2024
The Present Day
The Westminster Shorter Catechism, written alongside the longer, was based upon the Heidelberg Catechism and Calvin's Geneva Catechism to instruct children and families on the Christian faith. It provides a concise summary of Reformed doctrine and is capable of being memorized at any age.
The Westminster Larger Catechism, written alongside the shorter, was designed to supplement and expand upon the contents of the Shorter. It presents a full and balanced summary of the Christian faith and is more suitable for those who have attained some level of spiritual maturity
Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, the Westminster Confession is the most widely adopted reformed confession in the world. It is used for doctrinal standards of presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, and others.
Dort was a council of nine reformed countries convened to repudiate the teachings of Jacob Arminius outlined in the Articles of Remonstrance
Written by 43 dutch reformed pastors after the death of Jacob Arminius in 1609, the articles of remonstrance articulated five points of concern with reformed theology.
Written after Henry VIII broke with the Roman church, the 39 articles created a via media between catholic and protestant doctrine, and would be the standard for the Church of England
Commissioned by Frederick III to unite the faith of his territories, the Heidelberg catechism would quickly become the greatest of the reformed catechisms, and is one of the three forms of unity of the reformed churches in Europe.
Originally written by Heinrich Bullinger as a private exercise, the Second Helvetic Confession was translated into German at the request of Frederick III. It came to be a popular confession among the Swiss reformed churches.
Written by Guido de Brès before his martyrdom, the Belgic confession is the primary confession of the Dutch reformed church, and also one of the Three Forms of Unity.
Written by John Knox, the Scots Confession was the foundational document in the Scottish reformation and presbyterianism
Written by Ulrich Zwingli in 1523 as a defense of his protestant theology, these articles would begin the Swiss Reformation.
Written by Martin Luther in 1517 to address the practice of selling indulgences, the ninety-five thesis presented a critique of the medieval church that kicked off the protestant reformation.
1517
The Protestant Reformation
Written by the followers of John Hus after his execution, the articles outline four reforms wanted by the proto-protestant Bohemian reformers.
Written by Peter Waldo, this confession outlined the faith of the proto-protestant Waldensians, who would later join the reformed churches.
1054
The Great East-West Schism
Convened to address semi-Pelagianism, the second council of Orange emphasized the necessity of grace and the inability of man to seek God without grace
Chalcedon sought to uphold the two natures of Christ without confusion or admixture against the monophysites, the error opposite of Nestorianism
Leo, the bishop of Rome, writes to Flavian, the bishop of Constantinople, in order to give an orthodox explanation of Christ's two natures. This letter was accepted by the Council of Chalcedon as orthodox Christology.
Called in 431 to address the teachings of Nestorius, the Council of Ephesus reaffirmed unity of Christ's two natures, that Christ's person is fully God, and the propriety of calling Mary the mother of God.
Cyril again writes to Nestorius on behalf of a council convened at Alexandria, urging him to repent of his heresy and layout out right doctrine
Cyril, the bishop of Alexandria, admonishes Nestorius for his seperation of the two natures of Christ, and refusing to say Mary is the mother of God.
Jerome proves from the scriptures that presbyters are the same as bishops, and over deacons.
Augustine explains that the Eucharist is the body of Christ, that it is grapsed by faith, and that it is composed of believers
Called by Emporer in 381 to reaffirm the Nicean faith, the first council of Constantinople expanded the Nicean creed's section on the Holy Spirit. This was a local eastern synod that was recognized as ecumenical at Chalcedon in 451.
Called by Emporer Constantine in 325 to address the Arian controversy, the Council of Nicea reaffirmed the divinity of Christ and defined what would become the Nicean Creed.
The Very Foundations of the World