BrantleyRider at 23:05, 6 March 2026

2026-03-06T23:05:48Z

← Older revision	Revision as of 23:05, 6 March 2026
Line 1:	Line 1:
		The '''Three Forms of Unity''' is a collective name for the [[Belgic Confession]], the [[Canons of Dort]], and the [[Heidelberg Catechism]], which reflect the doctrinal concerns of [[continental reformed churches\|continental Calvinism]] and are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many Calvinist churches.

		==History==
		[[Image:Synodedordrecht.jpg\|thumb\|right\|upright=1.2\|The Synod held at Dort]]
		From 1618 to 1619, the Dutch government on behalf of the [[Dutch Reformed Church]], called and convened the [[Synod of Dort]]. Dutch delegates, along with twenty-seven Calvinist representatives from eight other countries, met at this [[Synod of Dort]], where they collectively summarized their views in what was called the "[[Canons of Dort]]".<ref name="frcna.org">{{Cite web\|url=http://www.frcna.org/Creeds/Canons/background.ASP\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130004422/http://www.frcna.org/Creeds/Canons/background.ASP\|url-status=dead\|title=FRC: Canons of Dort - Historical Background\|archivedate=30 January 2008\|website=www.frcna.org}}</ref>

		This same Synod then added these Canons to two other documents, both of which were in common use by the Dutch Church at the time: the [[Heidelberg Catechism]] (1563) and the [[Belgic Confession]] (1561).<ref name="frcna.org"/>

		In so doing, the Synod sought:
		# to formalize their understanding of the [[Biblical]] teachings on the [[Trinity]], the [[Incarnation (Christianity)\|incarnation]], [[predestination]], [[justification (theology)\|justification]], and the church;
		# to allow members to gather together in unity around fundamental, shared beliefs;
		# to relegate certain non-essential ideas (political positions, educational platforms, etc.) to a lower status to prevent the churches from needlessly splitting{{mdash}}the forms also provide a basis upon which [[ecumenical]] efforts can proceed based on whether a body accepts the essentials laid out in these forms

		The different documents each serve different purposes.
		*The [[Heidelberg Catechism\|Catechism]] is written in a question-and-answer format to help explain biblical teaching to children and those new to the faith.
		*The [[Belgic Confession\|Confession]] explains various biblical teachings.
		*The [[Canons of Dort\|Canons]] are a series of technical responses to specific theological controversies raised by the Dutch [[Remonstrants]] (see [[History of the Calvinist-Arminian debate]]).

		==Four Forms of Unity==
		Some Reformed denominations have included the [[Westminster Confession]] to their confessional standards. These include the [[Christian Reformed Church of Australia]]<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Christian Reformed Churches of Australia – Beliefs: Doctrinal Standards \|url=https://crca.org.au/about-the-crca/beliefs/129-beliefs-doctrinal-standards \|access-date=2023-05-30 \|website=crca.org.au}}</ref> and the [[Reformed Churches of New Zealand]].<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Ray \|title=Creeds & Confessions \|url=https://rcnz.org.nz/creeds-and-confessions/ \|access-date=2023-05-30 \|website=Reformed Churches of New Zealand \|language=en}}</ref>

		== External links ==
		* Text and description of the Three Forms from [[Philip Schaff]]'s ''Creeds of the Evangelical Protestant Churches'' at the [[Christian Classics Ethereal Library]]:
		**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds3.iv.viii.html Belgic Confession] (in the original French with a translation into English)
		**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds3.iv.vi.html Heidelberg Catechism] (in the original German with a translation into English)
		**[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds3.iv.xvi.html Canons of Dort] (in the original Latin with a translation into English)
		* [http://www.start.urclearning.org/creeds-and-confessions-audio/ Audio Recordings of the Three Forms of Unity] in MP3 format

		==References==

		[[Category:Three Forms of Unity\| ]]

ReformedMandalorian: Created blank page

2023-08-07T21:32:14Z

Created blank page

New page

Three Forms of Unity - Revision history

BrantleyRider at 23:05, 6 March 2026

ReformedMandalorian: Created blank page