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Thomas Goodwin

1600–1680

Chief Independent theologian; later President of Magdalen Oxford.

The Five Dissenting Brethren (Independents) The Supralapsarians The Savoy Declaration (1658)

Departs from the Confession on Order of Decrees: Supralapsarian not Deliberately-Permits-Both · Covenant of Redemption: Explicit-Developed not Implicit-Affirmed · Polity: Independent-Congregational not Presbyterian-Jure-Divino

Biography

Goodwin was the most learned of the Five Dissenting Brethren and the chief intellectual architect of Independent ecclesiology. President of Magdalen College Oxford under the Protectorate (1650-1660). His massive posthumous *Works* (12 vols, 1681-1704) is the great Independent dogmatic system — strongly supralapsarian, with a developed covenant of redemption and an experimental soteriology shaped by Sibbes. Ejected in 1660, he lived in retirement in London until 1680.

Principal works

  • An Apologeticall Narration (1644, with Nye, Burroughs, Bridge, Simpson)
  • A Childe of Light Walking in Darknesse (1636)
  • Of the Object and Acts of Justifying Faith (posthum. 1697)
  • Works (12 vols, 1681–1704)
Role at the Assembly

Independent / Dissenting Brethren

A small but articulate minority of Congregationalist divines — the 'Dissenting Brethren' — who pressed for a gathered-church polity against the Presbyterian majority. Their Apologeticall Narration (1644) and their dissents in the Grand Debate over church government shaped the Confession's carefully worded chapters and anticipated the Savoy Declaration of 1658.

Party in 7 cruxes

Ontology placement · 3 overrides of 35

I. ✦ Scripture
Sufficiency Express-And-Good-Consequence Canon 66-Book-Protestant-Canon Authority Self-Authenticating-With-Internal-Witness Interpretation Scripture-Interprets-Scripture Necessity Necessary-After-The-Fall
II. ✠ God & Decree
Trinity Nicene-With-Filioque Order of Decrees Supralapsarian Deliberately-Permits-Both Extent of Atonement Particular Reprobation Preterition-And-Just-Condemnation Covenant of Redemption Explicit-Developed Implicit-Affirmed
III. ⊕ Covenant
Number of Covenants Bi-Covenantal Mosaic Covenant Administration-Of-Grace Children of Believers Federal-Inclusion-Paedobaptist Testamental Continuity One-Substance-Different-Administrations
IV. ☧ Christology
Natures Chalcedonian-Two-Natures Offices Prophet-Priest-King States & Descent Humiliation-And-Exaltation; No-Local-Descent Active-Obedience Imputation Active-And-Passive-Obedience-Imputed
V. ✚ Soteriology
Effectual Calling Effectual-And-Renewing Justification Ground Imputed-Righteousness-Of-Christ Saving Faith Receptive-Resting-On-Christ-Alone Perseverance Certain-For-The-Elect Assurance Attainable-But-Not-Essence-Of-Faith
VI. ⚖ Law & Sanctification
Uses of the Law Three-Uses-Affirmed Tripartite Division Moral-Judicial-Ceremonial Sabbath Lords-Day-Fourth-Commandment-Perpetual Good Works Necessary-Fruit-Not-Meritorious
VII. ☩ Ecclesiology & Worship
Polity Independent-Congregational Presbyterian-Jure-Divino Sacramental Efficacy Signs-And-Seals-Conferring-Grace-By-Spirit Regulative Principle Strict-Only-What-Commanded Censures & Synods Three-Degrees-With-Graded-Synods
VIII. ⌛ Civil & Last Things
Magistrate's Role Custos-Utriusque-Tabulae (1646) Oaths & Marriage Oaths-Lawful-Serious; Divorce-Adultery-Or-Desertion Intermediate State Immediate-Conscious-With-God-Or-Judgment Final Judgment Single-Universal-Judgment-By-Christ
Cite this divine

Study Reformed, “Thomas Goodwin” (Divine), Westminster Standards Atlas, version 79a5f9880ac1, https://studyreformed.com/atlas/cite/persona/thomas-goodwin/.

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