Confessing the Faith Today: A Fresh Look at the Belgic Confession
Ebook
With the understanding that confession is a witness to the gospel, Confessing the Faith Today investigates how a sixteenth-century Reformation confession, the Belgic Confession, can assist contemporary Christians testify to the truth of Gods gracious turn toward creation and do so in the context of the twenty-first century's competing claims. A close examination of the internal coherence of the Belgic Confession, along with an exploration of how that confession might engage contemporary life, offers fresh insight into how Christians might articulate what is at stake in the gospel. Janssen encourages the church to enter a conversation with the forebears of the faith, acknowledging the historical nature of not only the confession but of God's involvement in all creation.
"This fresh and lively reading of the Belgic Confession is
doubly welcome. First, although the Belgic Confession is one of the
great national confessions of the sixteenth century, very few
commentaries on it have appeared over the past century. And second,
Janssen not only explains the text of the Belgic Confession in its
original context, but, more importantly, shows how it can still be
confessed in our context today. On both counts he succeeds
admirably."
--Lyle D. Bierma, P. J. Zondervan Professor of the History of
Christianity, Calvin Theological Seminary
"Janssen carefully follows the contours of this time-tested
confessional treasure, from the way we know God generally through
creation, to a particular and special knowledge of God through the
one true son of God, Jesus Christ. But he doesn't end there because
the Church of Jesus Christ doesn't end there. As reformed believers
we play a role in our larger culture and Jannsen helps us see this!
I will make this 'must-reading' for my students!"
--Timothy Brown, President and Henry Bast Professor of Preaching,
Western Theological Seminary
Product Details
- Title : Confessing the Faith Today: A Fresh Look at the Belgic Confession
- Author: Janssen, Allan
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Publication Date: 2016
- ISBN: 9781498286251
Allan J. Janssen, retired from the pastoral ministry in the Reformed Church in America, is an affiliate professor at New Brunswick Theological Seminary and a General Synod Professor of the Reformed Church in America. He is the author of several books, including Kingdom, Office and Church (2006).