“Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”
Rom. 8:30
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
Jn. 10:28-29
“And this is the will of him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Jn. 6:40
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Subsection
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Order of Contents
Articles 10+
Book 1
Quotes 2
Is a Gift 1
Historical 4
Latin 2
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Articles
Anthology of the Post-Reformation
Heppe, Heinrich – ch. 23, ‘The Fixity of the Covenant of Grace, or the Perseverance of the Saints’ in Reformed Dogmatics ed. Ernst Bizer, tr. G.T. Thomson (1861; Wipf & Stock, 2007), pp. 581-90
Heppe (1820–1879) was a German reformed theologian.
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1500’s
Zanchi, Jerome
The Summary of the Questions whether Remission of sins, once obtained, can again be made frustrated, comprised in fourteen Conclusions in Sundry Positions out of the Praelections of Zanchi which were carped at by his Adversaries in Speculum Christianum, or A Christian Survey for the Conscience, containing Three Tractates… (d. 1590; London, 1614)
On Eph. 3:13, Locus 1, On the Perseverance of the Saints in Faith, ‘Therefore I ask you not to lose heart…’ tr. by AI by Western Catholike 10 pp.
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1600’s
Hooker, Richard – ‘Semon of the Certainty & Perpetuity of Faith in the Elect’ on Hab. 1:4 in Works, 2 vols. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1890), vol. 2, pp. 587-99
Perkins, William – ‘A Treatise tending unto a Declaration whether a Man be in the Estate of Damnation or in the Estate of Grace, and if he be in the first, how he may in time come out of it: if in the second, how he may discern it and persevere in the same to the end’ (1600) an appendix to A Golden Chain (Cambridge: Legat, 1600)
Alsted, Johann H. – 5. ‘On the Perseverance of the Saints & the Certainty of Savlation’ in Polemical Theology, exhibiting the Principal Eternal Things of Religion in Navigating Controversies, pt. 2, 4-6 (Partial) tr. by AI by Onku (Hanau, 1620; 1627), pt. 6, sect. 1, Of the Dogmas of Jacob Arminius & his Disciples, pp. 118-20 Latin
Rivet, Andrew – 31. ‘On Faith & the Perseverance of the Saints’ in Synopsis of a Purer Theology: Latin Text & English Translation Buy (1625; Brill, 2016), vol. 2, pp. 228-76
Wolleb, Johannes – 32. ‘The Perseverance of the Saints’ in Abridgment of Christian Divinity (1626) in ed. John Beardslee, Reformed Dogmatics: J. Wollebius, G. Voetius & F. Turretin (Oxford Univ. Press, 1965), bk. 1, pp. 174-76
Wolleb (1589–1629) was a Swiss reformed theologian. He was a student of Amandus Polanus.
Rutherford, Samuel
Rutherford’s Examination of Arminianism: the Tables of Contents with Excerpts from Every Chapter trans. Charles Johnson & Travis Fentiman (1638-1642; 1668; RBO, 2019)
ch. 10, section 5, ‘Whether the Covenant of Grace is eternal? We affirm against the Remonstrants.’, pp. 95-96
Note that Rutherford is here arguing against the Arminians, rather than later when he argued against the polar opposite error of the Antinomians (who took the eternalness of the Covenant of Grace to an extreme length).
ch. 13, section 2, ‘Whether it is hypocritical that those possessing temporary faith cannot be said to fall away? We deny with a distinction against the Remonstrants.’, pp. 110-14
ch. 14
section 3, ‘Whether the Arminians rightly deny there to be any certainty of our salvation? We deny against the same.’, pp. 115-16
section 4, ‘Whether or not a greater certainty is required by us than that which the nature of a free act itself bears? We affirm against the Remonstrants.’, pp. 117-18
ch. 13, ‘On the Perseverance of the Saints’ in Examination of Arminianism tr. by AI by Monergism (1639-1642; Utrecht, 1668; 2024), pp. 514-79
1. Whether (1) adults (2) who are truly regenerate, (3) not for reason of their infirmity, and (4) notwithstanding the intercession of Christ, the principle of a lively faith, the immutable covenant of God, election, and the care and power of God, can so fall away that (i) they part with all right unto the kingdom of God that they once had in Christ, (ii) fall away from the favor and grace of a gratuitous election, and (iii) totally and finally fall away? We deny against the Papists, Pseudo-Lutherans, Socinians, and Remonstrants.
2. Whether temporary faith has the essence of saving faith? We deny against the Remonstrants.
* 3. Whether it is hypocritical that those possessing temporary faith cannot be said to fall away? We deny with a distinction against the Remonstrants.
4. Whether, because exhortations by their nature serve to engender fear, the purpose of the promise, by which God absolutely promises perseverance, is therefore extinguished? We deny against the Remonstrants.
5. Whether they cannot be moved to obedience by the promise of eternal life who are certainly comprehended in it? We deny against the Remonstrants.
6. Whether God promises perseverance absolutely? We affirm against the Remonstrants.
7. Whether Christ elected none to perseverance? We deny against the Remonstrants.
8. Whether Christ acquired perseverance for the elect by the merit of his death? We affirm against the Remonstrants.
9. Whether the promise of salvation applies immediately only to him who finally perseveres and has complete faith, i.e. as many as endure to the end? We deny against the Remonstrants.
10. Whether he, being under divine judgment, perseveres in faith who (1) does not sin against the clear and plain dictates of either natural reason or supernatural revelation, and (2) seeks to correct and emend their infirmities, this moderation furthering diligence? We deny against the Remonstrants.
11. Whether the sins of the regenerate are all sins of infirmity according to us? We deny with a distinction against the Remonstrants.
12. Whether the regenerate can sin with deliberate purpose, with all the might of the will, and with full consent, being given over to malice? We deny against the Remonstrants.
13. Whether the strivings of the Spirit against the flesh diminish the sin of the regenerate? We affirm with a distinction against the Remonstrants.
14. Whether we teach that true believers not only do not cast off the Holy Spirit and faith by the most severe sins, but that the abiding principle of faith in these persons remains safe under those sins, it being so pleasing to God that, due to it, God wills to grant eternal life? We deny against the Remonstrants.
15. Whether there is not any intrinsic and vital principle from which the duration of faith proceeds by the necessity of the consequent, nor any extrinsic principle, by the force of some decree by which it is necessary that the elect persevere? We deny against the Remonstrants.
16. Whether an apostate can, through knowledge [of the gospel], which he recognizes to be true, which he had in a former time believed, even if that knowledge is without all assent, resurge in life anew, so much so that it be not a work of total regeneration? We deny against the Remonstrants.
17. Whether God first deserts men who desert Him? We deny with a distinction against the Remonstrants.
18. Whether the truly regenerate, being excommunicated, are excluded from the kingdom of heaven? We deny against the Remonstrants.
Pasor, Matthias – Theological Disputation on the Perseverance of the Saints, or of the Faithful, pt. 1 tr. by AI by Anded (Groningen: Johann Sas, 1648) Latin
Pasor (1599-1658) was a reformed professor of philosophy, oriental languages, moral philosophy, mathematics and theology at various times at Heidelberg, Oxford and Groningen.
Leigh, Edward – ‘Perseverance’, p. 600 in ‘Some Special Graces Deciphered’ in A System or Body of Divinity… (London, A.M., 1654), bk. 7
Turretin, Francis – Institutes of Elenctic Theology, tr. George M. Giger, ed. James Dennison Jr. (1679–1685; P&R, 1994), vol. 2
15th Topic
16th Topic
Heidegger, Johann H. – 24. ‘On the Constancy of the Covenant of Grace’ in The Concise Marrow of Theology tr. Casey Carmichael in Classic Reformed Theology, vol. 4 (1697; RHB, 2019), pp. 171-77
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1700’s
à Brakel, Wilhelmus – ch. 99, ‘The Perseverance of the Saints’ in The Christian’s Reasonable Service, vol. 4 ed. Joel Beeke, tr. Bartel Elshout Buy (1700; RHB, 1992/1999), pp. 275-303
a Brakel (1635-1711) was a contemporary of Voet and Witsius and a major representative of the Dutch Further Reformation.
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1900’s
Berkhof, Louis – ‘Perseverance of the Saints’ (1950) 15 paragraphs in Systematic Theology
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Book
1600’s
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Quotes
Order of
Alsted
Hoornbeek
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1600’s
Johann H. Alsted
‘On Justification & Good Works in General’ in Theologia polemica, exhibens praecipuas huius aeui in religionis negotio controuersias sex in partes tributa studio (d. 1638) at Nosferatu’s Substack (2024)
“Controversy VIII: Can justifying faith be lost?
Thesis: Although the elect frequently fall into grave sins and thus lose faith in its act, time, and part, they are not completely abandoned by God, nor do they totally and finally lose faith and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit in terms of the root and habit, even if they may lose them in terms of quantity.
[Romanist] Antithesis: Justifying faith and justice not only can be totally and finally lost but are sometimes indeed lost.
Confirmation of the Thesis:
1. Scripture teaches that Christ’s sheep cannot perish (John 10) and that nothing can separate them from the love of God (Romans 8).
2. Faith is our victory by which we overcome the world (1 John 5).
3. God does not abandon the work of His hands (Psalm 138), nor does He tempt His own beyond their strength, but provides a happy escape (1 Corinthians 10).
[Romanist] Confirmation of the Antithesis:
1. “The righteous can turn from their justice” (Ezekiel 18).
2. Some fall temporarily (Luke 8), and the charity of many will grow cold (Matthew 24). Many fall from the grace of God (Galatians 5). Many also depart from the faith (1 Timothy 4 and 6).
3. Some branches in Christ do not bear fruit and are thrown into the fire (John 15).
4. The apostle says he subdues his body to avoid being disqualified (1 Corinthians 9).
5. Some, after tasting the grace of God, fall back (Hebrews 6).
6. Some, like dogs, return to their own vomit (2 Peter 2).
7. Examples of fallen angels, the first parents, Saul, David, Solomon, Peter, etc., who fell into grave sins, show that some lost all final justice.
8. The nature of faith or justice is not such that it cannot be lost. Experience shows that many fall from faith every day. Many, though baptized and justified in baptism, fall.
[The Reformed] Censure:
1. It does not concern here the living root of justice but the external appearance, so that the name “justice” refers to our senses, not to God’s hidden judgment. Moreover, the hypothesis is not correctly turned into a categorical.
2. Faith here means the doctrine and profession of faith, not the heart’s trust. The charity of hypocrites, which seems like fire, cools in winter, that is, in calamities.
3. It concerns hypocrites who, for some time, are branches in their own opinion and that of others.
4. Paul speaks of pious concern, not of a final event.
5. 6. It concerns hypocrites who, on the one hand, taste the grace of God, insofar as they receive various gifts of the Holy Spirit, on the other hand, seem truly to be elect.
7. Examples of fallen angels and Saul are irrelevant and unequal; the others are false.
8. Perseverance is attributed not to the merit of faith but to God’s mercy in Christ. Hence it is said: “Faith is immovable because of the Father’s election, the Son’s satisfaction, and the Holy Spirit’s seal.” Moreover, many hypocrites fall from faith. Finally, it is false to say that baptism justifies by the act itself. In short, in this controversy, the fallacy of “secundum quid ad simpliciter” is commonly used, that is, what is true in a certain sense is considered true absolutely; this is the fallacy of arguing from appearance to essence.”
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Johannes Hoornbeek
Theological Disputation on the State of Grace (Leiden: Johann Elsevir, 1664), Corollaries Latin
“4. Although regeneration is the work of God, yet in this life it is imperfect while we are in the state of grace.
5. And so it admits degrees of further perfection.
6. But by no means the defect of a full and final falling away.”
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Spiritual Strength to Persevere, and Perseverance, is a Divine Gift that is Applied throughout the Whole of the Lives of All Regenerate Believers, and may and ought to be Prayed for, and is Helped thereby
“We give thanks to God… praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus… for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;”
Col. 1:3-5
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Quote
1600’s
Amandus Polanus
‘Analytical Theses on Colossians, containing the Exordium of the Epistle’, pt. 1 (on Col. 1:1-11) $3 Download tr. Jonathan Tomes (Basel: Johannes Schroeter, 1601)
“XLIII. Perseverance in true faith is a gift that is supremely necessary, so that, strengthened with all
power according to the glorious might of God, we may overcome all afflictions, persecutions, and even temptations of the flesh, the world, and Satan, with all patience and gentleness, and with joy.
XLIV. And this perseverance is not from us, but is graciously communicated to us by the power of
God; therefore, Paul asks for it from God [in Col. 1:3-5]. No one can remain steadfast in the faith of Christ unless they are graciously strengthened by God, with the power of God aiding our weakness and granting patience.
XLV. However, patience should by no means be forcibly extracted from those who are unwilling, but rather it should arise from a joyful and cheerful spirit, so that in trials the joy of the spirit may surpass the pain of the flesh.
XLVI. From this, we conclude:
1. No faithful person can stand by their own virtue alone.
2. The steadfastness of faith amidst various temptations is a special gift from God, to be
obtained through constant prayers.
3. Since the steadfastness of faith is strengthened by the glorious might of God, truly faithful and reborn individuals can never completely lose their faith.”
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Historical Theology
All of Church History
Article
1800’s
Cunningham, William – ‘Perseverance of the Saints’ in Historical Theology (1863), vol. 2, p. 490-500
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Post-Reformation
Article
Johnson, Charles – ‘Thomas & TULIP’ (2020) 20 paragraphs at Reformed Theology Delatinized
“This article will address the claim that Thomas Aquinas held to an Augustinian doctrine of predestination essentially compatible with that of the Reformed Churches, showing in what ways Thomas’s doctrine is compatible with the doctrine of the Reformed Churches and important ways in which it differs…
Thomas did teach the perseverance of the elect, but not perseverance of the saints. What we mean by this is that he taught that all the elect will persevere, but that not only the elect, but many besides, are called to faith and given real conversion and grace, and eventually fall away. Their state in this life differs nothing from the elect. In keeping with this, one may not know in this life whether they are elect or reprobate.”
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Book
Collier, Jay T. – Debating Perseverance: the Augustinian Heritage in Post-Reformation England Pre (Oxford, 2018) 207 pp. ToC
“While one may find a confession like the Irish Articles (1615) explicitly stating perseverance of all those who are regenerate and have true faith (Art. 38), many Reformed confessions, like the First Helvetic Confession (1536), simply don’t address the topic. Similarly, doctrinal standards like the Belgic Confession (1561) and the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), which many people find conducive to the perseverance of the saints, never clearly state it.
And while the tenth chapter of the Second Helvetic Confession (1566) may be suggestive of perseverance of the saints when it identifies those engrafted in Christ by faith with the elect, it does not come out and say that those with true faith cannot lose it. Other confessions, like the Thirty-Nine Articles (1563), speak of the elect attaining everlasting felicity (Art. 17) without ever specifying that everyone with saving faith is elect. This path was even followed by the French Confession (1559) and the Confession of La Rochelle (1571), which were highly influenced by Calvin and the Reformers in Geneva.
But the fact that so many Reformed confessions did not require adherence to the perseverance of the saints does not mean that the doctrine was not prominent. To the contrary, the fact that the confessions did not deny it allowed the doctrine to flourish among the Reformed.” – pp. 11-12
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Quote
Eric Parker
‘Debating Baptismal Regeneration: Johannes Maccovius’ (2018)
“A debate arose among Reformed divines in the 1620s and 30s, particularly in England, over the issue of baptismal regeneration. A variety of interpretations of passages like Titus 3:5 and 1 Peter 3:21 were proposed and there was debate over how to interpret Augustine and even Calvin on this issue.
In the past it was thought that this debate arose in response to Anabaptist arguments against the propriety of infant baptism. Jay Colier, however, has convincingly argued in his recent book, that the debate was actually set off by the Synod of Dort, specifically the canon affirming the perseverance of all the saints. Prior to Dort, Reformed confessions did not explicitly affirm the doctrine of perseverance, allowing some variation in how the doctrine was taught, though no one outright denied it…
In affirming and codifying the absolute perseverance of every saint, however, the Synod of Dort and its canons gave a greater sense of urgency to the issue, removing any gray area that would permit a general sort of regeneration for non-elect infants that might be lost when a child reaches maturity.”
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Latin Articles
1600’s
Rutherford, Samuel – ch. 13, ‘On the Perseverance of the Saints’ in The Examination of Arminianism ed. Matthew Nethenus (1639-1643; Utrecht, 1668), pp. 549-625
Voet, Gisbert – Of the Perseverance of Faith & of the Saints in Syllabus of Theological Problems (Utrecht, 1643), pt. 1, section 2, tract 3 Abbr.
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“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Jn. 5:24
“No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Jn. 6:44
“Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Col. 3:24
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Related Pages
On Union with Christ & the Fruits of the Fellowship Ensuing Therefrom