📖 Biblical Definition
Reformed Theology is the Protestant tradition descended primarily from the sixteenth-century Swiss-Genevan Reformation under Huldrych Zwingli (Zurich), John Calvin (Geneva), and Heinrich Bullinger (Zurich) — distinguished from the parallel Lutheran tradition. It was extended through the Dutch Reformed (Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Canons of Dort), the French Huguenots, the Scottish Presbyterians (Westminster Confession, Larger and Shorter Catechisms), and the English Puritans (Westminster, the Savoy Declaration). Its core convictions: the absolute sovereignty of God, salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, the priority of Scripture over tradition, covenant theology, the spirituality of the Lord’s Supper, the regulative principle of worship, and the doctrines of grace summarized in the TULIP acronym.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The Calvinist Protestant tradition; sovereignty of God, covenant theology, confessional standards, the Five Points.
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Major confessions: Westminster Confession (1647), Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Belgic Confession (1561), Canons of Dort (1619), Three Forms of Unity (collective).
Distinctives: sovereignty of God in salvation (TULIP), covenant theology (one covenant of grace administered through Old and New), regulative principle (worship by Scripture only), confessional self-discipline.
📖 Key Scripture
Romans 9:11 — "For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand."
Ephesians 1:4 — "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world."
John 6:44 — "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him."
Romans 11:36 — "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern caricature of Reformed theology often reduces it to predestination polemics; the actual tradition is Christ-centered, covenantal, and pastoral.
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TULIP (Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, Perseverance of the saints) is a 17th-century Dutch acronym; useful but not the whole. Reformed theology is also covenantal, confessional, sacramental, ecclesial, and culturally engaged.
The household's engagement: the doctrines of grace humble; covenant theology integrates Old and New; the regulative principle simplifies worship; confessions provide cumulative wisdom.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
From reformed (purified, restored to apostolic standard).
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English reformed — restored to original / better form.
Note: Reformed with capital R names the specific tradition; lowercase reformed is broader.
Usage
"Christ-centered, covenantal, confessional, pastoral."
"TULIP is useful; not the whole."
"Cumulative wisdom in the confessions."