I used to say that the Roman Catholic pope in Rome never answers questions, and is not accountable to others. At least, he now answers questions. During the resignation of Ratzinger from the Roman papacy, a discussion on BBC Scotland asked the question whether the job was too much for one man. A papal advisor, …
Category: Church history
Presbyteries or Church Courts?
It is very common to hear people speak about church courts. However Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods and General Assemblies become church courts for specific cases. This legal terminology is now so common that people fail to see that ecclesiastical assemblies are for the mutual support and oversight of the people of God. It is no …
Calvin’s Calvinism
Calvin scholars often tell the story how William Farel hastily visited John Calvin as he passed through Geneva on the night of 10/7/1536, and detained him in Geneva with the solemn curse of God upon his literary studies if he did not stop in Geneva to help forward the work of the Protestant Reformation in …
YouTube Pastor
A Happy New Year to all my readers. 2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible - the world’s best seller of all time and also known as the Authorised Version or AV. It has taken a hit in recent times from other versions, but it is …
Patrick Hamilton
482 years ago today, on 29/2/1528, Patrick Hamilton was burned to death in front of the gate of St Salvator’s College, St Andrews, for preaching the doctrines of the Bible. He was the first 'preacher and martyr' of the Scottish Reformation, which reintroduced the Gospel of God’s free salvation to sinners through faith in the …
Calvin’s Anniversary
Today is the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth (10/7/1509 – 27/5/1564). Not many people appreciate how indebted they are to him and to the galaxy of other Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Knox. There has been little media coverage of the event, so I thought I would record the event as my …
Donald's Thoughts 