Reformed / Presbyterian
- Grew from
- Roman Catholic
- From
- 1541 AD
- Origin
- Geneva and Zurich
- Confession
- Westminster Confession 1646 AD
The Reformation as developed by Zwingli and Calvin, governed by elders rather than bishops and marked by a distinctive account of election.
What marks it out
The sovereignty of God as the governing principle, worked out in election — the doctrine the tradition is known for and the one it is most often reduced to. Scripture alone as the rule, with worship containing only what scripture warrants, which is why the early Reformed stripped the churches. Government by elders. A strong doctrine of vocation, holding ordinary work to be a calling, and historically a drive toward literacy so that everyone could read the text for themselves.
Bodies that grew from it
- Anabaptist (1525 AD)
- Presbyterian (1560 AD)
- Continental Reformed (1563 AD)
- Congregational (1582 AD)
- Baptist (1609 AD)
Figures
- Huldrych Zwingli
1484–1531
The Reformation in Zurich, and the split over the supper
- John Calvin
1509–1564
The Institutes, and the Geneva experiment
- Karl Barth
1886–1968
The Church Dogmatics, and the Barmen Declaration
- Corrie ten Boom
1892–1983
Hiding Jews above a watch shop
Alongside it
Also from Roman Catholic.
- Waldensian (1173 AD)
- Hussite (1415 AD)
- Lutheran (1517 AD)
- Anglican (1534 AD)
- Eastern Catholic churches (1596 AD)
In the record
-
1517 AD Reform
The Reformation begins
Luther's objections to indulgences opened a wider argument about authority, scripture and justification that divided western Christendom.
What it holds
Each position in the terms this tradition itself uses, with its confessional source.
- Baptism Church-dividing
- A sign and seal of the covenant of grace. Infants of believing parents are baptised as members of that covenant, though the grace signified is not tied to the moment. Westminster Confession, XXVIII (1646)
- Church authority Church-dividing
- Christ governs the church through elders in graded assemblies; no one bishop holds primacy over the whole church. Westminster Confession, XXV, XXXI (1646)
- Justification Church-dividing
- God justifies by pardoning sin and accounting the believer righteous through the righteousness of Christ imputed, received by faith alone. Westminster Confession, XI (1646)
- Mary Church-dividing
- Blessed among women and rightly honoured, but prayer is to be offered to God alone. Westminster Confession, XXI (1646)
- Scripture and tradition Church-dividing
- The whole counsel of God is set down in scripture or may be deduced from it; no tradition may be added as binding. Westminster Confession, I (1646)
- The Lord's Supper Church-dividing
- Christ is truly received, but spiritually and by faith; the believer is lifted to Christ rather than Christ brought down into the elements. Westminster Confession, XXIX; Heidelberg Catechism Q.76 (1563)
- The saints and intercession Church-dividing
- Prayer is to be made to God alone, in the name of Christ, and not to any creature. Westminster Confession, XXI (1646)
- The state after death Church-dividing
- Souls of the righteous are received into glory at death; scripture knows no third place. Westminster Confession, XXXII (1646)
- How many sacraments Genuine disagreement
- Two only: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Westminster Confession, XXVII (1646)
- Icons and images Genuine disagreement
- The second commandment forbids representing God in any image; historically this extended to removing images from churches. Heidelberg Catechism Q.96-98 (1563); Westminster Larger Catechism Q.109
- Ordination of women Genuine disagreement
- Most Reformed and Presbyterian churches ordain women as elders and ministers; a conservative minority does not. Contemporary practice, summarised
- Perseverance of the saints Genuine disagreement
- Those effectually called can neither totally nor finally fall away, but shall certainly persevere to the end. Westminster Confession, XVII (1646)
- Predestination and free will Genuine disagreement
- God unconditionally elects some to everlasting life, not on the basis of foreseen faith or works, and effectually calls them. Westminster Confession, III (1646)
- How the cross saves Difference of emphasis
- Emphasises penal substitution: Christ bears the punishment due to sin in the place of the elect. Held across the confessional standards; no tradition makes one theory a test of communion.
- Spiritual gifts Difference of emphasis
- Historically cessationist -- the sign gifts attested the apostolic message and ceased with it -- though the position is not unanimous. Reformed teaching, summarised
- The millennium Difference of emphasis
- Historically amillennial or postmillennial; the thousand years is read as the present age or a coming era of gospel success. Augsburg Confession, XVII (1530) for the Lutheran position; otherwise contemporary practice, summarised.
- Inspiration of scripture Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Held across all confessional standards
- Salvation originates in grace Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Second Council of Orange (529)
- The Incarnation Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)
- The Resurrection Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)
- The Trinity Broad agreement
- Held in common with all the traditions listed here; not a point of division. Nicene Creed (381); Chalcedon (451)