“Thy Word is truth.”
Jn. 17:17
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Order of Contents
Articles 18+
Books 3
Letter vs. Spirit 1
Ecclesiastical Writings 1
Latin 6+
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Articles
Anthology of the Post-Reformation
Heppe, Heinrich – Reformed Dogmatics ed. Ernst Bizer, tr. G.T. Thomson (1861; Wipf & Stock, 2007)
ch. 2, ‘Holy Scripture’, pp. 12-42
Heppe (1820–1879) was a German reformed theologian.
ch. 3, ‘Foundation of the Doctrine of Holy Scripture’, pp. 42-47
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1500’s
Bullinger, Henry – The Decades ed. Thomas Harding (1549; Cambridge: Parker Society, 1849), vol. 1, 1st Decade
1st Sermon, ‘Of the Word of God; the Cause of it; and How & by whom it was Revealed to the World’ 36-57
2nd Sermon, ‘Of the Word of God; to whom & to what End it was Revealed; also in what Manner it is to be Heard; and that it does fully teach the whole doctrine of godliness’ 57-70
Vermigli, Peter Martyr – The Common Places… (d. 1562; London: Henrie Denham et al., 1583)
pt. 1, ch. 6. ‘Of the Holy Scriptures, and of the dignity and profit of them, and of the means how to understand them’ 39-52
Orations, ’A praise of the Word of God taught in the Scriptures, and an Exhortation to the study of them’ 36-43
Musculus, Wolfgang – Common Places of the Christian Religion (1560; London, 1563)
‘Holy Scriptures’ 147.b
Of the division of holy Scriptures 148.b
What difference is between the holy Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers, bishops and councils 151.a
Of the Languages of Holy Scriptures 155.a
Of the Reading of holy Scriptures 156.a
Of the profit of holy Scripture 159.b
Of the truth and the accomplishment of the holy Scriptures 163.a
Becon, Thomas – 4. ‘Of the Holy Scripture’ in Prayers & Other Pieces by Thomas Becon (d. 1567; Cambridge: Parker Society, 1844), The Common Places of Holy Scripture, pp. 319-21
Becon (c. 1511-1567) was an Anglican reformer, clergyman and a chaplain to Thomas Cranmer. He was initially significantly influenced by Luther, and then Zwingli.
de Brès, Guy – ‘Of the Holy Scripture, and how it is Lawful for All Men to Read it’ in The Staff of Christian Faith… for to Know the Antiquity of our Holy Faith… gathered out of the Works of the Ancient Doctors of the Church… (d. 1567; London, 1577), pp. 293-340
de Bres (1522-1567) was a Walloon pastor, Protestant reformer and theologian, a student of Calvin and Beza in Geneva.
Beza, Theodore – pp. 1-2 in A Book of Christian Questions & Answers… (London, 1574)
Zanchi, Girolamo – Confession of the Christian Religion… (1586; Cambridge, 1599), pp. 1-10 & 275-76
Ch.1, ’Of the Holy Scriptures, the Foundation of All Christian Religion’
On Aphorism 4
Ursinus, Zachary
The Sum of Christian Religion: Delivered… in his Lectures upon the Catechism… tr. Henrie Parrie (Oxford, 1587)
1. What the holy Scripture teaches: or, how Christian doctrine is divided
2. What Religion, delivered in the Scriptures, differs from other religions: or how we ought to discern the true Church, and to dissever her from other sects
The difference of this true doctrine from others
The difference of this true Doctrine from Philosophy
Certain notes or marks by which the Church is distinguished from other sects
3. From whence it appears this Religion alone to be true and divine: and all others to be forged
4. For what cause no doctrine besides the holy Scripture is to be received into the Church
2. Of Holy Scripture in Rules & Axions of Certain Chief Points of Christianity in A Collection of Certain Learned Discourses… (Oxford, 1600)
Beza, Theodore, Anthony Faius & Students – 52. ‘Of the Word of God’ in Propositions & Principles of Divinity Propounded & Disputed in the University of Geneva by Certain Students of Divinity there, under Mr. Theodore Beza & Mr. Anthony Faius… (Edinburgh: Waldegrave, 1591), pp. 147-51
Gerlach, Stephan – Theses on Sacred Scripture against Robert Bellarmine tr. by AI by Onku (Tubingen, 1597) 11 pp. Latin
Gerlach (1546-1612) was a Lutheran professor of theology at Tubingen.
Rollock, Robert – A Treatise of Effectual Calling (1603) in Select Works of Robert Rollock… (d. 1599; Edinburgh, 1849), vol. 1
9. ‘1stCharacteristic of the Scripture—its Antiquity’ 75-78
10. ‘2ndCharacteristic—Its Perspicuity’ 78-82
11. ‘3rdCharacteristic—Its Simplicity’ 82-85
12. ‘4thCharacteristic—Its Ever-Living Efficacy’ 85-88
13. ‘5thCharacteristic—Its Indispensability’ 88-92
14. ‘6thCharacteristic—Its Perfection’ 92-94
15. ‘7thCharacteristic—Its Authority as a Judge of Controversies’ 94-97
16. ‘8thCharacteristic—Its Authority as a Ground of Faith’ 97-99
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1600’s
Junius the Elder, Francis
‘Theological Theses on the Canon of Holy Scripture’ (Heidelberg, 1590)
in ed. Abraham Kuyper, D. Francisci Junii Opuscula Theologica Selecta (d. 1602; Amsterdam: Muller, 1882)
‘On the Efficient Cause of Sacred Scripture’
‘On the Definition & Matter of Sacred Scripture’
‘On the Form of Sacred Scripture’
‘On the Authority of Sacred Scripture,’ pt. 1, 2
‘On the End of Sacred Scripture’
Perkins, William – Ch. 3, Whether the Scriptures be the true Word of God? in The Whole Treatise of the Cases of Conscience… (d. 1602; Cambridge: Legat, 1606), bk. 2
Bucanus, William – 4. ‘Of the Scriptures’ in Institutions of Christian Religion... (London: Snowdon, 1606), pp. 37-48
What is the holy Scripture called?
Who is the author of it?
How manifold is it?
Which books be called canonical?
How many books are there of the Old Testament?
How do they divide those 24 books?
Which is the second rank?
Which is the third?
Which is the fourth?
Are there added to these canonical books any other books?
Have the books called apocrypha equal authority with those called canonical?
Into how many parts is the New Testament divided?
How do the writings of the prophets differ from the apostles?
After that the New Testament was added to the Old, was the Word of God made more perfect?
How may it appear that the writings of the Prophets and the Apostles were indited of God?
What reasons have you to prove that the Scripture came from God?
What is the true infallible note whereby all men of sound judgment do acknowledge that doctrine to be the doctrine of the true God?
But how shall we answer them who ask how we know that Moses, the prophets and the apostles were the authors of those writings which are published under their names and whether there was ever any such Moses or no?
Seeing that before Moses’s time we read not that there was any Word of God written, how did God all that time reveal his will unto men?
But wherefore was the Word of God committed to writing?
In what tongue was either of the Testaments written?
Ought the Scripture to be propounded to all Christians in their own native tongues?
Is the Scripture manifest, or is it obscure?
What is the Interpretation of holy Scripture?
Whence must we fetch the interpretation of Scriptures?
What must be the rule of interpreting?
What is the use of holy Scripture?
What shall we answer to that saying of Augustine: ‘I would not believe the Gospel, unless the authority of the Church moved me’?
What things are contrary to the Scripture?
Alsted, Johann H. – 1. ‘Sacred Scripture’ 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. 2, 2. A Major catholic Symphony: Theological Common Places, pp. 12-15 Latin
Ames, William – ch. 34, ‘Holy Scripture’ in The Marrow of Theology tr. John D. Eusden (1623; Baker, 1997), bk. 1, pp. 185-90
Ames (1576-1633) was an English, puritan, congregationalist, minister, philosopher and controversialist. He spent much time in the Netherlands, and is noted for his involvement in the controversy between the reformed and the Arminians. Voet highly commended Ames’s Marrow for learning theology.
Synopsis of a Purer Theology: Latin Text & English Translation Buy (1625; Brill, 2016), vol. 1
2. ‘On the Necessity & Authority of Scripture’, pp. 48-74
3. ‘Concerning the Canonical & Apocryphal Books’, pp. 74-106
4. ‘On the Perfection of Scripture & the Futility of Adding Unwritten Traditions to it’, pp. 106-128
5. ‘About the Perspicuity & the Interpretation of Holy Scripture’, pp. 128-50
Gerhard, Johann – The First Decade of Theological Disputations, in which Bellarmine is brought forward as a witness of Orthodoxy, that is, the catholic and Evangelical Truth is asserted in certain principal articles controversial with the Roman Catholic Church from Bellarmine himself tr. by AI by Onku (Jena, 1630) 65 pp.
Dedicatory Epistle 1
1. On the Word of God, pt. 1 4
2. On the Word of God, pt. 2 26
3. On the Word of God, pt. 3 43-56
Rutherford, Samuel – ch. 1, ‘On the Holy Scriptures’ in Examination of Arminianism tr. by AI by Monergism (1639-1642; Monergism, 2024), pp. 42-155
1. Whether Scripture is the judge of controversies? We affirm. Or, whether God in his Word has not left us any conscience-binding rule, but only one that guidingly judges? We deny against the Arminians, or Remonstrants.
2. Whether those fundamental articles which are deduced by consequence from the most common principles are believed by true faith? Explained and distinguished.
3. What sort of consequence is entailed by evidence so that it is an article of faith? Explained.
4. Whether the number of fundamental doctrines can be determined by us? We deny.
5. For which of the fundamentals is understanding and faith required? Explained.
6. What is overcomeable versus absolute ignorance of the fundamentals? Explained.
7. In what way is understanding of the fundamentals necessary for salvation? Explained.
8. Why everything contained in the Word of God ought to be believed, on pain of damnation, while nevertheless only the fundamentals are necessary to be believed as a necessary means? Explained.
9. How far are they may be tolerated who err in the fundamentals? Explained.
10. How far is it necessary for us to separate from a church erring in fundamentals? Explained.
11. Whether the Roman church is a true church? We answer with a distinction.
12. Whether the light of the Holy Spirit is required for the Scriptures to be savingly understood? We affirm against the Arminians.
13. Whether it follows from this necessity that the Scriptures are obscure in themselves, as the Papists assert? We deny against the same.
14. Whether solid faith in the Scriptures can consist with the Arminian freedom of preaching? We deny against the Arminians.
15. Whether anyone in any religion can be saved? We deny against the Remonstrants.
16. Whether the Arminian freedom of preaching is Libertinism? We affirm against the same.
17. Whether, not only all the traditions of the Papists, but even new offices, such as the domineering bishop, etc, human ceremonies, and whatsoever is of positive observance in divine worship contrived by the Antichrist or the bishops and prelates, conflicts with the completeness and perfection of the Scriptures? We affirm against the Arminians.
18. Whether the word of God obliges to the assent of its true sense, or whether so greatly and in truth the conscience obliges to the sense which it judges true? We affirm the former; we deny the latter against the Remonstrants.
Gomarus, Francis – ‘On Sacred Scripture’ in Epitome of Theological Common Places (d. 1641; Amsterdam: Jansson, 1653)
Maccovius, John
ch. 1, ‘On Holy Scripture’ in Scholastic Discourse: Johannes Maccovius (1588-1644) on Theological & Philosophical Distinctions & Rules (1644; Apeldoorn: Instituut voor Reformatieonderzoek, 2009), pp. 57-85
Maccovius (1588–1644) was a reformed, supralapsarian Polish theologian.
ch. 1, ‘On Scripture’ in Prefatory Material & chs. 1-2 of Johannes Maccovius Revived, or his Manuscripts printed, containing Polemic Theology tr. by AI by Onku (Hague, 1645)
q. 1, Whence is it certain that Scripture is the Word of
God 4
q. 2, Is Scripture necessary for salvation 4
q. 3, In what language is Scripture authentic 5
q. 4, Ought Scripture to be translated into other
languages 6
q. 5, Is Scripture perspicuous, by whom and how can it
be perceived salvifically 7
q. 6, Who is the judge of controversies 7
q. 7, Is Scripture perfect 8
q. 8, Are some things necessary to be known for
salvation deduced and able to be deduced by good
consequence 9
Leigh, Edward – ch. 8. Of the Properties of the Scripture in A System or Body of Divinity… (London, A.M., 1654), bk. 1, pp. 81-105
Heidegger, Johann H. – ‘Historical Disputations on the Origin of Papal Errors about Holy Scripture’ (1654) in Various Disputations tr. by AI by Onku (d. 1698), pp. 104-20 Latin
Ussher, James – 2. ‘On the Perspicuity of the Scriptures’ tr. by AI by The Other Paul in Tract on Papal Controversies in Whole Works ed. Elrington (d. 1656; Dublin: Hodges, Smith & Co., 1864; 2024), vol. 14, pp. 7-14
Hoornbeeck, Johannes – ‘Of Sacred Scripture’ in Institutes of Theology, gathered out of the Best Authors (Leiden: Moyard, 1658), trans. AI Latin at Confessionally Reformed Theology
Hoornbeek (1617-1666). This systematic largely replaced the Leiden Synopsis (1625) in seminaries in the Netherlands. It is wholly comprised of choice, extended quotes from previous, standard reformed authors.
Coccejus, Johannes – ‘On the Perspicuity & Interpretation of Scripture’ in Sum of Theology (Geneva: Chovet, 1665), trans. AI at Confessionally Reformed Theology
Le Blanc de Beaulieu, Louis – Theological Theses Published at Various Times in the Academy of Sedan 3rd ed. tr. by AI by Colloquia Scholastica (1675; London, 1683) Latin
Authority of Scripture, pt. 1, Light of Scripture 23
. pt. 2, Spirit’s Internal testimony 37
. pt. 3, Opinion of Papists, true opinion confirmed 50
. pt. 4, Objections solved 68
Scripture’s plenitude and sufficiency against necessity of some unwritten Word, pt. 1, Orthodox opinion 85
Authority of Vulgate, pt. 1, its author and authority according to Roman Church 93
. pt. 2, Opinion of Protestants confirmed 102
Use and necessity of vernacular versions of Scripture 115
Perspicuity of Scripture 124
Scripture’s plenitude and sufficiency against necessity of some unwritten Word, pt. 2, Papists’ opinion and the true opinion confirmed 134
. pt. 3, Objections to sufficiency solved 148
. pt. 4, Papal arguments to reconcile unwritten traditions with equal authority to Scripture are resolved 167-77
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Posthumous works: Preface 957
1. Controversies on Scripture 957
1. Canonical and apocryphal books 957
2. Integrity and authority of the Hebrew Text of the OT and Greek
Text of the NT 960
3. On the Septuagint 965
4. Necessity of Scripture 966-67
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Oration on Scripture’s Divine Origin 1129-51
Le Blanc (1614-1675) was a French reformed professor of theology at Sedan.
Rijssen, Leonard – ch. 2, ‘Holy Scripture’ in A Complete Summary of Elenctic Theology & of as Much Didactic Theology as is Necessary tr. J. Wesley White MTh thesis (Bern, 1676; GPTS, 2009), pp. 8-28
Rijssen (1636?-1700?) was a prominent Dutch reformed minister and theologian, active in theological controversies.
van Mastricht, Peter – ch. 2, ‘Holy Scripture’ in Theoretical-Practical Theology ed. Joel Beeke, tr: Todd Rester (RHB, 2018), vol. 1, Prolegomena, pt. 1, bk. 1, pp. 113-202
Heidegger, Johann H. – 2. ‘On Holy Scripture’ in The Concise Marrow of Theology tr. Casey Carmichael in Classic Reformed Theology, vol. 4 (RHB, 2019), pp. 13-21
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1700’s
à Brakel, Wilhelmus – ch. 2, ‘The Word of God’ in The Christian’s Reasonable Service, vols. 1 ed. Joel Beeke, trans. Bartel Elshout Buy (1700; RHB, 1992/1999), pp. 23-83
a Brakel (1635-1711) was a contemporary of Voet and Witsius and was a major representative of the Dutch Further Reformation.
Venema, Herman – 3-4. Of the Scriptures in Translation of Hermann Venema’s inedited Institutes of Theology tr. Alexander W. Brown (d. 1787; Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1850), pp. 31-119
ToC: Defined, Books’ Number & Division, Languages of, Form of Letters, Vowel Points, Why Revelation Written, Necessity of, Canon, to whom, how made, Divinity of Scripture Proofs, Apocrypha
Venema (1697-1787) was a professor at Franeker. Venema “maintained the fundamental line of confessional orthodoxy without drawing heavily on any of the newer philosophies… and maintained a fairly centrist Reformed position. Venema… evidence[s] the inroads of a rationalistic model…” – Richard Muller
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Books
1300’s
Wyclif, John – On the Truth of Holy Scripture tr. Ian C. Levy in TEAMS Commentary Series (1377-1378; Medieval Institute Publications, 2001) 365 pp.
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1600’s
Whitaker, William
A Disputation on Holy Scripture, Against the Papists, Especially Bellarmine & Stapleton (1588; Cambridge: Parker Society, 1849) 707 pp. ToC Index
A Duplication against the Defense of Ecclesiastical Authority by Thomas Stapleton, Anglo-Papist… for the Authority of Holy Scripture trans. AI by Nosferatu (Cambridge: Legatus, 1594) 1,265 pp. Latin
Margin notes in the original have been inserted into the body of the text in parentheses. While they generally align with where they were on the page, they can sometimes be confusing as to what they reference.
ToC
Preface 12
To Stapleton 40
Bk. 1, State of the Controversy 48
1. On the approbation of Scripture by the Church 48
2. Authority of 111
3. Necessity and authority of ecclesiastical testimony 147
4. Whether the Church is like a notary 160
5. Whether the Church is like a vindicator and money-changer 173
6. Whether the Church is a herald and interpreter 188
7. Whether Church’s authority is needed to know Scripture with certainty, because God speaks through the Church 202
8. Whether other means are not sufficient for knowing the Scriptures, unless recourse is had to the Church’s judgment 238
9. Whether Scripture can be known through itself on account of a certain light proper to, and because God speaks to us in it 272
10. How the Scriptures bear mutual testimony to themselves 324
11. Scripture’s authority proven from itself 341
12. Whether he has the Holy Spirit who rejects any canonical Scripture 374
13. Reasons why the Scriptures must necessarily become known through the testimony of the Church refuted 393
14. Whether Scripture cannot always be known through Scripture, and therefore must always be known through the testimony of the Church 433
Bk. 2 486
1. Whether everything the prophets wrote was included in the canonical Scriptures 486
2. Whether whatever the apostles wrote was included in the canonical Scriptures 542
3. Whether any books of the Scriptures, formerly doubtful and apocryphal, were received into the canon by the Church’s authority 553
4. Testimonies of the fathers, which Stapleton used to prove that apocryphal books were distinguished from canonical by the Church’s authority, are examined and explained 584
5. Whether certain books are therefore not to be held as divine Scriptures, because the Church has not received them into the canon 647
6. Whether heretics who repudiate any part of Scripture or doubt any canonical book are refuted by the Church’s authority and tradition 696
7. Why the fathers so often use the argument drawn from the Church’s authority 735
8. In what sense Augustine wrote: “I would not believe the gospel unless the authority of the catholic Church moved me.” 759
9. Testimonies of other fathers which Stapleton adduced for the Church’s authority in consigning the Scriptures 820
10. Rule of Faith 863
11. Whether it should be considered absurd that the present Church can add some book to the canon of Scripture 904
1st Argument 922
2nd Argument 950
3rd Argument 960
4th Argument 977
5th Argument 994
6th Argument 1003
7th Argument 1013
8th Argument 1037
9th Argument 1045
10th Argument 1047
11th Argument 1052
12th Argument 1057
13th Argument 1097
14th Argument 1113
15th Argument 1148
16th Argument 1196
17th Argument 1219
18th Argument 1235
19th Argument 1243-66
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1700’s
Holtzfus, Barthold – First Theological Dissertation on Holy Scripture (Frankfurt: Zeitler, 1705) 67 pp. The ToC at the beginning is not complete, as there are 34 sections in the work.
Holtzfus (1659-1717) was a German, reformed professor of philosophy and theology at Frankfurt.
De Moor, Bernard – ch. 2, Concerning the Principium of Theology, or Holy Scripture in Continuous Commentary on Johannes Marckius’ Didactico-Elenctic Compendium of Christian Theology Buy (Central, SC: From Reformation to Reformation Translations, 2018) 720 pp.
ToC
Summary
1. Denomination of the Word as Scripture
2. Definition of Scripture
3. Word of God Unwritten
4. Word of God Written
5. Infallible Inspiration of the Scriptures
6. Certainty of the Inspiration & Authority of
7. Scripture’s Authority & Church’s Testimony
8. Authenticity of the Hebrew & Greek Originals
9. Defended
10. Against the Vulgate’s Authenticity
11. Against the Samaritan & Septuagint’s Authenticity
12. Instrumental Cause of Scripture: Amanuenses
13. Canon of Scripture
14. Canon & the Church
15-16. Canonical Books Imperishable, pt. 1, 2
17-18. Abiding Canonicity of the Old Testament, pt. 1, 2
19-20. Apocrypha, pt. 1, 2
21. Argument of Scripture
22. Truth of
23. Self-Consistency of
24-26. Perspicuity of, pt. 1, 2, 3
27-31. Sufficiency of, pt. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
32. Proximate End of: Rule of Faith & Practice
33-34. Translation of, pt. 1, 2
35-36. Reading of, pt. 1, 2
37-38. Sense of, Simple or Composite, pt. 1, 2
39. Private & Ministerial Judgment
40. Supreme Judge: Neither Enthusiastic Experience, nor Reason
41-42. Not the Church, pt. 1, 2
43. Supreme Judge: Holy Spirit
44. Object of Interpretation: the Whole Scripture
45. Means of Proper Interpretation
46-47. Use of the Fathers in Interpretation, pt. 1, 2
48-49. Hermeneutical Canons, pt. 1, 2
50. Scripture’s Highest End
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On the Letter of the Word vs. the Spirit
Article
1500’s
Melanchthon, Philip – 18. ‘Of the Letter & the Spirit’ in Melanchthon on Christian Doctrine, Loci Communes, 1555 tr. Clyde L. Manschreck (1555; NY: Oxford Univ. Press, 1965), pp. 201-2
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On Ecclesiastical Writings
Article
1500’s
Perkins, William – ‘Ecclesiastical Writings’ in An Exposition of the Symbol, or Apostles’ Creed… (Cambridge, 1595), pp. 3-4
Perkins (d. 1602) was an influential, puritan, Anglican clergyman and Cambridge theologian.
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Latin
1600’s
Alsted, Henry
ch. 2, ‘Sacred Scripture’ in Distinctions through Universal Theology, taken out of the Canon of the Sacred Letters & Classical Theologians (Frankfurt: 1626), pp. 6-15
ch. 2, ‘On Sacred Scripture’ in Theological Common Places Illustrated by Perpetual Similitudes (Frankfurt, 1630), pp. 7-16
Wendelin, Marcus Friedrich – Christian Theology (Hanau, 1634; 2nd ed., Amsterdam, 1657), Prolegomena
ch. 2,‘Of the Causes & Subject of Sacred Scripture’, pp. 6-16
ch. 3,‘Of the Adjuncts of Sacred Scripture’, pp. 16-39
Rutherford, Samuel – ch. 1. ‘Scriptures & Fundamental Articles’ in The Examination of Arminianism ed. Matthew Nethenus (1639-1643; Utrecht, 1668), pp. 1-138
Voet, Gisbert
Syllabus of Theological Problems (Utrecht, 1643), pt. 1, section 1, tract 1 Abbr.
2. The Necessity of Scripture
10. The Judge of Controversies
On the [Pontifical] Circle
[The Pontifical circle involved some variant of the argument that you should believe Scripture because of the Church’s testimony; and you should believe the Church because Scripture says to.]
Select Theological Disputations (1667)
1. Some Problems on Scripture, pt. 1 1
2. pt. 2 12
3. pt. 3 22
4. pt. 4 31
5. pt. 5 38
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