The Savoy Platform 1658 Examining a Puritan document

The Savoy Platform 1658 Examining a Puritan document 1 Puritanism: History and Theology

Examining a Puritan document n n 2 Read carefully what it says Notice what it DOESN’T say Notice the date… think about the historical context Draw conclusions on the TYPE of church that it is formulating Puritanism: History and Theology

Jesus is the head of the church n n n 3 Authority (King Jesus…and not King Charles!) The Word of God is supreme (and not the Pope!) Obedience to the instructions of the Word (and not the laws of the land? ) Puritanism: History and Theology

The calling of a Puritan minister n Called by Christ Called by church n Set apart n n 4 Declare the word of God public worship Authority to rule…. A king Puritanism: History and Theology

Types of leadership n n 5 Pastors Teachers Elders Deacons Puritanism: History and Theology

Leadership in the church n n 6 Appointment of leaders by the Holy Spirit Through fasting and prayer Through the Laying on of hands Through a)“suffrage” b) “acceptation” and c) “separation unto prayer” Puritanism: History and Theology

Notes 1 n n Note the Calvinism of Article 2 (“Called out of the world…given to him by his father”) What about the Holy Spirit in relation to appointments? n 7 “Suffrage” (Art 11) They emphasise Acts 1 (casting lots) but not Acts 13 (“Set apart Paul and Barnabas” Puritanism: History and Theology

Notes 2 n n n 8 Why no mention of “bishops” (“overseers”)? Are pastors, teachers etc offices or functions? What about apostles, prophets and evangelists? Puritanism: History and Theology