Baptism and the Benefits of Christ

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Baptism and the Benefits of Christ The Confessional Presbyterian A Journal for Discussion of Presbyterian Doct rine & Pract ice Table of Contents . Editorial Articles . Baptism and the Benefi ts of Christ : Th e Double Mode of Communion in the Covenant of Grace By R. Scott Clark, D.Phil. Severing the Dragon’s Tail: Th e Reject ion of the Mass and the Adoption of the Reformed Pract ice of the Lord’s Supper during the Scottish Reformation By T. J. Phillips . Presbyterian Due Process: A Scottish and American Recovery of Procedural Canons By Stuart R. Jones . Liberty of Conscience in the West minst er Confession and its Application to Modern “Worship Wars” By John (Jack) Allen Delivuk, Th .D. An Analysis of Open Th eism By W. Gary Crampton, Ph.D. Francis Makemie and the Meaning of American Presbyterianism By D. G. Hart, Ph.D. Critical-Realism & the Relation of Redemptive Act to Revelatory Word By James J. Cassidy . Th e Regulative Principle of Worship: Sixty Years in Reformed Literature. Part One (–) By Frank J. Smith, Ph.D., D. D. with Chris Coldwell . Reviews & Responses (see the detailed listing on page ) . Psallo: Psalm . In Translatiōne: John Brown of Wamphray: Th e Universal Visible Church . Antiquary: T. & J. Swords. Part One. Printers During the Federal Period to Doct ors, Scientist s, Friendly and Calliopean Clubers, and other New York Literati, as well as High Churchist s, and the Occasional Presbyterian . Bibliography Addenda & Errata . Th e Editor and Contributing Editors In Brief (see page ) Contributing Editors: Th e Revs. Richard E. Bacon, Th .D., W. Gary Crampton, Th e Confessional Presbyterian, Volume (). Ph.D., J. Ligon Duncan, Ph.D., John T. Dyck, David W. Hall, Ph.D., Sherman ISSN – Isbell, Ray B. Lanning, Th omas G. Reid, Frank J. Smith, Ph.D., D. D., Alan ISBN ––– Strange, C. N. Willborn, Ph.D. Mr. John R. Muether; Mr. Wayne Sparkman. All Material Copyright © by Reformation Presbyterian Press, a minist ry Editor: Mr. Chris Coldwell. of Faith Presbyterian Church, Reformed of Mesquite, Texas. Editorial Address: Th e Confessional Presbyteri an, P. O. Box , Dallas, Front Cover: John M. Mason, D.D. (–), Presbyterian Minist er and Texas . Email: edi [email protected]. Subscriptions: Individual USA Educator. Graphite and charcoal on brist ol, Copyright © by Lori Teibel. ; Library/Foreign . Retail Price: . Back Cover: “Th e West End of West minst er Abbey,” taken from Supplement Article and Review Submissions: Please mail the Editor regarding submissions to the Gentleman’s Magazine, for the Year ([London: E. Cave, ]). Th e for publication, or visit http://www.cpjournal.com for more details. addition of the towers to the abbey were completed by . Th e Confessional Presbyterian church. We would also note the rather lengthy “Antiquary” entry, on the New York printers T. & J. Swords, one of the most famous fi rms of the Federal Period. Even though they funct ioned to a large degree as the publishing house for the Editorial Protest ant Episcopal Church, the Swords published several important American Presbyterian titles between and As the inaugural issue has been generally well received, . Th e fi rst inst allment of this two-part series presents the publishers are happy to present a second volume of Th e some interest ing information regarding the Presbyterian and Confessional Presbyterian. As with the fi rst , we believe the Reformed clergy of New York City at the time, which included reader will fi nd some signifi cant and important material in Dr. Samuel Miller (a pict ure of whom was featured on the this issue of the journal. Last year’s issue ran to cover of this journal’s inaugural issue) and Dr. John Mitchell pages, and as God continues to bless this endeavor we trust Mason (whose likeness is on the cover of the present issue). we will be able to produce subsequent volumes of similar size. Part two will treat the New York ‘High Churchism’ controversy However, the reader will no doubt note that the current issue which began about and brought an end to the Swords’ was blessed with an abundance of matter, and extends to occasional work publishing Presbyterian titles. pages. Th is is due in large part to the lengthy survey of regula- Of the other featured articles, many will view Dr. R. S. tive principle literature by Dr. Frank J. Smith, part of which Clark’s “Baptism and the Benefi ts of Christ ” as the most signifi - of necessity must be delayed to a subsequent issue. Th e value cant. Th e article presented here is a refi nement of the lect ure of this article may be seen not only in its critical interact ion given at the January West minst er Seminary California with the literature, but also in that it brings a large sampling conference, “Meeting God on His Terms: Word and Sacrament of material together in one place, much of which many may as Means of Grace.” Pieces that are more hist orical in nature be unaware exist ed. Th e survey test ifi es clearly to the fact that include T. J. Phillips’ submission on the “Reformed Pract ice adherence to, and interest in, the regulative principle of wor- of the Lord’s Supper” at the time of the Scottish Reformation; ship has grown signifi cantly over the last sixty years. an excellent survey of “Presbyterian Due Process” by Stuart In addition to Dr. Smith’s survey, we are pleased to present R. Jones; and, since this year is the th anniversary of what a “Reviews & Resp onses” sect ion that has tripled in size. Th e is thought to be the founding of American Presbyterianism, a select ion this year contains an interest ing mix of critical re- piece on Francis Makemie by D. G. Hart. Th e submission by views, replies and resp onses, including a balanced assessment James Cassidy takes a st ep back from tackling direct ly the New of Lewis Bevins Schenck’s Th e Presbyterian Doct rine of Chil- Persp ect ives’ view of the doct rine of Just ifi cation, to look more dren in the Covenant by Dr. Rowland S. Ward, and a friendly generally at “N.T. Wright’s approach to interpreting Scripture review and resp onse between Dr. J. V. Fesko and Dr. Guy and his presuppositions with reference to the Bible.” Of the Waters over the latter’s Just ifi cation and the New Persp ect ives remaining pieces, Dr. W. Gary Crampton writes on Open on Paul. Th e various departments introduced and explained Th eism, and Dr. John Delivuk on the oft en-misunderst ood in the “Editorial” continue as well. Of these, we draw doct rine of Liberty of Conscience, particularly in how it ap- sp ecial attention to the fi rst -time translation of John Brown of plies to the “worship wars” of our day. Wamphray’s comments on the nature of the universal visible Chris Coldwell ■ Table of Contents Continued . Reviews & Resp onses: Leonard J. Coppes, Th e Divine Days of Creation (Resp onse by Dr. Leonard J. Coppes to “Reply by Dr. Benjamin Shaw”) ■ C. N. Willborn, Ph.D., “In Th esi Deliverances,” Th e Confessional Presbyterian (Resp onse by Stuart R. Jones) ■ Sean Michael Lucas, Robert Lewis Dabney: A Southern Presbyterian Life (C. N. Willborn, Ph.D.) ■ George M. Marsden, Jonathan Edwards: A Life (W. Gary Crampton, Ph.D.) ■ Lewis Bevens Schenck, The Presbyterian Doct rine of Children in the Covenant (Rowland S. Ward, Th.D.) ■ Guy Prentiss Waters, Justifi cation and the New Perspectives on Paul (J. V. Fesko) with Response (Guy Prentiss Waters) ■ Samuel Rutherford, The Covenant of Life Opened (Guy M. Richard) ■ Tim Gallant, Feed My Lambs (Leonard J. Coppes, Th .D.) with Resp onse (Tim Gallant) . In Brief: Introduct ion to the United States Christ ian Magazine of () ■ John Mitchell Mason on the New York ‘High Churchism’ Controversy () ■ Transcription of a Letter from T. & J. Swords () ■ Extract s from Sermons by Samuel Miller and John M. Mason published by T. & J. Swords (–). Volume () Th e Confessional Presbyterian Baptism and the Benefi ts of Christ: Th e Double Mode of Communion in the Covenant of Grace By R. Scott Clark, D.Phil. Introduction “reprobates.” Th ey participate in “external worship,” but do not enter into fellowship with Christ . Only the elect As part of his polemic against the Judaizers of his day, believe and only they receive Christ ’s benefi ts, i.e., the the Apost le Paul in his letter to the Romans made a re- subst ance of the covenant. Christ is present and of- markable and vital dist inct ion: fered to the congregation, but Christ and his benefi ts are received through faith alone. One fi nds this very For one is not a Jew who is a Jew outwardly (fanerw`) same dist inct ion also in the theology of Olevianus’ col- but he is a Jew who is one inwardly (kruptw`) … (Ro- league Zacharias Ursinus (–). mans :–). Th ese two Heidelberg theologians articulated a fun- damental convict ion of the Reformed Churches, that Th e Apost le did not create this dist inct ion but rather there is a dist inct ion to be made between the church carried on a polemic as old as Moses’ exhortation to the Israelites to “circumcise the foreskin” of their hearts The Author: Dr. R. Scott Clark is Associate Professor of Historical and Systematic Th eology at Westminster Seminary California, and (Deut :), and the clear dist inct ion made in Jere- is also Associate Pastor of the Oceanside United Reformed Church miah :– between those who are circumcised only (URCNA).
Recommended publications
  • Antoine De Chandieu (1534-1591): One of the Fathers Of
    CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ANTOINE DE CHANDIEU (1534-1591): ONE OF THE FATHERS OF REFORMED SCHOLASTICISM? A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY THEODORE GERARD VAN RAALTE GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN MAY 2013 CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 3233 Burton SE • Grand Rapids, Michigan • 49546-4301 800388-6034 fax: 616 957-8621 [email protected] www. calvinseminary. edu. This dissertation entitled ANTOINE DE CHANDIEU (1534-1591): L'UN DES PERES DE LA SCHOLASTIQUE REFORMEE? written by THEODORE GERARD VAN RAALTE and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy has been accepted by the faculty of Calvin Theological Seminary upon the recommendation of the undersigned readers: Richard A. Muller, Ph.D. I Date ~ 4 ,,?tJ/3 Dean of Academic Programs Copyright © 2013 by Theodore G. (Ted) Van Raalte All rights reserved For Christine CONTENTS Preface .................................................................................................................. viii Abstract ................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1 Introduction: Historiography and Scholastic Method Introduction .............................................................................................................1 State of Research on Chandieu ...............................................................................6 Published Research on Chandieu’s Contemporary
    [Show full text]
  • 245 LIST A'brakel, Wilhelmus the Christian's Reasonable Service
    LIST 245 1. A’BRAKEL, The Christian’s Reasonable Service. S.D.G.-1992. d.w’s. 4 £ 45.00 Wilhelmus volumes. ills. 2. ADAMS, J. E. The Time is at Hand. Prophecy and the Book of Revelation. £ 3.95 Timeless Texts-2000. lfpb. 16+138pp. 3. ADAMS, J. E. A Theology of Christian Counselling More than Redemption. £ 4.95 Zon.-1979 lfpb. 338pp. 4. ADAMS, J. E/FISHER The Time of the End. Daniel’s Prophecy Reclaimed. Timeless £ 3.95 Text-2000. lfpb. 120pp. Frwd. by R. C. Sproul. 5. ADAMS, J. G. The Big Umbrella. (Christian Counselling) BBH.-1975. lfpb. £ 4.50 265pp. 6. ALLISON, D.C Jesus of Nazareth Millenarian Prophet. Fortress-1998. lfpb. £ 4.50 255pp. 7. ALTHUSIUS, J. (1557 Politica. An abridged translation of Politics methodically set £ 8.50 -1638) forth and illustrated with Sacred and Profane examples. Trans. by F. S. Carney. Liberty -1995. lfpb. 62+238pp. From 1614 edition. 8. ALVARDO, R. A Common Law, the Law of Nations and Western Civilization. £ 3.50 Pietas-1999. lfpb. 161pp. 9. AMBROSE, Isaac Looking Unto Jesus. A View of the Everlasting Gospel etc. £ 8.00 Sprinkle-1986. hb. 694pp. Large volume, Puritan devotional classic. 10. ANON The Truth of the History of the Gospel Made Out by Heathen £ 22.00 Evidence. Edin.-1741. 38pp. XL. Pam. 11. ANON Queries Concerning the Reasonableness of Reclaiming the £ 22.00 Corporation Test Acts as Far as They Relate to Protestant Dissenters. Lon.-1732. 23pp. XL. Pam. Scarce. 12. ASHTON John F. Edt. In Six Days: Why 50 Scientists choose to Believe in Creation.
    [Show full text]
  • Not a Covenant of Works in Disguise” (Herman Bavinck1): the Place of the Mosaic Covenant in Redemptive History
    MAJT 24 (2013): 143-177 “NOT A COVENANT OF WORKS IN DISGUISE” (HERMAN BAVINCK1): THE PLACE OF THE MOSAIC COVENANT IN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY by Robert Letham READERS WILL DOUBTLESS be aware of the argument that the Mosaic covenant is in some way a republication of the covenant of works made by God with Adam before the fall. In recent years, this has been strongly advocated by Meredith Kline and others influenced by his views. In this article I will ask some historical and theological questions of the claim. I will also consider how far Reformed theology, particularly in the period up to the production of the major confessional documents of the Westminster Assembly (1643-47), was of one mind on the question. 2 I will concentrate on the argument itself, without undue reference to persons.3 1. Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006), 222. 2. Apart from the works of Kline, cited below, others have addressed the matter in some detail - Mark W. Karlberg, “The Search for an Evangelical Consensus on Paul and the Law,” JETS 40 (1997): 563–79; Mark W. Karlberg, “Recovering the Mosaic Covenant as Law and Gospel: J. Mark Beach, John H. Sailhammer, and Jason C. Meyer as Representative Expositors,” EQ 83, no. 3 (2011): 233–50; D. Patrick Ramsey, “In Defense of Moses: A Confessional Critique of Kline and Karlberg,” WTJ 66 (2004): 373–400; Brenton C. Ferry, “Cross-Examining Moses’ Defense: An Answer to Ramsey’s Critique of Kline and Karlberg,” WTJ 67 (2005): 163–68; J.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the Synodical Study Committee on the Federal Vision and Justification
    Report of the Synodical Study Committee on the Federal Vision and Justification Table of Contents I. Background A. Mandate and Composition of the Study Committee B. The Committee’s Work and Approach to its Mandate II. A Brief Sketch of the Emergence of the Federal Vision III. Characteristic Themes of the Federal Vision A. The Doctrine of the Covenant 1. Covenant and Salvation 2. Covenant and Election 3. The Pre-Fall Covenant 4. Law and Gospel in the Covenant B. The Doctrine of the Church and Sacraments 1. The Distinction Between the “Visible” and “Invisible” Church 2. The Efficacy of the Sacraments (Baptism) 3. Children at the Lord’s Table C. Assurance, Perseverance, and Apostasy 1. Assurance of Salvation 2. Perseverance and Apostasy D. Evaluating these FV Emphases 2 1. Covenant, Election, and Salvation 2. The Pre-Fall Covenant 3. Law and Gospel in the Covenant 4. The Doctrine of the Church and Sacraments (Baptism) 5. Assurance, Perseverance and Apostasy IV. The Doctrine of Justification and the Federal Vision A. The Biblical and Confessional Doctrine of Justification 1. “ Justification”: A Judicial Declaration of Acceptance with God 2. “By Grace Alone”, “On Account of Christ Alone”: The Basis for Free Justification 3. “Through Faith Alone”: The Instrument of Justification 4. Faith and Works (Justification and Sanctification) 5. Justification and the Sacraments B. An Evaluation of the FV Revisions of the Doctrine of Justification 1. Justification as the “Forgiveness of Sins” 2. The Basis for Justification: Christ’s “Passive Obedience” Alone 3. Biblical and Confessional Evidence for the Imputation of Christ’s Entire Obedience 4.
    [Show full text]
  • November 2010 Number 1
    Volume 44 • November 2010 Number 1 Volume in this issue: Editor’s Notes 1 Calvin’s Reformation of Public Worship 3 Ronald L. Cammenga Antithetical Catechizing in the Twenty-first Century 27 Nathan J. Langerak C r e a t i o n , P r o v i d e n c e , a n d D i v i n e A c c o m m o d a t i o n : John Calvin and Modern Theories of Evolution 61 Erik Guichelaar The Southern Presbyterian Doctrine of the Spirituality of the Church 93 P R O T E S T A N T R E F O R M E D Eugene Case T H E O L O G I C A L Book Reviews 110 S E M I N A R Y 4949 Ivanrest Avenue Wyoming, Michigan 49418-9142 ISSN 1070-8138 Volume 44 • November 2010 • Number 1 PROTESTANT REFORMED Book Reviews THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL 110 Clark, R. Scott. Caspar Olevian and the Substance of the Covenant: The Double Benefit of Christ 114 Dennison, James T. Reformed Confessions of the 16th Published twice annually by the faculty of the Protestant Re- and 17th Centuries in English Translation: Volume formed Theological Seminary: 2, 1552-1566. 120 Hanko, Herman. Contending for the Faith: The Rise of Ronald L. Cammenga, Editor ([email protected]) Heresy and the Development of the Truth. Russell J. Dykstra, Book Review Editor ([email protected]) 125 Greidanus, Sidney. Preaching Christ from Ecclesiastes: Barrett L. Gritters ([email protected]) Foundations for Expository Sermons 128 McDermott, Gerald R.
    [Show full text]
  • The Trinity Review
    THE TRINITY REVIEW For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare [are] not fleshly but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. And they will be ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) Number 357 Copyright 2020 The Trinity Foundation Post Office Box 68, Unicoi, Tennessee 37692 April, May 2020 Email: [email protected] Website: www.trinityfoundation.org Telephone: 423.743.0199 Fax: 423.743.2005 Did John Calvin Teach a Doctrine of Secondary Justification? Refuting Steven Wedgeworth on Secondary Justification By Daniel H. Chew Editor’s Note: The following article first appeared in a version of a “judgment by works” by theologians such as much briefer form at the author’s blog, Daniel’s Place – Mark Jones,2 who has likewise defended John Piper puritanreformed.blogspot.com, February 16, 2020. It from the charge of works-righteousness.3 According to has been expanded by the author, an M.Div graduate of Jones, all that Piper has striven to do was to defend the Westminster Seminary California. It has slightly been necessity of works for salvation, which he asserted was edited for The Review. taught by Reformed theologians and the Reformed faith.4 Works lead us to the “possession of life” not the Introduction “right to life,” and therefore for Jones there is nothing In the modern
    [Show full text]
  • Report on Justification, Presented to the Seventy-Third General Assembly
    Report on Justification Presented to the Seventy-third General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Committee on Christian Education Orthodox Presbyterian Church Box P Willow Grove, PA 19090-0920 Prefatory Statement In response to an overture from the Presbytery of the Midwest, the Seventy-first General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church adopted the following Declaration on Justification: The Seventy-first (2004) General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (i) declares its continued commitment to the teaching of the Word of God, the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms with regard to the doctrine of justification by faith alone; (ii) reaffirms that faith, which is a gift of God, is the sole instrument of justification; and (iii) reaffirms the following beliefs: a. “Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone” (WSC 33). b. “Those whom God effectually calls, he also freely justifieth; not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and resting on him and his righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God” (WCF 11.1).
    [Show full text]
  • Tim Keller June, 2010
    WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT THE PCA Tim Keller June, 2010 My first General Assembly was the PCA’s third, held in Jackson, Mississippi just under thirty-five years ago. Ever since then, I’ve seen a lot of conflict in our communion. My friends in other denominations ask, ‘isn’t there something inherently wrong with a denomination that is filled with such tensions?’ Now church fights are always fueled in part by ego and spiritual immaturity, and we must all share responsibility for that. But I propose that these struggles are also a sign of something good, even uniquely good, about our denomination. I believe our conflicts lie in that we are one of the few Presbyterian denominations that hasn’t pruned of one or more of its historic branches. Within the Reformed churches, there has always been a tension between what George Marsden calls ‘the Reformed branches’--the doctrinalist, pietistic and culturalist impulses.1 (Please read this footnote.) To understand the PCA today, we must trace out the history of these branches in American Presbyterianism. Spiritual revival and the ‘sides’ of Presbyterianism Reformed Christianity puts a high value on the objective—on theological soundness and creedal subscription. But it has also historically given a lot of attention to the subjective. Reformed soteriology holds that salvation is not a human product—it is God’s work. This emphasis has drawn attention to the 1 I am going to use George Marsden’s terminology to describe the Reformed Branches, even though they are rather bland, and each on is bit negative.
    [Show full text]
  • Union with Christ and the Sacraments: Clarifying the Federal Vision Theology of Douglas Wilson and Peter Leithart
    Union with Christ and the Sacraments: Clarifying the Federal Vision Theology of Douglas Wilson and Peter Leithart by Steven Walker An Integrative Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Reformed Theological Seminary In Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Master of Arts Degree Approved: Thesis Advisor: _______________________________ Dr. Howard Griffith RTS/Virtual President: ________________________________ Andrew J. Peterson, Ph.D. March 2007 ii iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION………… ……….…………………………..……………………1 STATEMENT ………………...……………………………………..………………...…1 2. SUMMARY OF THE FEDERAL VISION………………...…………….….………..2 I. I NDIVIDUAL REDEMPTION ...…………………………..……………………………..2 A. Election …………………………………………………………….…...................2 B. Effectual Calling…………………...……………………………….……………...3 C. Justification……...…………………………………………………..……………..4 D. Faith………………………………………………….…………………….…..…..7 E. Assurance…………………………………………….……………….…………..11 F. Sanctification……………………………………….…….....…………………….12 G. Perseverance……………………………………….……………………………..13 II. C ORPORATE REDEMPTION …….………………..….…………….………………..14 A. Election ………………………………………………….….…………..……….14 B. Covenant…………………………...…………………….………………………15 C. Covenant Membership..…………………………………………………….……17 D. The Church..……………………………………………………………………..18 E. Justification……..………………………………………………………………..20 F. Apostasy…...……………………………………………………………………..21 3. SACRAMENTAL UNION WITH CHRIST…………………………………….………24 I. S ACRAMENTS AS SIGN AND SEAL ………………………………….….…………...24 A. Federal Vision……………………………………………………………….…...24 B. The Broader Reformed
    [Show full text]
  • The Problem with Christian Reconstruction Paul Mcdade
    The Problem With Christian Reconstruction Paul McDade December 24 th 2014 The reform movement in the Christian church, known as Christian Reconstruction or Christian Reconstructionism, is a multi-faceted attempt at the application of Christian faith and ethics to the problems of society. As American society, at the dawn of the 21 st century, degenerates into chaos in the implications of it’s past century and a half of paganism, nothing could be more needful than the success of such an attempt. Sadly, however, the work is fatally flawed by the failure of many of it’s leading proponents to understand and apply true biblical theology to the situation. Without doubt the movement was spawned in the writings of Cornelius Van Til (1895-1987) in apologetics. Van Til sought a consistent application of the Reformed Faith - the faith of the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Westminster Confession and the Larger and Shorter Catechism’s of that assembly - by men witnessing to the truth of the gospel. His critique of the methods employed by nominally ‘Reformed Theologians’, The Defense of the Faith , is a classic and enlightening work. Van Til pointed out that the view of man’s fallen nature, implied by the methods the theologians use, was not consistent with the Reformed theology they claimed to believe. Asking a man dead in sins, to judge on a series of evidences the one witnessing presents, without ever challenging the legitimacy of his judgment, never gets to the heart of the matter of man’s fallenness. In seeking to illustrate this, Van Til went back in the history of apologetics to show the origin of such thought, in the synthesis between Christian and Aristotelian philosophy in the Romanist Church of the 13 th Century.
    [Show full text]
  • By J. V. Fesko Introduction
    MJT 16 (2005) 83-114 CALVIN ON JUSTIFICATION AND RECENT MISINTERPRETATIONS OF HIS VIEW by J. V. Fesko Introduction WHEN ONE SURVEYS the history of the Reformation the central issue that arises is the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Among the many Reformers who treated this subject, John Calvin (1509-64) towers above most of his peers, though this is not to say that his treatment is prescriptive for the Reformed tradition.1 Nevertheless, surveying Calvin’s understanding of justification is helpful for three major reasons: (1) his treatment of justification is one of the more well-known; (2) as of late some within the Reformed community have appealed to Calvin’s doctrine of justification because of the emphasis he places upon the doctrine of the believer’s union with Christ; and (3) because of the supposed divergence between Calvin and Martin Luther (1483-1546), specifically in the use of the adjective alone, in respect to faith. It is the contention of this essay that recent interpretation of Calvin that emphasizes the believer’s union with Christ at the expense of the imputed righteousness of Christ, and those who claim that there is a great divergence between Calvin and Luther and their respective explanations of justification, are incorrect. Rather, central to Calvin’s doctrine of justification is 1 For a critique of the idea that Calvin is the sole source of Calvinism see Richard A. Muller, After Calvin: Studies in the Development of a Theological Tradition (Oxford, OUP, 2003), 63-104; J. V. Fesko, Diversity Within the Reformed Tradition: Supra- and Infralapsarianism in Calvin, Dort, and Westminster (Greenville: Reformed Academic Press, 2001), 299-302; cf.
    [Show full text]
  • Divine Covenants, Absolute and Conditional: John Cameron and the Early Orthodox Development of Reformed Covenant Theology
    MJT 17 (2006) 11-56 DIVINE COVENANTS, ABSOLUTE AND CONDITIONAL: JOHN CAMERON AND THE EARLY ORTHODOX DEVELOPMENT OF REFORMED COVENANT THEOLOGY by Richard A. Muller I. John Cameron and the Development of Early Reformed Orthodoxy John Cameron and Early Reformed Orthodoxy IT IS GENERALLY agreed that John Cameron (ca. 1579-1625) occupies a significant position in the early development of Reformed covenant theology. Although there are a series of fairly extensive older biographical studies,1 his thought has been examined primarily as a prelude to the theology of his student and successor in the Academy of Saumur, Moyses Amyraut, with little attention to its antecedents and its context. 1 On Cameron’s life, see Robert Wodrow, “Collections on the Life of Mr. John Cameron, Minister at Bordeaux, Professor of Divinity at Saumur, Principall of the College of Glasgow, and Professor of Divinity at Montauban,” in Collections upon the Lives of the Reformers and most eminent Ministers of the Church of Scotland, 2 vols. (Glasgow, 1848), II/2, pp. 81-229; Gaston Bonet-Maury, “Jean Cameron, pasteur de l’église de Bordeaux et professeur de théologie à Saumur et à Montauban, 1579-1625,” in Études de théologie et d’histoire (Paris: 1901), pp. 77-117; idem, “John Cameron: A Scottish Protestant Theologian in France,” in The Scottish Historical Review, 7 (1910), pp. 325-345; and H. M. B. Reid, The Divinity Principals in the University of Glasgow, 1545-1654 (Glasgow, 1917), pp. 170-251. 12 • MID-AMERICA JOURNAL OF THEOLOGY This somewhat retrospective reading of
    [Show full text]