Calvinism in the Early Church

"It is important to note that the Early Church fathers had certain conceptions that differed from the historical context of the middle ages, or of the Reformation. In this way many of the terms and ideas they utilized 'theologically speaking' are housed differently. For example, 'regeneration' to the early church fathers meant 'the entirety of the Christian life,' or what we might mean as parts of sanctification. This clears up a HUGE amount of problematic passages that most people would not understand if they read them, or would twist to mean something else. In our day, or even as far back as the Reformation, that term 'regeneration' is used more specifically of the initial step of conversion that is wrought by the change of heart by the Spirit of God upon the sinner. Subsequently, many gainsayers against the Gospel go to the early church fathers simply because they believe the early church did not teach what the Reformation taught, or what Westminster taught afterwards. They see theology as progressive. This is a mistake. Christ taught the same Gospel that Augustine, Gottschalk, Luther, Calvin, the Puritans, or Princeton Theology believed – or even you. It is up to the student to work out an historical theology that is consistent based on a thoughtful representation of the historical CONTEXT for each period of church history.

"These quotes are simply that – quotes taken out of context that teach the doctrines of grace. This does not mean that are 'troublesome' areas of Tertullian’s theology, or hard to understand parts of Augustine. It does mean that the student must be careful to take their writings as compendiums, not simply proof texts. but this will be of help nonetheless." Read the Patristics on the Doctrines of Grace...