Theological Term of the Week

semper reformanda
Latin for “always being reformed,” short for ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda (“the church reformed and always being reformed”), a slogan associated with the Protestant Reformation.

• From scripture:

… Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27 ESV)

• From Reformanda (A. Craig Troxel):

When a Reformed Christian says semper reformanda, we understand that a higher authority, the Lord, is changing us. In the back of our mind is another Reformed principle called, sola Scriptura, “Scripture alone.” This principle commits us to God’s revelation in Scripture as authoritative and sufficient for the Christian in faith and life. We believe that the reforming in our lives is driven by Scripture’s agenda, not ours. We are subservient to the Lordship of our Sovereign king. We are in the passive role, sitting under the authority of God’s Word. The ecclesia reformata et semper reformanda is “the reformed church” that is “always being reformed” by the Word of God.

Learn more:

1. Michael Horton: Semper Reformanda
2. A. Craig Troxel: Reformanda
3. John MacArthur: Semper Reformanda

Related terms:

• sola scriptura

Filed under Ecclesiology

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