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2026-06-13T13:04:34-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The James White St. Ignatius of Antioch Controversy

Last updated on: June 13, 2026 at 1:04 pm By Dave Armstrong

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“Yes, Virginia, There Was a St. Ignatius of Antioch” This came about after his recent debate with Joe Heschmeyer regarding whether the Catholic Mass is propitiatory. During one of the cross-examination periods, Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White (see my large web page devoted to him and also my long 2013 book, Debating James White: Shocking Failures of the “Undefeatable” Anti-Catholic Champion) mentioned in passing that in contemporary scholarship, there is a movement that denies the historical existence of St. Ignatius... Read more

Fathers of the Church

James White

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James White

James White & Ignatius of Antioch

St. Ignatius of Antioch

2026-06-13T13:04:34-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Sacrifice of the Mass in Hebrews & Revelation

Last updated on: June 13, 2026 at 1:04 pm By Dave Armstrong

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I’m inspired by the fabulous performance of Catholic Answers apologist Joe Heschmeyer vs. Bishop “Dr.” [???] James White in the recent debate, “Is the Mass A Propitiatory Sacrifice?” Joe pointed out how Protestants look the death of the Jesus on the cross as a one-time event (as indeed it was), but in a way that precludes a revisiting of it in the Mass. But then he noted how there was a difference in the Old Testament sacrificial system between the... Read more

sacrifice of the mass

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The Lamb

2026-06-06T00:04:56-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Reply to François Turretin #14: Eucharist, Pt. 2

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:04 am By Dave Armstrong

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False premises; unfounded, unbiblical divine “impossibilities”; cessationism; ten types of physical divine presence François Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-Italian Reformed scholastic theologian and renowned defender of the Calvinistic (Reformed) orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and was one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus (1675). He is generally considered to be the best Calvinist apologist besides John Calvin himself. His Institutes of Elenctic Theology (three volumes, Geneva, 1679–1685) used the scholastic method. “Elenctic” means “refuting an argument by proving the falsehood of its conclusion.” Turretin contended against the conflicting Christian perspectives of Catholicism and Arminianism. It was a... Read more

Calvinism & General Protestantism

Institutes of Elenctic Theology

sacramentalism

sacraments

2026-06-06T00:04:56-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Reply to François Turretin #13: Transubstantiation, Pt. 2

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:04 am By Dave Armstrong

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Language of “bread” & “wine” after consecration; transubstantiation and transformation: compendium from the Church fathers François Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-Italian Reformed scholastic theologian and renowned defender of the Calvinistic (Reformed) orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and was one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus (1675). He is generally considered to be the best Calvinist apologist besides John Calvin himself. His Institutes of Elenctic Theology (three volumes, Geneva, 1679–1685) used the scholastic method. “Elenctic” means “refuting an argument by proving the falsehood of its conclusion.” Turretin contended against the conflicting Christian perspectives of Catholicism and Arminianism. It... Read more

Calvinism & General Protestantism

Eucharist & Liturgy

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2026-06-06T00:04:56-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Reply to François Turretin #12: Transubstantiation, Pt. 1

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:04 am By Dave Armstrong

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Does Turretin think biblically in this regard or hyper-rationally and skeptically? François Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-Italian Reformed scholastic theologian and renowned defender of the Calvinistic (Reformed) orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and was one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus (1675). He is generally considered to be the best Calvinist apologist besides John Calvin himself. His Institutes of Elenctic Theology (three volumes, Geneva, 1679–1685) used the scholastic method. “Elenctic” means “refuting an argument by proving the falsehood of its conclusion.” Turretin contended against the conflicting Christian perspectives of Catholicism and Arminianism. It was a popular textbook;... Read more

Calvinism & General Protestantism

Institutes of Elenctic Theology

sacramentalism

transubstantiation

2026-06-06T00:04:56-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

François Turretin and the Debate Over the Lord’s Supper

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:04 am By Dave Armstrong

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Does a traditional literal reading of “this is my body” entail “a thousand absurdities and contradictions”? The book of Job is instructive Vs. Turretin #11: Eucharist, Pt. 1 François Turretin (1623-1687) was a Genevan-Italian Reformed scholastic theologian and renowned defender of the Calvinistic (Reformed) orthodoxy represented by the Synod of Dort, and was one of the authors of the Helvetic Consensus (1675). He is generally considered to be the best Calvinist apologist besides John Calvin himself. His Institutes of Elenctic Theology (three volumes, Geneva, 1679–1685) used the scholastic method. “Elenctic” means “refuting an argument by proving... Read more

Calvinism & General Protestantism

Institutes of Elenctic Theology

sacramentalism

sacraments

2026-06-06T00:52:51-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Newman, Sinless Mary, & Development (vs. Javier Perdomo)

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:52 am By Dave Armstrong

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. . . Concentrating on the New Eve Analogy in the Church Fathers and its Full Implication Regarding Mary’s Freedom from Actual and Original Sin This is a follow-up to my previous articles, Mary’s Sinlessness & the Fathers (vs. Javier Perdomo) [2-5-25] and Patristic Development of a Sinless Mary (Cdl. Newman) [2-6-25], and responds to a further counter-reply from the Lutheran apologist and YouTuber, Javier Perdomo, on his own thread, Church Fathers & Medievals on the Immaculate Conception [2-4-25]. His words will... Read more

Blessed Virgin Mary

Development of Doctrine

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Lutheranism & Mary

Mary's Immaculate Conception

Newman on the fathers & Mary's sinlessness

2026-06-13T13:04:34-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

John Calvin’s Ten Striking “Catholic” Views

Last updated on: June 13, 2026 at 1:04 pm By Dave Armstrong

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John Calvin (1509-1564) was the second most important leader in the earliest days of Protestantism, and arguably, even more historically influential, in terms of theology, than its founder, Martin Luther. Citations from Institutes of the Christian Religion (abbreviated as “Inst.) were translated by Henry Beveridge for the Calvin Translation Society in 1845, from the 1559 edition in Latin; reprinted by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1995, and available for free online. ***** 1) The One True Church... Read more

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John Calvin

2025-02-13T11:07:07-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Biblical “Hope” & Catholic Moral Assurance of Salvation

Last updated on: February 13, 2025 at 11:07 am By Dave Armstrong

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All passages RSV. Hebrews 3:6-8, 12-14 but Christ was faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if we hold fast our confidence [parrésia: Strong’s word # 3954] and pride in our hope. [elpis: #1680] [7] Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, when you hear his voice, [8] do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, . . .” [12] Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you... Read more

Salvation & Justification

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2026-06-06T00:52:51-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Patron Saints & Invoking Saints vs. Direct Prayer to God

Last updated on: June 6, 2026 at 12:52 am By Dave Armstrong

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Henry R. Percival, D.D. (1854-1903) was a prominent American Episcopal priest and author of many books. This is a reply to a few portions of his book, The Invocation of Saints Treated Theologically and Historically (London and New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1896). As a High Church Anglican, he substantially agrees with us on this general topic. So I am only quibbling with him over a few things. His words will be in blue. I use RSV for... Read more

Saints & Purgatory & Penance

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