Colloquii

John Davenant's Hypothetical Universalism

Michael Lynch argues that the hypothetical universalism of the English theologian and bishop John Davenant (1572-1641) has consistently been misinterpreted and misrepresented as a via media between Arminian and Reformed theology. This book examines Davenant's hypothetical universalism in the context of early modern Reformed orthodoxy. It traces how Davenant and his fellow British delegates at the Synod of Dordt shaped the Canons of Dordt in such a way as to allow for their English hypothetical universalism. A careful exposition of the theses found in Davenant's De Morte Christi makes up the central core of this study.

The Regensburg Article 5 on Justification

The question of the justification of sinners is one of the most complex regions of Christian theology. The Regensburg article on justification proposed a solution that it was hoped would be acceptable to both sides, Protestant and Catholic. In 1541 at the Regensburg Colloquy, three leading Protestant theologians (Melanchthon, Bucer, and Pistorius) and three leading Catholic theologians (Eck, Gropper, and Pflug) debated with the aim of producing a commonly agreed statement of belief. The colloquy as a whole eventually failed, but it began with a statement on justification by faith agreed by all the parties, Article 5", leading to an initial burst of optimism. There were two contrasting reactions to Article 5. Some, like Calvin, maintained that it contained the substance of true doctrine; others, like Luther, called it an inconsistent patchwork. These two rival assessments have persisted over the centuries. The aim of this book is to decide between them. It does so by viewing the article in the light of the publications of the key participants and observers, as well as by comparing it with the Tridentine Catholic Decree on Justification. Anthony Lane puts the Regensburg article under the microscope, offering both a wide-ranging study of the article's history and a line-by-line analysis of its content, presenting the original Latin text together with an English translation and running commentary.

Schediasma de colloquiis religiosis publice et privatim intra bina haec saecula habitis, eorumque utilitate egregia etc