Harrison Perkins | Westminster Theological Seminary (original) (raw)
Papers by Harrison Perkins
Confessional Presbyterian , 2022
Unio cum Christo, 2022
This essay argues that the Church of Ireland in the early modern period was a Reformed expression... more This essay argues that the Church of Ireland in the early modern period was a Reformed expression of Anglicanism by investigating a few events in the life and ministry of James Ussher, the Archbishop of Armagh. First, it looks at Ussher’s contributions to the Church of Ireland’s burgeoning Reformed identity by recounting his debate with a well-known Jesuit theologian, which substantiated his vigorously Protestant outlook, and his involvement in composing the Irish Articles of 1615. Second, it looks at how he later attempted to defend Reformed theology in the Church of Ireland from Arminianizing impositions from the Church of England. Finally, it presents an upcoming release of Ussher’s never-beforepublished lectures in theology, which provide a fresh perspective on his Reformed identity.
Unio Cum Christo, 2022
KEYWORDS:
Evangelical Presbyterian Magazine , 2019
A basic introduction to covenant theology as expressed in the Westminster Confession
Log College Press, 2020
Samuel Miller, a founding professor at Old Princeton, produced a thorough and rigorously argued i... more Samuel Miller, a founding professor at Old Princeton, produced a thorough and rigorously argued introduction to Presbyterian ecclesiology. This edited reprint makes Miller's valuable work available to a new generation.
Miller's original text is reproduced in full and now the critical apparatus provides bibliographic information for all of his citations as well as translations of his Latin sections.
Mid-America Journal of Theology, 2020
This article demonstrates that Reformed theologians used the category of covenantal merit to refu... more This article demonstrates that Reformed theologians used the category of covenantal merit to refute Roman Catholic notions of merit and to explain the work and rewards of Adam and Christ.
Confessional Presbyterian, 2020
James Ussher was one of the most important theologians of the seventeenth-century Reformed tradit... more James Ussher was one of the most important theologians of the seventeenth-century Reformed tradition. This article provides a brief outline of his life and work, a survey of the secondary literature about Ussher, and some reflections on how Presbyterians can consider some of the more "Anglican" aspects of Ussher's theology.
Confessional Presbyterian, 2020
James Ussher once addressed theological students in Oxford and gave them an extensive set of book... more James Ussher once addressed theological students in Oxford and gave them an extensive set of book recommendations. This article provides a transcription of Ussher's recommended reading on various topics and includes bibliographic citations for future research.
Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, 2019
There is a tradition in historiography of the Reformed tradition claiming that James Ussher's wor... more There is a tradition in historiography of the Reformed tradition claiming that James Ussher's works were important sources used at the Westminster Assembly. This essay seeks to substantiate that tradition by examining contextual factors and the sources themselves to discover the many links between Ussher, the Westminster divines, and the documents produced by the Assembly.
The Confessional Presbyterian Journal, 2018
The Reformed tradition has long understood the second commandment to forbid making any image (phy... more The Reformed tradition has long understood the second commandment to forbid making any image (physical or mental) of any person of the Godhead. Many today, however, are taking exception to the Reformed confessional documents regarding the second commandment or ignoring them altogether. This essay argues that the Reformed understanding of the second commandment is not an isolated and detached take on a specific ethical point, but in fact the entire Reformed doctrinal system supports the prohibition against making images of the divine.
Calvin Theological Journal, 2018
This paper argues that proper historical method for tracing theological development looks at what... more This paper argues that proper historical method for tracing theological development looks at what sources we can prove an author used and demonstrates how that authors changed from those previous sources. This essay examines the history of the covenant of works, using Archbishop James Ussher as the terminal point of development, and analyzing how he appropriated and modified material from sources he named as important to him.
Evangelical Quarterly, 2018
James Ussher was one of the most important theologians in England and Ireland during the seventee... more James Ussher was one of the most important theologians in England and Ireland during the seventeenth century, with connections to both theology and politics. Perhaps the most influential theological work attributed to him has been A Body of Divinitie, a lengthy and detailed catechism that was very popular among his contemporaries. Yet, some scholars have disputed his authorship of this text. In this essay, I bring forward manuscript and material evidence to demonstrate Ussher’s continual use of the content of the Body, and I consider the historical context that helped cause doubt about his authorship. This shows that the content legitimately belonged to Ussher.
Book Reviews by Harrison Perkins
Anglican and Episcopal History, 2023
Anglican and Episcopal History, 2023
Mid-America Journal of Theology, 2020
Anglican and Episcopal History, 2021
Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, 2018
Confessional Presbyterian, 2019
Evangelical Quarterly, 2019
Confessional Presbyterian , 2022
Unio cum Christo, 2022
This essay argues that the Church of Ireland in the early modern period was a Reformed expression... more This essay argues that the Church of Ireland in the early modern period was a Reformed expression of Anglicanism by investigating a few events in the life and ministry of James Ussher, the Archbishop of Armagh. First, it looks at Ussher’s contributions to the Church of Ireland’s burgeoning Reformed identity by recounting his debate with a well-known Jesuit theologian, which substantiated his vigorously Protestant outlook, and his involvement in composing the Irish Articles of 1615. Second, it looks at how he later attempted to defend Reformed theology in the Church of Ireland from Arminianizing impositions from the Church of England. Finally, it presents an upcoming release of Ussher’s never-beforepublished lectures in theology, which provide a fresh perspective on his Reformed identity.
Unio Cum Christo, 2022
KEYWORDS:
Evangelical Presbyterian Magazine , 2019
A basic introduction to covenant theology as expressed in the Westminster Confession
Log College Press, 2020
Samuel Miller, a founding professor at Old Princeton, produced a thorough and rigorously argued i... more Samuel Miller, a founding professor at Old Princeton, produced a thorough and rigorously argued introduction to Presbyterian ecclesiology. This edited reprint makes Miller's valuable work available to a new generation.
Miller's original text is reproduced in full and now the critical apparatus provides bibliographic information for all of his citations as well as translations of his Latin sections.
Mid-America Journal of Theology, 2020
This article demonstrates that Reformed theologians used the category of covenantal merit to refu... more This article demonstrates that Reformed theologians used the category of covenantal merit to refute Roman Catholic notions of merit and to explain the work and rewards of Adam and Christ.
Confessional Presbyterian, 2020
James Ussher was one of the most important theologians of the seventeenth-century Reformed tradit... more James Ussher was one of the most important theologians of the seventeenth-century Reformed tradition. This article provides a brief outline of his life and work, a survey of the secondary literature about Ussher, and some reflections on how Presbyterians can consider some of the more "Anglican" aspects of Ussher's theology.
Confessional Presbyterian, 2020
James Ussher once addressed theological students in Oxford and gave them an extensive set of book... more James Ussher once addressed theological students in Oxford and gave them an extensive set of book recommendations. This article provides a transcription of Ussher's recommended reading on various topics and includes bibliographic citations for future research.
Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, 2019
There is a tradition in historiography of the Reformed tradition claiming that James Ussher's wor... more There is a tradition in historiography of the Reformed tradition claiming that James Ussher's works were important sources used at the Westminster Assembly. This essay seeks to substantiate that tradition by examining contextual factors and the sources themselves to discover the many links between Ussher, the Westminster divines, and the documents produced by the Assembly.
The Confessional Presbyterian Journal, 2018
The Reformed tradition has long understood the second commandment to forbid making any image (phy... more The Reformed tradition has long understood the second commandment to forbid making any image (physical or mental) of any person of the Godhead. Many today, however, are taking exception to the Reformed confessional documents regarding the second commandment or ignoring them altogether. This essay argues that the Reformed understanding of the second commandment is not an isolated and detached take on a specific ethical point, but in fact the entire Reformed doctrinal system supports the prohibition against making images of the divine.
Calvin Theological Journal, 2018
This paper argues that proper historical method for tracing theological development looks at what... more This paper argues that proper historical method for tracing theological development looks at what sources we can prove an author used and demonstrates how that authors changed from those previous sources. This essay examines the history of the covenant of works, using Archbishop James Ussher as the terminal point of development, and analyzing how he appropriated and modified material from sources he named as important to him.
Evangelical Quarterly, 2018
James Ussher was one of the most important theologians in England and Ireland during the seventee... more James Ussher was one of the most important theologians in England and Ireland during the seventeenth century, with connections to both theology and politics. Perhaps the most influential theological work attributed to him has been A Body of Divinitie, a lengthy and detailed catechism that was very popular among his contemporaries. Yet, some scholars have disputed his authorship of this text. In this essay, I bring forward manuscript and material evidence to demonstrate Ussher’s continual use of the content of the Body, and I consider the historical context that helped cause doubt about his authorship. This shows that the content legitimately belonged to Ussher.
Anglican and Episcopal History, 2023
Anglican and Episcopal History, 2023
Mid-America Journal of Theology, 2020
Anglican and Episcopal History, 2021
Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, 2018
Confessional Presbyterian, 2019
Evangelical Quarterly, 2019
Anglican and Episcopal History, 2020
testament to Fuller'sp ersonal character that he apologized and strove to make amends with his cr... more testament to Fuller'sp ersonal character that he apologized and strove to make amends with his critics (acts all too rare in scholarship!), but it is difficult for even the best of us to accurately assess our own intellectual shortcomings. These latter points are less critiques than tasks for future scholars. With Thomas Fuller, Patterson has drawn the map for future Fuller studies while making ac rucial contribution to the study of seventeenth-century English historiography.
Studies in Puritanism and Piety, 2019
Traditional prayer books were manuals meant to guide the personal devotion of the Christian laity... more Traditional prayer books were manuals meant to guide the personal devotion of the Christian laity . These manuals existed during the medieval period, but in the early and post Reformation eras, Protestants transformed the medieval model of prayer books into a way to disseminate and reinforce their developing theology . Chaoluan Kao has provided an in-depth study of the shape of prayer book piety in the early modern period using prayer books both from England and Germany . This is a finely-written study that helpfully explores an often overlooked aspect of the Protestant Reformation, namely its reception among the laity . It is, of course, absolutely necessary to consider the Protestant movement, in all its divisions, through academic works on theology and biblical studies . Kao, however, argues that another crucial inroad into Protestant history is to examine works that were intended for lay use, which gives insight into how piety was shaped in the Protestant home . This book is an excellent combination of social and theological history that makes use of sources in multiple languages and has an obvious mastery of the secondary literature on the topic . It is a helpful guide to what prayer books were, how Protestant prayer books transformed traditional models of personal piety from the medieval period, and how these prayer books functioned in household use . The study does not address the significance of texts like the Book of Common Prayer because the focus is on prayer books intended for private use rather than on the liturgical texts of institutional churches .
Puritan Reformed Journal, 2018
Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, 2019
Confessional Presbyterian, 2020
Confessional Presbyterian, 2017
Evangelical Quarterly, 2019
Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, 2018
Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology, 2018
Anglican and Episcopal History, 2017
This lecture explored the biblical mandate for churches to have confessions of faith, both for do... more This lecture explored the biblical mandate for churches to have confessions of faith, both for doctrinal and liturgical use, and then presented a summary of the historical context for the Westminster Confession of Faith. This lecture was delivered on June 15, 2019 at London City Presbyterian Church as part of their ongoing London City Lectures.
This lecture explored the doctrine of Scripture, addressing issues of modernity and postmodernity... more This lecture explored the doctrine of Scripture, addressing issues of modernity and postmodernity, by outlining a thick understanding of what Scripture is and how it functions as a deposit of revelation. It reformulates categories about the attributes of Scripture from confessional Reformed theology in light of contemporary concerns. It was presented at London City Presbyterian Church on March 9, 2019.
Log College Press, 2020
Samuel Miller, an early professor at Old Princeton, produced a thorough and rigorously argued int... more Samuel Miller, an early professor at Old Princeton, produced a thorough and rigorously argued introduction to Presbyterian ecclesiology. This edited reprint makes Miller's valuable work available to a new generation.
Oxford University Press, 2020
This book explores how James Ussher, a theological giant of the 17th century, explained and used ... more This book explores how James Ussher, a theological giant of the 17th century, explained and used the doctrine of the covenant of works throughout his doctrinal work.