Publisher's Descrition

In Confessing the Faith, Chad Van Dixhoorn offers a fresh look at a classic statement of the Reformed faith. The Westminster Confession of Faith finds itself in the first rank of great Christian creeds. Presbyterian and Reformed churches employ its doctrine for instruction; others acknowledge few texts to be so useful in the Christian’s quest to glorify and enjoy God.

This accessible, biblical, and thoughtful work digests years of study and teaching into bite-sized sections. Van Dixhoorn’s work is historical and practical in its focus. It deliberately presents readers with more than another survey of Reformed theology; it offers a guide to a particular text, considers its original proof-texts, and seeks to deepen our understanding of each paragraph of the Confession.

Challenging hearts and minds, Confessing the Faith hopes to edify and instruct both advanced and general audiences, as the authors of the Confession of Faith surely hoped their magnum opus would do.

About the Author

Chad Van Dixhoorn serves as Associate Professor of Church History at Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., and as Associate Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Virginia. He is the author of Confessing the Faith: A reader’s guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith, published by the Trust in 2014.

A Canadian by birth, Dr Van Dixhoorn received a BA from the University of Western Ontario, a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary, his PhD from the University of Cambridge, and was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship from the British Academy. At Cambridge (2004-2008), he researched the history and theology of the Westminster Assembly and taught on the subject of Puritanism. During this time he was ordained as a Minister of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and served as Associate Minister of Cambridge Presbyterian Church. He retains a visiting fellowship at Wolfson College.

Chad Van Dixhoorn is general editor of the five-volume The Minutes and Papers of the Westminster Assembly: 1643-1652, which was published by Oxford University Press in 2012. In 2013 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in recognition of this work.

Endorsements

"The author is an acknowledged expert on the history and development of the Westminster Confession. The main strength of the commentary, however, lies in the sure way Dr Van Dixhoorn unpacks the teaching of the Confession in the light of God’s word and applies it with pastoral wisdom to the life of believers today. ‘Tolle lege’, pick up, read and sink the roots of your life into the rich soil of biblical truth." — Ian Hamilton, Minister of Cambridge Presbyterian Church, UK

"Dr Van Dixhoorn is a pastor-professor in the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition who knows and appreciates the theology of the Assembly and of its writings. It is therefore something to be welcomed and celebrated that he has produced a commentary on the Westminster Confession of Faith. To all who are interested in understanding the ­Confession’s theology better, I commend this book enthusiastically." — Ligon Duncan, Chancellor, and John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary

"Professor Van Dixhoorn has provided us not only with the text of the Confession, but casts fresh light on the historical context as well as the relevance of each doctrine for our faith and life today. It is a privilege to be able to read this book and even a greater one to commend it heartily." -Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary, California

"Dr. Van Dixhoorn's research on the Westminster Assembly is seminal, setting the agenda for a long time to come. It is gratifying that some of the fruits of his work are now available to a wider readership. This book will be of immense value as he explains the Confession clearly, from an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Assembly's debates set in its historical context. -Robert Letham, Senior Lecturer in Systematic and Historical Theology, Wales Evangelical School of Theology