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Synopsis of a Purer Theology (2 Volumes)

William Den Boer & Riemer A. Faber (Editors) | Davenant Institute

  • $213.99
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Synopsis of a Purer Theology (2 Volumes)

William Den Boer & Riemer A. Faber (Editors) | Davenant Institute

  • $213.99

  • 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.

    408 + 448 Pages

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    VOLUME I

    Acknowledgements

    Introduction
    William den Boer & Riemer A. Faber

    Preface
    Synopsis of a Purer Theology 1625

    DISPUTATIONS
    1. Concerning the Most Sacred Theology
    2. On the Necessity and Authority of Scripture
    3. Concerning the Canonical and Apocryphal Books
    4. On the Perfection of Scripture, and the Futility of Adding
    5. About the Perspicuity and the Interpretation of Holy Scripture
    6. About the Nature of God and his Divine Attributes
    7. On the Holy Trinity
    8. Concerning the Person of the Father and of the Son
    9. On the Person of the Holy Spirit
    10. Concerning the Creation of the World
    11. On the Providence of God
    12. Concerning the Good and Bad Angels
    13. About Man Created in the Image of God
    14. On the Fall of Adam
    15. On Original Sin
    16. On Actual Sin
    17. On Free Choice
    18. Concerning the Law of God
    19. On Idolatry
    20. Concerning the Oath
    21. On the Sabbath and the Lord’s Day
    22. On the Gospel
    23. On the Old and the New Testament
    24. On Divine Predestination
    25. On the Incarnation of the Son of God and the Personal Union of the Two Natures in Christ
    26. On the Office of Christ
    27. On Christ in his State of Humiliation
    28. On Jesus Christ in his State of Exaltation
    29. On the Satisfaction by Jesus Christ
    30. On the Calling of People to Salvation
    31. On Faith and the Perseverance of the Saints
    VOLUME II

    Acknowledgements

    DISPUTATIONS
    1. On Repentance
    2. On the Justification of Man in the Sight of God
    3. On Good Works
    4. On Christian Freedom
    5. On the Religious Practice of Invocation
    6. On Almsgiving and Fasting
    7. On Vows
    8. On Purgatory and Indulgences
    9. On the Church
    10. On Christ as Head of the Church, and on the Antichrist
    11. On the Calling of Those Who Minister to the Church,
    12. On the Sacraments in General
    13. On the Sacrament of Baptism
    14. On the Lord’s Supper
    15. On the Sacrifice of the Mass and Its Abuses
    16. On the Five False Sacraments of the Papists
    17. On Church Discipline
    18. On Ecclesiastical Councils or Meetings
    19. On the Civil Magistrate
    20. On the Resurrection of the Body and the Last Judgment
    21. On Life and Death Everlasting and on the End of the World
    END MATTER

    Bibliography

    Index

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Synopsis of a Purer Theology

If you are seeking a profound and comprehensive exploration of Reformed theology from the seventeenth century, look no further than the Synopsis of a Purer Theology. This newly translated and published work offers a treasure trove of theological wisdom that is both historically significant and highly relevant for today’s scholars, pastors, students, and theology enthusiasts.

Written by esteemed full professors at Leiden University in the period spanning 1620 to 1625 (Antonius Thysius, Johannes Polyander, Andreas Rivetus, and Antonius Walaeus), this work offers a comprehensive yet compact overview of theology as it was understood during the years following the Synod of Dort, which convened between 1618 and 1619. This collection of theological disputations known as the Leiden Synopsis represents the consensus after the Synod of Dort (1620-1624), making it a codification of Reformed orthodoxy. Its concise and precise presentation of early modern Reformed theology is a testament to its importance.

What makes this two-volume set invaluable is its clear organization, careful distinction-making, and its unwavering commitment to transparency in scriptural sources. It respectfully engages with the entire Christian tradition and maintains an organic coherence as a theological system, which is a tool that should be regularly used in the study of Reformed theology. With this English translation, it is now accessible to a global readership, making the essence of Reformed theology available to a wider audience.

In the wake of the Arminian controversy, the Leiden Synopsis emerged as a theological work grounded in Scripture, razor-sharp in its distinctions, and deeply conversant with the history of doctrine. It brings clarity and precision to doctrinal formulation, focusing on the doctrines that all Reformed Christians confess. The title Synopsis of Purer Theology can be interpreted as a indication of the authors’ intention to emphasize their commitment to promoting the orthodox Reformed (“purer”) doctrine that was officially established during the recent Synod of Dort.

Whether you are a pastor, theologian, or someone interested in Reformed theology, this work deserves a place on your bookshelf. It offers not only a historical perspective but also a contemporary provocation to engage deeply with its wisdom and insights.

The Synopsis of a Purer Theology is an extraordinary contribution to the study of Reformed theology, and it is an essential resource for anyone serious about understanding the rich ecclesiastical tradition that has shaped the Christian faith. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the translators, editors, and the publisher, this monumental work is now accessible and affordable to all who wish to delve into the depths of Reformed thought. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore this theological masterpiece that bridges the past with the present, providing clarity, precision, and theological wisdom for today's seekers of truth and faith.