Jacob and Arminianism

INTRODUCTION

Throughout church history, John Calvin has been considered to be one of the greatest reformed theologians the world has ever seen. He is known for his view on God’s election and salvation. Known as Calvin’s challenger throughout all theological history, Jacob Arminius taught a different view of election, commonly coined as Arminianism.

After Calvinism had taken grab of the reformed circles, Arminianism rose consequently after. Jacob Arminius had a hard time dealing with many issues that Calvin had put forward in his argument for God’s grace ad election. He felt that Calvin’s view, later known was the “Five Points of Calvinism” (TULIP) was insufficient in describing the relationship of man, God, and grace in terms of salvation.

To some, Jacob Arminius is considered a heretic. Stern supporters of Calvin will say that Arminianism completely removes God’s sovereignty from the picture. However, to Jacob Arminius’s defense, Arminianism was intended to protect Calvinistic predestination from heretical teaching. However, instead of reforming Calvinism, he is considered to be the chief antagonist of Calvinism in theological history.

ARMINIUS AND PREDESTINATION

Jacob Arminius (the Latin translation of Jakob Hermanszoon) was born after John Calvin had already published his Institutes of the Christian Religion. Many modern thinkers believe that Arminius and Calvin were contemporaneous with each other. However, it is highly doubtful that the two theologians ever met. Arminius was born in the Netherlands, and at a very young age, both his parents died, leaving him an orphan. He attended the Geneva Academy and studied theology. He later accepted a teaching position at the University of Leiden. However, he was soon accused...

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...ment. This research paper has really cleared up a lot of gray areas surrounding the actual Arminian view. It was a great way for me to strengthen my beliefs, as well as an opportunity to gain some knowledge that will allow me to better defend Calvinism from an apologetic point of view.

Works Cited

Bangs, Jeremy. “Arminius and the Reformation.” Church History 30. (1961): 155-170

Harrison, A. W. Arminianism. London, UK: Kemp Hall Press, 1937

Hicks, John. “Arminius on the assurance of salvation: the context, roots, and shape of the Leiden debate, 1603-1609.” Restoration Quarterly 52. (2010): 50-52

Olson, Roger. Arminian Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVaristy Press, 2006.

Pinnock, Clark. The Grace of God, The Will of Man. Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1989.

Williams, Michael. “The Five Points of Arminianism.” Presbyterion 30. (2004): 11-36