Canons of Dort

The Doctrinal Rules of Dordrecht were established at the Synod of the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands in 1618-1619, the so-called Synod of Dordrecht. The doctrinal rules are directed against the Remonstrants and are (were) therefore also called the Five Articles against the Remonstrants.

The Synod of Dordrecht was an international synod. This synod was called by the Assembly of Deputies (Staten-General) of the United Netherlands to express itself on the views of the Remonstrants. The Remonstrants were unanimously condemned at the synod. Their doctrine, according to the Synod, is not in accordance with the Bible. The doctrinal rules put the condemnation in writing.

The doctrinal rules are composed of five chapters. The chapters deal with the following topics:

• Chapter 1: On divine election and damnation.
• Chapter 2: On the death of Christ and the redemption of men through that death.
• Chapter 3/4: On the corruption of men, and conversion to God, and the manner thereof.
• Chapter 5: On the perseverance of the saints.

In the Doctrinal Rules of Dordrecht, the Reformed faith is first positively stated. Each interpretation is followed by a summary of the errors that the synod rejects. Simplified, the statement of the Doctrinal Rules of Dordrecht looks like this:

• The total depravity of every human being.
• God the Father chooses whom He will redeem and whom He will not.
• God the Son (Christ) is the Redeemer of His children, but not of other people.
• God the Holy Spirit will surely deliver the elect.
• The children of God can be assured (by faith) of their salvation.

In the English-speaking world, these five points are known as the Five points of Calvinism.

The Dordrecht Doctrinal Rules also emphasize that God has the gospel preached so that people should be saved from sin and the penalty of sin. Article 5 of the second doctrinal piece (chapter) states:

"Further, the promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified should not perish, but have everlasting life; which promise must be preached and presented without distinction to all nations and people, to whom God sends the gospel according to his good pleasure, with commandment to conversion and faith."

The doctrinal rules of Dordrecht are part of the confession of faith of the Reformed churches. Among the Reformed churches, the orthodox ones still adhere to it today; in the others, a move away from the doctrine of double predestination in its strict dogmatic implementation can be observed in part.