The Three Forms
of Unity
The Belgic Confession of Faith (1561)
Authored by Reformed Reverend Guido de Bres in the Southern Netherlands in 1561 as a defense of Reformed beliefs to Phillip II of Spain. It was written in a time of severe persecution in the Netherlands. Indeed, Guido de Bres was ultimately martyred for his Reformed Faith. The Belgic Confession remained, however, as a concise and scriptural defense of the main tenets of the Reformed Faith, being revised at the Synod of Dordt in 1619, and remaining a pillar of the Three Forms of Unity traditionally used as confessional standards of the Dutch Reformed community. The link to the entire text can be found below:
The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
Perhaps the most widely known of the Three Forms, the Heidelberg Catechism was commissioned by Elector Frederick III of the Palatinate to provide a standard for Reformed instruction. It was written primarily by Zacharias Ursinus and Casper Olevianus at the University of Heidelberg, and it was published in 1563. The 129 questions and answers have been divided into 52 Lord’s Days, to facilitate the preaching of sermons that cover the contents in the timeframe of a calendar year, a practice still adhered to among many in the Dutch Reformed community. The Catechism is divided into three main parts: Misery, Deliverance, and Gratitude. It is noted for its devotional and personal tone and has been a blessed resource for the instruction of many children and converted people.
The Canons of Dordt (1619)
The Canons of Dort are a product of the Synod of Dort, that was held in the city of Dordrecht in the Netherlands from 1618-1619. The Synod was called by Prince Maurits of Orange, in response to unrest in the church caused by the followers of Jacobus Arminius, also known as the Remonstrants. The Remonstrants issued 5 challenges to the Reformed doctrine of soteriology. When the Synod was held, the Remonstrants were called to give a defense of their challenges, until they were ultimately dismissed by the President of the Synod, Johannes Bogerman. The Synod ultimately condemned the error of the Remonstrants, and drafted the Canons of Dort (these canons gave inspiration to TULIP, or the so-called five points of Calvinism) in defense of the Reformed Faith.