Synod of Dort

The Synod of Dort was a National Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618/19, by the Dutch Reformed Church, in order to settle a serious controversy in the Dutch churches initiated by the rise of Arminianism. The first meeting was on 13 November, 1618, and the final meeting, the 154th, was on 9 May, 1619. Voting representatives from the Reformed churches in eight foreign countries were also invited. Dort was a contemporary colloquial English term for the town of Dordrecht. The Synod is often also referred to as Synod of Dordt, or Synod of Dordrecht.

Purpose

The purpose of the Synod held in Dordrecht was to settle a controversy that had arisen in the Dutch churches following the spread of Arminianism. After the death of Jacob Arminius his followers presented objections to the Belgic Confession and the teaching of John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and their followers. These objections were published in a document called The Remonstrance of 1610, and his proponents were therefore also known as Remonstrants. The opposing Calvinists, led by professor Franciscus Gomarus of the University of Leiden, became known as the Contra-Remonstrants.

Related Topics:
Arminianism - Jacob Arminius - Belgic Confession - John Calvin - Theodore Beza - The Remonstrance of 1610 - Remonstrants - Professor - Franciscus Gomarus - University of Leiden

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In The Remonstrance and in some later writings, the Arminians published an alternative to the Calvinist doctrine of the Belgic Confession on five points of difference. They taught election on the basis of foreseen faith, a universal atonement, partial human depravity, resistible grace, and the possibility of lapse from grace. Simon Episcopius (1583-1643) was spokesman of the 13 representatives of the Remonstrants who were summoned before the Synod in 1618.

Related Topics:
Calvinist - Simon Episcopius

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