Institutiones theologicae

Simon Episcopius's Institutiones theologicae is a foundational work in systematizing Arminianism, a theological movement that emerged as a response to strict Calvinist doctrines, particularly predestination. Published posthumously in 1650–51, this work aimed to provide a systematic theological basis for Remonstrant beliefs.12

Arminianism emphasizes the compatibility of God's sovereignty with human free will. Unlike Calvinism, it posits that election for salvation is conditioned by an individual's faith. The movement, named after Jacobus Arminius, asserts that God's love is the primary initiator of human destiny and that grace is not irresistible, allowing believers the possibility of falling from grace. Episcopius, a prominent theologian and systematizer of Arminianism, sought to articulate these ideas clearly in his Institutiones theologicae.231