Synopsis of a Purer Theology 2 Vols. (Den Boer & Faber, Ed.)

Author:

den Boer, William & Faber, Riemer A

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SKU:

9781949716153

Publisher:

Davenant Institute

Format:

Hardcover

Pages:

856

Description

Over the past decade, the project of Protestant resourcement has exploded, giving pastors, scholars, and lay-people access to the great thinkers who shaped their tradition. Despite this great progress, many treasures of Reformed theology remain obscured from the lay-person, confined to academics with a working knowledge of Latin and Biblical languages–or, if translated, affordable only by libraries with large budgets.

Synopsis of a Purer Theology, otherwise known as “the Leiden Synopsis,” is one such work. Collecting theological disputations delivered at the University of Leiden in the early 1600s, it is one of the most historically important and theologically comprehensive handbooks of Reformed theology, being a key influence for many Reformed theologians including Herman Bavinck, Abraham Kuyper, Karl Barth, Louis Berkhof, and Richard Muller. And yet, it has remained largely forgotten and left to a handful of Latin-reading scholars.

Now for the first time, the Davenant Press has published this significant work in a full English-only translation, in an affordable and concise two-volume set that includes introductory material to orient the reader to the text.

The Synopsis offers both a snapshot of the state of confessional theology in the 17th-century Dutch Reformed tradition, and also an enduring example of how the project of systematizing doctrine can serve the church. The Leiden professors modeled thoroughness and clarity of thought in the face of confusion, and a vision of irenic Christian unity over brittle doctrinal uniformity.

As Protestants endeavor both to recover their forgotten heritage and to pass it down to the next generation, we need examples of how this has been done before us. The Synopsis of a Purer Theology will serve to bring such illumination and perspective to a generation desperately in need of its boldness, clarity, and wisdom.

Acknowledgements

Introduction
William den Boer & Riemer A. Faber

Preface
Synopsis of a Purer Theology 1625

Disputations

Concerning the Most Sacred Theology
On the Necessity and Authority of Scripture
Concerning the Canonical and Apocryphal Books
On the Perfection of Scripture, and the Futility of Adding
About the Perspicuity and the Interpretation of Holy Scripture
About the Nature of God and his Divine Attributes
On the Holy Trinity
Concerning the Person of the Father and of the Son
On the Person of the Holy Spirit
Concerning the Creation of the World
On the Providence of God
Concerning the Good and Bad Angels
About Man Created in the Image of God
On the Fall of Adam
On Original Sin
On Actual Sin
On Free Choice
Concerning the Law of God
On Idolatry
Concerning the Oath
On the Sabbath and the Lord’s Day
On the Gospel
On the Old and the New Testament
On Divine Predestination
On the Incarnation of the Son of God and the Personal Union of the Two Natures in Christ
On the Office of Christ
On Christ in his State of Humiliation
On Jesus Christ in his State of Exaltation
On the Satisfaction by Jesus Christ
On the Calling of People to Salvation
On Faith and the Perseverance of the Saints

Volume II

Acknowledgements

Disputations

On Repentance
On the Justification of Man in the Sight of God
On Good Works
On Christian Freedom
On the Religious Practice of Invocation
On Almsgiving and Fasting
On Vows
On Purgatory and Indulgences
On the Church
On Christ as Head of the Church, and on the Antichrist
On the Calling of Those Who Minister to the Church,
On the Sacraments in General
On the Sacrament of Baptism
On the Lord’s Supper
On the Sacrifice of the Mass and Its Abuses
On the Five False Sacraments of the Papists
On Church Discipline
On Ecclesiastical Councils or Meetings
On the Civil Magistrate
On the Resurrection of the Body and the Last Judgment
On Life and Death Everlasting and on the End of the World

End Matter

Bibliography

Index

Endorsements

“In the Christian faith, we cannot do without each other, but we need the insights of each. In The Leiden Synopsis, Reformed theology from the best theologians of the time comes together, resulting in a finely crafted rendition of the Christian faith. For the study of Christian faith and Reformed theology, this handbook is indispensable today.” – PROFESSOR DR. WILLEM VAN VLASTUIN Professor of the Theology and the Spirituality of Reformed Protestantism, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Dean of the Hersteld Hervormd Seminary, and Director of the Jonathan Edwards Centre Benelux

“Through the publication of the Synopsis in English, the essence of Reformed theology is no longer exclusively available to traditional, Western historiography and church history. Its original Latin format limited its impact to professional theologians and specialised philologists focusing on theology, while its religious core remained inaccessible not only to the general public but also to geographical venues beyond the West. Now, however, this treasure of theological insights is no longer the appanage of expert scholars; from lay people to academics with vested interests in religion, the Synopsis will become accessible to every person who wishes to know more about Reformed theology regardless of whether one lives in the West, the East or the Global South. This is an achievement with unprecedented possibilities for Reformed theology and its rich ecclesiastical tradition.” – PROFESSOR CORNELIU C. SIMUȚ Aurel Vlaicu University (Romania)

“The Leiden theology faculty was the ‘Sorbonne’ of Reformed orthodoxy. And the Leiden Synopsis represented the consensus after the Synod of Dort. Weaving into its exegetical arguments support from patristic and medieval sources, the authors display the catholic and evangelical spirit of Reformed theology. Avoiding internecine disputes, the Synopsis focuses on the doctrines that all Reformed Christians confess. Given its spirit, scope and learned arguments, it deserves to inform the tradition today as it did so persuasively in the past.” – MICHAEL HORTON J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

“The Leiden Synopsis is a codification of Reformed orthodoxy, concise and precise in its presentation of early modern Reformed theology. The translators, editors, and publisher are commended for making this monumental work available in English. Indispensable for any serious scholar and student in Post-reformation Reformed theology.” – ADRIAAN C. NEELE Vice President, Professor of Historical Theology and Homiletics, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

“Doctrinal controversy brings strife but it also brings clarity and precision to doctrinal formulation, which is a blessing. This benefit of debate is no less true of the Leiden Synopsis, written in the wake of the Arminian controversy. This collection of theological disputations is grounded in Scripture, razor sharp in its distinctions, and conversant with the history of doctrine. No serious student of theology can afford to ignore this theological work.” – J. V. FESKO Harriet Barbour Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi

About the Editors

William den Boer, PhD (2008) Theological University Apeldoorn, is postdoctoral researcher at the Theological University Kampen / Utrecht. He is author of God’s Twofold Love: The Theology of Jacob Arminius (1559–1609) (2010), general editor of Synopsis Purioris Theologiae / Synopsis of a Purer Theology: Latin Text and English Translation (2014–2020), and author or editor of several books and articles on church history and (historical) theology. Dr. den Boer is chairman of the Dutch branch of The Gospel Coalition and pastors a church in the city of Almere.

Riemer A. Faber, PhD (1992) University of Toronto, is Professor of Classics at the University of Waterloo. His research interests range from the reception of Greek poetry in Augustan Rome to neo-Latin literature. Recent projects include an English edition of Erasmi Annotationes ad Galatas, ad Ephesios (2017), an edited volume of essays, Celebrity, Fame and Infamy in the Hellenistic World (2020), and a forthcoming co-edited volume, Comparing Roman Hellenisms in Italy. He is general editor and translator of Synopsis Purioris Theologiae / Synopsis of a Purer Theology (2014–2020). Dr. Faber serves as chair of the editorial board of the Collected Works of Erasmus.

5
Amazing Set of Dutch Reformed Writings

Posted by Jeffrey Tomkins on 14th Jan 2024

I absolutely love these classic Dutch Reformed volumes both to read for edification and for my research and writing. The print is large and clear and the binding is great. I have already cited text from volume one in a paper I am publishing. These will be a great resource for years to come.