Reception of Calvin in Reformed Orthodoxy

Until recently, the most influential thesis regarding the relationship between Calvin and his successors has been the so-called ‘Calvin against the Calvinists’ approach. According to this thesis, Calvin’s allegedly pristine Reformed theology was fundamentally perverted by his successors.

A more recent reassessment of the development of Reformed theology not only relativises Calvin’s status within the Reformed tradition, but also demonstrates both the exegetical, methodological, and theological complexity of the Reformed tradition to which Calvin belongs, and the substantial continuities in these areas between Reformation and post-Reformation Reformed dogmatics.

Nevertheless, the new approach still acknowledges Calvin as one of the most internationally influential Reformed theologians of his generation, and one of a small number of second-generation Reformed leaders whose theology exerted widespread influence on later generations, particularly through his impact upon the educational institution, the Genevan Academy. The Academy was one of the most important international theological training centres of its time.

To celebrate the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth, distinguished scholars will discuss and evaluate the reception of Calvin and his theology in Reformed Orthodoxy by focusing on several influential persons and events from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.   

Programme

Thursday, June 4, 2009 

10:30 – 11:00 Registration

11:00 – 11:05 Opening of the conference by Willem J. van Asselt   

Session 1

12:05 – 14:00 Lunch

Session 2

14:00 – 15:00 The Reception of Calvin in Early Reformed Orthodoxy

15:00 – 15:30 Coffeebreak

Session 3

15:30 – 17:00 The Reception of Calvin surrounding the Synod of Dordrecht (1618-1619)

William den Boer   Jacob Arminius (1559-1609)

Donald W. Sinnema   The Synod of Dordrecht (1618-1619)

Michael D. Bell   Johannes Maccovius (1599-1644)

17:00 – 17:30 Coffeebreak

17:30 - 18:00 Presentation of a new project (William den Boer)

18:00 – 20:00 Dinner

Session 4

20:00 – 21:30 The Reception of Calvin after the Synod of Dordt (1618-1619) I

Andreas J. Beck   Gisbertus Voetius (1589-1676)

Willem J. van Asselt    Johannes Coccejus (1603-1669)

Adriaan Neele   Petrus van Mastricht (1630-1706)

Session 5

09:00 – 10:30 The Reception of Calvin after the Synod of Dordt (1618-1619) II

Aza Goudriaan   Ulrik Huber (1636-1694) and the Franeker Debate (1686-1687) on Human Reason and the Bible

Frank van der Pol   The profile and use of John Calvin in treatises of Simon Oomius (1630-1706)

Peter Hoek   Melchior Leydecker   (1642–1721)

10:30 – 11:00 Coffeebreak

Session 6

11:00 – 12:30 The Reception of Calvin in France, (New-)England and The Netherlands

Albert Gootjes   Saumur (Claude Pajon, 1626-1685)

Gert van den Brink   Herman Witsius (1636-1708) and the English Antinomian Conflict

Kenneth D. Minkema   Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

12:30 – 14:00    Lunch

14:00 – 17:30 Visiting the Calvin Exposition at the Grote Kerk, Dordrecht

                        Town walk through Dordrecht

17:30 – 19:30 Dinner

Session 7

19:30 – 21:00 The Reception and Development of Calvin in Reformed Orthodoxy. Conclusions and Discussion

Richard A. Muller   Calvin (un)accommodated in Reformed Orthodoxy? Review and Conclusions

21:00 Closing of the Conference

Location, Fees and Organization

The conference will take place at:

‘t Hof (Groene zaal)

Hof 12

3311 XG Dordrecht,   The Netherlands

Phone: + 31 (0)78 613 4626

The fee for the conference is € 125, for students € 100, drinks, lunches, dinners and visit to the Calvin exposition included. Charges must be paid in cash during registration.

Participants need to make their own hotel reservations, for instance, on line with the Dordrecht Tourist Agency site:  www.vvvdordrecht.nl/engels, or at www.hotels.nl/dordrecht

If you want to attend the conference, please send your request to:

Wilhelminapark 4

7316 BT Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

Phone: +31 (0)55 577 5700

Email:   wadenboer@tua.nl   

The conference is organized by:

• Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI, USA (Richard A. Muller)
• Institute for Reformation research, Theological University Apeldoorn, The Netherlands (William den Boer)
• Institute of Post-Reformation Studies of the Evangelical Theological Faculty, Leuven, Belgium (Andreas J. Beck)
• Research-group Classic Reformed Theology, Utrecht University , The Netherlands (Willem J. van Asselt)

Relevant websites: