Presenting the Friday Files, SEA’s regular look though our archives, ’cause we have a lot of cool things in there. And now we’re gonna do it a little differently: Topically.
Starting with Jacob Harmenszoon, “Jacobus/James Arminius” himself. You wanna learn about the person who reminded the Dutch church how God’s sovereignty has to come second to his love? We got articles.
SEA members’ names are in blue, and just to remind you—the views expressed in these articles aren’t always those of SEA. But they often are.
THE BIOGRAPHIES.
- B.P. Burnett, “Life of Jacobus Arminius, 1559-1609.” [SEA, 3 July 2013.] A brief biography.
- Roy Ingle, “The Life of James Arminius.” [SEA, 24 June 2015.] A brief biography as part two of Ingle’s introduction to Reformed Arminianism tells us about the man himself.
- W.R.B., “A Sketch of the Life of James Arminius.” [Wesley Center Online, via Wayback Machine.] Borrowed from James and William Nichols’s translation of The Works of James Arminius: The London Edition.
- Caspar Brandt, The Life of James Arminius, D.D., translated by John Guthrie, 1854. [Google Books.] Don’t want a brief biography, but a big ol’ 325-page book? Here you go.
- William Birch, “Forthcoming Book on Jacob Arminius.” [SEA, 1 June 2015.] Well, not forthcoming; it’s in print. It also includes a list of other books about Arminius which you might find useful:
- Aza Goudriaan, Fred Lieburg, editors, Revisiting the Synod of Dort (1618–1619).
- W. Stephen Gunter, Arminius and His Declaration of Sentiments: An Annotated Translation with Introduction and Theological Commentary.
- Th. Marius van Leeuwwen, Keith D. Stranglin, Marijke Tolsma, editors, Arminius, Arminianism, and Europe.
- Clark H. Pinnock and John D. Wagner, editors, Grace for All: The Arminian Dynamics of Salvation.
- Keith D. Stanglin, Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace.
- Keith D. Stanglin, Arminius on the Assurance of Salvation: The Context, Roots, and Shape of the Leiden Debate, 1603–1609.
- Keith D. Stanglin, Mark G. Bilby, Mark H. Mann, editors, Reconsidering Arminius: Beyond the Reformed and Wesleyan Divide.
- John D. Wagner, editor, Arminius Speaks: Essential Writings on Predestination, Free Will, and the Nature of God.
- Arminius’s children, “The Impact Arminius Left on His Nine Orphan Children.” [SEA, 30 Mar. 2013, PDF.] How his own kids thought of him. (Spoiler: Highly.)
THE ASSESSMENTS.
- William Birch, “Arminius 400: The Legacy of Jacob Arminius.” [SEA, 19 Oct. 2009.] How his successors, historians, and Calvinists view and respect the man.
- Roy Ingle, “Arminius: The Reformer.” [SEA, 5 Jan. 2009.] Other lists of the early Reformers tend to skip Arminius, but he’s more than merely an agitator against Calvinism. He expanded Christian theology in three ways… and yeah, now you gotta read the article.
- William Birch, “The Controversial Jacobus Arminius.” [SEA, 13 July 2009.] Controversial? Sure; even in his day. Supralapsarians weren’t fans.
- Gerald O. McCulloh, “The Influence of Arminius on American Theology.” [SEA, 29 July 2010.] The Calvinist idea of total inability doesn’t really jibe with the American ethos of self-determination.
- Dan Chapa, “Arminius’ Impact on Calvinism.” [SEA, 3 Aug. 2010.] At least we all agree God’s not the author of sin.
- Charles M. Cameron, “Arminius―Hero or Heretic?” [Evangelical Quarterly 64:3 (1992), PDF.] Since people largely don’t know about the man, Arminians are startled to discover how “Calvinist” he was, and Calvinists are startled to discover he’s no heretic.
Want even more to read? Check out everything we’ve tagged “Arminius.” (And while you’re at it, check out all the images we have of him—but notice how few of them there actually are, so we gotta reuse ’em as best we can.
