Written by P. Y. De Jong For generations the continental European Reformed churches and their 'daughters' abroad have used the Belgic Confession in testifying to the world their faith in the sovereignty and grace of the eternal God unto salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time...
Nicolaas H. Gootjes, The Belgic Confession: Its History and Sources is an excellent introduction to the background of the BC. Some guy also wrote a book on the missionary significance of the BC, For the Cause of the Son of God. If you're after commentaries, Hyde and DeJong are pretty good, but I can also recommend J. Van Bruggen, The Church Says Amen.
Nicolaas H. Gootjes, The Belgic Confession: Its History and Sources is an excellent introduction to the background of the BC. Some guy also wrote a book on the missionary significance of the BC, For the Cause of the Son of God. If you're after commentaries, Hyde and DeJong are pretty good, but I can also recommend J. Van Bruggen, The Church Says Amen.
In my opinion it is very interesting to read the Leiden Synopsis of 1625 in connection with the Belgic Confession. It is not a commentary or exposition on the Belgic Confession, but the structure of this book with 52 disputations is very close to the structure of the confession.
In my opinion it is very interesting to read the Leiden Synopsis of 1625 in connection with the Belgic Confession. It is not a commentary or exposition on the Belgic Confession, but the structure of this book with 52 disputations is very close to the structure of the confession.
Generally speaking, this is true. However, an important difference is that the Belgic Confession begins with God, whereas the Leiden Synopsis begins with Scripture. To put it in theological terms, the Belgic Confession begins with an ontological or essential foundation (principium essendi), whereas the Synopsis begins with an epistemological or cognitive foundation (principium cognoscendi). On this point, the Belgic Confession reflects more continuity with medieval theology (such as Lombard and Aquinas).