Dordrecht synod , Dort synod is the ecumenical synod of the Reformed Church , convened at the initiative of the General States of the Netherlands in connection with the rise of the Arminian movement and held in the city of Dordrecht in 1618 - 1619 .
The synod was attended by English, German and Swiss theologians. Pastor Jan Bogerman was elected chairman of the synod. The vast majority of delegates were opposed to the Arminians, so their fate was already a foregone conclusion. The synod confirmed the Heidelberg catechism , rejected the critical remarks put forward by Jacob Arminius and his supporters on church doctrine, and formulated a brief summary of the theology of Calvinism (“The Canons of the Dordrecht Synod”) in the form of five theses that have been used by many Reformed churches to date.
Decisions of the Synod
- Complete human sinfulness. Man is infinitely sinful and cannot save himself;
- Unconditional election. God does not choose a person for any merit, but according to His sovereign will, and selects those whom He himself wants;
- Limited atonement. Christ died for specific chosen people, and not for all mankind;
- Irresistible grace. That is, if God calls, then man will inevitably become a believer. God's grace is stronger than any human endeavor;
- Fortitude of the saints. Once called, they can no longer fall from the Lord, because He becomes their life.
Literature
- Robert E. Pikirilli. Calvinism, Arminianism, and the theology of salvation. - St. Petersburg: The Bible for All, 2002. - 291 p. - ISBN 5745405678 .
- Philip Schaff. History of the Christian Church. - St. Petersburg: The Bible for All, 2009. - T. 7. - 463 p. - ISBN 9785745411892 .