First Official *Contest* at A Puritan's Mind for the PB

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C. Matthew McMahon

Christian Preacher
First Official *Contest* at A Puritan\'s Mind for the PB

Okay ladies and gentleman.....

The First Official A Puritan's Mind Book Contest!

I want to put out a contest for the benefit of posting a new article at A Puritan's Mind. I've researched a bit, but can't seem to find the "official" first usage of the acronym TULIP. We all talk about how we love the doctrines of grace in the theological formulation TULIP - but who came up with it? I want to write an historical article on its beginnings.

Now, we know Dordt came up with the five points. BUT, where was the first usage documented of the acronym T.U.L.I.P.? Who came up with it? Was it a clever preacher? Was it a university theologian? It HAS to be documented somewhere. I can't find it. Can you? :D

Here is the challange:

The first person to find a cited source, a legitimate source, will win the prize of any books you want from RHB up to $200.

So, whoever finds this source, will get with me, and we'll place an order at Reformation Heritage Books for whatever you choose, up to $200.

Let's have some fun!

{In the voice of John Cleese from the first scene of *Rat Race*} - Okay then everybody....Go..........begin..........off you go!


EDIT:

There are no rules here. If you want to call your theological professor, librarian assistant, the Library of Congress, go for it!

First person to cite the answer wins.

[Edited on 4-14-2006 by C. Matthew McMahon]
 
Is there pre 19th century usage? I would guess without checking that it is 19th century (English or American obviously). Do any 18th century authors use it like Toplady? Or earlier like a Puritan? As a mnemonic device it could have originated informally in catechism classes so it may not be something that started in academia.
 
Originally posted by crhoades
the Dutch love Tulips...think they came up with it?

I have heard Curt Daniels mention's that the tulip is emblematic of the Netherlands, and probably originated there.

Guess I should keep that to myself. :p
 
Originally posted by crhoades
the Dutch love Tulips...think they came up with it?

I mentioned in the other thread that the English word tulip has an etymology that dates back to 1578. So it was a relatively new word in English parlance during the time the Counter-Remonstrants prepared their articles in response to the five Arminian articles.

[Edited on 4-14-2006 by VirginiaHuguenot]
 
The Synod of Dort closed in May 1619. The Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism were officially adopted and the Canons of Dort were issued. The Canons of Dort appeared under four articles and contained the five points of Calvinism, the third and fourth being combined. We know them by the acronym TULIP.

THE ORIGIN OF TULIP

unfortunately, these people seem to be Arminians...

There is no certainty as to the origin of the acronym 'TULIP...

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF 'TULIP'?

this site appears to be Calvinistic....
 
From my pastor:

As I understand it, no one knows with certainty the exact person, group, or date first using this acronym. So, unnless someone has concrete doucmentation on the matter, it remains something of a mystery. Obviously, it is of English origin, although appropriate enough, given the Tulip industry in Holland, where Dort was held. We can say with a fair amount of accuracy that the term did not become popular until the late 1800's-early1900's at the earliest, as Dabney and his contemporaries never mentioned TULIP, but instead wrote on the five points of Calvinism in the order they were given by the statement of Dort. TULIP actually rearranges that order, if you will check it with the documents of Dort.
 
I do know this about TULIP..... There sure are a lot of sites misrepresenting it.... Like that is a surprise. .
:mad:


It originated by one of the decendants of Adam, I know this much.
Just wanted to be of assistance to all who are searching.
:lol::lol:
:detective:

[Edited on 4-14-2006 by MeanieCalvinist]

[Edited on 4-14-2006 by MeanieCalvinist]
 
Just a note -

I am looking for the first use of TULIP cited. It does not matter to me what century it was first used in so long as we can date it authentically.

Remember - I don't know the answer to this, so the first cited post that seems credible could win.
 
This doesn't answer your question, but it may help lead us to the answer, as far as a date is concerned . . .


In the Companion Encyclopedia of Archaeology edited by Graeme Barker, I found some interesting (though inconclusive) info:

from pg. 662:

Holland in the seventeenth century was 'the most formidable capitalism the world had yet seen' (Schama 1987: 323). From a region threatened with inundation by the sea, Holland had amassed an Empire and had come to dominate much of world trade (for the archaeology of this trade, see Gawronski 1990). The fruits of this trade produced what Simon Schama has called an 'Embarrassment of Riches': Dutch society in the seventeenth century was phenominally wealthy. At the same time Calvinism was the most pervasive and powerful religious belief. The Dutch therefore faced the dilemma produced by the accumulation of wealth and the damnation which was the promised consequence of the building up of worldly goods.

One of the strangest, and at the same time most illuminating, episodes of Dutch history in this 'Golden Age' occurred between 1636 and 1637 and has been called 'the great tulip mania' (Schama 1987: 350). Tulips originated in Turkey, and in the early decades of the seventeenth century their production and trade were in the hands of specialists. By the 1630s the market had expanded, and by 1634 the desirability of the tulip, especially rare varieties, had grown so rapidly that what we would call 'futures trading' had begun to take place. By 1637 the inevitable collapse took place. . .


Less than 20 years after Dordt, the Dutch people had an odd economic boom of "tulip mania".

I wonder . . .





[Edited on 4-14-2006 by biblelighthouse]
 
MAN!!! A simple google wont work for this one. I called Dr. Godfrey only to find out I wasnt the first call (he did not know). Spoke to a number of people...no one knows. Its out there...some where
 
My guess so far is that it's probably a recent innovation, maybe early 1900's? I don't recall the Hodges, Spurgeon, Warfeild, Machen, etal ever referring to it.

Does anyone know the Dutch word for Tulip? :detective:
 
I would also add, that it may be impossible to find it in a scholarly source too, since it is used for laymen and lay writing. Berkhof doesn't mention it either. The earliest reference I've found so far was 1976. But the author speaks as if it's been around for a while.
 
I've got a small book/booklet (30 to 40 pgs.) at home that specifically covers the origins of the acronym T.U.L.I.P ....

When I get home I'll look it up ...


































Just Kidding ....
I Wanted to make everybody sweat :)
 
icon_sweatdrop.gif
 
Originally posted by puritansailor
I would also add, that it may be impossible to find it in a scholarly source too, since it is used for laymen and lay writing. Berkhof doesn't mention it either. The earliest reference I've found so far was 1976. But the author speaks as if it's been around for a while.

More recent writers mention it as if it's been around for a while. But apparently became popular sometime in the 20th century. I also checked Berkhof and found no mention of it in a couple of his works. But it's likely that some writers don't mention TULIP specifically because they are looking to make their points directly from the Bible and not get into historic theology, and also perhaps the acrostic doesn't fit the way they organized their argument.

I'm thinking it was probably a clever preacher or teacher since TULIP is a memory device.

[Edited on 4-15-2006 by Pilgrim]
 
Maybe????

Lorraine Boetner:
"The Five Points may be more easily remembered if they are associated with the word T-U-L-I-P; T, Total Inability; U- Unconditional Election; L, Limited Atonement; I, Irresistible Grace; and P, Perserverance of the Saints." pg. 60, The Reformed Doctrine of Predistination, @ 1932.

He doesn't cite or quote anyone regarding this acronym. So maybe he's the culprit? This book has been pretty popular over the years.
 
Originally posted by puritansailor
Maybe????

Lorraine Boetner:
"The Five Points may be more easily remembered if they are associated with the word T-U-L-I-P; T, Total Inability; U- Unconditional Election; L, Limited Atonement; I, Irresistible Grace; and P, Perserverance of the Saints." pg. 60, The Reformed Doctrine of Predistination, @ 1932.

He doesn't cite or quote anyone regarding this acronym. So maybe he's the culprit? This book has been pretty popular over the years.

If anything, Boettner's book has certainly served to popularize TULIP over the years. He had come to my mind as well, but I don't have that particular book.
 
Does it have to be in the form "tulip" or can all the parts be there? For example (assuming my edition uses the terms which Shedd orginally used), Shedd uses all the terms (spread throughout his systematic) except for perseverance of the saints. His systematic was first published in 1888, so that tells me (if the words were unchanged by the editor) either he invented them or he knew of their use from somewhere earlier.
 
I checked for references to TULIP in Alfred Nevin's Encylcopedia of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (1884) and N.S. McFetridge's Calvinism in History (1882) -- nada.

[Edited on 4-15-2006 by VirginiaHuguenot]
 
Originally posted by puritansailor
Maybe????

Lorraine Boetner:
"The Five Points may be more easily remembered if they are associated with the word T-U-L-I-P; T, Total Inability; U- Unconditional Election; L, Limited Atonement; I, Irresistible Grace; and P, Perserverance of the Saints." pg. 60, The Reformed Doctrine of Predistination, @ 1932.

He doesn't cite or quote anyone regarding this acronym. So maybe he's the culprit? This book has been pretty popular over the years.

It has been recently noted on the PB that Boettner didn't cite his sources properly in his book on Romanism, so unless we can find something predating his book, it's hard to say whether TULIP originated with him or not, although there's no doubt that his book served to popularize it since it has been used to introduce Calvinism to many.

[Edited on 4-15-2006 by Pilgrim]
 
I didn\'t find it but look at what I did find

http://www.prca.org/standard_bearer/volume74/1997oct15.html

From the article "The Poisonous Petals of the Arminian LILAC"
Rev. Charles J. Terpstra

It was, I believe, the late Dr. John Gerstner who invented the acronym LILAC to summarize the five points of the Arminians. He did this because the tulip flower has been the symbol of the five points of Calvinism. The two "flowers" look like this:


T - Total Depravity
U - Unconditional Election
L - Limited Atonement
I - Irresistible Grace
P - Perseverance of Saints

L - Limited Depravity
I - I Choose Christ
L - Limitless Atonement
A - Arrestible Grace
C - Carnal Security
 
On page 363 of Warfield's "Calvin and Calvinism," he mentions absolute predestination, particular redemption, total depravity, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints. In parentheses, he writes, "Canons of the Synod of Dort." Warfield's acronym is APTIP.:D This is interesting if nothing else.

[Edited on 16-4-06 by JJF]
 
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