Introduction to Notes on Muller

Until fairly recently, scholarship devoted to the post-Reformation (p-R) period has been largely neglected in deference to Reformation studies – after all, it is the post-reformation period! Nevertheless, the alleged calcification and dogmatization of the biblical humanism of the Reformation by the Protestant Orthodox has seemingly resulted in the virtual abandonment in academia of the contributions of the theologians of the seventeenth century. However, studies such as Richard Muller’s Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics (PRRD) have sought to revise our understanding of the two hundred or so years after the Reformation. Muller’s works set the standard for p-R research. His breadth of analysis and mastery of the sources make his books an invaluable resource for those of us studying the Puritans. Therefore, I thought it may be useful for us to plod our way (however slowly) though Muller’s PRRD (yes, all four volumes!).

From time to time I will post my notes of Muller’s work. For convenience sake, I will try to be brief. Considering the massive size of PRRD, I figure that short and sweet summaries will best serve our purposes. I will provide Muller’s headings with sub-divisions and page references, so if something piques your curiosity, you can chase down the reference for additional help. So, without further delay, let’s jump in!