“Thy Word is truth.”
Jn. 17:17
.
.
Order of Contents
Articles 18+
Books 2
Letter vs. Spirit 1
Ecclesiastical Writings 1
Latin 6
.
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
.
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
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
.
1600’s
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?
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
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.
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
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
.
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
.
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.
.
1700’s
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
.
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
.
.
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.
.
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
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
.
.
.
Related Pages