TOP FIVE BELGIC CONFESSION RESOURCES

Today I’m continuing my celebration of all things related to the Belgic Confession.  This year, I remind you, is the 450th birthday of this beloved statement of faith.  For today, I’d like to introduce you to my top five resources on the Belgic Confession.  Here they are (in no particular order):

De Nederlandse Belijdenisgeschriften — J. N. Bakhuizen van den Brink

This is a must-have document for anyone doing serious scholarly work on the Belgic Confession (and the Heidelberg Catechism and Canons of Dort, too).  It provides the only critical text of the Confession available.  Don’t let the Dutch title scare you off (unless you can’t read French or Latin either).  For the section on the Confession, Bakhuizen van den Brink provides the French texts of the French Confession of 1559 and the Belgic, as well as Latin and Dutch texts.  Each has an accompanying critical apparatus.  The bad news is that this volume is out of print and almost impossible to find in hard copy.  The good news is that is available for free here as a .pdf.

The Belgic Confession: Its History and Sources — Nicolaas H. Gootjes

Since I just posted my review of this last week, I don’t have anything else to say about this.  It’s just a fantastic piece of scholarship.

The Belgic Confession and Its Biblical Basis — Lepusculus Vallensis

This helpful volume includes all the biblical proof texts for the Confession, along with the notes on these texts prepared for the study Bible that had been commissioned by the Synod of Dort 1618-19.  This was a translation of a Dutch work published in 1951.  Unfortunately for us, the translator was selective in what he put into English.  For instance, the original volume included the historical preface to the Confession as well as an “manual” with much historical material on the Confession.

The Church’s Witness to the World — P. Y. De Jong

This remains one of the best commentaries on the Confession.  If nothing else, De Jong deserves kudos for getting the purpose of the Confession correct.  Indeed, it was one intended to be a message from the Church to the unbelieving world.  This one is also out of print, but you can get a free .pdf right here.

With Heart and Mouth — Daniel R. Hyde

This is the best in-print commentary.  One the things I appreciate most about this commentary is its self-conscious attention to the historical background of the Confession.  It’s also one of the few places where you can find a translation of the original preface.  I’ll post my full review later this week.

Reformed Book Services

[Guest post by Ricky Pronk]

Canadian Reformed minister Dr. Wes Bredenhof loves to promote sound Reformed books. He writes,

 As a pastor … I’m always on the lookout for faithful and helpful devotional literature. The Puritans are among my favourites. There are many contemporary authors who carry on in the line of the Puritans, authors like Jerry Bridges and R. C. Sproul. Sinclair Ferguson is also in their growing number. Theologically sound and pastorally written (Book Review in Clarion, March 25, 2011, Volume 60, No.7, p. 171).

Until recently one had to order books like these online and from American addresses. But now these books and many like them are displayed on shelves in a bookstore in southern Ontario. Reformed Book Services in Brantford not only sells Puritans but also books by classic Reformed authors such as Calvin, Luther, Bucer, and later theologians such as Edwards, Warfield, Dabney, Bavinck, Machen, Van Til, and selected contemporary Reformed authors such as Packer, Sproul, Van Dam, Visscher, Venema, Beeke, etc. Not only are these books and many others accessible in a Canadian bookstore, but they may be purchased at discounted prices.

Reformed Book Services was established by a group of likeminded men and women who have a passion to make not only Puritan literature but also contemporary authors like them more widely available to Canadians. As a not-for-profit book service, books can be offered at discounted prices. With the help of some Christian businessmen investing in inventory and equipment, the store has been open since the summer of 2009. A manager assisted by trained volunteers operates the store, conveniently located in a business square on Lynden Road, close to the 403 and near the Lynden Park Mall in Brantford, Ontario.

A wide selection of books for children and adults, all from trusted Reformed authors are available in-store, or may be ordered by phone, email or from the website, which lists over 2,000 titles. These books are from publishers such as Banner of Truth Trust, Inheritance Publications, Paideia Press, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishers, Reformation Trust, Reformation Heritage Books, Christian Focus Publications, Evangelical Press, and a number of newer publishers, not widely known.

On the shelves you will find biographies, devotionals, church history books, Bible commentaries and references, Bible studies, books for office bearers and for teaching children. There are books on parenting, marriage, the family, counselling and women’s books by well-known authors such as Paul Tripp, Wayne Mack, Brian Chappell, Elisabeth Elliott, Sharon James, Faith Cook, Christine Farenhorst, Susan Hunt, etc.

Also in stock are many Bible-based activity books for children, Bible story books, children’s devotionals, mission stories, and historical fiction, by Carine Mackenzie, Piet Prins, Anne DeVries, Susan Hunt, and others. In addition, the store carries selected translations of the Bible in various formats, Psalters, CDs, as well as gift certificates and a limited selection of greeting cards. Booklets for outreach that deal with social issues from a Christian perspective are available in quantities.

The aim of Reformed Book Services is to make available in Canada the increasing number of books that are written from a standpoint of the classic Reformed interpretation of Scripture, including those from the Puritan tradition, books valued by Rev. Bredenhof and other Reformed pastors. It has been encouraging and interesting to note that some in the broader evangelical community are also discovering Reformed Book Services. Who would have thought that there are Pentecostals who enjoy reading Matthew Henry, A.W. Pink and Lloyd-Jones? And yes, we love to sell to pastors, church librarians, schools, and of course, all walk-ins. Discover and browse.

Submitted by Mrs. Ricky (Frederika) Pronk (Reformed Book Services board member)

For more information contact: REFORMED BOOK SERVICES, 230 Lynden Rd., Unit 5A (behind Galaxy Car Wash), Brantford, ON N3R 8A3, Tel. 519.304.4709 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            519.304.4709      end_of_the_skype_highlighting; email: sales@reformedbookservices.ca; www.reformedbookservices.ca. Store hours are Monday10am-5pm, Thursday10am-9pm, Friday 10am- 5pm, Saturday 10am-3pm.

52 Open Windows — R. H. Bremmer

NEW RESOURCE:

52 Open Windows — Dr. R. H. Bremmer

This is a translation of 52 open vensters, a collection of sermons based on the Heidelberg Catechism.  The translation was done by the late Ralph Winkel of Edmonton, Alberta.  In a note at the beginning, the translator acknowledged that his work tended to the wooden and stilted side.  The typewritten manuscript (graciously scanned and provided by Burt Winkel, Hamilton, ON) also has a few typos.  Nevertheless, it does provide a fairly accurate representation of the original work of Dr. Bremmer.  I’ve often used Bremmer’s book in Dutch and have found it helpful.

You can also find this item under “Heidelberg Catechism Resources” above.

Madeleine L’Engle

The following is a repost from September 7, 2007.  I’m reposting it since L’Engle’s books are used in at least one CanRC school.

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Well-known author Madeleine L’Engle died yesterday at 88 years of age.

A number of years ago, there was a controversy in the Christian Reformed Church regarding L’Engle.  A woman named Claris VanKuiken became alarmed at the use of L’Engle’s books in her local Christian school.  She eventually went on to write an expose of L’Engle entitled, “Battle to Destroy Truth: Unveiling a Trail of Deception.” When the matter was brought to the officebearers of her CRC congregation, they would not agree with her and instead declared that L’Engle was an orthodox Christian author.  She appealed to Classis Chicago South and was vindicated.  The classis stated:

1. L’Engle denies that the atonement, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was a substitutionary sacrificial payment for the sins of God’s people.

2. L’Engle denies that Jesus’ incarnation is qualitatively unique, uniquely “God with us,” Immanuel.

3. L’Engle denies that there will be a final separation between God and some persons as proclaimed in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the Majesty of His power….”

4. L’Engle denies the unique authority of the Bible as the final arbiter in all matters of faith and practice.

I remember there were a number of articles in Christian Renewal about this at the time, especially focusing on L’Engle’s connections with New Age mysticism.  Unfortunately, though that one CRC classis made that statement, the general perception that L’Engle was a Christian author won the day in the CRC.

For more discussion of L’Engle, see here.

Heidelberg Catechism Audio

I’ve just added a new resource:  audio recordings of the Heidelberg Catechism.  You can find it over to the right under “Heidelberg Catechism Audio” (or by just clicking on the link).