Harmonia confessionum fidei
Encyclopedia
Published in 1581, the Harmonia confessionum fidei (Harmony of Confessions of Faith) was an early attempt at Protestant comparative dogmatics or symbolics.
and Geneva
. Jean-François Salvart, minister of the Church of Castres
, is now recognized as the chief editor of the work with some assistance from Theodore Beza
, Lambert Daneau
, Antoine de la Roche Chandieu
, and Simon Goulart
. It was intended as a defense of Protestant, and particularly Reformed, doctrine against the attacks of Roman Catholics and Lutherans. It does not give the confessions in full, but extracts from them on the chief articles of faith, which are classified under nineteen sections. It anticipates Georg Benedikt Winer
's method, but for harmonistic purposes.
(i.e., the Tetrapolitan
, Basel and Helvetic
, and Belgic
Confessions), three Lutheran Confessions are also used, viz., the Augsburg Confession
, the Saxon Confession (Confessio Saxonica), and the Würtemberg Confession, as well as the Bohemian Confession (1573) and Anglican Confession (1562). The work appeared almost simultaneously with the Lutheran Formula of Concord
, and may be called a Reformed Formula of Concord, though differing from the former in being a mere compilation from previous symbols.
Purpose
It grew out of a desire for one common Creed, which was modified into the idea of a selected harmony. In this shape it was proposed by the Protestants of ZurichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. Jean-François Salvart, minister of the Church of Castres
Castres
Castres is a commune, and arrondissement capital in the Tarn department and Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It lies in the former French province of Languedoc....
, is now recognized as the chief editor of the work with some assistance from Theodore Beza
Theodore Beza
Theodore Beza was a French Protestant Christian theologian and scholar who played an important role in the Reformation...
, Lambert Daneau
Lambert Daneau
-Life:He was born at Beaugency-sur-Loire, and educated at Orléans. He studied Greek under Adrianus Turnebus, and then law in Orléans from 1553. He moved to Bourges in 1559; he was particularly influenced by François Hotman, and by Anne du Bourg, who was executed in that year for heresy.He went to...
, Antoine de la Roche Chandieu
Antoine de la Roche Chandieu
Antoine de la Roche Chandieu was French Reformed theologian, poet, diplomat and nobleman. His trend toward the Reformed Protestantism was strengthened during his study of law at Toulouse, and after a theological course at Geneva, he became the pastor of the Reformed congregation of Paris, 1556-62...
, and Simon Goulart
Simon Goulart
Simon Goulart was a French Reformed theologian, humanist and poet.-Life:He was born at Senlis in northern France. He first studied law, then adopted the Reformed...
. It was intended as a defense of Protestant, and particularly Reformed, doctrine against the attacks of Roman Catholics and Lutherans. It does not give the confessions in full, but extracts from them on the chief articles of faith, which are classified under nineteen sections. It anticipates Georg Benedikt Winer
Georg Benedikt Winer
Georg Benedikt Winer , German Protestant theologian, was born at Leipzig.He studied theology at Leipzig, where eventually he became professor ordinarius. From 1824 to 1830 he edited with J. G. V...
's method, but for harmonistic purposes.
Content
Besides the principal Reformed ConfessionsReformed Christian confessions of faith
Reformed Christian confessions of faith are documents of the faith of various Reformed churches. They express their consensus of faith in various creeds. A few creeds are shared by many denominations, which have made their choices from among the various creeds for primarily historical reasons...
(i.e., the Tetrapolitan
Tetrapolitan Confession
The Tetrapolitan Confession, also called the Confessio Tetrapolitana, Strasbourg Confession, or Swabian Confession, was the official confession of the followers of Huldrych Zwingli and the first confession of the reformed church...
, Basel and Helvetic
Helvetic Confessions
Helvetic Confessions, the name of two documents expressing the common belief of the Reformed churches of Switzerland.The First Helvetic Confession , known also as the Second Confession of Basel, was drawn up at that city in 1536 by Heinrich Bullinger and Leo Jud of Zürich, Kaspar Megander of Bern,...
, and Belgic
Belgic Confession
The Confession of Faith, popularly known as the Belgic Confession, is a doctrinal standard document to which many of the Reformed churches subscribe. The Confession forms part of the Reformed Three Forms of Unity...
Confessions), three Lutheran Confessions are also used, viz., the Augsburg Confession
Augsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confession, also known as the "Augustana" from its Latin name, Confessio Augustana, is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran reformation...
, the Saxon Confession (Confessio Saxonica), and the Würtemberg Confession, as well as the Bohemian Confession (1573) and Anglican Confession (1562). The work appeared almost simultaneously with the Lutheran Formula of Concord
Formula of Concord
Formula of Concord is an authoritative Lutheran statement of faith that, in its two parts , makes up the final section of the Lutheran Corpus Doctrinae or Body of Doctrine, known as...
, and may be called a Reformed Formula of Concord, though differing from the former in being a mere compilation from previous symbols.
Further reading
- Jill Raitt (1996) "Harmony of Confessions of Faith," in Hans J. Hillerbrand, ed., The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation, vol 2, 221-212. ISBN 0195064933
- Cochrane, Alfred C., ed. Reformed Confessions of the 16th Century. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, ©2003.