Charles Johnson

Reformed Sermon Collections

I suspect that our sermons could be greatly improved if we read more of the best preachers of the past and took notes on how they handled the word. To that end, as well as edification, I have put together this list of preachers and sermons. The vast majority are Reformed, but some Church Fathers…More

Church Fathers on Divine Simplicity

Athenagoras of Athens, A Plea for the Christians, ch. 8: “As regards, then, the doctrine that there was from the beginning one God, the Maker of this universe, consider it in this wise, that you may be acquainted with the argumentative grounds also of our faith. If there were from the beginning two or more…More

What theory of the atonement did Thomas teach?

Given that penal substitutionary atonement is sometimes thought of as a Protestant doctrine (although Protestants of the past have not necessarily viewed the matter this way; Rev. William Symington called it ‘the catholic view’), [1] it is interesting to note that Thomas, considered by many to be the great doctor of the Roman Catholic Church,…More

Predestination: an act of the intellect, the will, or both?

Many have noted in recent years that some similarities exist between Thomas and the Dominicans on the one hand, and the Reformed on the other, on the matter of predestination. Now, without denying that point, it is interesting to note that they differed in whether predestination consists in an act of the divine intellect, or…More

Athanasius on Penal Substitutionary Atonement

It is a common claim among Eastern Orthodox apologists that the Greek Fathers do not teach penal substitutionary atonement, which is decried as “western” or “protestant.” However, when one reads Athanasius, his repeat use of penal substitutionary language is clear. Christ bore our punishment, in our place. For example, in “On Luke 10:22 (illud omnia),”…More

John Davenant on False Worship

From John Davenant, An Exposition of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians, vol. 1, translated by Josiah Allport (London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co., 1831), p. 529 – 539. Col. 2:23, “Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will-worship and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the…More

Rutherford: Slavery and subjection to kings are not by nature

From Samuel Rutherford, Lex Rex, p. 89-95 QUEST. XIII. Whether or not royal dignity has its spring from nature, and how that is true (every man is born free) and how servitude is contrary to nature? I conceive it to be evident that royal dignity is not immediately, and without the intervention of the people’s…More

One thesis of Junius, twelve translation errors

A number of my friends have shared a recent attempt at translating Junius’s theological theses on facebook, with a fair amount of excitement. And certainly, if these essential writings of this great doctor of the Church had suddenly become accessible to me, I would react the same way. Unfortunately, the translation is rife with errors, some…More

A Reformed Reading List

About this list Sometimes I am asked to recommend books. And so, I have decided to put together this list of books to help the enterprising theological student get a good idea of where to start. The list is still incomplete, since I have not added any work on many topics. Moreover, my reading is…More

Can something else be substituted for the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper in case of necessity? Polanus’s opinion

Polanus, Syntagma, vol. 2, p. 3213Q. If the Churches are gathered in those regions of the globe, and in those places, where not even a drop of wine is found, and cannot be obtained, then, should the communion of the Lord’s table be done away with? Or is it lawful for believers to use simple…More