Revised Standards Online
Updated versions of the three confessional standards of the Christian Reformed Church in North America have been posted for review by those interested in and wanting to speak to minor changes proposed by Synod 2010 to the articles of faith.
The changes, to be included in a new bi-denominational hymnal, are for the most part miniscule. But sentences have been revised for the sake of clarification.
As part of the planning for the hymnal, it was noted that the Reformed Church in America and the CRC have differing versions of the Reformed Standards—the Belgic Confession, Canons of Dort, and Heidelberg Catechism.
As a result, a committee was established to create a common translation, a proposed version of which was brought before Synod 2010 this summer.
Upon review of the proposed translations, Synod 2010 mandated the committee to distribute an updated document that reflects the suggested changes of synod to the churches by July 1, 2010, for response and comment in order to prepare a final report and recommendations to Synod 2011.
The revision committee was comprised of Lyle Bierma, Calvin Theological Seminary; Todd Billings, Western Theological Seminary; Eugene Heideman, retired RCA theologian and denominational leader; and Leonard Vander Zee, editor-in-chief, Faith Alive.
The Belgic Confession
The Belgic Confession is the oldest of the doctrinal standards of the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America. The confession’s chief author was Guido de Brès, a preacher of the Reformed churches of the Netherlands, who died a martyr to the faith in the year 1567. During the 16th century, the churches in his country were exposed to terrible persecution by the Roman Catholic government. To protest against this cruel oppression, and to prove to the persecutors that the adherents of the Reformed faith were not rebels but law-abiding citizens who professed the true Christian doctrine according to the Holy Scriptures, de Brès prepared this confession in the year 1561.
Here is an example of the original version and then the one with minor changes (published here in italics), made to Article 3 of the Belgic Confession:
Original:
Article 3: The Written Word of God
We confess that this Word of God
was not sent nor delivered by the will of men,
but that holy men of God spoke,
being moved by the Holy Spirit,
as Peter says.
Afterwards our God—
because of the special care he has
for us and our salvation—
commanded his servants,
the prophets and apostles,
to commit this revealed Word to writing.
He himself wrote
with his own finger
the two tables of the law.
Therefore we call such writings
holy and divine Scriptures.
Amended:
Article 3: The Written Word of God
We confess that this Word of God
was not sent nor delivered “by human will,”
but that “men and women moved by the Holy Spirit,
spoke from God,”
as Peter says.
Afterward our God—
with special care
for us and our salvation—
commanded his servants, the prophets and apostles,
to commit this revealed Word to writing.
The two tables of the law were written
with God’s own finger.
Therefore we call such writings
holy and divine Scriptures.
Canons of Dort
The Canons of Dort consist of statements of doctrine adopted by the great Synod of Dort, which met in the city of Dordrecht in 1618-19. The Synod of Dort was held in order to settle a serious controversy in the Dutch churches initiated by the rise of Arminianism, which questioned the teaching of John Calvin and his followers on a number of important points.
Under the heading “The Third and Fourth Main Points of Doctrine: Human Corruption, Conversion to God, and the Way It Occurs.”
Original:
Article 1: The Effect of the Fall on Human Nature
Man was originally created in the image of God and was furnished in his mind with a true and salutary knowledge of his Creator and things spiritual, in his will and heart with righteousness, and in all his emotions with purity; indeed, the whole man was holy. However, rebelling against God at the devil’s instigation and by his own free will, he deprived himself of these outstanding gifts. Rather, in their place he brought upon himself blindness, terrible darkness, futility, and distortion of judgment in his mind; perversity, defiance, and hardness in his heart and will; and finally impurity in all his emotions.
Amended:
Article 1: The Effect of the Fall on Human Nature
Human beings were originally created in the image of God and were furnished in mind with a true and sound knowledge of the Creator and things spiritual, in will and heart with righteousness, and in all emotions with purity; indeed, the whole human being was holy. However, rebelling against God at the devil’s instigation and by their own free will, they deprived themselves of these outstanding gifts. Rather, in their place brought upon themselves blindness, terrible darkness, futility, and distortion of judgment in their minds; perversity, defiance, and hardness in their hearts andwills; and finally impurity in all their emotions.
The Heidelberg Catechism
The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) was composed in the city of Heidelberg, Germany. The new catechism was intended as a tool for teaching young people, a guide for preaching in the provincial churches, and a form of confessional unity among the several Protestant factions. The Synod of Dort approved the Heidelberg Catechism in 1619, and it soon became the most ecumenical of the Reformed catechisms and confessions. It has been translated into many European, Asian, and African languages and is still the most widely used and warmly praised catechism of the Reformation period.
Here is an example from Q&A 21 of the Heidelberg Confession:
Original:
Q. What is true faith?
A. True faith is
not only a knowledge and conviction
that everything God reveals in his Word is true;
it is also a deep-rooted assurance,
created in me by the Holy Spirit through the gospel,
that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ,
not only others, but I too,
have had my sins forgiven,
have been made forever right with God,
and have been granted salvation.
Amended:
Q&A 21
Q. What is true faith?
A. True faith is
not only a sure knowledge by which I hold as true
all that God has revealed to us in Scripture;
it is also a wholehearted trust,
which the Holy Spirit creates in me by the gospel,
that, not only to others but to me also,
God has freely granted forgiveness of sins,
eternal righteousness,
and salvation,
out of sheer grace,
solely because of Christ’s merit.
Resources Available
The “Proposed Translation of the Three Reformed Standards (July 2010)” version can be downloaded from the "Reports" section of the Synodical Resources page.
CRC councils and pastors are asked to consider these proposed translations over the coming months and to share the document with members of their congregation, encouraging conversation and response. Respond with your feedback by October 1, 2010, to:
Kyle Thompson
Faith Alive Christian Resources
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49560
Email: [email protected]
The Committee to Propose a Combined RCA/CRC Translation of the Three Reformed Standards will meet in October 2010 to consider all responses submitted by the churches and prepare the final version and recommendations for Synod 2011.
The final translations will be sent to the churches by November 1, 2010, and printed in the Agenda for Synod 2011.
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