Fall 2025 PRTS Journal Now Available!

The faculty of the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary announce the publication of the Fall 2025 issue of their journal (59.1). This edition contains a variety of profitable articles covering doctrinal, church historical, and church political subjects, plus six (6) book reviews.

The print copies are being mailed out to U.S. and international addresses, while the digital editions (pdf and epub) may be found on the journal's home page. If you desire to be added to our mailing list for a print copy, send us a note (seminarysecretary@prca.org). If you are in the West Michigan area, you may also stop by and pick up a copy at the front desk.

Prof. Doug Kuiper, PRTJ's editor provides these summary notes on the issue. May they inspire you to delve into this latest PRTJ!

"Two articles in this issue of the Protestant Reformed Theological Journal will be of general interest to all Reformed readers, while two others will be of specific interest to members of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America (PRCA).

"Of general interest are the first and fourth. Rev. Joshua Engelsma contributes the first article in a two-part series. It is a historical theological examination of these questions: Is saving faith a bond of union with Jesus Christ? Or is the Holy Spirit Himself that bond? And more specifically, what did Reformed writers in the past say about this? The historical investigation has specific relevance to the PRCA, in which a common understanding is that saving faith, as to its essence, is a bond that unites us to Christ.

"Peter Vander Schaaf presents a translation of another part of Harm Bouwman’s commentary on the Church Order of Dordrecht (1619). In the translated section, Bouwman treats Articles 31, 33, and 36 of that Church Order, regarding the relationship of the individual churches and consistories to the broader assemblies, and the authority of the broader assemblies. To our knowledge, this has not previously been translated into and published in English. Read the translator’s introduction to the article for a fuller summary of what Bouwman is saying.

"The two of specific interest are the second and third articles. Rev. Steven Key put into print form the content of an oral/visual presentation that he gave at the PRCA’s centennial commemoration this past June. He recounts the perspectives of the first fifty years of the PRCA, as told by people who were interviewed in the 1980s. The article contains fascinating history that will appeal to readers who are not quickly inclined to read our Journal because of its more academic flavor.

"Prof. Douglas Kuiper presents his third installment of the history of Classis West of the PRCA. This article surveys major issues that the classis faced and presents precedent-setting decisions. Classis expressly permitted the publishing of these decisions in this instance and form.

"Six books are reviewed. Two are significant translations of older works. The Synopsis of Purer Theology (1625) set forth Reformed orthodoxy after the Synod of Dordrecht (1618-19). (This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Synopsis). All who are interested in the church’s formulation of doctrine and the history of doctrinal controversies will want to read this book. And the third volume of Herman Bavinck’s Ethics is reviewed. More development is needed in the area of Reformed ethics, but this book is foundational.

"Two other books regard church history. One covers the history of Christianity in America, and the second other reviews the third edition of Herman Hoeksema’s history of the formation and early years of the PRCA.

"And two regard the Bible. One regards the history of the creation of the NIV, while the other is an apologetic, that is, a defense of the trustworthiness of the New Testament.

"God requires us to think on, and therefore also to read about, that which is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (Phil. 4:8). The writers of the following articles consciously set out to provide wholesome reading material, and we pray that you be blessed in reading it."