The Puritan Research Center at PRTS supports and encourages thoughtful discussions that deal with facets of Puritanism and Continental (Post) Reformation thought, including historic trajectories and early modern context, from a variety of perspectives. Doctoral students, faculty, and other researchers will present their findings of original research in a colloquium.

Topic: “Role of Predestination in the Pastoral Ministry of William Perkins’s successor, Paul Baynes”
Date: Thursday, November 11 from 3:00 p.m – 4:30 p.m. ET
Speaker: Dr. David H. Kranendonk, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
Location: PRTS Chapel or Live-stream

As a successor of William Perkins, author of an extensive commentary on Ephesians 1, and defender of the supralapsarian view of predestination, Paul Baynes evidences strong convictions on the doctrine of predestination.  As an author of many sermons and pastoral letters, as well as of devotional guides and catechetical works, he evidences strong concern for pastoral ministry.  This discussion explores the intersection of the orthodox Reformed teaching of predestination and puritan pastoral ministry as it is embodied in Paul Baynes’s ministry.

The event will be followed by period of discussion during which participants can pose questions. For those unable to be present on-campus in Grand Rapids, the seminar will be live-streamed via Zoom. There is no cost to participate.

Note: The seminar will be held in the chapel on the PRTS campus.

The Geerhardus Vos Center for Reformed Biblical Theology and Interpretation at PRTS invites researchers, doctoral students, and others interested in biblical theology and hermeneutics to its first seminar from 3:00pm EST to 5:30pm EST on April 15, 2021.

Our speaker will be Dr. Richard Schultz, Blanchard Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. Dr. Schultz’s presentation will explore various dimensions of unity and diversity in the Book of Isaiah, with special attention to its canonical and redemptive-historical settings.

The seminar will be followed by a period of discussion during which participants can pose or submit questions. For those unable to be present on-campus in Grand Rapids, the seminar will be live-streamed. There is no cost to participate, however, tickets are limited.

NOTE: The seminar will be held in the chapel on PRTS’s campus. Due to COVID restrictions, social distancing practices will be observed and facemasks will be required of all in-person attendees.

Having discussed God’s promises and personal evidences of grace as sources of our assurance, Dr. Joel Beeke now examines the third foundation for assurance: the testimony of the Holy Spirit. In this lesson, we will learn how the Spirit can apply God’s Word directly to the soul, resulting in great assurance. We will also learn how to test whether this experience is truly from God.

Watch the video here: https://bit.ly/3dume7k

God’s promises, inward evidences in the Christian’s life, and the work of the Holy Spirit are the three sources of assurance outlined in Westminster Confession of Faith 18.2. Previously, Dr. Beeke examined the first—God’s promises. In this lesson, he looks at the second—evidences of grace in us—and the Puritan beliefs about the necessity of these subjective evidence as marks of faith in God’s objective promises.

Watch the video here: https://bit.ly/2Wc4Dey

According to The Westminster Confession of Faith 18.2, our assurance comes from three foundational truths: God’s promises, inward evidences in the Christian’s life, and the work of the Holy Spirit. In this lesson, Dr. Joel Beeke examines the divine promises of God and how they provide the Christian with assurance. Watch the video here: https://bit.ly/35F4m6Z

In order to study more fully into the doctrine assurance of faith, we must consider the profound and biblically nuanced way the Puritans dealt with the topic of assurance. In this lesson, Dr. Joel Beeke examines Westminster Confession of Faith 18.1, which many people consider the greatest statement ever written on the subject of assurance. Through this section of the confession and the history behind it, we will further examine the subjects of false assurance and true assurance: https://bit.ly/2L6Wce8

After defining assurance and communicating its importance, Dr. Beeke now looks at the reasons why many Christians lack assurance. This lesson breaks down the common misunderstandings about the character of God, His gospel, and salvation. It lists ten reasons why believers question their faith and shows how these reasons run counter to God’s truth. https://bit.ly/2YqP1p3