canons of Dort

The Canons of Dort were a response to theological disputes within the Dutch Reformed Church in the early 17th century. These disputes centered on the doctrine of predestination, a key tenet of Calvinism.12

In 1610, followers of Jacobus Arminius, known as Remonstrants, presented a document outlining their views, which differed from strict Calvinist interpretations. They rejected the idea that God had unconditionally elected individuals for salvation.1

To address these disagreements, the Synod of Dort convened from 1618 to 1619. This assembly, comprising delegates from the Netherlands and other Reformed churches, declared the Remonstrant theology contrary to Scripture. The synod produced the Canons of Dort, which affirmed strict Calvinist doctrines, including unconditional predestination, the belief that Christ died only for the elect, total human depravity, irresistible divine grace, and the impossibility of falling from grace. These canons became a foundational theological basis for the Dutch Reformed Church.3145