Arminianism is a doctrine in Christianity, formulated in the 17th century and named after the Dutch Calvinist Jacobus Arminius, which declares that human free will can exist without limiting God's power or contradicting the Bible. Arminius believed predestination was biblical and true - that God had intended some persons for heaven and others for hell, as indicated by Jesus' reference to ' sheep and goats.' But he focused on God's love more than on God's power in speaking of election, the process by which God chose those intended for heaven. After Arminius died, a group of ministers who sympathised with his views developed a systematic and rational theology based on his teachings. In their declaration, a remonstrance issued in 1610, the Arminians argued that election was conditioned by faith, that grace could be rejected, that the work of Christ was intended for all persons, and that it was possible for believers to fall from grace. At the Synod of Dort, or Dordrecht, the High Calvinists prevailed over the Arminian party and condemned the Remonstrants.
The Synod of Dort declared that Christ's work was meant only for those elect to salvation, that people believing could not fall from grace, and that God's election depended on no conditions. Remonstrants were not tolerated at all in Holland until 1630, and then not fully until 1795. They have, however, continued an Arminian tradition in the Netherlands into the late 20th century. The British theologian John Wesley studied and affirmed the work of Arminius in his Methodist movement during the 18th century in England. American Methodists for the most part have leaned toward the theology of the Remonstrants. In popular expression Arminianism has come to mean that no predestination exists and people are free to follow or reject the gospel. Research Arminianism
The Golden Legend (Aurea Legenda), is a collection of legends of the Saints made in the 13th century by Jacobus de Voragine, archbishop of Genoa. It consists of 177 sections, each of which is devoted to a particular saint or festival, arranged in the order of the calendar. William Caxton printed a translation in 1483, and another edition was produced by Wynkyn de Worde in 1498. Research Golden Legend
Jacobus Arminius (Jacob Harmensen) was a Dutch theologian. He was born in 1560 at Oderwater and died in 1609 following persecution by the clergy. He was the founder of the sect of Arminians or Remonstrants. He studied at Utrecht, in the University of Leyden, and at Geneva, where his chief preceptor in theology was Theodore Beza. On his return to Holland he was appointed minister of one of the churches in Amsterdam, and chosen to undertake the refutation of a work which strongly controverted Beza's doctrine of predestination; but he happened to be convinced by the work which he had undertaken to refute. Elected in 1603 professor of divinity at Leyden, he openly declared his opinions, and was involved in harassing controversies, especially with his fellow professor Gomarus. These contests, with the continual attacks on his reputation, at length impaired his health and brought on a complicated disease, of which he died. Research Jacobus Arminius
Jacobus Bellamy was a Flemish poet. He was born in 1757 at Flushing and died in 1786. A volume of sentimental and anacreontic poems was published in 1782, and was followed in 1785 by a collection of his patriotic songs under the title Vaderlandscho Gezangen, which secured him a place among the first poets of his nation. He ranks as one of the restorers of modern Dutch poetry. Research Jacobus Bellamy
Jacobus Clemens (also known as Clemens Non Papa) was a Flemish composer. He was born in 1510 at Ieper in Burgundian Flanders and died in 1556. He is best known for his sacred music. In 1544 he was probationary choirmaster of Saint-Donatien in Brugge and in 1550 was singer and composer at Hertogenbosch. Research Jacobus Clemens
Jacobus Hendricus Van't Hoff was a Dutch chemist. He was born in 1852 at Rotterdam and died in 1911. Educated at Delft, Leiden, Bonn, and Paris, he graduated at Utrecht University in 1874. In 1878 he became professor of chemistry at Amsterdam , University, and in 1896 research professor of chemistry at the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, Berlin. Van't Hoff is chiefly known for the theory he formed that the graphic chemical formulae developed by Kekule must be extended in three-dimensional space to accord with the facts of organicchemistry. This theory laid the foundation of stereochemistry. Next followed a study of the laws of chemical equilibrium, which enabled the Stassfurt salt deposits to be worked to economic advantage. Van't Hoff was awarded the Nobel prize for chemistry in 1901. Research Jacobus Van't Hoff
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