All Articles For Editor's Notes

In a special worship service in the Grandville Protestant Reformed Church held September 4, Rev. Brian Huizinga was installed as the Professor of Theology and Old Testament Studies in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary. In this issue, we print an edited version of Prof. R. Cammenga’s fine sermon on Acts 27:23b (“whose I am, and whom I serve”) delivered in the installation service. It replaces the editorial for this issue. The next issue of the Standard Bearer (Nov. 1) will be the annual Reformation issue. The theme will be the Reformation in Zurich, Switzerland, and it will high­light such notable...

With thanksgiving to God, we begin the new publishing year for the Standard Bearer. Since the first issue of the magazine appeared in October of 1924, this begins the 96th-volume year. Let us not overlook God’s faithfulness in providing the financial means and the writers all these years. For the coming year, 39 men and women have agreed to contribute from one to as many as ten articles for the SB. What changes will come for Volume 96? The writ­ers added to the list this year (though some have writ­ten in the past) include Revs. V. Ibe and S. Key...

In this issue is a “Contribution” submitted at the request of the editors, after the family who wrote it had corresponded with the editors about the role of elders in counseling especially difficult cases. The article is printed without the authors’ names, at their request. After reading the article, it will become plain why the authors’ names are withheld. This issue also includes a letter from Rev. Nathan Langerak responding to Rev. Koole’s response to Rev. N. Langerak’s first letter back in the November 15, 2018 SB. The editors print the letter at the request of the RFPA Board. Rev....

Welcome to our second commemorative issue on the Synod of Dordt (1618-19). This Synod is best known for its defense and de­velopment of the truth of sovereign, particular grace in the Canons. Aspects of this truth were set forth in the November 1, 2018 issue of the SB. The current issue focuses on the work of the Synod in five other significant areas. With these two issues, as well as Prof. Kuiper’s writings (in his brief SB articles on the Synod through the year and in the blog posts at dordt400.org), we hope that you are getting a broad view...

Four hundred years ago, theologians—pastors and professors—from Reformed churches all over Europe were wending their way to the town of Dordrecht, in the province of Utrecht, in the Lowlands. They were coming by invitation of the Reformed churches and the States General, the governing political body of the provinces. These men came knowing that they were facing a difficult task, namely, confronting a dangerous heresy with many heads and much deception. Did they know that they were leaving behind their families and their labors for six months? Probably not. But they were willing to pay the cost, to sacrifice and...

This issue marks the beginning of the new volume (number 95) for the Standard Bearer, first printed in October of 1924. These “notes” will give readers a small preview of the coming year in the Standard Bearer. Dordrecht, 1618-19 This volume year corresponds perfectly with the years of the “Great Synod”—the synod of Dordrecht held 400 years ago. God used this international gathering to reject Arminianism thoroughly and marvelously to uphold the doctrines of sovereign grace. Since the Standard Bearer is devoted to the Reformed truth, we are delighted to be able to join in the commemoration of Dordt. Prof....

Welcome to the second 2017 commemorative issue of the Reformation. Some 500 years ago, Luther posted his 95 theses for discussion and debate, and so began the great sixteenth-century Reformation. This was God’s work of forming His seriously deformed church back to the Bible in doctrine, worship, church polity, and walk of life. As beneficiaries of that mighty work of grace, we consider it sufficiently important to have two issues of the Standard Bearer commemorating it. We trust that in this issue you will find more fresh, researched, and currently applicable articles for the instruction and encouragement of Reformed believers...

In this issue, we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the great Reformation begun in 1517. We acknowledge that we must not be guilty of garnishing the sepulchers of the prophets, while despising the Word of God that they brought. We must not arrogantly imagine that we are the only ones who rightly celebrate the Reformation. May God preserve us from both evils. Yet celebrate, we must! We commemorate God’s work of reformation. Five hundred years ago God delivered His beloved bride from chains of error, hierarchy, and false worship. He lifted her to new heights of understanding in His truth....

With all thanks and praise to God, we begin the 94th year of printing the Standard Bearer. The first issue of the SB consisted of sixteen pages, containing nine articles and three poems. Four men made up the entire staff. I am more thankful than I can express that in the upcoming year the SB has a total of 38 different writers who have agreed to contribute articles—from two articles to ten or twelve. By God’s grace working in these men and women, the SB will continue to be a Reformed magazine devoted to defending and expounding the Reformed faith...

It has been several years since the Standard Bearer has undergone significant design changes. While the contents of the Standard Bearer will always take precedence to its appearance, the two must work together. Over the last few years, the Reformed Free Publishing Association’s Membership and Marketing Committee has been discussing the idea of a complete redesign of the magazine. The goals were to have a periodical that is pleasing to the eye, easy to read, and still maintains the previous standards in regards to the content. This new design will be revealed starting with the October 1, 2017 issue. The...