Goddelike soewereiniteit en menslike verantwoordelikheid volgens die Christelike sintesedenke van ongeveer die 5e tot 17e eeu - ? Christelik filosofiese verkenning

Abstract

This study and its follow-up intends to investigate how – after many centuries of debate – the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility was finally formulated at the Synod of Dordt (1618-1619). The investigation consists of four main sections.
In the introductory part (1) it is first indicated how difficult it may be to understand the Bible on the issue of God’s predestination. Then some general information on recent research on Reformed Orthodoxy is provided. It then explains the historical link between the Synod of Dordt and the Synopsis Purioris Theologiae of 1625, a dogmatic textbook written on request of the Synod by four Reformed professors at the University of Leiden. Lastly, since the Canons of Dordt deals with different issues, but especially predestination (election and reprobation), this study will try to determine its viewpoint on the broader issue of divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
For a better understanding of the crisis at Dordt section 2 firstly gives a short description of the synthetic thought of Reformed Ortho doxy at the time. It can be described as Aristotle-interpretation, as it tried to combine elements of a pre-Christian philosopher with biblical revelation.
The third, main section provides a historical review of the theo logical viewpoints, as well as their submerged philosophical pre suppositions of Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Calvin, Beza and Ursinus.
In the fourth part a brief summary and perspective for future investigation conclude the essay.