Here’s a few strands of Calvinism:
1) Federal/Covenant Calvinism — or Westminster shaped (typified in the history by William Perkins and William Ames, contemporaneously typified by Westminster Theological Seminary) .
2) Five Point non-Covenantal Dispensational Calvinism (best typified by John MacArthur).
3) The Spiritual Brethren Calvinism — non-Federal and anti-Westminster (best typified by Richard Sibbes and John Cotton see Janice Knight’s: Orthodoxies in Massachusetts: Rereading American Puritanism)
4) Amyraulidianism Calvinism — aka “4-point” (articulated and named after Moses Amyraut).
5) Evangelical Calvinism — Scottish Development (associated with people like John Calvin, James Fraser of Brea, Hugh Binning, the Erskines, Jonathan McLeod Campell, T. F. Torrance, Myk Habets, Bobby Grow π et al).
Can you think of anymore variations? I realize that we have regional nuances as well, primarily amongst my #1; like: Dutch, English, German, South African, American etc. But can you think of anymore representative categories of Calvinism like I have listed above? A species that has its own set of identifiable contours.
I’m not sure if this is its own category, but I’m familiar with a Sovereign Grace Baptist style of Calvinism. It’s basically country bumpkin babtist with the five points (and only the five points) moved to the top of the list. A minimalist type of Calvinism, but a Calvinism that claims that “Calvinism is the bible.”
Steve,
I’ve heard of this kind as well; it scares me π .
Where would you place the subset of “Gospel-Centered” Calvinism?
(Graeme Goldsworthy, Tim Keller) I’d actually like to hear your take on it.
Hi Steve,
Interesting; I have recently had an issue with Keller as a result of some brothers at church. I’m not a fan, Steve; I’m sorry, that’s just how it is for me … I cannot appreciate Federal Calvinism, and really the doctrine of God that gives such systems rise no matter how warm hearted those communicating said kind of Calvinism are (like Keller). I should do a post on Keller and The Gospel Coalition in the near future.
I guess this falls under “Dutch” at least originally, but Kuyperian Calvinism / Neo-Calvinism would be another category, with an emphasis on sphere sovereignty, presumptive regeneration, and whatnot.
Hello Shep,
Welcome. Indeed, that is a unique expression of Calvinism; Bavinck would probably fit somewhere in this category of Calvinism as well. Thanks, brother!
Bobby, I’d be interested to know what you made of Janice Knightβs book, ‘Orthodoxies in Massachusetts’.
Hey Jason!
I like it! My mentor and former prof Ron Frost turned me onto her work; he used it as part of his research on Sibbes and Perkins in his PhD diss out of King’s College University of London. I think her distinction between ‘The Spiritual Brethren’ and ‘The Intellectual Fathers’ is a good one. Frost constructively builds off of this in his dissertation, and provides even greater nuance and clarity. Have you read it? If so, what did you think?
No I haven’t read it, but it looks wonderful. I’ve added it to my wishlist. Thanks for drawing my attention to it Bobby.
Just noticed that our library has a copy of Knightβs book. I’ll be checking it out soon π
Awesome, Jason π … check your email too.