Reception of Calvin in Reformed Orthodoxy

Until recently, the most influential thesis regarding the relationship between Calvin and his successors has been the so-called ‘Calvin against the Calvinists’ approach. According to this thesis, Calvin’s allegedly pristine Reformed theology was fundamentally perverted by his successors.

A more recent reassessment of the development of Reformed theology not only relativises Calvin’s status within the Reformed tradition, but also demonstrates both the exegetical, methodological, and theological complexity of the Reformed tradition to which Calvin belongs, and the substantial continuities in these areas between Reformation and post-Reformation Reformed dogmatics.

Nevertheless, the new approach still acknowledges Calvin as one of the most internationally influential Reformed theologians of his generation, and one of a small number of second-generation Reformed leaders whose theology exerted widespread influence on later generations, particularly through his impact upon the educational institution, the Genevan Academy. The Academy was one of the most important international theological training centres of its time.

To celebrate the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth, distinguished scholars will discuss and evaluate the reception of Calvin and his theology in Reformed Orthodoxy by focusing on several influential persons and events from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.

Programme
Thursday, June 4, 2009
10:30 – 11:00 Registration
11:00 – 11:05 Opening of the conference by Willem J. van Asselt
Session 1
11:05 – 12:05 The Reception of Calvin and his Theology in Reformed Orthodoxy. An introduction
Carl R. Trueman: Historical perspective
Antonie Vos: Systematic perspective
12:05 – 14:00 Lunch
Session 2
14:00 – 15:00 The Reception of Calvin in Early Reformed Orthodoxy
Luca Baschera: Pietro Martire Vermigli (1499-1562)
Dolf te Velde: Girolamo Zanchi (1516-1590)
15:00 – 15:30 Coffeebreak
Session 3
15:30 – 17:00 The Reception of Calvin surrounding the Synod of Dordrecht (1618-1619)
William den Boer: Jacob Arminius (1559-1609)
Donald W. Sinnema: The Synod of Dordrecht (1618-1619)
Michael D. Bell: Johannes Maccovius (1599-1644)
17:00 – 17:30 Coffeebreak
17:30 - 18:00 Presentation of a new project (William den Boer)
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner
Session 4
20:00 – 21:30 The Reception of Calvin after the Synod of Dordt (1618-1619) I
Andreas J. Beck: Gisbertus Voetius (1589-1676)
Willem J. van Asselt: Johannes Coccejus (1603-1669)
Adriaan Neele: Petrus van Mastricht (1630-1706)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Session 5
09:00 – 10:30 The Reception of Calvin after the Synod of Dordt (1618-1619) II
Aza Goudriaan: Ulrik Huber (1636-1694) and the Franeker Debate (1686-1687) on Human Reason and the Bible
Frank van der Pol: The profile and use of John Calvin in treatises of Simon Oomius (1630-1706)
Peter Hoek: Melchior Leydecker (1642–1721)
10:30 – 11:00 Coffeebreak
Session 6
11:00 – 12:30 The Reception of Calvin in France, (New-)England and The Netherlands
Albert Gootjes: Saumur (Claude Pajon, 1626-1685)
Gert van den Brink: Herman Witsius (1636-1708) and the English Antinomian Conflict
Kenneth D. Minkema Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 17:30 Visiting the Calvin Exposition at the Grote Kerk, Dordrecht
Town walk through Dordrecht
17:30 – 19:30 Dinner
Session 7
19:30 – 21:00 The Reception and Development of Calvin in Reformed Orthodoxy. Conclusions and Discussion
Richard A. Muller: Calvin (un)accommodated in Reformed Orthodoxy? Review and Conclusions
21:00 Closing of the Conference
Location, Fees and Organization
The conference will take place at:
‘t Hof (Groene zaal)
Hof 12
3311 XG Dordrecht,
The Netherlands
Phone: + 31 (0)78 613 4626
The fee for the conference is € 125, for students € 100, drinks, lunches, dinners and visit to the Calvin exposition included. Charges must be paid in cash during registration.
Participants need to make their own hotel reservations, for instance, on line with the Dordrecht Tourist Agency site: www.vvvdordrecht.nl/engels, or at www.hotels.nl/dordrecht
If you want to attend the conference, please send your request to:
Dr. William den Boer
Instituut voor Reformatieonderzoek, Theologische Universiteit Apeldoorn
Wilhelminapark 4
7316 BT Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)55 577 5700
Email: wadenboer@tua.nl
The conference is organized by:
Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI, USA (Richard A. Muller)
Institute for Reformation research, Theological University Apeldoorn, The Netherlands (William den Boer)
Institute of Post-Reformation Studies of the Evangelical Theological Faculty, Leuven, Belgium (Andreas J. Beck)
Research-group Classic Reformed Theology, Utrecht University , The Netherlands (Willem J. van Asselt)

Relevant websites:
www.calvijn2009.nl
www.calvinseminary.edu
www.etf.edu
www.instituutreformatieonderzoek.nl