Linked Together: Historical Christians You Should Know

More suggested weekend reading. (Updated October 27.)

A Few Reformers
To get you ready for Reformation Day (October 31), the Ligonier Blog is running a short series of biographical sketches of the men behind the Reformation. 

• Fortress for Truth: Martin Luther: “He was the pioneer Reformer, the one God first used to spark a transformation of Christianity and the Western world. He was the undisputed leader of the German Reformation. In a day of ecclesiastical corruptions and apostasies, he was a valiant champion of the truth; his powerful preaching and pen helped to restore the pure gospel.
• Zurich Revolutionary: Ulrich Zwingli: “A first-generation Reformer, he is regarded as the founder of Swiss Protestantism. Furthermore, history remembers him as the first Reformed theologian. Though Calvin would later surpass Zwingli as a theologian, he would stand squarely on Zwingli’s broad shoulders.”
• Prince of Translators: William Tyndale: “William Tyndale … made an enormous contribution to the Reformation in England. Many would say that he made the contribution by translating the Bible into English and overseeing its publication.  … Because of his powerful use of the English language in his Bible, this Reformer has been called “the father of modern English” … .
• Covenant Theologian: Heinrich Bullinger: “As the heir to Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich, Switzerland, he consolidated and continued the Swiss Reformation that his predecessor had started… . During his forty-four years as the chief minister in Zurich, Bullinger’s literary output exceeded that of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Zwingli combined. He was of monumental importance in the spread of Reformed teaching throughout the Reformation.”
• Added October 27: Theologian for the Ages: John Calvin: “A world-class theologian, a renowned teacher, an ecclesiastical statesman, and a valiant Reformer, Calvin is seen by many as the greatest influence on the church since the first century. Apart from the biblical authors themselves, Calvin stands as the most influential minister of the Word the world has ever seen.”

Two Preachers
Meanwhile, at Out of the Ordinary, from two of my sister contributors:

• Why I Love the Doctor: “[Martyn] Lloyd-Jones, a Welshman, began his career as a medical doctor, but after a couple of years, felt himself called to ministry. After ten years with a church in Wales, in 1939, he went to Westminster Chapel in London, where he served alongside G. Campbell Morgan, and eventually became the sole minister there. He is recognized as one of the 20th century’s greatest preachers. That was what he was above all, a preacher.”
• Why I Love Spurgeon: “I truly believe God used this long-dead Baptist preacher to keep me from throwing in the towel and abandoning the faith. My weak and rather unbiblical understanding would never have stood the test, but He was faithful to give me a bigger glimpse of Himself in His power, His love, and His sovereignty. So I thank God for His faithful servants down through the ages, and I especially thank Him for Charles Spurgeon.”

Thankful Thursday

 

It’s Thursday again, and time to list a few things I’ve been thankful for lately.

• soup. It’s soup season, and I’ve been doing my share of soup making. I’ve enjoyed and been thankful for every bowl I’ve eaten.

• the cold and sinus infection I’ve had this fall is finally on its way out. Hooray and thank you for that.

• long late fall walks in the woods with the big dog, and short late fall walks in the woods with the grandchildren.

• ambrosia apples. 

• winter coats and fleece throws.

• God’s sovereignty over national and world affairs. He will bring about his purposes in everything and there is comfort in that. 

Also thankful today:

• Kim Shay
• Jessica

What are you thankful for? Leave a comment with your thanksgiving, post your thanksgiving on your blog, or tweet it. Give me the link by email or in a comment and I’ll add your thanksgiving to the list in the post.

Theological Term of the Week

Systematic Theology
The theological discipline that seeks to summarize what the whole Bible teaches us on any particular subject.

• From Biblical versus Systematic Theology? by Donald Macleod:

The premise of Systematic Theology …  is the unity of Scripture: what the Westminster Confession (1:5) calls ‘the consent of all the parts’. This in turn rests on the premise that all Scripture was breathed out by God, and while he may breathe out variety he will not breathe out contradiction. Precisely because Scripture in its entirety is the word of God it is the revelation of one saving will and of one plan of salvation. Systematic Theology assumes this unity, takes the whole of divine revelation as its field, and seeks to collate all that God has told us so far, striving towards the point where it can say to the church, ‘This is the whole counsel of God. This is what you are to preach.’ 

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