Opuscula Selecta » Events

Colloquium: Pierre de la Place and Early Reformed Ethics

Jordan Ballor — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 16:41:09 +0000

Dr. Andrew M. McGinnis, a Junius Institute research fellow, will be presenting in an upcoming colloquium hosted by Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.

The title of Dr. McGinnis’ talk is, “The Christian Use of Moral Philosophy in Pierre de la Place and Early Reformed Ethics,” and the event will be held at the Boardroom at PRTS on March 17, 2020, from 3:30-4:30pm.

The presentation is related to Dr. McGinnis’ work on Reformed ethics in the post-Reformation period, including his work as a general editor of the Sources in Early Modern Economics, Ethics, and Law (Second Series). A translation of de la Place’s Du droict usage de la philosophie morale (Paris: Frederic Morel, 1562), or On the Proper Use of Moral Philosophy with Christian Teaching, is forthcoming in that series, which also includes volumes on Niels Hemmingsen on natural law and Martin Becanus on fiduciary contractual and promissory duties in the context of confessional conflict.

Pierre de la Place (ca. 1520–1572) was a Huguenot noble and martyr of the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre.

Colloquium: “The Thirty-Nine Articles and the Preservation of Reformed Orthodoxy in the Post-Restoration Church of England”

Jordan Ballor — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 14:27:15 +0000

Our colloquium series has been on hiatus recently, and will no doubt be more occasional in the future. But even so, we’re happy to announce an upcoming colloquium here in Grand Rapids at Calvin Theological Seminary.

Jake Griesel, a doctoral candidate in historical theology at Peterhouse, Cambridge, will be joining us to discuss, “The Thirty-Nine Articles and the Preservation of Reformed Orthodoxy in the Post-Restoration Church of England”

Here’s a description of the talk:

The theological landscape of the post-Restoration Church of England has long been depicted in the conventional historiography as having been marked by a near total collapse of Reformed orthodoxy and the steady dominance of ‘Arminianism’. In his Anti-Arminians (2008), Stephen Hampton strongly challenged this narrative by demonstrating that Reformed orthodoxy retained a strong mainstream presence within the Church of England between the Restoration (1660) and the Hanoverian Succession (1714). Building on Hampton’s work, this paper will consider how the Church of England’s Thirty-nine Articles, along with her Homilies and the broader witness of the English Reformation, functioned polemically as post-Restoration Reformed conformists endeavoured to preserve Reformed orthodoxy as the official orthodoxy of the established Church.

The colloquium will take place at Calvin Theological Seminary, Room 141, from 3:30pm to 5:00pm on Friday, June 14. Join us!

Synopsis Purioris Theologiae Colloquium March 31-April 1

Todd Rester — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 15:57:06 +0000

I also want to take an opportunity to give you more details about the special colloquium on Thursday, March 31-Friday April 1 on the Synopsis Purioris Theologiae as we have quite an array of scholars. You won’t want to miss that. Your support is helping to make this event possible. Also, if you do plan on coming to the Synopsis Purioris Colloquium, we do ask that you REGISTER ONLINE (for free) so that we can be certain we have enough seating and space for everyone. If you need to stay locally, we recommend the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College.

The Leiden Synopsis Purioris Theologiae (1625) and
Theological Disputation in the Era of Orthodoxy

Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Chapel
2965 Leonard Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
March 31-April 1, 2016

Thursday, March 31

6:30pm Plenary 1

Keith Stanglin, “How Much Purer Is the Synopsis Purioris Theologiae? A Comparison of Leiden Theology before and after Dordt”

Friday, April 1

9:00am Panel 1

Donald Sinnema, “The First Edition of William Ames’s Medulla (1623) as a Disputation Cycle: A Precursor to the Synopsis”
Raymond Blacketer, “The Sabbath in the Synopsis”
Mark Beach, “No Longer Totally Depraved: Free Choice in the Regenerate according to the Synopsis Purioris Theologiae”

10:30 Break

11:00am Plenary 2

Riemer Faber, “Presiders, Respondents, and the Question of the Authorship of the Disputations”

12:30 Lunch Break

2:00 Panel 2

Martin Klauber, “Pierre du Moulin: Disputation and Debate over Universal Grace at the Academy of Sedan”
Michael Lynch, “Antonius Walaeus and De Baptismo: A Case Study in the Reception History of the Leiden Synopsis”
Todd Rester, “From the Synopsis Purioris to Marckius and De Moor: A Trajectory of Doctrine, Pedagogy, and Institutional Continuity”

3:30 Plenary 3

Dolf te Velde, “Synopsis Purioris Theologiae: Profile of a Reformed Theology”

About our Speakers:

Plenary Speakers
- Dr. Riemer Faber is an associate professor of Director of the Waterloo Institute for Hellenistic Studies at the University of Waterloo. He is also one of the editors and is the lead translator of the Synopsis Purioris Theologiae published with Brill.
- Dr. Keith Stanglin is an associate professor at the Austin Graduate School of Theology and has published extensively on the writings and thought of Jacobus Arminius.
- Dr. Dolf te Velde is assistant professor of Systematic Theology at Theological University Kampen, an assistant professor of Historical Theology at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit Leuven, and is also one of the lead editors of the Synopsis Purioris Theologiae published with Brill.
Panel Speakers
- Dr. J. Mark Beach is the professor of Ministerial and Doctrinal Studies as well as the Dean of Students at Mid-America Reformed Seminary
- Dr. Raymond Blacketer is the lead pastor at First Cutlerville CRC
- Dr. Martin Klauber is a professor of church history at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
- Mr. Michael Lynch is a doctoral candidate in Historical Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary
- Mr. Todd Rester is a doctoral candidate in Historical Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary (defending May 2016). He is the lead translator of Petrus van Mastricht’s Theoretico-Practica Theologia for the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. He is also the Director of the Junius Institute
- Dr. Donald Sinnema is a professor of theology (emeritus) at Trinity Christian College. He is also a general editor, with Christian Moser and Herman J. Selderhuis, Acta et Documenta Synodi Nationalis Dordrechtanae that is being published with Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht (vol 1, 2015; eight volumes to follow).

JI Spring Colloquium Schedule

Todd Rester — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 15:56:26 +0000

This Spring we have an exciting array of scholars that are scheduled to speak in a variety of venues. We hope you will be able to join us either in person or online. Also, I wanted to take a moment to remind you and encourage you to consider a few things. Through our Colloquium series, since August 2015, we have had opportunity in person and online to present to about 2,500 attendees and viewers globally. That is simultaneously encouraging and daunting. It is tremendously encouraging because, as you may or may not know, the Junius Institute is fueled and funded overwhelmingly and primarily by the ardor, love, and zeal of its volunteers. These selfless volunteers have devoted their gifts, time, and effort to make this possible for the public good of a global audience of students, scholars, pastors, and the interested general public. It is daunting because as our reach has grown, our support has not kept pace. We are asking for your timely assistance. Please donate either by a one time gift or regularly. Your support builds people. Your support builds students, scholars, and pastors, globally. Your support makes the colloquium series into a rich conversation with scholars globally and helps academies, seminaries, and even churches. Your gift of whatever size helps us defray travel costs, meals, lodging, multimedia presentations, and so forth. It also reaches people. It keeps our projects and presentations free. That’s right, free to the public. So if you can give, please do, it helps scholars travel, eat, sleep, and speak. It helps students learn and scholars as well as pastors reflect. We also delight in providing a platform for students, new scholars, and established scholars to speak. I have the pleasure of receiving notes and e-mails from you–our viewers–from time to time thanking us for the content and the conversation. Your encouragement both in word and gift is necessary: it helps us keep going in so many ways.

Without any more adieu it is my pleasure to let you know about the colloquium schedule for the remainder of the Spring. The links below are to our presentations that have either already occurred or soon will.

I look forward to seeing you either here in Grand Rapids or online, and thank you for your support,

Todd Rester, Director

Junius Institute Colloquium
Spring 2016 Schedule

When: Friday, February 5, 3:00pm
Presenter: Rhys Bezzant
Topic: The Surprising Mentoring Ministry of Edwards: Learning the Art of Leadership Development
Location: Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Room 118a

When: Friday, March 11, 3:00pm
Presenter: Jonathon Beeke
Topic: John Calvin on the Twofold Kingdom of Christ
Location: Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Room 118a

When: Thursday, March 31–Friday, April 1
Presenters: Riemer Faber, Dolf te Velde, Keith Stanglin, Raymond Blacketer, Donald Sinnema, Martin Klauber, Michael Lynch, Todd Rester, Mark Beach
Topic: The Leiden Synopsis Purioris Theologiae (1625) and Theological Disputation in the Era of Orthodoxy (see next post for live streaming links)
Location: Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Chapel

When: Friday, May 13, 3:00pm
Presenter: Jeff Fisher
Topic: Johannes Oecolampadius and the Christoscopic Reading of Scripture
Location: Kuyper College, West Dining Hall

Live link for Today’s Colloquium Updated

Todd Rester — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 16:57:23 +0000

The live link for our colloquium today has been updated. Please click on the link below.

When: Friday, October 9, 3:30pm
Presenter: Michael Lynch
Topic: “Covenant Theology and Hypothetical Universalism? A Look at John Davenant’s Federal Theology”
Location: Auditorium, Calvin Theological Seminary

UPDATE 10/17/2015 – We were able to record audio/video of this presentation despite streaming complications at our presentation venue. Currently the video is in post-processing and we hope to have it up soon.

Junius Institute Colloquium Schedule for Fall 2015

Todd Rester — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 02:18:51 +0000

This semester the Junius Institute is pleased to announce that our monthly colloquium will be hosted at two seminaries in Grand Rapids, MI, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and Calvin Theological Seminary. The event is free to the public. We are also streaming the events live on YouTube. More details to follow, so stay tuned. Below are our topics this Fall.

This Friday at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Todd Rester will discuss the importance of recovering a body of theological and philosophical terms for the study of intellectual history, theology, and philosophy. We will also introduce the Lexica of Early Modern Philosophy & Theology project, a new tool that is a crowd-sourced project that employs elements of research methodology, historical theology, TEI (Text Encoding Initiative) standards, and Latin paleographical techniques to develop a resource for theologians, philosophers, historians, and graduate students.

Also, if you can’t make it in person to the events but would like to tune in via YouTube, we will stream the events online. You can reach the live stream by the links below:

When: Friday, September 18, 3:30pm
Presenter: Todd M. Rester
Topic: “Reformation of Terms: Mining & Building Lexica of Early Modern Philosophy & Theology”
Location: Room 118a, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

When: Friday, November 13, 3:30pm
Panelists: Richard A. Muller
Topic: “Calvinist Thomism Revisited: William Ames (1576–1633) and the Divine Ideas”
Location: Room 118a, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

When: Friday, December 4, 3:30pm
Presenter: Adriaan Neele
Topic: “Jonathan Edwards and the Definition of Theology: A Parting of Ways in the Reformed Tradition?”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MjZAfvBlWQ
Location: Auditorium, Calvin Theological Seminary

Spring 2015 Colloquium Schedule Announced

Jordan Ballor — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 12:05:41 +0000

We’re happy to announce the Spring 2015 schedule for the Junius Institute Colloquium series. The April Colloquium is devoted to the publication of The Theology of the French Reformed Churches: From Henry IV to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes and will be held in proximity with the Calvin Studies Society 2015 Colloquium here in Grand Rapids:

Spring 2015 Schedule

When: Friday, February 6, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Presenter: Todd Rester and Andrew McGinnis
Topic: “Roman Law and Mosaic Polity in Reformed Thought: Franciscus Junius’s Approach to Jurisprudence”
Location: Auditorium, Calvin Theological Seminary

When: Friday, March 6, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Presenter: Jonathon Beeke
Topic: “Leiden University and the Twofold Kingdom of Christ”
Location: Covenant Room, Calvin Theological Seminary

When: Thursday, April 9, 10:00am to 11:30am
Presenter: Martin Klauber, Jeannine Olsen, Theodore Van Raalte, Donald Sinnema, Jason Zuidema
Topic: “The Theology of the French Reformed Churches”
Location: Auditorium, Calvin Theological Seminary

When: Friday, May 8, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Presenter: Jae-Eun Park
Topic: “Active Justification or Eternal Justification? Reflections on English Antinomianism and Hyper-Calvinism”
Location: Covenant Room, Calvin Theological Seminary

Colloquium: Franciscus Junius and the Development of the Reformed Tradition

Jordan Ballor — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 15:32:31 +0000

The final session of the Fall 2014 Colloquium series was a panel on “Franciscus Junius and the Development of the Reformed Tradition,” featuring Dr. David Noe, Dr. Richard Muller, Mr. Todd Rester, and Dr. David Sytsma. Dr. James DeJong served as moderator for the panel and discussion, which was occasioned by the publication of Franciscus Junius’ A Treatise on True Theology.

The video for this event, which features a second screen in which Dr. Sytsma demonstrates the digital companion for Junius’ True Theology, is now available:

Colloquium: John Milton’s Hermeneutic of Parables

Jordan Ballor — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 04:26:59 +0000

David Urban of Calvin College honored us by closing out the Fall 2014 Colloquium series. Here’s the audio of his presentation on “John Milton’s Hermeneutic of Parables.”

Colloquium: Early Modern Hypothetical Universalism

Jordan Ballor — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 04:03:10 +0000

Earlier this year Michael Lynch, a PhD student at Calvin Theological Seminary, presented at a Junius Institute Colloquium on the topic, “Early Modern Hypothetical Universalism: Reflections on the Status Quaestionis and Modern Scholarship.” We’re happy to be able to make the audio of this event available.

Lynch also recently presented at the Evangelical Theological Society’s annual meeting on related topics, and the audio of these talks are available for purchase.