Journal of Social and Political
Sciences
ISSN 2615-3718 (Online)
ISSN 2621-5675 (Print)
Published: 02 March 2020
The Arminian Controversy: History, Theology, and Art
James W. Ellis
Case Western Reserve University, USA
Download Full-Text Pdf
10.31014/aior.1991.03.01.159
Pages: 196-213
Keywords: Arminianism, Calvinism, Dutch Golden Age, predestination, Protestant theology, Wesleyan theology
Abstract
Arminianism is a Biblical interpretive construct and a theological response to Calvinism. Calvinism is the theology advanced by John Calvin, the leading French theologian of the Protestant Reformation. Arminians and Calvinists disagreed on fundamental Christian doctrine, including the doctrine of predestination and the role human free will plays in the process of Christian redemption and salvation. In the Dutch Republic of the seventeenth century and in English theological disputes of the eighteenth century, the Arminian-Calvinist conflict divided societies and Christian fellowships. This essay analyzes these historical Protestant conflicts by analyzing relevant historical, theological, and artistic contexts.
References
- Allen, D. (2016). The extent of the atonement: A historical and critical review. Nashville: B. & H. Academic.
- Arminius, J. (1828, 1853). The works of James Arminius (J. Nichols Trans.) (Vols. 1-3). London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green; Auburn & Buffalo: Derby, Miller, and Orton.
- Boice, J., & Ryken, P. (2009). The doctrines of grace: Rediscovering the evangelical gospel. Wheaton: Crossway.
- Boettner, L. (2015). The Reformed doctrine of predestination. West Linn: Monergism.
- Calder, F. (1835). Memoirs of Simon Episcopius, the celebrated pupil of Arminius. London: Simpkin & Marshall.
- Calvin, J. (1846). Institutes of the Christian religion (H. Beveridge Trans.) (Vols. 1-3). Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society.
- Camara, E. (2020). Last Judgment - Essay by Dr. Esperanca Camara. Retrieved From https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/high-ren-florence-rome/michelangelo/a/michelangelo-last-judgment.
- Dash, M. (2001). Tulipomania: The story of the world's most coveted flower & the extraordinary passions it aroused. New York: Broadway Books.
- Davis, A. (1943). Isaac Watts: His life and works. New York: The Dryden Press.
- Goldie, M. (1991). The theory of religious intolerance in Restoration England. In Grell, O., Israel, J, & Tyacke, N. (Ed.), From persecution to toleration. The Glorious Revolution and religion in England (pp. 331-368). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Gunter, S. (2000). John Wesley: A faithful representative of Jacobus Arminius. Retrieved from https://oimts.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/2002-2-gunter.pdf.
- Marshall, J. (2006). John Locke, Toleration and early Enlightenment culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Miller, D. (2013). The foundation of election: An overview of classical Arminianism. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/3614511/The_Foundation_of_Election_An_Overview_of_Classical_Arminianism.
- Motley, J. (1874). The life and death of John of Barneveld: Advocate of Holland (Vol. 2). New York: Harper and Brothers.
- Palmer, E. (2010). The Five Points of Calvinism: A study guide. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.
- Rack, H. (Ed.). (2011). The works of John Wesley (Vol. 10). Nashville: Abingdon.
- Schaff, P. (2013). The Seven Ecumenical Councils: Excursus on Pelagianism, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (Series II, Vol 14). Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/38484257/Philip_Schaff_Nicene_and_Post-Nicene_Fathers_Series_II_vol._14.
- Scotland, N. (2019). George Whitefield: The first transatlantic revivalist. Oxford: Lion Hudson.
- Scott, T. (1856). The Articles of Synod of Dort. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication.
- Selderhuis, H., Moser, C., & Sinnema, D. (Ed.). (2014). Acta of the Synod of Dordt. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
- Spaans, J. (2002). Religious policies in the seventeenth-century Dutch Republic. In Hsia, R. & Van Nierop, H. (Eds.), Calvinism and religious toleration in the Dutch Golden Age (pp. 72-86). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Stanglin, K., Bilby, M. & Mann, M. (2014). Reconsidering Arminius. Nashville: Kingswood Books.
- Tate Museum. (2020). Allegory. Retrieved form https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/allegory.
- The Balance. (2020). Leiden American Pilgrim Museum. Retrieved from http://www.leidenamericanpilgrimmuseum.org/Page34B.htm.
- The full original Act of Remonstrance in English and Dutch. (2016) (Trans. Dicou, B. & Schaff, P.). Retrieved from http://evangelicalarminians.org/the-full-original-act-of-remonstrance-in-english-and-dutch/.
- The Loss of Eternal Life Not Owing to Any Absolute Decree. (1789). Arminian Magazine 1 (September 1789), 451-452.
- Theologians & Theology: Christian theologians and their theology. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.theologian-theology.com/theologians/john-calvin-predestination/.
- Tyacke, N. (1987). Anti-Calvinists: The rise of English Arminianism, c. 1590-1640. Oxford: Oxford University Press (Clarendon).
- Van Leeuwen, T., Stanglin, K., & Tolsma, M. (Eds.). (2009). Arminius, Arminianism, and Europe. Leiden: Brill.
- Wason, B. (2017). Religion of the heart: John Wesley & the legacy of Methodism in America. Atlanta: Emory University Pitts Theology Library.
- Wesley, J. (1798). The question, What is an Arminian? Answered. London: Methodist Preaching-houses.
- Wesley, J. (1799). A dialogue between a Predestinarian and his friend. London: Methodist Preaching-houses.
- Wesley, J. & Wesley, C. (1981). John and Charles Wesley: Selected prayers, hymns, journal notes, sermons, letters and treatises. Mahwah: Paulist Press.
- Wesley, J. (2011). The essential works of John Wesley. Uhrichsville: Barbour Publishing.
- Westminster Confession of Faith. (1647). (Ch. IX, Sec. III; Question 31; Ch. XVII, Sec. 1). London: Company of Stationers.