Doctrinal rules of Dordrecht

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The doctrinal rules of Dordrecht were drawn up at the Synod of the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands 1618–1619, the so-called Dordrecht Synod . The doctrinal rules are directed against the remonstrants and are (were) therefore also called the Five Articles against the remonstrants .

The Dordrecht Synod was an international synod. This synod was convened by the Assembly of Representatives (Staten-General) of the United Netherlands to express its views on the views of the protestors. The remonstrants were unanimously condemned at the synod. According to the Synod, their teaching is not in accordance with the Bible . The sentence is recorded in writing in the doctrinal rules .

The teaching rules are made up of five chapters. The chapters deal with the following topics:

  • Chapter 1: On Divine Choice and Damnation.
  • Chapter 2: On the death of Christ and the redemption of people through that death.
  • Chapter 3/4: On the corruption of men and the conversion to God and the way of it.
  • Chapter 5: On the Perseverance of the Saints.

In the doctrinal rules of Dordrecht, the Reformed faith is first positively stated. Each interpretation is followed by a summary of the errors rejected by the Synod. Simplified, the statement of the Dordrecht teaching rules looks like this:

  • The total depravity of every human being.
  • God the Father chooses whom he redeems and whom he does not.
  • God the Son (Christ) is the Redeemer of his children, but not of other people.
  • God the Holy Spirit will surely redeem the elect .
  • The children of God can be assured (by faith) of their salvation.

In the English-speaking world, these five points are known as the Five points of calvinism .

The Dordrecht doctrinal rules also place value on God having the gospel preached so that people may be redeemed from sin and the punishment of sin. Article 5 of the second part (chapter) says:

“Further, the promise of the gospel is that everyone who believes in Christ crucified will not perish but have eternal life; This promise must be preached and introduced to all peoples and people to whom God is pleased to send the Gospel, without distinction, with the command to convert and believe. "

The doctrinal rules of Dordrecht are part of the creed of the reformed churches. Among the Reformed churches, the Orthodox hold on to it to this day, while in the rest of them, a shift from the double doctrine of predestination in its strict dogmatic implementation can be observed.

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