In this episode, we speak with Dr. David Noe, the translator, and Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn, the editor, behind the newly released English edition of John Arrowsmith’s remarkable work, Plans for Holy War: How the Spiritual Soldier Fights, Conquers, and Triumphs. Originally published in 1657 as Tactica Sacra, this treatise considers the intricacies of spiritual warfare, offering timeless insights and practical guidance for Christians engaged in the spiritual battle.

John Arrowsmith was a notable seventeenth-century theologian and member of the Westminster Assembly. Born in 1602 in Gateshead, Durham county, Arrowsmith was a dedicated scholar who served as a fellow at St. Catherine’s College and later as master of St. John’s College, Cambridge. His significant involvement in the Westminster Assembly and his writings have left a lasting impact on Reformed theology.

Join us as Drs. Noe and Van Dixhoorn share their journey in bringing this classic work to modern readers, revealing the challenges and triumphs they encountered along the way. With a deep appreciation for Arrowsmith’s theological and scholarly contributions, they offer listeners a unique perspective on why Plans for Holy War remains a vital resource today.

Dr. David Noe serves as Pastor of Reformation Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a distinguished translator and scholar with a deep expertise in classical languages and Reformed theology. Dr. Noe is also the Latin editor for The Confessional Presbyterian Journal, and his online pedagogy for Latin, Greek, and Classics generally can be found at LatinPerDiem.com, MossMethod.com, and AdNavseam.com.

Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn (PhD, Cambridge) is Professor of Church History and Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC and an OPC minister. He is the author of Confessing the Faith and God’s Ambassadors:The Westminster Assembly and the Reformation of the English Pulpit, 1643–1652 and editor of The Minutes and Papers of the Westminster Assembly (1643–1652).

Chapters

• 00:07 Introduction
• 05:36 Biography of John Arrowsmith
• 11:02 Dr. Noe’s Introduction to Arrowsmith
• 14:47 Arrowsmith’s Health
• 17:41 Arrowsmith’s Latin
• 21:57 Arrowsmith’s Involvement at the Westminster Assembly
• 26:51 The Portions of This Volume
• 29:25 Speeches against Weigelianism
• 33:44 Arrowsmith’s Work on Spiritual Warfare
• 40:28 The Pastoral-Scholastic Style
• 44:03 The Present Value of Reading This Book
• 55:08 Future Projects
• 57:38 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Chad Van Dixhoorn, David Noe

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey speaks with Dr. David Noe, pastor of Reformation Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids and former faculty member at Calvin University. They discuss Dr. Noe’s work at the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies, focusing on his recent workshop and the enduring significance of classical studies for understanding the Reformed theological tradition.

Join us as we discuss the importance of Latin scholarship, the influence of classical authors on Reformation thought, and the challenges and rewards of engaging with historical theological texts. This conversation highlights the value of communal learning and the timeless relevance of studying foundational Christian doctrines in their original languages.

Dr. Noe is also the Latin editor for the Confessional Presbyterian Journal, and his online pedagogy for Latin, Greek, and Classics generally can be found at LatinPerDiem.com, MossMethod.com, and AdNavseam.com.

Chapters

• 00:00:07 Introduction
• 00:03:13 Working with Other Scholars
• 00:11:12 A Recent Latin Workshop at the Meeter Center
• 00:20:08 Seeing Scholarship in Process
• 00:24:09 Imitating the Education of the Reformers
• 00:34:33 Day 1: Cicero, Seneca, Lactantius
• 00:41:48 Day 2: Augustine, Bernard of Clairveaux, Thomas Aquinas
• 00:49:01 Day 3: Lorenzo Valla, Guillaume Bude, and Erasmus
• 00:54:31 Day 4: Calvin
• 00:56:53 Day 5: Vermigli
• 00:59:21 Daily Disciplines
• 01:07:01 Latin Per Diem
• 01:12:22 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, David Noe

Rev. Dr. David Noe joins us to speak about John Calvin, God or Baal: Two Letters on the Reformation of Worship and Pastoral Service (Reformation Heritage Books), which includes translations of two letters:

• We Must Flee the Forbidden Rites of the Wicked and Maintain the Purity of the Christian Faith
• The Christian Man’s Obligation to Fulfill or Renounce the Priestly Offices of the Papal Church

Calvin most likely wrote these letters in the fall of 1536. Both have a polemical tone and touch upon the subject of worship. These letters are Calvin’s first strong rebuke of two friends, men whom he had known for some time and had clearly expressed evangelical convictions and yet wanted to remain in the positions of privilege and power that they enjoyed within French Catholicism.

Dr. Noe is Professor of Classics at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has also published a translation of Franciscus Junius’ (1545–1602) De Theologia Vera (Reformation Heritage Books) and a translation of Theodore Beza’s (1519–1605) Plana et Perspicua Tractatio De Coena Domini (Reformation Heritage Books).

Links

• Latin Per Diem
• Ad Navseam podcast

Participants: Camden Bucey, David Noe