Translated by James Clark MA., MSc, MEd, MTh
Clark-2016. lfpb. 13+112pp.
This work is a translation of what was a ‘best-seller’ during the Protestant Reformation. Theodore Beza’s Confession De Foi Du Chretien was first published at Geneva in 1558, and excels as a concise declaration of the Christian Faith.
Beza was born of aristocratic family in Vezelay, France on 24th June 1519. After a brilliant academic career he became Professor of Greek at Lausanne in 1549, where he continued ten years. While there he published his famous translation of the New Testament into Latin. In 1559 he removed to Geneva, where he became colleague and successor to John Calvin, who died in 1564. In 1565 Beza published his edition of the Greek New Testament, with valuable notes.
This work was greatly esteemed and used buy the translators of our Authorised Version. Beza also aided in the French translation of the Bible published at Geneva in 1588. He maintained close contact with Knox, Melville and other Scottish worthies, and after long and faithful service in the cause of God and truth he was taken home on 13th October 1605.
The text used is that of the 1558 French edition, which has been compared with the 1560 Latin edition, so that the later improvements of the author have been incorporated.
The Christian Faith has not changed. It was the same in Beza’s time as it is now i. e. Biblical. Modernists have departed from the Faith, by departing from Scripture, all of which is “given by inspiration of God’ (2 Tim. 3:16).
May God bless this work to the glory of Christ, and to the edification of Christ’s people.
From the translator’s preface.
About the translator
Rev. James Clark is minister of Inverness Free Church (Continuing)
