebirthtoecclesiastico-politicalRome.ManyscholarsonceheldthatPeterdiedamartyrinRomeafteratwenty-fiveyearbishopric.Hardlyanyonebelievesthattoday,thoughPeterapparentlyreachedRomeanddiedthereasamartyr.
6. ThereisnoquestionthatRomewasPaul’scity,twicevisitedandtheplaceofhismartyrdom,andPaul,notPeter,wastheNewTestamentMoses.
7. ButRome,havingsettledonamisinterpretationofMatthew16:18,“YouarePeter,anduponthisrockIwillbuildMychurch...,”andseeingPeterandnot“Peter-in-faith-in-the-Lordship-of-Jesus-Christ-confessing,”hadtofindasuccessorforhimnotevenmentionedintheNewTestament.
8. AndPeter’ssuccessorsweretobecometheonestowhomsubmissionwasneces-saryforsalvation.
9. Oncebegun,thisvirtualdeificationofthepapacycouldnotbestopped.
10. Howthisdevelopmentcameaboutwillbetracedinthenexthandout.
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early Middle Ages:
ecclesiastico-Political Romanism
1. Theestablishmentoftheecclesiastico-politicalRomewastheworkespeciallyofthreepopes:Hildebrand(1075-1089);InnocentIII(1198-1216);andBonifaceVIII(1294-1303)
2. The“InvestitureStruggle”—whoshouldordainorcrownwhom?Theking,thepope;orthepope,theking?Thiswasabattleroyalofpoliticalandecclesiasticalroyalty.
3. IntheEastthebattlehadbeenwonbytheczars.InIslamtheofficeswerecom-binedinthesultanate.
4. IntheWestthebattlewaspitchedbetweenKingHenryIVandHildebrand,especiallyatCanossa(1077).Theretheemperor,whohadbeenexcommunicatedandhissubjectsfreedfromsubmissionbythepope,stoodbarefootinthesnowoutsidethepapalpalacebeggingforforgiveness.
5. Thepopehadtoforgiveapenitent,buthecouldnotbecauseheknewtoowellwhatwouldhappenifhedid.
6. Theemperorwonhispardonandthepopelosthisthrone—atleasttheoccupa-tionofit,forhewassoondrivenintoexilewherehedied.
7. TheultimatepapaltriumphcamewithInnocentIII,who,morethananypopebeforeorsince,controlledchurchandstate.AttheFourthLateranCouncil(1215),hecommandedcrusades,definedthesevensacraments(includingtran-substantiation),madeconfessionnecessary,andthepenitentialsystemtheonlywayofsalvation.
8. BonifaceVIIIin1302issuedhisUnam Sanctum,whichmadesubmissiontothepopenecessaryforsalvation.
9. HehimselfcouldnotescapethepowerofPhiliptheFair,kingofFrance,inthisworld.
10. Ithasbeensaidthatheruledlikealion,butdiedlikeadog.
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the thirteenth Century:
Salvation by the Church
1. OnceuponatimesalvationwasbyJesusChrist.
2. Bythethirteenthcentury,salvationwasbythechurch.
3. ItwasallegedthatsalvationwasbythegraceofGodalonebutthatgracewasavailablefromthechurchalone.
4. ThesavingGospelmedicinecamefromabove,fromGod;butitwasgiventothechurchtobeadministeredbyher.
5. Aneattheologicalpackage.TherecipientofgracecouldthankGodforitandthankthechurchforlettinghimhaveit.
6. IfGodhadnotgivenit,theworldwouldnothaveit;but,iftheychurchdidnotreleaseit,theworldwouldperish.Insummary:
a. Thechurchadministeredbaptismtotheinfants,whichbroughttheirregeneration.
b. Thechurchadministeredconfirmation,whichbroughtthestrengtheningHolySpirit.
c. ThechurchadministeredtheEucharist,whichfedthepeoplewiththebodyofChristfortheChristianjourney.
d. Thechurchintheconfessionadministeredforgivenessandrequiredpeni-tenceforsinscommitted.
e. Thechurchbyextremeunctionpreparedthesoulfortransitiontoheaven,usuallyindirectlythroughpurgatory.
f. Fortheclergythechurchadministeredindelibleordersandforthelaitymarriage.
7. Absolutecertitudeofsalvationintheecclesiasticalwayfromwombtotombwasguaranteedbythechurch.
8. Onlyoneproblem:Thesystemwillnotwork.
9. Itwillnotworkbecause:(1)Baptismdoesnotregenerate;(2)loveisnotpro-ducedapartfromregeneration;(3)theworkswouldnotbemeritoriouseven
14 Handout Church History
iftheywere“good”works,whichtheyarenot;(4)allsinsofanunregeneratepersonaremortal;(5)thepenitentialsystemispurelyhumanperformance,andassuch,purelyuseless.
10. Toseethedeficiencyanotherway,Icitetheviewofthehistorianofdogma,Seeberg,whoremarksthatsola gratiasurvivedtheMiddleAgesbutnotpredesti-nationorirresistiblegrace.Butwithoutpredestinationandirresistiblegrace,sola gratiacannotsurviveorevenbegintobe.
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the thirteenth Century:
true Church “in the Wilderness”
1. WherewasthechurchofChristduringallofthisanti-Christiandevelopment?
2. Someofit,undoubtedly,wasintheRomanfold,wheretheelectheardChrist’svoiceabovethecryoffalseshepherdsastheblindmanoftheGospels(John9)heardJesusastheChrist.
3. OutsidetheRomanfold,individualbelieverssurvivedandawholemovementgrew.
4. TheWaldensesofthetwelfthandfollowingcenturieswalkedshoelessthroughthestreetsofEuropepreachingasimple,primitiveformoftheNewTestamentmessage,andmanyheardthemgladly.Othersalsowerecryingouttheirhallelu-jahs,thoughthisgroupwasmostprominentandclearlyevangelical.
5. Eventheorganizedchurchatfirsttriedtoembracethem,buttheWaldensesmarchedandlaterdiedtoadifferentdrummer.
6. TheInquisitionwasmoreeffective.Thoseitdidnotdestroyitdroveintohiding,especiallyintoAlpinefortresses.
7. TheretheWaldensessurvivedtotheReformationandtothegreatertolerationofmoderntimes.
8. Manyinterpretersseethemasthewoman-churchofRevelationdrivenintothewildernessandthereprotectedbyherGod.
9. OthersseethemasevidencethatGodwillneverletthevisiblechurchdisappeartotallyfromtheworld.
10. AllseetheWaldenses,alongwiththeLollardsofWyclifasaninspiration,asforerunnersoftheReformation.
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the end of the Middle:
A Summary
1. Thegreatquestionconcerningthechurchattheendofthemiddleis,Wasthechurchstillthere?
2. WehaveseenvastcorruptioncreepinduringtheMiddleAges.Somechangeshadtakenplaceevenduringtheeraofdivinelyguidedapostles.Especiallywasthissoaftertheyleftthechurches;fortunesto“ordinaryofficers”withoutanyfurthersupernaturalguidance.
3. ChrististheonlyHeadoftheChristianchurch,butthepopehadbecomeHisvicarandtheonly(forallpracticalecclesiasticalpurposes)visibleandrealhead.
4. Fromeminenttopreeminenttoindispensable,thepopehadbecomeheadnotonlyoverthechurchbutovertheChristianempireaswell.
5. Membershipinthevisiblechurchhadbecomenecessarytosalvationandsub-missiontothepopenecessarytomembershipinthatchurch.
6. Hehadnotyetbeen“defined”asinfallible,buthewasactingasifhewereandwasbeingacceptedassuchbymany.
7. Thecouncilshadtriedtocontrolthepapacyandfailed.
8. Ontheotherhand,justificationbyfaithalone,thedivinewayofforgivenessandsalvation,hadnotyetbeenexplicitlyrejectedandcondemned.
9. Norhadthechurch’sinterpretationoftheinspiredWordofGodyetbeendeclaredinfallibleandalonelegitimate.
10. WhenLuthercameonthescenetodeclareessentialbiblicalverities,hehadsomereasontothinkthathisadmonitionswouldbeheededandthechurchbecomefaithfultoJesusChrist.
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14
Forerunners of Luther:
Wyclif and Hus
1. JohnWyclifandJohnHuscouldalmostbeconsideredEnglishandCzechWaldenses.Notquite.TheyhadahistoryoftheirownoutsidetheRomanChurch.
2. WyclifwasanOxfordprofessorwhoalsoprofessedamoreorthodoxChris-tianity,beginningwithanattackontransubstantiation,anadvocacyofsavingpersonalfaith,andafreeindependentchurch.
3. IfhehadnothadthesupportofthenoblemanJohnofGaunt,hecouldhavemetmartyrdominthisworldratherthantheposthumousmartyrdomofhavinghisbonesdugupbytheRomanChurch,burned,andashescastintothewaters.
4. JohnofGauntandothernoblesfelttheycoulddefendWyclifnolongerwhenhisattacksonthechurchbecamemoreradical.
5. Wyclif,inillhealth,retiredtoLutterworth,wherehediedin1384,anevencenturybeforethebirthofLuther.Butnotbefore,likeLuther,inexilehedidhismostimportantliteraryworkofbeginningthetranslationoftheBible.
6. LutherwasnevertocallhimselfaWyclifitebutaHussite.
7. ThoughHuswasaforeigndiscipleofWyclif,itwashewhosufferedmartyrdomattheCouncilofConstanceforprinciplesLutherwaslatertoadopt.
8. HushadcaughttheGospelcontagionfromWyclif,expressingitinvariousways,includingademandofthecupforthelaity.
9. The“utraquists”(communioninbothkinds)couldnotbetoleratedbythechurch,thoughChristhadsoinstitutedtheSupper.
10. TheprincipleoftheReformationisnowalive:Individualsfindingforthemselvesbiblicaltruthsdeniedbythechurchwhowillpartwiththeirlivesratherthanthoseprinciples.
Part Tw
o
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15
Forerunners of Luther: Lyra, Valla, erasmus,
and Ockham
1. Onedoesnotalwaysthinkofthesemen,whoneverbrokewiththechurch(nottomentionpayingwiththeirlivesforsodoing),asforerunnersoftheReformers.
2. ButtheywerechildrenoftheRenaissanceifnotoftheReformation,andthereissomequestionwhethertherecouldhavebeenaReformationwithoutaRenaissance.
3. Renaissancemeantrebirth,referringtoGreekandLatinculture,whichhadbeenlargelylostbythebarbarianinvasionsofEurope.
4. Godusesnaturalorcommongraceaswellassupernaturalorspecialgraceforthewell-beingofHischurch.
5. Letmeexplain.WhenmanfellhelostthemoralimageofGod(holiness)butnotthenaturalimageofGod(reasonandwill).
6. Sonaturalmancanandoftendoescultivatethethingsofthemindandwill,how-eversinfullymotivated.Knowledgepuffsupbutitisuseful,asseeninart,music,literature,andcultureingeneral.TheRenaissancemindcangainthewholeworldwhilelosingitssoul,butforthosewhosesoulsarealive,itsculturecanbeagreatblessing.
7. SoitwassaidthatNicolasofLyraplayedthelyretowhichLutherdanced.Beinginterpreted,thismeansthatNicolas’greatscholarshipproducingmanylearnedbiblicalcommentariesshowedLutherhowtousescholarshipinhisprofoundevangelicalpenetrationoftheWordofGod.
8. LorenzoValla,closertoLuther’stime,byhiscriticalresearchesontheforged“DonationofConstantine”andonScriptureitself,showedLutherthewayofnecessarybiblicalexegesisorexpositionfromtheoriginallanguages.
Forerunners of luther: lyra, Valla, erasmus, and ockham 19
9. SayingErasmus,whoselifeoverlappedLuther’slaidtheeggLutherhatchedseemsespeciallystrangeinasmuchasErasmus’andLuther’stheologywerepolemicallyopposed.YetitwasErasmus’biblicalscholarshipthatmadeLutherpossible.
10. Probablythegreatestnon-reformationalforerunnerofLuther’sReformationwasWilliamofOckham,anEnglishFranciscanmonkwhoseunsoundphilosophicalandtheologicalprinciplesindirectlyledMartinLutherinthetruepath.
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16
Forerunners of Luther: Brothers and Sisters of
the Common Life
1. WhatcameclosesttotheReformationbeforetheReformationwasthemove-mentcalledtheBrothers(andlateralsoSisters)oftheCommonLife.
2. ItbeganwithG.GrooteintheNetherlandsandultimatelyspreadthroughotherpartsoftheEuropeanchurch.
3. ThesebrothersandsisterswerelaypeoplewhoseemedaliveinChrist,spreadingtheGospelanddoingmuchgoodamongthecommonpeople,especiallythepoorandneedy.
4. ThemostfamousadherentwasknownasThomasàKempis(c.1380-1471),authoroftheimmortalImitation of Christ.
5. AlongwithBunyan’sPilgrim’s Progress,itistheworld’sbestsellernextonlytotheBible.
6. ItwasastudyintheinnerlifeofthedevoutChristian,showinghimhowtomediateandpracticeespeciallytheteachingsofJesus.
7. Theemphasiswasonhumility,love,service,andpreparationforthesacrament.
8. TheImitationgivesnogreatdevelopmentofsoteriologybutdoespointtodeeppietyandpractice.
9. Whydidthistypeofmovement,usefulasitwas,notleadtoreformation?
10. ItwasdomesticatedbythepapalchurchastheWaldensianmovementcouldn’tbe.WhenBonifaceIXrecognizeditandgaveitstandinginthechurch,reformwasnippedinthebud.
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Forerunners of Luther:
Savonarola
1. Savonarolawasaone-manmovementstartingoutlikeLuther’sbutwithquiteadifferentending.
2. LikeLuther,Savonarolawasamonk,thoughintheDominicanorder.
3. LikeLuther,hisoppositiontothehierarchy’sindifferencetoChristianthoughtandlifewassurprisinglysuccessful,astheMedicis’Florenceovernightbecamequitezealousandmoral,burningtheirvanitiesandsoberlyreforming.
4. ButthewaythatallcameaboutwasasflukyasSavonarolahimselfwasgenuine.
5. TheReformerofFlorencehadthreateneddivinejudgmentonthecity’ssins.Hebecamespecific,sayingitwouldbebythekingofFrance.
6. Savonaroladidnotknowthatthemiracleofpredictiveprophecyhadceasedwiththeapostolicage.
7. God,whoissometimespleasedtoallowthedeceivedtoremaindeceived,per-mittedthesuccessfulandsoberinginvasionofCharles.
8. TheeasilyandwillinglydeceivedpeoplesawthisasdivineconfirmationofSavonarola.Theyrepentedwholesale.
9. PopeAlexanderknewthatiftheFlorentinescouldbeimpressedbyonefalseclaim,theymightbeimpressedbyanevengreaterfalseclaim.Heputthecityunderinterdict,threatenedthepeople,andexcommunicatedandarrestedSavonarola.
10. Savonarola’slastwordsashewasbeingburnedmayhavebeenhisgreatestandtruest:“Youmaycutmeofffromthechurchmilitantherebelow,butyoucannotcutmeofffromthechurchtriumphantabove.”
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18
Martin Luther
(Part 1)
1. Lutherwasbornin1483.
2. Thoughhisfatherwasahumbleminer,Luther’sfamilygavehimagoodhuman-isticeducation,hopinghewouldbecomealawyer.
3. IttookaboltoflightningstrikingafriendtodriveMartintothecloister.
4. AnAugustinianmonkandscholar,ittookatriptocorruptRomeandajoltofAugustine’sorthodoxyplusaboltfromheaventhroughRomans1:17tomakeaProtestantReformeroutofhim.
5. Eventhen,hisfather-confessorreassuringhimthattheRomanwasChrist’schurchandthattheagitatedmonkmightstillhavefaithinher,heremainedfaithfultoRome.
6. ItwasthechurchherselfwhichseemstohaveawakenedLuthertotheconvic-tionthatshewasnolongertheholyapostolicchurchoftheNewTestament.
7. ArousedbythecrasssellingofindulgencesbyTetzel,LutherpostedhisNinety-fiveThesestotheWittenbergchapeldoor,challengingvariousecclesiasticalideasandpracticesoftheestablishedchurch.
8. TherewerenoclearaffirmationsofthegreatProtestantprincipleofjustificationandthepriesthoodofbelieversbutonlyaquestioningofthesacramentalsystemthathadprevailedunchallengedforcenturies.
9. Thatyoudon’tquestiontheunquestionableLutherlearnedsoonenough.First,hisAugustinianordersummonedhimtoHeidelbergin1518;thenCardinalCajetansummonedhimtoAugsburgin1519;andfinallyJohnEckmethimindebateatLeipzig.
10. ThatwaswhereLutherlearnedthatnotonlypopesbutcouncilsaswellcoulderr.
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19
Martin Luther
(Part 2)
1. WhenLutherbecamea“Hussite,”theReformationwasborn.Notin1509,whenAugustinewasdiscoveredandtheReformationwasborninLuther’smind,orin1513’s“experienceinthetower,”whenitwasborninhisheart,or1517,whenthetheseswerepostedandtheReformationhaditsexternalbeginnings,butinJuly1519,whenLutherhimselfwasbornasonewhowouldstandfortheReformation,thoughacouncildisapproveandmartyrdombethepriceasitwasforJohnHus.
2. TheBrethrenoftheCommonLifemayhaveseenwhatLuthersawbuttheycametotermswiththepapacy.LefevrecertainlysawwhatLuthersaw,buthewasnotspeakingfortherecord.
3. Butthe“HereIstand”LutherwasbornatLeipzig,thoughitwasnothistoricallyclearuntilhesaidthosewordsattheDietofWormsinApril1521,afteranearlierexcommunication.
4. ThepopebyexcommunicationcouldsentenceLuthertohell,butitwastheemperorwhohadthepowertosendhimtherebyexecution.
5. Thatwasthestarkprobabilityfacinghimattheparliamentwherehewasaskedifherecantedhiswritingsandrepliedwiththeimmortal“NO”and“HereIstand.”
6. WhenLuthersaidthat,hewouldhavebecomeaHussitemartyrwerehenotrescuedandhiddenbyhiselector,FredericktheWise,whowasneverwiser.
7. WhiletheReformerwasinhiding,theReformationwentoninWittenbergwithanewtwistfromthecharismaticsofthatday.
8. WhileLutherwasinhidinghewasaccomplishingthegreatestfeatofhisliterarycareer:thetranslationoftheBibleintoGerman.
9. LutherreturnedtoWittenbergtoremovetheseschwärmer[“fanatics”]andputtheReformationbackontrack.
10. Meanwhile,astheReformerandhislearnedassistantMelanchthonwereenjoy-ingtheirdrinksinaGermanbeergarden,Godwasbringingdownthe“gatesofhell”alloverEurope.
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20
ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)
1. UlrichZwingliwasoneofthoseministerswhowasconvertedafter,ratherthanbefore,enteringhisministry.
2. ThoughhishumanisticeducationwasthoroughandhispreachingatGlarusineastSwitzerlandveryaffecting,itseemstohavebeenhisverse-by-versepreach-inginZurichthatmadeaReformeroutofhim.
3. Ofcourse,wheresignsofspirituallifeappearedtheestablishmentbecamecon-cerned.Inthiscase,itwasthebishopofnearbyConstance.
4. Warningswereissued,butthepeoplestoodwiththeirpreacher.Hierarchi-calhandsweretied,especiallysinceZwingliwasconsideredtohavebestedthebishopindebate.
5. ZwingliwasallowedtoflourishandthereformspreadfromZurichtoBernandregionsaround.
6. TheReformer’sSixty-fiveArticlesofFaithshowed,astheSwissproudlyclaim,thattheirZwingliwasindependentlyonewiththeGermanReformer—aco-Reformer,notawarmed-overLuther.
7. Zwingli’sspecialproblemwaswiththeAnabaptistswhoopposedinfantbaptism.
8. TheAnabaptistsfelt,possiblycorrectly,thatZwingli(onceopposedtobaptismapartfromfaith)hadcompromisedtoholdhisconstituency.
9. Trueornot,ZwingliturnedagainsttheAnabaptistsasenemiesofthechurchandstate.Theyopposedthestateasofthisworldandtendedtoundermineitsmili-tary,essentialtodefenseagainstRomanCatholicforces.
10. ItwasindeedRomanCatholicmilitaryforcethatdefeatedtheProtestantarmyatKappelin1531andkilleditschaplain,UlrichZwingli.
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21
Colloquy of Marburg (1529)
1. PrepareforthesaddesteventinearlyReformationhistory.
2. WhenZwinglilearnedthatGodwasreformingthechurchintheNorth(Luther)andLutherlearnedthatGodwasreformingthechurchintheSouth(Zwingli),theyrealizedthattheyshoulddiscusstogethertheirrediscoveredevangelicaltruth.
3. ThemeetingwassetforMarburg,oneoftheLutherancentersinHesse,underPrincePhillip,whoconvenedthemeetingin1529.
4. BecauseLutherandZwingliweretoofierytorisktheirdialoguingtogether,theycoupledLutherwithmilderOecolampadiusofBaselandZwingliwithMelanchthon.
5. ThetwoReformedgroupsrealizedthattheyagreedoneverydoctrineexceptone—theLord’sSupper.Suchunanimity!Butitwasnotenough.
6. ForLuther,thebreadoftheEucharistwasthebodyofChrist.ThatiswhatChristsaid.Lutherwroteonthevelvetcloth:Hoc est corpus meum!
7. TheSwissremindedLutherthatChristalsocalledhimselfthevineandthedoor.ThatmadenodifferencetoLuther.Hoc est corpus meum!
8. Oecolampadiusasked,“Martin,howisChristanymorepresentinthesacramentifHeiscorporeallypresentthanHeiswhenspirituallyanddynamically?”
9. “Idon’tknow,”answeredLuther,“butifChristtoldmetoeatdungI’ddoitknowingitwasgoodforme.”NottobelieveChrist’swordswastobeof“anotherspirit”(andere geist).ForMartinLutherthisonedifferencewasnonnegotiablebecauseitmeanttohimfidelitytoChristorinfidelity.
10. Twoironichistoricalpostscripts:(1)LuthersawacopyofCalvin’swritingontheLord’sSupper(essentiallylikeOecolampadius’sviews)andseemedtoagreewithit.(2)Manschreck,aMelanchthonauthority,saysthatitwasMelanchthonwhostiffenedLutheragainsttheSwissviewoftheEucharist,fearingwithwouldmakereunionwithRomeimpossible.
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Philip Melanchthon
and Lutheran Slippage
1. Weallknowthenot-too-funnyjokethatthemanistheheadofthefamilyandthewifetheneck,butitistheneckthatturnsthehead.
2. ItwassomethinglikethatinMelanchthon’srelationtoLuther.HenotonlyhelpedLutherbutwasinaweofhim.
3. Nevertheless,aswehaveseen,itwasprobablyMelanchthonandnotLutherwhoturnedtheGermanReformationagainsttheSwiss,causingthefirstgreatdivisioninProtestantism.
4. ItwasalsoMelanchthonandnotLutherwhowrotethefirstLutheransystematictheology.Loci Cummunes(“commonplaces”)wasthefirstProtestanttheol-ogy(1521),anditwasMelanchthonwhonegotiatedwithRomanCatholicismatAugsburgin1530,thoughLutherwasinthebackgroundkeepinghisassociateinline.
5. Nevertheless,MelanchthonneveragreedwithLuther’sprofoundAugustinian-ism,thoughheneverdareddifferwithhimopenlywhileLutherlived.
6. AfterLuther’sdeathin1546,immediatelyandopenlyMelanchthondiffered,andLutheranismgraduallyslippedbacktomedievalsemi-Augustinianism(calledsemi-Pelagianism).
7. TherewereviolentcriticismsofMelanchthon’slittlestepsbackwardtowardtheCalvinisticviewoftheEucharistbutlittleornoneagainsthissynergism(thatGodandthesinnercooperatedinregeneration).
8. AfterthecontroversieswithinLutheranismsettledandtheBookofConcordwasadoptedin1580,theLutheranmovementbecameLuther-anism,notLutherismorLutheranism—averysubtleformofsynergismthatfewrecognizedassuch.
9. TheyagreedwiththeReformeduptothepointthatregenerationprecededfaithbutthenmadethatfaithresistible—athoughtalientothemindofMartinLuther.
10. ThegreatLutheranchurchoftheReformationhasfollowedLutherinhiseucha-risticerrorandMelanchthoninhissoteriologicalone.
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23
the Lutheran Book of Concord
and Saxon Visitation Articles
1. WhateverdifferencesbetweentheLutheranandReformedreformationswererevealedinLutherhimselfandMelanchthonandthelaterBookofConcord,thedepthofthecleavageisseenevenmoreclearlyinadocumentsuchastheSaxonVisitationArticlesof1595.
2. ThiswasatypicalguideforLutheranofficialsbywhichtheyweretoexamineLutheranadherentsandministersinvariouslocalitiesinSaxony.
3. InadditiontotheusualandtobeexpecteddifferencesconcerningtheLord’sSupper,oneseesasystematicdifferencethatexplainswhymany“oldLutherans”cametoregardCalvinismasaformoffatalismworsethanheathenismorIslam.
4. TheReformedchampionedtheirdifferencesbutneverseemedtohaveviewedLutheranerrorassograve.Theywereawound(naevus) inthebodyofChristbutnotafataldefect.
5. ThoughLutherhimselfwasanuncompromisingpredestinariannotawhitlesssothanJohnCalvin,thesearticlesfindthatdoctrinetobeprofoundheresy.
6. GrowingoutofthedifferencebetweenLutheranandReformedthinkingontheLord’sSupperarosedifferencesinChristologyalso.BecausetheReformeddenythecorporealpresenceofChristintheSupper,theyaredenouncedasrestrictingChristtoheavenanddenyingHispresenceintheEucharist.
7. ProbablytheworstdifferencesasseenbytheVisitationArticlesarethepracticalonesdealingwiththeChristianlifeitself.
8. AccordingtotheReformed(theArticlesteach),apredestinedpersonissavednomatterhowhethinksorhowbadlyhebehaves.
9. Ontheotherhand,anon-electpersonislostbeheneversogodly!
10. Marburgisbeing“revisited”todaynotbyoldLutheransandoldCalvinistsbutbynewLutheransandnewCalvinists,anda“NewReformation”maycomeoutofit.
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24
John Calvin (1509-1564)
and the Calvinists
1. ThethreegreatReformersareusuallylistedasLuther,Zwingli,andCalvin.Itshouldberemembered,however,thatCalvinwassecondgeneration,onlybeingconvertedshortlybeforeZwingli’sdeathandthegreatesteventsoftheLutheranReformationera.
2. AccordingtoMelanchthon,Calvinwas“THETheologian”oftheReformation,thoughmonergisticandpredestinarian.
3. Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion,theclassicoftheReformation,wasfirstpublishedin1536,theyearofErasmus’sdeath,adecadebeforeLuther’s,whenCalvinhimselfwasaveritableyouthinhismid-twenties.
4. CalvinwasaLutheran—orshouldwesaythatLutherwasaCalvinist?Ioncegavealecture,“MartinLuthertheGreatCalvinist,”followedbyRogerNicole,“JohnCalvintheGreatLutheran.”
5. ThatthetwogreatestleadersoftheReformationwereatoneintheirmessage—apartfromthesacraments—cannotbedeniedhoweverdivergentthosewhocameafterthem.
6. CalvinwasthesonofaRomanCatholicsecretarytothelocalbishopofNoyon,France.AfteranawakeningtraceabletoLutheranisminhisnativeFrance,CalvinbecameaProtestantrefugeeunderFrancesI,thekingtowhomhededi-catedhisInstitutes,insistingProtestantismwasnotaninnovationbutclassicChristianity.
7. AftermanyvicissitudesCalvinandhisReformationwereestablishedinGenevaby1539andsolidifiedin1559.Calvindiedtriumphantlyandatpeacein1564,justastheRomanCouncilofTrentwasclosing.
8. VirtuallyforcedtosettleinGeneva,hehadalmosthisentireministrythere,con-stantlywriting,teaching,preaching,organizing,corresponding,andspreadingtheGospeltotheworld.
John Calvin (1509-1564) and the Calvinists 29
9. CharlesPorterfieldKrauth,aleadingLutherantheologianoflastcentury,wroteandimportantworkcalledThe Conservative Reformation,showinghowLuther-anismhadpreservedmoreofthemedievalheritagethanCalvinism.
10. ThatistrueaswehaveseeninourbriefsketchofCalvin’slife.
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Calvinistic Creeds and
the Westminster Standards
1. TheLutheransareapeopleofonecreed,itselfasinglecompositeofseveralcreeds,theBookofConcord.TheCalvinistsdevelopedcreedsforvirtuallyeverycountrytheyentered.
2. ScotlandhaditsScots’Confession;EnglanditsThirty-nineArticles;IrelanditsIrishArticles;theNetherlandsitsArticlesofDort;thelowcountriesitsBelgicConfession;GermanyitsHeidelbergCatechism;Switzerland,theFirstandSec-ondHelveticConfessions.
3. AcenturylatercamethemostcomprehensiveReformedcreedoftheReforma-tionera,TheWestminsterConfessionofFaithandCatechisms.
4. Inspiteofthespontaneityoftheseandthenumberofthem,theyhaveaunityequaltotheLutheranBookofConcord.
5. DortisespeciallyinterestingbecausethecontroversywithArminianismlead-inguptoisconvocationledtoadefiningofCalvinisminrelationtoitsinternalchallenger.
6. Arminius,whohadbeenaReformedpastor,departedfromhisdoctrinalheri-tage,adeparturetheremonstrantsdefendedafterhisdeathin1609.
7. ThecontroversywassettledbytheecumenicalsynodconvenedatDortintheNetherlands,1618-1619.
8. ItsreaffirmationofCalvinismanddenunciationofremonstrantprinciplesgavebirthtothefamiliar“fivepoints”popularityrememberedbytheacrosticTULIP.
9. Remonstrantswereultimatelytoleratedandtodayanti-CalvinismprevailsinHolland,thoughnotwithoutvigorousadvocatesoftheReformedfaith.
10. Intheseventeenthcentury,anefforttoharmonizeCalvinismandArminianisminAmyrauldianismfailed.
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Anabaptists
1. ProfessorWilliamsofHarvardcallstheAnabaptiststhe“radicalReformation”asKrauthcalledtheLutheransthe“conservativeReformation.”
2. WemightcalltheAnabaptiststhe“un-conservativeReformation.”
3. TheywerethethornsinthesidesofLutheranismandCalvinismaswellasCatholicism.
4. WhatmadethesepeopleradicalandyetapartoftheReformation?
5. Theirradicalismwastheir“ana-baptism”(secondbaptizingofthosealreadybaptizedininfancy).Infantbaptismisonethingthatallmainlinereformationspreservedfromtheearlyandmedievalchurchwithout(exceptforLutheranism)thebaptismalregeneration.
6. TheAnabaptistsrejectednotonlybaptismalregenerationbutinfantbaptismitself,thusantagonizingtheReformationaswellasCatholicism.BothgroupsweredriventomakemartyrsoftheseradicalReformers.
7. Theotherdistressing-for-the-ReformersfeatureofAnabaptismwasitsseparat-ism.LutheranismandCalvinismdidnotconsiderthemselvesasseparatingfromRomebutRomeasseparatingfromthem.TheywerethecontinuationofbiblicalandearlierChristianity.PapalismhadleftessentialChristianity.
8. TheclassicReformerssawnojustificationfortheantipaedobaptismoranti-civilgovernmentoftheAnabaptists.
9. NordidtheyseeanyjustnessintheAnabaptistclaimofapurechurch,whichAugustineamillenniumearlierhadprovenunbiblicalandimpossible.
10. TheReformerssawthemselvesinamighty,difficult,anddangerousstruggletopreservetheChristianchurchwhenalongcameaprotestinggroupfulloferroritselfandyetseparatingonthegroundofhavingapurechurch.
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Romanism’s
Counter-Reformation: trent
1. RomanCatholicism,afterPopeLeoX,whosawtheReformationinGermanyasonlymonks’squabbles,learnedtotakeitveryseriouslyandfoughtitallthewayandinallareas.
2. Strangely,itseemedreluctanttocallanecumenicalcounciltocondemn(whatitcouldnotconquer),asEmperorCharlesVhadbeenurgingallalong.
3. Papalfoot-draggingwasbecausethepopehadcondemnedthemovementandexcommunicatedLuther.Thatseemedsufficient.Whyacouncilwhentheonlyonewhocouldcallone—thepope—didn’tneeditanddecidedthematterasonlyhecoulddoinanycase?
4. ButfinallythepapacyfeltthecouncilinevitableandcalledoneforTrentin1545.Itmayhavebeenalongtimecoming,butonceformeditwasalongertimeinmeeting,1546-1563.
5. ThereluctanceincallingshoweditselfinareluctancetohaveProtestantspresent.Ifthepopehadalreadycondemnedthem,whatjustificationfortheirpresencebutpenitence—inwhichtheyweretotallylacking?
6. SoRomesettledtheBibleissue,sinissue,andsalvationissuebeforeProtestantsevenarrivedtodiscussthesecrucialdoctrines.
7. ThustheconclusionofTrentmarkedthefallofRomein1564.
8. IsaythatRomefellasachurchin1564(whileshewascallingherselftheonlytruechurch)foratleasttworeasons:
9. First,attheoutset,thecouncildeclaredtheRomanChurchtheonlylegitimateandinfallibleinterpreteroftheWordofGod,thustakingtheBiblefromthepeopletowhomGodgaveit.
10. Second,thecouncilrenouncedtheonlywayofsalvation:justificationbyfaithalone.
Part T
hre
e
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the thirty years War
(1618-1648)
1. TheReformationandTrenthavingsettledthedoctrinalissuesdecisively,noth-ingwasleftbuttosettleexistenceissuesonthefieldofbattle.
2. Christianitywasnotyetreadytoletheresyandtruthliveside-by-sideuntiltheDayofJudgment.
3. Thesituationinseventeenth-centuryGermanywaslikethatinSouthAfricaattheendofthetwentieth.Therewasnoquestionthatwarwouldbreakoutbutonlywhen.
4. WhatbroughtitaboutinGermanywasthe“defenestrationofPrague,”whichbeinginterpretedmeantthatanunwelcomeRomanCatholicofficialwasthrownoutofawindowinProtestantterritory(Prague1618).
5. RomedeclaredwarandProtestantismhadtodefenditself—whichitdidverypoorlyatfirst.TheRomanGeneralWallensteinvirtuallyrompedacrossEurope.
6. ThebattlewouldhavebeensoonoverandtheReformationalmosterasedwereitnotforSweden’sGustavusAdolphus.AlmostanevencenturyaftertheRefor-mation’smostbasiccreedtheAugsburgConfession,wasdrawnupin1530,theSwedes—partlyforpoliticalandpartlyforreligiousreasons—invadedEurope.
7. GustavusAdolphuslosthislifebutwonthebattlefornorthernEurope.
8. FromthePeaceofWestphaliain1648tothisday,ProtestantismhasdominatednorthernEuropeandRomanism,southernEurope.RomanismhasneverbeenabletotakethenorthnorProtestantismthesouth.
9. Itshouldhavebeencalledthe“Truce”ofWestphaliabecausenotuntilthiscen-turyhaseitherRomeortheReformationrecognizedthereligiousrightofeachothertoexist.
10. TodaythefortunesofChristianityhavesunksolowthatjustificationbyfaithalonehasbecomenegotiablewithmen.GodinHisWordseemsnottohavechangedhismind.
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Orthodoxy on the Continent
and Britain
1. Duringandafterthemilitarybattles,orthodoxyinLutheranism,Calvinism,andAnglicanismcontinuedtodevelop.
2. Imention“Anglicanism”separatelyfromCalvinismbecause,thoughitscreedisCalvinistic,manyinthatchurchholdalooffromtheReformationasifitwereavia mediabetweenProtestantismandRomanism.
3. Later,MethodismbrokewiththeAnglicanchurchandwiththeCalvinisticRef-ormationaswell.
4. LutheranorthodoxyfollowedthepatternoftheBookofConcordfaithfully,solidifyingtheArminianizedCalvinismofMelanchthonandtheBookofConcord.
5. IexplainedearlierwhatremainedtrueintheeraofChemnitz,Gerhard,andHol-laz,namelythatLutheranismfeltitselftruetoLutherinaffirmingregeneration’sprioritytofaithwithoutrecognizingthatthenotionthattheregeneratedcouldrejectthatfaithvitiatedLuther’sCalvinisticthinking.
6. Thesacramentalism,bettercalledsacramentalitis,remainedandremainsunchangedinLutheranorthodoxyandtodaythreatensReformedorthodoxy.
7. AsLutheranorthodoxytendedtovitiateLuther’sreformedorthodoxy,Calvin-istorthodoxytendedtostrengthenCalvin’s(untilrecently).IfLutheranismweakenedLuther’sstrength,CalvinismstrengthenedCalvin’sweaknessorincompleteness.
8. Calvintendedtotreatthechildrenofbelieversaselect,barringthemfromtheLord’sSupperonlybecausetheycouldnot“discern”theLord’sbody.
9. Calvinisticorthodoxymadeclearerthatwhatthesacramentssymbolizedwasnotnecessarilyunitedwiththepersonswhoreceivedthem.
10. ContemporaryCalvinismistendingtoreturntoCalvin’sweakness.
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Puritanism in england
and New england
1. ThereconvergedinthePresbyterianismofScotlandandEnglandandanindependentandbaptisticstrandthepurestformofReformationtheology:Puritanism.
2. Mostofthecontinent,aswenoticed,hadcometotermswithmedievalsacra-mentalismoritsReformedequivalentoftyingtheoffspringtobelieverswithsacramentalgrace,thoughnotex opere operato.
3. SinceallCalvinistsfavoredthebiblicalteachingthatallmenareborndeadinsinandarenotnecessarilyregeneratedwhenbaptized,theironlypossibleconclu-sionwasthis:Thoughchildrenofbelieversareinthecovenantofgraceinsomesense,thatsensedoesnotnecessarilyincludeelection.
4. Consequently,allbaptizedchildrenwerestilllittlesinners;or,asEdwardsoncecalledthem,littlevipers.
5. ButwheninalectureIoncereferredtoEdwards’“littlevipers,”oneReformedministerpresentsentmeanotereading:“Littlevipersincovenantaldiapers.”
6. Thenotecontainednoexplanation,butIthinkthemanmeantthatthecovenantrelationshipsomehowremovedtheinfant’sviperishconditionorresponsibilitytherefore.Thatcouldonlybeifthecovenantsomehowpromisedthatthechildwaselectifnotregenerate.
7. ButthePuritanscouldfindnobiblicalevidenceforsuchacomfortingdoctrine.ThePuritans“neverdilutedthevinegaroflife.”
8. GoddidsaywhenHeestablishedtheAbrahamiccovenant,“IwillbeGodtoyouandtoyourdescendantsafteryou”(Genesis17:7).
9. ButGoddidnotsay“allthedescendantsofAbraham,”andtherestoftheBiblepointstothe“spiritualseed”ofAbraham.
10. Furthermore,IshmaelwasthenaturalseedofAbrahamandEsauthenaturalseedofIsaac.
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Arminianism and the external Attack on
Reformation Orthodoxy
1. TheCounter-Reformationmayhaveerredbyanoverlysanguineviewofbap-tismalregenerationwithitseffectofmakingbaptizedchildrenconfidentofpossessingsalvationratherthanseekingforit.
2. Thatwasandremainsaseriousmistake,butnotsoseriousastheArminianattackfromwithout,becausethat,whileencouragingalltoseeksalvation,taughtawayofdoingsothatcouldneverresultinfinding.
3. ThisdeepandfatalerrorcamefromadefectiveviewoftheFall;orrather,fromadefectivedeductionfromacorrectviewoftheFall.
4. LetmeexplainwithJohnWesleyasprincipalandinfluentialexample.JohnWesleyandJonathanEdwardsbothwrotedefensesoforiginalsinattackingJohnTaylor’scriticismoftheorthodoxdoctrine.
5. Afterdefendingoriginalsin,essentiallyasEdwardsdid,Wesley’sbookdepartedradicallyfromEdwards’.WesleycontendedthatthoughmanwasguiltyoftheFallanddeservingdivinewrath,Godhadtogivehimachancetobesaved.WhyamanwhodeservestodiemustbegivenachancetobesavedWesleyneverexplained,nordidheseethatthatwouldchangetheGospelfromgracetojustice.
6. Tomakemattersevenworse,Wesleyassumedthatthesinner,giventhis“chance,”wasable—thoughtotallyfallen—toavailhimselfofitandchooseChristandsalvation.
7. SuchideasarenotfoundintheBiblenordidtheycrossEdwards’mind.
8. Iftheunregeneratesinnersoughtsalvation,itwouldbeaworkofthefleshandnotoffaith.“Abadtreecannotbringforthgoodfruit,”saidWesley’sLord.
9. ThusArminianism,whileaffirmingtheBible’sdoctrineoforiginalsin,denieditsdoctrineofthedivineinitiative.
10. Tohimthathasitshallbegiven.Tohimthathasnotshallbetakenwhathehas.
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Covenant theology and the internal Attack on
Reformation Orthodoxy
1. ThecovenantofgracebecamethecornerstoneofReformedtheology.
2. RomanCatholicismandEasternOrthodoxyneverdidmuchwiththisbiblicalconcept.
3. Lutheranismalwaysopposeditseeingitasaquid pro quo,man’sfaithandobedi-enceequaltoorearningChrist’ssalvation.
4. TheReformed,alwaysrealizedthatthereisnolegalisminthecovenantofgracebecauseGodHimselfprovidesthenon-meritoriousfaithandobedienceHimself,revealedinthedoctrine.
5. Thencametheerrortowhichwehavealreadyalluded:Sincethecovenantincludestheinfantsofbelievers,alltheirchildrenareelect.Wesawinthepre-cedinghandoutthatthatwasnotthecase.
6. Butwhatisthecase?Ifthechildrenofbelieversareinthecovenantbutnotnec-essarilyelect,inwhatsensearetheyallinthecovenantofgrace?
7. Allinfantsofbelieversareinthecovenantofgraceasbeinginitssphere,notnec-essarilyinitssalvificeffects.ThusthecircumcisedJewsoftheOldTestament,whowerenon-electmembersofthecovenant(Esaus,asitwere),wereinthespheresofredemptionbutnotinitssalvificeffects.
8. Thecovenantforbelievers’childrenalsoimpliedthattheirparentswouldcov-enantearnestlytoseektheirsalvation—especiallywhentheywereunabletoseekitforthemselves,andthatisveryhopefulforthechildren.
9. Ifonereadsmoreintothecovenantofgracethanthat,covenantalcorruptioninevitablyfollows.
10. Thatiswhatishappeningtoday,amountingtoaninternalattackonReformationorthodoxy.
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enlightenment: Root and Branch Attack on
Reformation Orthodoxy
1. “Wewrestleagainstfleshandblood...”Thedevil’sstruggleagainsttheChristianissosubtleandformidablethatitwoulddeceive,ifthatwerepossible,theveryelect.
2. Sometimestheprinceofdarknessbecomesverybold,attackingthechurchofGodnotonlysubtlybutbybrazen,open,arrogant,directattacksontheveryWordofGod.
3. Thisdescribestheso-calledEnlightenmentoftheeighteenthcentury.
4. ItshouldbecalledtheEndarklement,becauseinspiteofitsmanyvaluablecon-tributionstoculture,science,andindustryitwascrassnaturalismdenyingGodandespeciallyHissavingrevelation.
5. TheEndarklementwasawayformantogainthewholeworldandlosehissoul.
6. Wehavealreadyseenthatthenatural(unlikethemoral)imageofGodsurvivedtheFall.Thismadeitpossibleforsinnerstoreceivethe“commongrace”ofGodwhilerejectinganddespisingsavinggrace.
7. SomeReformedtheologianstendtothrowouttheEnlightenmentbabywiththeEnlightenmentwash.Thatis,theydenyeventhecommongraceinwhichtheEnlightenmentabounded.
8. ThesetheologiansinsistthattheEnlightenmentdestroystheshouldwhenitgivestheworld.Butthe“world”isagiftofGodinitself.Thefactthatsinnersselltheirsoulsforitdoesnotmakeitevilevenwhenitcomeviaevilmen.
9. TheChristianshouldthankfullyreceivealltheculturalbenefitsGodgivesevenwhenGoddeliversthembythedevilandhisagents,whointendtodestroyoursoulsbythem.
10. ItisGodwhomakestheraintofallontherighteousandunrighteous.Therigh-teousareblessedbyallHisgiftsandtheunrighteousarenotcursedbythembutmakethemintocurses.Romans2:4alongwithMatthew5:45arethegoldentestsofGod’scommongrace.LetChristiansbeenlightenedabouttheEnlightenment.
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the Modern
Missionary Movement
1. MissionaryworkwasapartoftheGospelfromthebeginning.TheGospelwassynonymouswith,“Gointoalltheworld...”
2. AsthefineBaptisttheologianA.H.Strongoncesaid:“Don’taskwhatwillbecomeoftheheathenifyoudon’ttaketheGospeltothem.Askwhatwillbecomeofyouifyoudon’t...”ItwasanotherBaptistCalvinist,WilliamCarey,whofirstattemptedgreatforeignmissionsforGod,whostrengthenedhimtoaccomplishit.
3. WhythenwastherelessexpansionofChristianityintheeighteencenturiespre-cedingthelastthaninthatonecentury?
4. ItmustbeadmittedthattherewerealwayssomeCalvinistswhofelttheGospelwaspreachedunderthewholeheaveninthefirstcenturyandsubsequenteffortswereunnecessary.SuchatheoristtoldWilliamCarey,whenheappealedforfundstosendhimabroad,thatifGodwantedtheFarEastconvertedHewouldhavedoneitHimself.
5. Themainreasonfornon-missionaryactivity,however,wasIslamicoppositionandthelackofveryadequatetransportation.
6. ItisinterestingtoothatthoughCalvinismisthemessagetheBiblehasforthenations,manyofthemissionarieswere—andare—Arminians.
7. So,manywhoareevangelizingtheworldwerenevercommandedtodosowithaperversionoftheGospel(though,thankGod,includingthecore).
8. IhaveoftenbeenaskedwhetheranArminiancanbesaved,muchlessbetheinstrumentofothers’salvation.Theanswerisimportantforanunderstandingofthegreatmodernmissionarymovementthathaspenetratedeverycorneroftheearth.
9. Myanswerisyesandno.Yes,becauseevangelicalArminiansprofessfaithinthedivineChrist,Hisatoningblood,HisinspiredWord,andmany,manyother
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elementsofChristiantruth.Peoplehearingthoseessentialtruths—unlikepeoplehearingtheliberaldenialofthem—maybesaved.
10. Theanswerisalsono.Arminianevangelismrestsontheprofounderrorthatfallenmanisnotdeadspirituallybutonlydying.Heisthereforesupposedtobeabletobringabouthisownnewbirthbyhisself-generatedfaith.Thiscanneverhappen.NoonecaneverbesavedbyhimselfevenwiththehelpoftheHolySpirit.IhopeandbelievethatmultitudesofArminiansreallybelievethetruthstheydonotholdinspiteoftheotherwisefatalerrorstheyproclaimtotheworld.
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the twentieth Century:
theological Liberalism
1. Wehavebutonemoredecadeofthetwentiethcentury,completingtwomillen-niasincetheSonofGodbecameincarnateandwasdeliveredupforouroffenses.
2. HowgoestheGospelintheworldattheendofthetwentiethcentury?Thereisnowayofgettingfulloraccuratestatistics(thoughtherearemanyusefulattempts).
3. Onecanonlymakeeducatedguesses.Mineisthatthevastmajority—maybe90percent—ofprofessingChristendomdoesnotprofessChristianity.Orrather,itdoesnotunderstandtheChristianityitprofesses.
4. Pelagianismwastheearlychurch’sformofprofessedChristiansprofessingnon-Christianity.
5. Today,obviously,mostofthosewhoprofessChristianityareprofessingareligionwhichMachencalled“liberalism”(inhisdefinitivevolumeadmiredevenbylib-erals,Christianity and Liberalism).
6. Theeconomyoftheworldcouldnotfunctionwith90percentofthemoneycounterfeit.NeithercanwhatgoesbythenameChristianity.
7. Solution:TrueChristiansmustraiseanensignagainstfalseChristianity.IftheworldchoosestogooncallingthatChristianitywhichwelabelcounterfeit,theworldwillgoonperishing,buttheirbloodwillbeontheirownhead,notonours.
8. LiberalismdeniesthedeityofJesusChrist,thedivineTrinity,aninerrantScrip-ture,thefallofman,thewrathofGodandtheonlysalvationthroughtheatoningbloodoftheCross.Mostofour“mainline”seminariesaretrainingouryouthtogointoalltheworldtounderminetheGospel.
9. Satanappearsasanangeloflightwhenhewhoisthemessengerofeternaldeathpretendstobethewaytoeternallife.TrueChristiansmustneverwearyofwarn-ingtheworldofhimandtryingtoturntheworldtoitsonlySavior.
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10. OneofthegreatestofAmericanliberals,H.E.Fosdick,preachedof“ThePerilofWorshippingJesus.”WhenIwasoncetryingtowinaMusliminKhartoum,hetoldmethathehadheardDr.FosdicksaythatChristwasonlyaman.TheChristianmessageforthenationsis“ThePerilofNotWorshippingJesus.”
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the twentieth Century:
theological Ambiguity
(Neo-Orthodoxy)
1. ItwassaidofKarlBarththathismessagewas:ThereisnoGodandJesusChristisHisSon.
2. Henever,tomyknowledge,everputitquitethatway.ThatiswhathismessageamountedtobecauseheofferednoevidencefortheexistenceofGodandmerelydeclaredtheSonshipofJesus.
3. BarthclaimedtogetsuchnotionsfromtheBible,thusblamingtheHolySpiritforthisnonsense.
4. Oneliberalaccusedofneo-orthodoxyofmakingameaninglesscombinationofwordsintothewisdomofGod.VanTilcalledneo-orthodoxythe“newmodern-ism,”contendingthatthemeaninglesscombinationofwordsmerelycoveredunderlyingliberalism.
5. WhydidBarth,probablythegreatesttheologicalgeniusofthetwentiethcentury,engageinpalpableabsurdity?Therewas“methodinhismadness.”Hewasorigi-nallyahard-coreliberalwhenherealizedthathewaseatingswine’sfoodinthefarcountrywhilehesawthefundamentalistsbanqueting.How,hewondered,couldheenjoythebanquetwithoutbecomingafundamentalist?
6. Barth’sanswer:I’llagreewiththesmartliberalsthatChristianitycannotbeprovedandthenenjoythegospelfeastwhichtheignorantfundamentaliststhinkcanbeproved.
7. So,Barth’smassivetheologicalworkspunoutfullybutambiguouslywhatthechurchbelieveswithoutanyreasonforbelievingit.Brunner,Bultmann,andahostofothersweredoingthesamethinginslightlydifferentways.
8. Theneo-orthodoxymessage:Givetheworldachoice—useyourheadandrejecttheGospelorcrucifyyourintellectandaccept.
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9. Choosetheworshipoffoolsortheunbeliefoftheknowing.
10. Neo-orthodoxygavebirthtothe“DeathofGod”movement—whichwasborndead.
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the twentieth Century:
Neo-evangelism
1. Rememberthesituationintheearlychurch:Somethoughtmanwaswell:Pela-gians.Somethoughtmanwassick:semi-Pelagians.Somethoughtmanwasdead:Augustinians.
2. AmongProtestantswestillhavethe“well”—liberals—perhaps90percent.
3. Westillhavethe“sick”—evangelicals—perhapseightpercent.
4. Westillhavethe“dead”—Reformed—perhapstwopercent.
5. Itistheevangelicalswewillnoteespeciallyinthishandout.Howdotheevangeli-calsmakemanouttobesickwhentheBible,whichtheyknowtobeinspired,callsman“dead”(Ephesians2:1)?Theythinkthattheythinkmanisdead!TheysimplycannotseethatifamanisstillableofhimselftoacceptChrist,hecannotbedead.
6. Whyisitsoimportanttothemodernevangelicalthatmanbeconsideredsicktodeathbutnotspirituallydead?Becauseifmanissick,heandtheevangelistwiththehelpoftheHolySpiritcansavehim.Ifheweredead,onlytheHolySpiritcouldresurrecthim.
7. TheevangelicalsarenotgoingtogiveGodalltheglory.TheyadmitthattheFathersendstheSonandclaimthattheSondiedtosaveeverybody,andtheHolySpiritiswillingtohelpanyone;but,thesinnerhimself,withtheevangeli-cal’shelp,mustdowhatalonecansavehim—believe.EvenGodunaidedcannotrestorehimtohealth.Theevangelicalcannotdoitalone;neithercantheCreatorGoddoitalone.Onlysickmancandecidethematter.
8. TheevangelicalevenadmitsthattheHolySpiritdoestheregeneratingofthesinner.ThatisaworkoftheHolySpirit.Itlooksforamoment—longenoughtodeceivemanyevangelicals—thattheyaregivingfullglorytothethirdmemberoftheTrinity,aswellastheothertwomembers.
9. Notso.EventhoughtheevangelicalArminianadmitsthatregenerationistheworkoftheHolySpiritalone,itisthesinneralonewhoallowsHimtodoit;indeed,byhisself-initiatedfaithobligestheSpirittoregenerate.
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10. Inthelastanalysis,thoughthisconcludingpartofthetwentiethcenturyistheperiodofevangelicalism’sgreatestseemingpowerandinfluence,ArminianismimplicitlydeniestheglorynotonlyoftheSpiritbutoftheFather,whoisnotallowedunconditionallytoelectsinners,northeSontodiespecificallyforthosetheFathergaveHim.
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the twentieth Century:
Neo-Calvinism
1. ManywillquestionourestimatethataslittleastwopercentoftheprofessedChristendomareCalvinists.IcertainlycannotprovethisandIhopeIamwrong;but,Ihavebeenintheministryfiftyyearsandtaughtchurchhistorymuchofthattimeandperhapsamentitledtoahumbleandtentativeguess.
2. IfIamallowedthatmuchImaytotallyexhaustthepatienceofmyreaderswhenIfindsomedoctrinaltendenciesamongtherelativelyfewCalvinistseatingawayatthefoundations.
3. ButIamafraidthatIdo,thoughforthemostpartthistwopercentofChristen-domisessentiallyhealthy.
4. WhatiseatingatthefoundationsofCalvinismisverysimilartowhathastendedtodestroyChristianityintheMiddleAgesandinthecontemporarysacerdotaldenominations?
5. Itwassacramentalismorsacramentalitiswiththem,anditiswhatImaycallcovenantitis,closelyconnectedwiththesacramentofinfantbaptism,withtheCalvinists.
6. WesawearlierthatthecovenantofgracehasbeencentralinmodernCalvinism.
7. Thiscovenantinsomesenseincludesthechildrenofprofessedandcommuni-cantbelievers.
8. Strictlyspeaking,thatsenseinwhichchildrenareincludeddoesnotneces-sarilyincludetheirelection,buttherecanbenoquestionthatmanyCalviniststodaythinkso.OnewriterinastudyofthismatterintheChristianReformedChurch,theOrthodoxPresbyterianChurch,theformerReformedPresbyterianChurchEvangelicalSynod,andhisownReformedPresbyterianChurchofNorthAmericafounditwidespreadintheotherReformeddenominationsandwisheditwouldbecomemoresoinhisown.
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9. Thegreattragedyofthisviewisthatthegreatestfieldforevangelism—thechildrenofbelievers—isruledoutasafieldforevangelism.
10. AtthesametimeletitbesaidinconclusionthattheReformedchurchesareessentiallyfaithfultothegreatcommissionand“wholecounsel.”
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Conclusion
1. Inthisconcludingpostscript,letmeremindthereaderandhearerofHandout Church Historythatitisthemerestoutline,highlyinterpretative.Hewillhavetoreadoneofthebooksrecommendedorotherdetailedaccountsofthemyriadaspectsofecclesiasticalhistoryifhewouldfillinthepicture.
2. Nevertheless,thebird’s-eyeviewhasitsvalue.Youseetheforestanddon’tgetlostinthetrees.
3. Atthesametime,thosewhoseethewholeforestdifferentlyaregoingtoraiseamassiveprotest.
4. OnceinavolumeinThe Evangelicals,editedbyWoodbridgeandWells,Iwrotetheopeningchapter,givinganoverviewthatsawtrueevangelicalismasReformed.TheReformationevangelicalismIsawwasdecliningtoArminianism,whichprevailsinthetwentiethcentury.Arminianswrotestingingreviewsofmychapter.IntherevisededitiontheeditorsleftmychapterintactbutaddedachapteronthesamethemebyanArminianhistorian.Interestingly,heessentiallyagreedonthehistorybutinsteadofseeingArminianismasdeclineanddegen-eration,hesawitasprogressandimprovement.
5. Thatillustrateswhatwesaidintheopeningchaptersofthiswork.Historyishis-tory;ecclesiasticalhistoryisecclesiasticalhistory.Butwhetheritisgoodhistoryorbadhistory,historycanneverdetermine.
6. OnlytheWordofGodis“normative.”
7. “Tothelawandtothetestimony!Iftheydonotspeakaccordingtothisword,itisbecausetheyhavenodawn[notomorrow]”(Isaiah8:20).
8. MyconvictionasastudentofScriptureandofchurchhistoryisthatmostofthelatterhasdepartedfromtheformer.IfindmostofchurchhistoryadeparturefromtheReformedmessageoftheScripture.
9. Thewholeworldliesintheevilone(1John5:19)andmostofthechurchisintheworld.Thetruechurchisaremnantoftheremnant,wheatamongtaresintheworldchurch(Matthew13:24-30).WhentheSonofManreturns,Hewillnotfindanyfaithintheearthandlittleintheworldchurch(Luke18:8).
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10. ButHewillfindHisbridetherewaitingandwatchingforHimreadyfortheircelestialmarriage!