Donald Sinnema | Trinity Christian College (original) (raw)
Papers by Donald Sinnema
Calvin Theological Journal, 2023
The year 2023 marks the 400th anniversary of William Ames's landmark work, the Medulla Sacrae The... more The year 2023 marks the 400th anniversary of William Ames's landmark work, the Medulla Sacrae Theologiae (Marrow of Sacred Divinity in English). Ames (1576-1633), following his mentor William Perkins, was a central figure in the Puritan movement in Europe and colonial America, and his Medulla was his most influential dogmatic work, especially as a practical textbook of Puritan theology in the form of a compendium. This volume presents the gist of Puritan thought as a system of practical Christianity, offering knowledge of "how to live to God." 1 The Medulla appeared in fourteen Latin editions in the seventeenth century alone, apart from various editions of English and Dutch translations. 2 Well into the eighteenth century, it was required reading as a textbook of theology at Harvard and Yale.
This was my M.Phil. thesis at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto. This study focused ... more This was my M.Phil. thesis at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto. This study focused on the reflections on the nature of theology presented by the early theologians at Leiden University, including Franciscus Junius, Franciscus Gomarus, Lucas Trelcatius Sr., Lucas Trelcatius Jr., and Jacobus Arminius.
CURRENT DEBATES IN REFORMED THEOLOGY: PRACTICE, 2018
A new project is underway to produce a ten-volume critical edition of all the documents of the Sy... more A new project is underway to produce a ten-volume critical edition of all the documents of the Synod of Dort in their original languages (Latin [eighty percent of them], Dutch, German, English, and French) as close as possible to the anniversary years 2018 and 2019. It is published by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht (Göttingen) and includes documents already published and those available only in manuscript. In contrast to the originally published Acta, the new edition contains the documents produced by the synod and its delegates and fully incorporates all the Remonstrant documents.
Early Sessions of the Synod of Dordt, 2017
Revisiting the Synod of Dordt (1618-1619)
A Landmark in Turbulent Times
Calvinist Contact (17 Feb.), 1989
This article surveys the events when the Dutch conquered Acadia (the upper coast of Maine and sou... more This article surveys the events when the Dutch conquered Acadia (the upper coast of Maine and southeastern New Brunswick) briefly in the year 1675-1676.
Sixteenth Century Journal, 1989
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi
As the delegates to the Synod of Dordt were bound by oath to use only the Word of God and not hum... more As the delegates to the Synod of Dordt were bound by oath to use only the Word of God and not human writings in deliberations about doctrine, in the documents of Dordt there are no references to Calvin as a source of specific ideas in the Canons. The approach of this article is thus to compare chapter I of the Canons on predestination with Calvin’s views in his various writings on predestination. This comparison focuses on the main themes relating to predestination as taught in chapter I – the starting point of the discussion, double predestination, election, election in Christ, reprobation, the causes of election and reprobation, the infralapsarian emphasis, the purpose of election and reprobation, assurance of election, and election of infants who die. On the basis of this comparison, the conclusion is that the Canons reflect Calvin’s views on some points relating to predestination and not on others. So, on this issue, the Canons are only a partial reflection of Calvin’s views, an...
Oxford Handbook of Reformed Theology, eds. Michael Allen & Scott Swain (Oxford University Press), 236-250, 2020
The 'Three Forms of Unity’ refers to three confessional documents that have served as doctrinal... more The 'Three Forms of Unity’ refers to three confessional documents that have served as doctrinal standards for the Dutch Reformed family of churches for 400 years: the Belgic Confession (1561), Heidelberg Catechism (1563), and Canons of Dort (1619). The Belgic Confession is a systematic summary of Reformed theology, composed by Guido de Brès in the southern part of the Low Countries to educate and comfort persecuted Protestants and defend them against Roman Catholic charges of heresy and sedition. The Heidelberg Catechism was commissioned by the ruler of the German Palatinate as a tool for teaching young people, a guide for doctrinal preaching, and a form of confessional unity among several Protestant factions in the territory. The Canons of Dort was a fivefold statement of doctrine adopted by the national Synod of Dordt in the Netherlands, in response to the views of Arminius and his followers about how divine sovereignty relates to human responsibility in salvation. This article summarizes the historical background and theology of each of these three confessional documents.
Calvin Theological Journal (Nov. 2020), 401-404, 2020
Theology an d hisTory 401 De Dordtse Kerkorde 1619: Ontwikkeling, Context en Theologie Adriana va... more Theology an d hisTory 401 De Dordtse Kerkorde 1619: Ontwikkeling, Context en Theologie Adriana van Harten-Tip Utrecht: KokBoekencentrum Academic, 2018 (444 pages) €32.50 hardcover
REVISITING THE SYNOD OF DORDT (1618-1619), eds. Aza Goudriaan and Fred van Lieburg (Leiden: Brill), 2011
The Canons of Dordt, drawn up by the Synod of Dordt in 1619, were originally composed by the syno... more The Canons of Dordt, drawn up by the Synod of Dordt in 1619, were originally composed by the synod as its response to the Arminian controversy. Thus the Canons were originally conceived as the synod's judgment on the Five Articles of Arminianism, and not as a new confessional standard. However, the synod in its later sessions drew up a Form of Subscription, by which ministers were required to signify their agreement, not only with the Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism, but also with the Canons of Dordt. At this point, the Canons de facto began to function as a confessional standard in the Dutch Reformed tradition, alongside the Catechism and Confession. This article surveys the process by which this occurred at the synod.
The Synod of Dort: Historical, Theological, and Experiential Perspectives, eds. Joel Beeke and Martin Klauber (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht), 133-148, 2020
Calvin Theological Journal, 1997
The second Sunday service has always been a notable liturgical feature of the Reformed churches o... more The second Sunday service has always been a notable liturgical feature of the Reformed churches of Dutch heritage. Since the beginnings of the Dutch Reformed tradition this service has also been associated with catechism preaching. This article examines the origins of this second service in the Dutch tradition and explores how it developed in the first century of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands after the Reformation. Attention is given to the character and liturgy of this service, and to the particular challenges that it faced as it gradually became an established practice. It is also important to notice the relationship of this catechism service to other forms of catechizing, since separate catechizing of youth in the church was a later development. Much of the evidence for this development comes from the national and provincial synods of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands. The fullest information comes from the Synod of Dort (1618-1619), which was especially significant for consolidating the afternoon catechism service in the Dutch Reformed tradition.
(Toronto: Institute for Christian Studies), 1995
Blue Island: Rocky Coulee Press, 2005
Calvin Theological Journal, 2007
In churches of Dutch Reformed heritage, ministers (and often other office-bearers) are required ... more In churches of Dutch Reformed heritage, ministers (and often other office-bearers) are required to sign a form of subscription to signify their agreement with the confessional standards--the Three Forms of Unity (Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort). This article traces the origin and early formation of the form of subscription, especially as it took shape in the formative years of the Dutch Reformed churches in the Netherlands. The form of subscription reached its standard form at the Synod of Dort in 1619.
The Theology of the French Reformed Churches: From Henry IV to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, ed. Martin Klauber (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books), 2014
This article examines the impact of the Arminian controversy on the French Reformed churches. It ... more This article examines the impact of the Arminian controversy on the French Reformed churches. It explores Pierre Du Moulin's proposed plan for Protestant unity, and his response to Arminianism, especially his Anatome Arminianismi (1619). The French Reformed churches were invited to send delegates to the Synod of Dort, but French King Louis XIII refused to let them attend. Nevertheless, Du Moulin still sent to the synod a Confession of his views on the issues in the Arminian debate. The French Synod of Alais (1620) adopted the Canons of Dordt, the only church outside the Netherlands to do so. Also examined is the impact of Daniel Tilenus' critical five-point abbreviation of the Canons of Dort.
Calvin Theological Journal, 2023
The year 2023 marks the 400th anniversary of William Ames's landmark work, the Medulla Sacrae The... more The year 2023 marks the 400th anniversary of William Ames's landmark work, the Medulla Sacrae Theologiae (Marrow of Sacred Divinity in English). Ames (1576-1633), following his mentor William Perkins, was a central figure in the Puritan movement in Europe and colonial America, and his Medulla was his most influential dogmatic work, especially as a practical textbook of Puritan theology in the form of a compendium. This volume presents the gist of Puritan thought as a system of practical Christianity, offering knowledge of "how to live to God." 1 The Medulla appeared in fourteen Latin editions in the seventeenth century alone, apart from various editions of English and Dutch translations. 2 Well into the eighteenth century, it was required reading as a textbook of theology at Harvard and Yale.
This was my M.Phil. thesis at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto. This study focused ... more This was my M.Phil. thesis at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto. This study focused on the reflections on the nature of theology presented by the early theologians at Leiden University, including Franciscus Junius, Franciscus Gomarus, Lucas Trelcatius Sr., Lucas Trelcatius Jr., and Jacobus Arminius.
CURRENT DEBATES IN REFORMED THEOLOGY: PRACTICE, 2018
A new project is underway to produce a ten-volume critical edition of all the documents of the Sy... more A new project is underway to produce a ten-volume critical edition of all the documents of the Synod of Dort in their original languages (Latin [eighty percent of them], Dutch, German, English, and French) as close as possible to the anniversary years 2018 and 2019. It is published by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht (Göttingen) and includes documents already published and those available only in manuscript. In contrast to the originally published Acta, the new edition contains the documents produced by the synod and its delegates and fully incorporates all the Remonstrant documents.
Early Sessions of the Synod of Dordt, 2017
Revisiting the Synod of Dordt (1618-1619)
A Landmark in Turbulent Times
Calvinist Contact (17 Feb.), 1989
This article surveys the events when the Dutch conquered Acadia (the upper coast of Maine and sou... more This article surveys the events when the Dutch conquered Acadia (the upper coast of Maine and southeastern New Brunswick) briefly in the year 1675-1676.
Sixteenth Century Journal, 1989
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi
As the delegates to the Synod of Dordt were bound by oath to use only the Word of God and not hum... more As the delegates to the Synod of Dordt were bound by oath to use only the Word of God and not human writings in deliberations about doctrine, in the documents of Dordt there are no references to Calvin as a source of specific ideas in the Canons. The approach of this article is thus to compare chapter I of the Canons on predestination with Calvin’s views in his various writings on predestination. This comparison focuses on the main themes relating to predestination as taught in chapter I – the starting point of the discussion, double predestination, election, election in Christ, reprobation, the causes of election and reprobation, the infralapsarian emphasis, the purpose of election and reprobation, assurance of election, and election of infants who die. On the basis of this comparison, the conclusion is that the Canons reflect Calvin’s views on some points relating to predestination and not on others. So, on this issue, the Canons are only a partial reflection of Calvin’s views, an...
Oxford Handbook of Reformed Theology, eds. Michael Allen & Scott Swain (Oxford University Press), 236-250, 2020
The 'Three Forms of Unity’ refers to three confessional documents that have served as doctrinal... more The 'Three Forms of Unity’ refers to three confessional documents that have served as doctrinal standards for the Dutch Reformed family of churches for 400 years: the Belgic Confession (1561), Heidelberg Catechism (1563), and Canons of Dort (1619). The Belgic Confession is a systematic summary of Reformed theology, composed by Guido de Brès in the southern part of the Low Countries to educate and comfort persecuted Protestants and defend them against Roman Catholic charges of heresy and sedition. The Heidelberg Catechism was commissioned by the ruler of the German Palatinate as a tool for teaching young people, a guide for doctrinal preaching, and a form of confessional unity among several Protestant factions in the territory. The Canons of Dort was a fivefold statement of doctrine adopted by the national Synod of Dordt in the Netherlands, in response to the views of Arminius and his followers about how divine sovereignty relates to human responsibility in salvation. This article summarizes the historical background and theology of each of these three confessional documents.
Calvin Theological Journal (Nov. 2020), 401-404, 2020
Theology an d hisTory 401 De Dordtse Kerkorde 1619: Ontwikkeling, Context en Theologie Adriana va... more Theology an d hisTory 401 De Dordtse Kerkorde 1619: Ontwikkeling, Context en Theologie Adriana van Harten-Tip Utrecht: KokBoekencentrum Academic, 2018 (444 pages) €32.50 hardcover
REVISITING THE SYNOD OF DORDT (1618-1619), eds. Aza Goudriaan and Fred van Lieburg (Leiden: Brill), 2011
The Canons of Dordt, drawn up by the Synod of Dordt in 1619, were originally composed by the syno... more The Canons of Dordt, drawn up by the Synod of Dordt in 1619, were originally composed by the synod as its response to the Arminian controversy. Thus the Canons were originally conceived as the synod's judgment on the Five Articles of Arminianism, and not as a new confessional standard. However, the synod in its later sessions drew up a Form of Subscription, by which ministers were required to signify their agreement, not only with the Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism, but also with the Canons of Dordt. At this point, the Canons de facto began to function as a confessional standard in the Dutch Reformed tradition, alongside the Catechism and Confession. This article surveys the process by which this occurred at the synod.
The Synod of Dort: Historical, Theological, and Experiential Perspectives, eds. Joel Beeke and Martin Klauber (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht), 133-148, 2020
Calvin Theological Journal, 1997
The second Sunday service has always been a notable liturgical feature of the Reformed churches o... more The second Sunday service has always been a notable liturgical feature of the Reformed churches of Dutch heritage. Since the beginnings of the Dutch Reformed tradition this service has also been associated with catechism preaching. This article examines the origins of this second service in the Dutch tradition and explores how it developed in the first century of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands after the Reformation. Attention is given to the character and liturgy of this service, and to the particular challenges that it faced as it gradually became an established practice. It is also important to notice the relationship of this catechism service to other forms of catechizing, since separate catechizing of youth in the church was a later development. Much of the evidence for this development comes from the national and provincial synods of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands. The fullest information comes from the Synod of Dort (1618-1619), which was especially significant for consolidating the afternoon catechism service in the Dutch Reformed tradition.
(Toronto: Institute for Christian Studies), 1995
Blue Island: Rocky Coulee Press, 2005
Calvin Theological Journal, 2007
In churches of Dutch Reformed heritage, ministers (and often other office-bearers) are required ... more In churches of Dutch Reformed heritage, ministers (and often other office-bearers) are required to sign a form of subscription to signify their agreement with the confessional standards--the Three Forms of Unity (Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort). This article traces the origin and early formation of the form of subscription, especially as it took shape in the formative years of the Dutch Reformed churches in the Netherlands. The form of subscription reached its standard form at the Synod of Dort in 1619.
The Theology of the French Reformed Churches: From Henry IV to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, ed. Martin Klauber (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books), 2014
This article examines the impact of the Arminian controversy on the French Reformed churches. It ... more This article examines the impact of the Arminian controversy on the French Reformed churches. It explores Pierre Du Moulin's proposed plan for Protestant unity, and his response to Arminianism, especially his Anatome Arminianismi (1619). The French Reformed churches were invited to send delegates to the Synod of Dort, but French King Louis XIII refused to let them attend. Nevertheless, Du Moulin still sent to the synod a Confession of his views on the issues in the Arminian debate. The French Synod of Alais (1620) adopted the Canons of Dordt, the only church outside the Netherlands to do so. Also examined is the impact of Daniel Tilenus' critical five-point abbreviation of the Canons of Dort.
Eds. Donald Sinnema, Christian Moser, Erik de Boer, Herman Selderhuis (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht), 2023
This volume contains documents relating to the convening of the Synod of Dordt, 1618-1619, includ... more This volume contains documents relating to the convening of the Synod of Dordt, 1618-1619, including many resolutions of the Dutch government (States General), which convened this national synod to address the Arminian controversy concerning predestination and related points. Also included is correspondence relating to invitations of ten foreign territories (with Reformed populations) to send some of their Reformed theologians to assist the synod.
Eds. Donald Sinnema, Christian Moser, Herman Selderhuis (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht), 2017
Eds. Donald Sinnema, Christian Moser, Herman Selderhuis (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht), 2015
Volume 1 includes the original Acta Authentica of the Synod of Dordt, here published for the firs... more Volume 1 includes the original Acta Authentica of the Synod of Dordt, here published for the first time. This national Synod addressed the Calvinist-Arminian controversy over the doctrines of grace--predestination and related points.
Following the Acta Authentica, the corresponding acts, as first published in the Acta Synodi Nationalis ... Dordrechti Habitae (Leiden, 1620), are reprinted; these published Acta were a significantly revised version, for stylistic and political purposes, of the original Acta Authentica. Also included are the Acta Contracta, a topical summary of the Acta Authentica, and the minutes of the meetings of the state delegates, who represented the Dutch government at the synod; neither of these has been previously published. This volume begins with a general introduction to the Synod of Dordt and its context, an introduction to the Acta Authentica, the published Acta and Acta Contracta, and an introduction to the role of the state delegates and the minutes of their meetings. Forthcoming volumes: Vol. II/1: The Convening of the Synod; Vol. II/2: Early Sessions of the Synod; Vol. III: Deliberations after the Expulsion of the Remonstrants; The Canons of Dordt and its Formation; Vol. IV: Remonstrant Doctrinal Documents; Vol. V: The Judgments of the Nineteen Delegations on the Five Remonstrant Articles; Vol. VI: Other Discipline Cases, the Post-Acta Sessions, and Immediate Aftermath of the Synod; Vol. VII: Remonstrant Reports on the Synod; Vol. VIII: Journals and Reports of Foreign Delegates on the Synod; Vol. IX: Journals and Reports of Dutch Delegates on the Synod, Contemporary Letters about the Synod.
Ph.D. dissertation, University of St. Michael's College, Toronto, 1985
(Palos Heights IL: Trinity Christian College), 2009
(Calgary: University of Calgary Press), 2005
The first Dutch settlement in Alberta, in the Granum-Monarch-Nobleford district, consisted largel... more The first Dutch settlement in Alberta, in the Granum-Monarch-Nobleford district, consisted largely of immigrants from the Nijverdal area of the Dutch province of Overijssel, so they called their rural settlement Nieuw Nijverdal. The settlement originated with homesteaders in 1903, and it grew especially with two waves of immigration, a group of 41 persons in 1904, and a second larger wave in 1910. Since free homesteads were already gone in the original settlement, most persons from the second group took up homesteads northwest of Medicine Hat in a new rural Dutch settlement that they called New Holland. While the original settlement northwest of Lethbridge thrived, the New Holland settlement failed due to years of drought and crop failure, so by 1925 the settlers dispersed and this settlement dissolved.
The city of Blue Island, Illinois, just south of Chicago, received its name from the peculiar app... more The city of Blue Island, Illinois, just south of Chicago, received its name from the peculiar appearance of the ridge on which it stands. Six theories for the origin of the name are presented. Even though other names like "Portland" and "Worth" were officially used and promoted, "Blue Island" prevailed because it was the popular preference.
(Toronto: Association for the Advancement of Christian Scholarship), 1978