THE FIVE POINTS OF CALVINISM
The Five Points of Calvinism by Herman Hanko, Homer Hoeksema, and
Gise J. Van Baren, Copyright 1976 by Reformed Free Publishing
Association. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or
reprinted in any form without permission from the publisher, except in
the case of a brief quotation used in connection with a critical
article or review. For information address: Reformed Free Publishing
Association, 4949 Ivanrest Avenue, S.W., Grandville, Michigan
49418-9709.
FOREWORD
The five cardinal doctrines expounded in the chapters of this
book are known to many as the Five Points of Calvinism, and to
others as the "doctrines of grace." While these doctrines,
though certainly not originated by John Calvin, were re-emphasized
and taught anew by him at the time of the Reformation, it remained
for the Synod of Dordrecht, 1618-19, which was convened to settle
the Arminian controversy in the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands,
to formulate these truths with great clarity and in painstaking
detail. This official formulation was accomplished in a creed
which represented the consensus of all Reformed churches of that
day, the Canons of Dordrecht.
To this day, these doctrinal declarations have remained unaltered;
and they continue to be a mighty bulwark against the heresy of
Arminian free-willism, the danger of which is as great and greater
than it was in the days of Jacobus Arminius himself.
The format of these chapters is accounted for by the fact that
they were originally five popular lectures, delivered in 1966-67
in Grand Rapids, Michigan under the sponsorship of the Protestant
Reformed Churches of that area.
The three authors are ministers in the Protestant Reformed Churches
in America. Herman C. Hanko is professor of New Testament and
Church History at the Theological School of the Protestant Reformed
Churches; he has written Chapters 1 and 2. Homer C. Hoeksema is
professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament at the same Theological
School, and is the author of Chapter 3. Gise J. Van Baren is pastor
of First Protestant Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan;
and he is the author of Chapters 4 and 5.
May the lord our God use these chapters for the instruction and
enlightenment of many.
(As of 1997, Homer C. Hoeksema is deceased; Herman Hanko continues
to teach in the Theological School; Gise J. Van Baren currently
pastors the Loveland, Colorado Protestant Reformed Church.)
CONTENTS:
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Last modified, 2-Apr-1997