Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation, Volume 1: 1523-1552

by James T. Dennison Jr.

This is the first of a four volume set, which compiles numerous Reformed confessions of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries translated into English. For many of these texts, this is their debut in the Anglo-Saxon vernacular. It provides the English-speaking world a richer and more comprehensive view of the emergence and maturation of Reformed theology in these foundational centuries foundational centuries for Reformed thought and foundational summaries of Reformed doctrine for these centuries. Each confessional statement is preceded by a brief introduction containing necessary historical and bibliographical background. The confessions are arranged chronologically, with this first volume presenting thirty-three documents covering the years 1523-1552. Table of
Huldrych Zwingli, Sixty-Seven Articles (1523)
Huldrych Zwingli, Short and Christian Instruction (1523)
The Ten Theses of Bern (1528)
The Confession of the East Friesland Preachers (1528)
William Farel, Summary (1529)
Huldrych Zwingli, Fidei ratio (1530)
The Tetrapolitan Confession (1530)
Confession of Vaudois (1530 or 1531)
Huldrych Zwingli, Exposition of Christian Faith (1531)
Articles of the Bern Synod (1532)
The Synod of Chanforan (1532)
The Confession of Angrogna (1532)
The (First) Basel Confession (1534)
The Bohemian Confession (1535)
The Lausanne Articles (1536)
The First Helvetic Confession (Second Basel Confession) (1536)
John Calvin, Catechism (1537)
John Calvin, Geneva Confession of Faith (1536/37)
John Calvin, Catechism (1538)
Waldensian Confession of Merindol (1541)
The Confession of the Waldensians of Provence (1543)
The Confession of the Vaudois of Merindol (1543)
Walloon Confession of Wessel (1544/45)
John Calvin, Catechism (1545)
Juan Diaz, Suma de la Relijion Cristiana (1546)
Juan Valdes, Catechism (1549)
Consensus Tigurinus (1549)
Thomas Cranmer, Anglican Catechism (1549)
The London Confession od John a Lasco (1551)
The Large Emden Catechism; or Catechism of the Immigrant Church in London (1551)
The Confession of the Glastonbury Congregation (1551)
Confessio Rhaetiae (1552)
John Calvin, Consensus Genevensis (1552)

Genres: Theology

820 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A happy discovery and valuable reference for understanding the general lines of theological and political thinking of Protestants at the time. Despite my disagreements with certain doctrinal distinctives, I'll remember this volume most for (1) the over-arching theme of the 1st and 2nd Great Commandments driving the authorship of so many confessional documents, (2) delightfully introducing me to Zwingli, (3) the marginally political tone with most of the documents, as many were drafted so as to communicate doctrinal standards to governmental authorities as people relocated to other regions for safety or "missional" opportunities. Lastly, despite what Dennison says, I'm not sure what the last document -- a treatise by Calvin on predestination -- is really doing here.