“The question of comfort is placed and treated first, because it embodies the design and substance of the catechism. The design is that we may be led to the attainment of sure and solid comfort, both in life and death.” – Zacharias Ursinus on Lord’s Day 1

Comfort. To comfort God’s people with instruction in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the main reason the Heidelberg Catechism was written. To that end, George W. Williard’s English translation of The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism has existed alongside the Catechism since 1851, assisting many generations of believers in plumbing the depths of the biblical truth of comfort expounded in the Catechism.

This 2025 edition of the Commentary is improved in readability and consistency compared to previous editions, but still remains faithful to Williard’s original English translation. Bibliographical and explanatory footnotes have been added to improve the reader’s study. Now in an enhanced format, the Commentary is a theological classic that suited for any Christian’s library.

ZACHARIAS URSINUS (1534-1583) was a Reformed theologian and professor. Through his works and teaching, and as the main author of the Heidelberg Catechism, by God’s grace, Ursinus left an ongoing legacy for Reformed churches worldwide.

Reviews

“Over the centuries, many expositions and commentaries have been written on the Heidelberg Catechism, such as Theodorus VanderGroe’s The Christian’s Only Comfort in Life and Death and Herman Hoeksema’s multi-volume Triple Knowledge. Yet, no commentary has had quite the same impact or authority as that of Zacharias Ursinus himself. As the primary author of approximately 60% of the Catechism and its officially sanctioned expositor, Ursinus’ commentary is indispensable for anyone wishing to engage deeply with the text. Despite its historical and theological importance, Ursinus’ Commentary has not always been readily accessible to the modern reader. Previous editions were often printed in dated typefaces, out of circulation, or prohibitively expensive. Thankfully, the Reformed Free Publishing Association has now released a freshly typeset 2025 edition, restoring this seminal work to its rightful place in theological study. For those who have anticipated its release, this edition is not only a delight but also a much-needed resource.” – KristiyaKnow (courtesy @kristiyaknow_reviews)

“The lectures of Ursinus as compiled and edited by his student, David Pareus, are invaluable for understanding the Heidelberg Catechism. This is especially true for preachers tasked with proclaiming its teaching. Yet, preachers, and even those in the pew, may be turned off by its ‘scholastic’ structure. Far from making the Catechism more difficult, it was in the Christian use of Aristotle that Ursinus and others sought to analyze, break down, and simplify the teaching of the word for pastors, who are tasked with preaching to people. In other words, sophistication in the study leads to simplicity in the pulpit. Pastors: immerse yourself in the best of our tradition’s pedagogy and watch your preaching improve and your people’s minds and hearts be enflamed!” – Daniel R. Hyde (Ph.D., Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church (Carlsbad/Oceanside, CA)

“It is with great enthusiasm that I commend this latest edition of Ursinus’s Commentary from the RFPA … The reader of this new edition will find much to edify the soul. I cannot encourage you too strongly to buy this for your personal and church libraries. A blessing is in store for readers of classics.” – C. N. Willborn (Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary), senior pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (Oak Ridge, TN)

“The well-loved Heidelberg Catechism deserves not only careful study but also systematic exposition. And who better to write a commentary on the Catechism than one of its authors, Zacharias Ursinus? … Let us all rejoice in the republication of a significant resource in our Reformed theological and practical heritage.” – Thomas G. Reid Jr. (M.Div., Th.M.), retired librarian and registrar, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Pittsburgh, PA)

“The real virtue of this book lies in what RFPA has done that makes it notably unique from other print editions … Where there are charts and other such helps in the text, this volume makes them cleaner and more presentable. Some features of the text have been tweaked for greater consistency. The best things here (besides the text, of course) are the study helps. There are not one, but TWO tables of contents. The first is creedal, structured according to the 52 Lord’s Days and the threefold division of Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude. The second is topical, aiding in deeper study on particular topics or questions. RFPA has also added footnotes to aid with deeper study … While these study features aren’t exhaustive, they do wonders for making the CHC accessible to a wider audience … This new edition of the CHC is truly a gift to the church. RFPA is to be highly commended for their work. I believe that no Christian’s library is complete without a copy of this book.” – Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms

“An essential Catechism resource. This edition is freshly formatted for easier reading. It contains numerous footnotes indicating original sources. It has corrected the translator’s mistakes. It has translated all foreign language quotations. This edition also includes Scripture and name indexes. If you have [an] older … reprint, it will be well worth your money to buy this improved edition. For those who’ve never owned it, it’s a great resource, especially if you’re regularly preaching or teaching the Catechism. It’ll be a good addition for church libraries too. But be warned: it wasn’t written as a popular guide to the Catechism. It’s academic and presented in the Protestant scholastic mode. Nevertheless, much of it will still be accessible to most Reformed readers today.” – Wes Bredenhof

Among Reformed Christians, the celebration of the anniversary of the Synod of Dordt (1618–1619) is second only to the commemoration of the Reformation of the sixteenth century. Indeed, marking the anniversary of the “great synod,” as it soon was called, is commemoration of the Reformation. For Dordt’s main accomplishment was the preservation of the gospel of God’s sovereign grace, which was restored to the church through the Reformation.

The Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary held a conference to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the Synod of Dordt. For God’s Glory and the Church’s Consolation includes all the presentations made at this conference, plus a bit more. The book explores the heritage that faithful Reformed churches ought to esteem, as that heritage was defended and handed down by the Synod of Dordt.

The chapters included in this book are written by Prof. Douglas Kuiper, Rev. Angus Stewart, Prof. Brian Huizinga, Rev. Mark Shand, Rev. William Langerak, Prof. Ronald Cammenga and Prof. Barrett Gritters. 

Contents

Editor’s Preface – Prof. Ronald Cammenga

Chapter 1
The Controversy Regarding Sovereign Grace: The Synod of Dordt and Its Relevance for Today – Prof. Douglas Kuiper

Chapter 2
The Canons as the Original Five Points of Calvinism – Rev. Angus Stewart

Chapter 3
Warring a Good Warfare with the Canons – Prof. Brian Huizinga

Chapter 4
Dordt’s Unfeigned Call of the Gospel – Rev. Mark Shand

Chapter 5
The Doctrine of the Covenant in the Canons of Dordt – Prof. Douglas Kuiper

Chapter 6
The Polity of Dordt: Om Goede Orde in de Gemeente Christi te Onderhouden (To Maintain Good Order in the Church of Christ) – Rev. William Langerak

Chapter 7
Illustrating and Recommending the Grace of Election: Dordt’s Doctrine of Reprobation – Prof. Ronald Cammenga

Chapter 8
Assurance: Sovereign Grace’s Speech to the Heart – Prof. Barrett Gritters

Appendix 1
The Sessions of the Synod of Dordt, 1618-1619 – Prof. Douglas Kuiper

Appendix 2
Balthasar Lydius’ Prayer at the Convening of the Synod of Dordt – translated and edited by Prof. Douglas Kuiper and Dr. H. David Schuringa

“I started reading For God’s Glory and the Church’s Consolation. It’s wonderful!” – France

“I just finished reading For God’s Glory and the Church’s Consolation. A wonderful read, especially on reprobation.” – England

In 1618-1619 the great Synod of Dordt met to counter the Arminian error that was threatening the peace and welfare of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands. The fruit of their deliberations was the Canons of Dordt, a creed which has defined the Calvinist, Reformed faith for centuries.

This accessible commentary on the Canons leads readers through the comforting message of the creed: being wholly saved by God’s grace—not one’s own merit—comes with the steadfast assurance of eternal and unchangeable election.

A recent radio interview of Rev. McGeown about his book, Grace and Assurance: The Message of the Canons of Dordt, is available!

Part 2 of a recent radio interview with Rev. McGeown about Grace and Assurance

REVIEW

Grace and Assurance: The Message of the Canons of Dordt, by Martyn McGeown. Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 2018. Hardcover. 384 pages. [Reviewed by Derrick Span, a member of Immanuel Protestant Reformed Church.]

Rev. Martyn McGeown’s book, entitled Grace and Assurance: The Message of the Canons of Dordt, emphasizes the necessity, as Reformed Christians, to thoroughly understand our creeds and confessions. These creeds and confessions exhibit what heresies our fathers fought against and what they clung to with ardent zeal. We might ask what value there is in reading a book about the Canons, or we might object that the Canons, Belgic Confession, and Heidelberg Catechism are only creeds. Should we be spending our time studying these old creeds and confessions when we have big enough problems understanding our Bible? Are we not supposed to hold to sola scriptura? While these areas of concern are essential, they express a misunderstanding that we cannot learn from those who came before us. We must be careful in speaking in that way. Instead, we ought to read and listen to those who fought for the truth, seeking the truth from them. By hearing them, we will be better equipped to read God’s word through an informed outlook. So I encourage the use of this book not just for informing us of what our fathers taught, but as a means to examine what we hold to and whether we maintain the understanding of God’s word. To encourage this mindset, a brief explanation of the book is necessary.

The author’s explanation of the Canons begins with the intent, namely to expose Arminianism as erroneous from the ground up. To accomplish this purpose, our fathers had to explain many different doctrines as clearly as possible to leave no room for Arminianism to stand. Where would they begin? Would they start with the main point that Arminian fought against, i.e., reprobation? As a reading of the Canons would illustrate, they did not begin with reprobation; in fact, they did not for some time. The Canons began with who God is and who man is in relation to God. McGeown and our forefathers teach us a crucial bit of wisdom by starting with God in their explanation.

Explaining the context surrounding the creeds, the author dives into the material, systematically explaining all five heads by showing that all the articles connect to create an excellent understanding of God’s word. In chapter one head one is covered. Starting with the scriptures, Dordt formed its foundation for theology. The author explains in head one that the Canons’ foundation includes the following: what kind of God we have; who we are to him; and God’s purpose for predestination. After establishing a foundation on these topics, Dordt could confidently examine the objections the Arminians had towards election and reprobation including questions like: what kind of loving God would send people to hell?; and, alternatively, how does predestination not destroy any possibility of a personal decision? McGeown shows how the answers to these questions and more are developed further through all five heads.

In chapter two head two builds on head one in that it takes up the subject of Christ’s death in relation to predestination. For example, why did Christ have to die for his people? Could God not have just “forgotten” their debt to him? Would he not have been merciful in doing that? The answers to these questions need to be developed from the foundation of head one because they are rooted in the character of who God is. Many Arminians explain that God is a loving God that loves all men, so he tries to persuade all men to believe. What a perversion of the truth!

The answers in chapter two prepare the reader for chapter three heads three and four, which explain the Arminian view of resistible grace, engaging in the hard topic of free will. The Canons do not stop with describing the Reformed view of free will though. Even if everyone understood that they were totally depraved and inclined to all wickedness, how would they obtain comfort in their knowledge of that doctrine? How do they find comfort in the fact that they are unable to do any good? The author explains this by developing the relationship between the preaching and regeneration, showing that regeneration occurs not from goodness rooted in the sinful heart of believers, but from the inward workings of the Holy Ghost, which cannot end with believers being left comfortless. Chapter four furthers the explanation of this comfort.

Head five considers the preservation of the saints in chapter four. What does the preservation of the saints mean? McGeown develops Dordt’s explanation of this doctrine, using very personal language. What would it mean if a believer could lose their salvation? He explains that this loss would imply losing faith, which means that they would need to become regenerated again and again. What are the implications of that Arminian view? The Canons explain the preservation of the saints by first delving into what a saint is and what their actions ought to be. In addition to teaching what a believer is, the Canons develop how to understand sin. How does God expect his people to understand concerning their sinful inclinations? Getting to the point more: why do believers fall into sin? These questions are quite relevant for our everyday lives, and the Canons explain these questions quite clearly. McGeown states, “the Canons are realistic and experiential in that they reflect the real experiences of God’s children in this world.”

The Canons explain who God and man are. Although the Canons are extensive and can be complicated, McGeown explains it as follows, “If you have ever wondered why theology is so complicated, blame the heretics.” In other words, God’s word is simple, but the lie of the devil tries to change that. The devil attempts to take away any form of comfort we have in Jesus, and to keep this comfort we need to know all assaults on the joy of the gospel and how to defend against any threat to it. This defense occurs when we study threats that arise that would destroy our comfort. A great way to keep on top of heresy is by staying sharp in our understanding of them. The Canons build a clear knowledge of salvation, so we are obligated to use it to further our knowledge of the truth. McGeown’s exposition of the Canons is a valuable tool, and this book builds an excellent foundation for the truth. We have an obligation to read it and seek guidance from it. May it guide you as it did me.

The Apostles’ Creed declares truths that transcend time and space, uniting all of Christ’s saints from past, present and future.

In the early- to mid-1950s, Herman Hoeksema delivered a series of radio sermons on each of the articles of the Apostles’ Creed, thereby presenting and explaining all of the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. This collection of those sermons is, therefore, an excellent introduction to a Reformed understanding of the great truths of the Scriptures.

But the sermons in this book are more than theological expositions of the doctrines of the Apostles’ Creed. Hoeksema offers insightful, practical applications that flow from the truths of the Apostolicum. Both the Creed’s doctrines and practical implications are crucially important, not only to the individual Christian but also to the church as a whole. By expounding the Apostles’ Creed, Hoeksema demonstrates that its truths are not empty propositions but living declarations pointing to the Christian’s only hope and comfort in life and death: the Triune God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“As God’s people we embrace the teachings of the Apostles’ Creed. We embrace these teachings because we believe them. However, we believers can easily fall into the practice of treating the Creed as only a simple statement, a statement which we do not think about too deeply. We do not seek to understand the depths of its riches. Consequently, we do not grow in our faith. This fine volume on the Apostles’ Creed, replete with many Scripture references, will cause our faith and understanding of biblical truth to grow.” – Rev. Jerome Julian, emeritus minister in the United Reformed Churches (URC) in North America

“I Believe is a beautifully produced book, a credit to the RFPA.” –  Co. Down, N. Ireland

The following review was written by Ken Vink on the book I Believe: Sermons on the Apostles’ Creed by Herman Hoeksema (Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing, 2012). This review was originally published in the September 2023 issue of The Grandville Gleaner.

This recent RFPA publication is a collection of 38 radio sermons delivered on the Reformed Witness Hour by Rev. Herman Hoeksema in the years 1951, 1952, 1954, and 1955. Each sermon was verbally delivered in about 20 minutes. The printed text comprises about 7 pages for each sermon. Due to their length, these sermons could well be used as devotional material.

The 12 articles of the Creed are short and concise, comprising only 110 words. The author used 110,000 words in this volume to expand and explain the creed. He often states that he could say much more but is limited by time. The author generally uses three sermons to develop each article.

The Apostles’ Creed is a personal document. Note that it begins with the words “I believe.”

The author treats it as such and applies it as to its meaning and importance to the Christian life. Explaining some of the concepts and terms in the Creed is not without difficulty. More than once, the author meets this challenge saying that it is very difficult to explain this, but I will do my best. He then goes on to layout the meaning with precision and care, often using examples. He quotes extensively from Scripture to substantiate his points.

The editor has added two radio sermons to this collection as Appendices. Both are significant. While not strictly included in the author’s series on the Apostles’ Creed, these two additional sermons address topics in the Creed. The first is Conceived by the Holy Ghost which explains importance of the virgin birth. The author also explains his view that the genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 are that of Mary and not of Joseph as often assumed. The second addition, The Power of His Resurrection, struck me one of the most powerful and meaningful sermons contained in the book. In it, the author applies the power of the resurrection to the Christian life.

Rev. Hoeksema was a powerful preacher and a learned theologian. He directed his preaching and writing to those in the pew. He did not use overly long sentences, mysterious theological terms or sprinkle his writing and preaching with huge multi-syllable words.

The author’s work continues to live on in his writing. This volume is a worthy addition to his published works.

I would like to conclude this brief review on a personal note. Growing up, Rev. H. Hoeksema was my pastor (along with Revs. De Wolf and C. Hanko). In fact, Rev. Hoeksema attended our wedding in 1963. 

The following review was written by Rebecca Huffman Givens on the book I Believe: Sermons on the Apostles’ Creed (2023) by Herman Hoeksema. This review was originally published in the Vol. 68, Issue 1 (2025), of The Christian Librarian.

Herman Hoeksema (1886-1965) was a Dutch Reformed theologian. He served as longtime pastor of the First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was one of the founders of the Protestant Reformed Churches and Professor of Theology at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary in Grandville, MI, for forty years.

Between 1951-1955, Hoeksema delivered a series of radio sermons on each of the articles of the Apostles’ Creed, which were broadcast on the Reformed Witness Hour radio program.1 In this volume, Marco Barone has compiled and edited the transcripts of those sermons, which he obtained from the library of the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary in Wyoming, MI. Barone added explanatory footnotes and scripture references and corrected obvious typographical or grammatical errors. He also included an introduction on why Christians should study the Creed and why Hoeksema preached on it, a foreword outlining his own editing work of the transcripts, and a broadcast timeline of the sermons. He states in his introduction, “Through his exposition of this important document, Hoeksema guides the reader to the life-changing contemplation of the triune God and his work in Christ. Hoeksema very often expresses awe at the beauty and spiritual glory of the divine truths conveyed by the Creed, sometimes in a contagious way. In fact, he has communicated that awe to this editor too, and it is my hope that his sermons may also be a blessing to the reader” (page xii). 

The book’s opening sermon gives a brief introduction to the Apostles’ Creed and addresses the first phrase: “I believe in God.”  Each sermon thereafter proceeds through the Creed phrase by phrase, for a total of thirty-eight sermons arranged under the twelve Articles, followed by two additional related sermons.

In each sermon, Hoeksema shows how a particular phrase of the Apostles’ Creed relates to what the Christian believes. The sermons are pastoral, and they pull the reader into the basics of what a person should believe if they are a Christian. He quotes relevant scripture, and his love of the Creed, the Bible, and the people of God is apparent. This title is relevant for anyone wanting to study the Apostles’ Creed in particular, or for any believer who wants to better understand what they believe.

Other reviews of this book by Rev. Mitchell Dick (URC), Ben House (The Heavy-Laden Bookshelf blog) and John Tipton can also be read on-line.

Tabla de contenido

Catecismo de Heidelberg (1563)
Confesión Belga (1561)
Cánones de Dordt (1618-1619)

Credos Ecuménicos:
     Credo de los Apóstoles
     Credo Niceno (325, 381, 589)
     Credo de Calcedonia (451)
     Credo de Atanasio

LEER GRATIS EN LÍNEA: Tres Formas de Unidad.
Para hacer un pedido en América del Norte, comuníquese con Hope Protestant Reformed Church, Redlands, California.

Traducciones de las Tres Formas de Unidad y credos ecuménicos en línea: varios idiomas.

Para más información en Español, por favor haz clic aquí.

An orthodox commentary on the confession, that is, one that is in wholehearted accord with the teachings of the confession, and resolutely faithful to them, will be profitable to Reformed Christians and churches in the twenty-first century, not only for invaluable instruction in the Reformed faith, but also for the maintenance and defense of Reformed orthodoxy.

Founded on holy scripture, the Belgic Confession determines sound doctrine for Reformed churches and believers. This doctrine is rich, lovely, and powerful. The confession also authoritatively exposes contemporary heresies. As they read this commentary which proclaims the doctrine and authority of the confession, all believers who love the Reformed faith will be faithfully guided in the truth of the “old paths.”

Volume one covers Articles 1-21 of the Belgic Confession.

Listen to an interview of Prof. Engelsma about the Belgic Confession and his commentary.

“I’m enjoying the commentary on the Belgic Confession of Faith by Engelsma.” – England

With the publication of volume 2 is completed a full-scale, Reformed commentary on the Belgic Confession, of which there are only a few in English today. This book is not a summary of the Confession, nor a compilation of sermons loosely based on the Confession, but a commentary. It explains the Confession, article by article, doctrine by doctrine. Volume 2 begins with the Confession’s opening article on the doctrine of salvation, continues with the Confession’s lengthy treatment of the doctrine of the church and concludes with the Confession’s explanation of the doctrine of the last things—eschatology. Volume 2 covers Articles 22-37 of the Belgic Confession and includes indexes for both volumes.

Listen to an interview of Prof. Engelsma about the Belgic Confession and his commentary.

An excerpt of this book has been translated into Hungarian.

This definitive, hardback book is a wonderful tool for reading and studying the Three Forms of Unity, the four main ecumenical creeds (Apostles’, Nicene, Chalcedonian, and Athanasian), the Church Order of Dordt, various Reformed Forms, and the Declaration of Principles which contains quotations from the Reformed creeds on God’s unconditional covenant with His elect in Jesus Christ. A harmony with cross references between the Belgic Confession (1561), the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) and the Canons of Dordt (1618-1619) is provided, and the Scripture proof texts to these Reformed creeds are quoted in full. This attractive work comes complete with introductions to the creeds and indices of words, doctrines, and Scripture.

This book can be read on-line in pdf file format.

To order in N. America, please contact the Protestant Reformed Seminary

“Thank you for sending me the Confessions and Church Order book. I was getting it particularly for the services, baptism and communion, but it has already been such a blessing having all the Bible references for the Heidelberg Catechism printed out. I’ve studied the first six Lord’s Days and will continue now. It is such a great help!” – Yorkshire, England

“[The Confessions & Church Order book] is a brilliant resource. Thank you!” – England

The Confessions and the Church Order of the Protestant Reformed Churches. Published by the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, 431 pp. (hardcover). [Reviewed by Prof. Russell Dykstra.]

The long anticipated study edition of the confessions and church order is off the press and now available. This is a significant and valuable book for those who love and honour the Reformed confessions, the Reformed liturgical forms, and the church order of Dordt.

The preface of the book recounts the history of its coming into existence. Back in 1995, the synod of the PRC “went on record as favouring” the concept of a study edition of the confessions. Various subsequent synods decided on the content until in 2005, the synod gave final approval.

This book gives evidence of a tremendous amount of work—good work—by the catechism committee, Mr. Fred Hanko, and still others who assisted in the formatting of the book (some of this latter work I witnessed taking place at the computer of Mrs. Don Doezema). The result of this careful work is a fine product.

The book contains the three main creeds of the Reformed churches of the Netherlands tradition—the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dordrecht—commonly called the Three Forms of Unity. It also includes the ancient creeds (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian, and Chalcedon). Each of these seven creeds has its own introduction, briefly explaining the history and significance of the creed.

Also included in the book are liturgical forms largely formulated by the Reformed churches in the Netherlands (most of them in the Reformation era). The Protestant Reformed Churches still utilize these forms with only minor adaptations. Included are such forms (ten in all) as the Form for the Administration of Baptism, the Lord’s Supper form, and various ordination forms, plus two more—the document entitled “Consolation of the Sick,” and the “Formula of Subscription.”

Additionally, this study edition includes the Church Order used by the PRC (with an index), and the Declaration of Principles.

Thus this book brings together the documents found in the back of the Psalter and the “green Church Order book” used in the PRC. That combination all by itself would make it a valuable book.

However, it is the painstaking work of indexing that gives the book its major, significant value as a study edition of the creeds. The confessions have four different kinds of indices. The first is a harmony of the Three Forms, useful for determining, for instance, that the doctrine of Lord’s Day 16, Q. & A. 44 (Christ’s descent into hell) is also discussed in the Belgic Confession Article 21 and in the Canons, Head II, Articles 2-4.

The second is a doctrine index (which includes the ancient creeds and the Three Forms, as do the next two indices) divided according to the Reformed systemization of doctrine, namely, six divisions (called loci)—Theology, Anthropology, etc. Very useful.

The third index to the creeds is a rather complete (forty-five page) word index. From this one can quickly learn where in these confessions the concept “children” is discussed, or “works,” or “free will,” and many others.

The fourth index to the creeds is a Scripture index listing where in the creeds various texts are quoted, expounded, or used as proofs for particular doctrines. It could be noted that the proof texts of the three Reformed creeds are given in full in footnotes to the creeds themselves.

It is an impressive work. But there is more.

There are three indices to the liturgical forms—a doctrinal index, a word index (thirty-five pages), and a Scripture index as well.

The only document not indexed is the Declaration of Principles, probably because it is not a creed.

The one concern I have is with the Scripture references attached to the various articles of the Belgic Confession. A significant matter is whether the texts are valid as proof texts for the articles to which they are attached. That in turn depends on whether or not the Reformed church adopted these texts in the past. The Synod of Dordt adopted the Three Forms, including the Belgic Confession. However, solid evidence exists that while the Synod adopted the Heidelberg Catechism with proof texts, it deliberately adopted the Belgic Confession without Scripture references.* For this reason there is no agreed-upon body of Scripture references to the Confession. For the most part, the references in the study edition seem to be accurate. However, Psalm 33:17 (“An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.”) is given as a reference to the truth that the Spirit proceeds from the Father, obviously an incorrect reference. There may be others. I suggest that the Catechism Book Committee study this further, at the least to clarify the status of the Scripture references in future editions.

Doubtless there will be mistakes found, typos identified, etc, but this copy has no obvious mistakes that I could find.

This hardcover study edition is a real bargain—available for cost—at $9. The binding is of excellent quality. It is also attractive.

But for all that, it is worthless unless it is used in harmony with its purpose—a study edition of the confessions. Teens, parents, grandparents, office-bearers—all of us can profit from the diligent use of it. Consistories may well want to obtain a supply of the books, for easy examination and purchase by members of their congregations. The Reformed confessions are a precious heritage, but are too often neglected. There is great personal, spiritual profit in reading and studying these documents. With publication of this study edition, access to the content of the creeds became easier. Let’s study!

DESCRIPTION

The Three Forms of Unity:
The Heidelberg Catechism
The Belgic Confession
The Canons of Dordrecht

And the Ecumenical Creeds:
The Apostles’ Creed
The Nicene Creed
The Athanasian Creed
The Creed of Chalcedon

The Three Forms of Unity can also be read on-line.

On-line translations: many languages.

To order in N. America, please contact the Protestant Reformed Seminary

A compelling commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism produced in an attractive 10-volume set. The author, being a strong preacher of God’s sovereign grace in Jesus Christ and unconditional covenant of friendship, expounds the doctrines of Scripture in a warm and personal way so that the child of God who meditates upon these pages sees more and more how these glorious truths are, indeed, his “only comfort in life and death.”

“Yesterday evening I started reading In the Midst of Death. What lovely and vital teaching that ‘only when we contemplate the evil as a means to the end of the great good do we have full and perfect comfort’ (p. 19).” – England

“Thank you very much for the books! Herman Hoeksema´s interpretation of Heidelberg Catechism arrived safely and I´m so excited about it! Why? Because tomorrow I will start teaching the Heidelberger to the adult members of my church for the first time in my life! I believe that God gives me mighty helper for this teaching in Hoeksema!” – Czech Republic

“I am part way through Lord’s Day 3, taking a section at a time, slowly, and taking time to really think about it. I am finding it so very good and its teaching is so foundational and it makes me so thankful that the Lord has delivered me from the lie that there is any good at all in me, by nature. I will go on to study book 2 again afterwards.” – England

The great Synod of Dordrecht (1618-1619) resolved the Arminian controversy that raged in the Dutch Reformed churches at the end of the sixteenth century. The Canons of Dordrecht are the articles drawn up by the synod setting forth and defending the doctrines of sovereign grace (also called the five points of Calvinism) over against the Arminian heresies of free will, partial depravity, conditional election, resistible grace and universal, ineffectual atonement.

The Voice of Our Fathers is the best English commentary on this historic Reformed confession. An invaluable feature of the book is its introduction, which acquaints the reader with the history and the intrigues of the Arminians surrounding the Synod of Dordt.

In a day when the heart-warming, biblical truths taught in the Canons are being challenged in Reformed circles, this book will be a great service to any who are concerned to preserve the sovereignty of God’s grace by establishing them more firmly in the faith.

A Scripture index is included.

“The reader will find here an illustration of how little the tactics of heretics have changed in the last three or four centuries … Anyone who desires a clear analysis of the deep doctrinal cleavage between pure Calvinism and the Arminianism that has perverted so much of what still calls itself Reformed theology can perhaps find no better guide than this commentary” (Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly).

“Homer C. Hoeksema’s The Voice of Our Fathers is the only thorough commentary on the Canons in English. The work includes corrections of the English translation of the Canons used by the Protestant Reformed Churches and other Reformed churches, from the original Latin. Examples are the wording of Canons III/IV:8 and the omission of an important line at the end of Canons III/IV:2. The book is also valuable for its historical introduction. The author gives an account of the historical occasion of the synod in the Arminian controversy, a brief description of the ‘great synod’ itself, and a reminder concerning the confessional status of the Canons as one of the creeds of Reformed churches. Two important appendixes give the semi-official history of the events leading up to the synod, and the opinions of the Arminian party on the five doctrines that we know as the ‘Five Points of Calvinism,’ or the ‘doctrines of grace.’ The semi-official history was published on the authority of the States General, the Prince of Orange, and the Synod of Dordt. It demonstrates the unscrupulous, deceptive behaviour of Arminius and his party from start to finish. Reading this history, no one will have any difficulty with President Bogerman’s righteously angry dismissal finally of the Arminian party, ‘You are dismissed. You began and ended with lies. Get out!’ The only surprising thing is that he had as much patience as he did” (Prof. David J. Engelsma, writing in a special edition of the Standard Bearer on the Synod of Dordt).

“I profited a great deal from Rev. Homer Hoeksema’s The Voice of our Fathers,  commentary on the Canons of Dordt. I used the book both as a study of the five points of Calvinism and as a devotional tool. First, I would read the article from the Canons of Dordt making my own notes. Then I would read the appropriate chapter in The Voice of our Fathers (about 6 to 10 pages), which would expose my own inadequate understanding.  My eyes were also opened to see that much of the modern evangelical church world accepts what is, in fact, false, and has been rejected by the church of the Reformation. This book should be read by all students of Christian doctrine very prayerfully and carefully” (Stephen Rushton, England).

“The Voice of our Fathers is an extremely valuable book. I actually am presently reading a copy which I purchased from a Christian bookstore in Sydney … I am now going through it for a second time.” – Australia

“This is an absolute gem of book. 10 stars!” – S. Wales

“Voice of Our Fathers is the only complete book (sure!) I can find about the Dordrecht Canons. For me is a little difficult but I am sure that I will read all by the grace of God. Here there is the true faith.” – Rome, Italy

Click here to read this book in Russian.
Click here to read an excerpt of this book in Portuguese.