Editor's Preface     ix
Comparison of Editions of Gerhard's Loci     xii
Commonplace II (1625 Exegesis): On the Nature of God and the Divine Attributes     3
As Holy Scripture is the only principle of knowing in theology, so also God is the only and greatest principle of being with respect to Holy Scripture itself and the divine works, [Section] 1
The doctrine of God is commended by its
Necessity, [Section] 2
Utility, [Section] 3
Difficulty, [Section] 4
The doctrine of God consists both of nomenclature and factual material, [Section] 6
Chapter I
Nomenclature includes     7
The etymology of the divine names, [Section] 7
Chapter II
Homonyms: The word Elohim, [Section] 12, and [characters not reproducible], [Section] 14     11
Chapter III
Synonyms, to which pertain the various divine names, [Section] 20, among which the three most eminent are     19
Jehovah, [Section] 22
Adonai, [Section] 48
Elohim, [Section] 52
Chapter IV
In the factual material, the first thing demonstrated is the [characters not reproducible], that God exists, [Section] 58     56
God's existence is demonstrated both from nature and from Scripture, [Section] 59. Here we deal with the natural knowledge of God, [Section] 63
Chapter V
Second, the [characters not reproducible], what God is, [Section] 89     92
Chapter VI
From the definition of God it is clear that we should consider in God     98
The unity of essence, which isdemonstrated in [Section] 95
Chapter VII
The divine attributes, which are treated in general in [Section] 104     114
Chapter VIII
For the sake of teaching, they are divided into three classes. To the first belongs the fact that God is an essence that is     121
Spiritual and incorporeal, [Section] 114, and hence also invisible, [Section] 124
Completely simple, [Section] 129
Eternal, [Section] 137, and hence immutable, [Section] 150, and immortal, [Section] 159
Infinite, [Section] 162, and immense, [Section] 171
To the second class belong God's     185
Omnipotence, [Section] 190
Goodness, [Section] 208, and mercy, [Section] 216
Justice, [Section] 229
Omniscience, [Section] 243, and omnisapience, [Section] 258
Freedom to act, [Section] 265
Truth, [Section] 285
To the third class belong God's     253
Perfection, [Section] 291
Majesty and glory, [Section] 300
Blessedness, [Section] 306
Commonplace III (1625 Exegesis): On the Most Holy Mystery of the All-Hallowed and Ineffable Trinity     267
The explanation of this article is set forth
In an introductory preface
In the elaboration of the article itself, [Section] 1
Chapter I
The introductory preface is set forth in six theses, of which the first is: The mystery of the Trinity must necessarily be known and believed by all who will be saved, [Section] 2     267
The mystery of the Trinity should not only be taught thetically in the Church but also should be disputed antithetically against its assailants, [Section] 13      272
The mystery of the Trinity ought and can be proved not from the streams of the fathers nor from the murky puddles of the scholastics but from the clear fountains of the Scriptures, [Section] 15     274
The mystery of the Trinity can and ought be confirmed not only from the New Testament but also from the Old, [Section] 20     279
The mystery of the Trinity neither can nor ought be proved from natural reason, especially a priori, [Section] 23     280
The mystery of the Trinity ought not be attacked and cannot be conquered by natural reason, [Section] 32     289
Chapter II
The elaboration of this article consists both in its nomenclature and in its factual material, [Section] 38     297
The nomenclature is either general or specific. The general nomenclature contains two theses. The former is: In the mystery of the Trinity, one is permitted to use terms that are not extant in the Scriptures in those exact words, [Section] 39
The latter is: We should not approve the rashness of those who use new terms that have not yet been received by the Church when they explain this mystery, [Section] 45     300
The specific nomenclature explains the terms used in the treatment of this mystery     301
The Hebrew terms, [Section] 47
The Greek terms, which are: [characters not reproducible], [Section] 48. [characters not reproducible], [Section] 50. [characters not reproducible], [Section] 53. [characters not reproducible], [Section] 59. [characters not reproducible], [Section] 59
The Latin terms, which are: essentia, substantia, consubstantialis, [Section] 60. persona, subsistentia, [Section] 61. trinitas, [Section] 64
The German terms, [Section] 67
Chapter III
There are two parts of the factual material. The former is constructive, in which the mystery of the Trinity is demonstrated from the Scriptures. The latter is destructive, in which the arguments of the Antitrinitarians are removed, [Section] 68     325
Of the constructive arguments there are
One general argument, [Section] 70
Several specific arguments
Some of the specific arguments are taken from the Old Testament and some are taken from the New Testament. Because of the greater light of the latter, the arguments from the New Testament are put ahead of those from the Old, [Section] 74
Chapter IV
The first argument from the New Testament for affirming the mystery of the Trinity is taken from the theophany that occurred in the administration of Christ's Baptism, [Section] 75     332
Chapter V
The second argument from the New Testament is taken from the institution of our Baptism, [Section] 85     342
Chapter VI
The third argument from the New Testament is drawn from the words of Christ in John 14:16, [Section] 103     357
Chapter VII
The fourth argument from the New Testament is taken from 1 John 5:7, [Section] 108     362
Chapter VIII
In the same manner, four principle arguments are taken from the Old Testament. The first is from the article of creation, [Section] 109     362
Chapter IX
The second is from the benefit of liberation from slavery in Egypt, [Section] 133     385
Chapter X
The third is from the promise of the Messiah, [Section] 146     396
Chapter XI
The fourth is from the ecclesiastical benediction, Num. 6:22ff., [Section] 151     400
Chapter XII
Added to these four principle arguments from the Old Testament are two classes of passages of the Old Testament in which the mystery of the Trinity is set forth. Of these, the former proves a plurality of persons in God; the latter, the Trinity of persons, [Section] 152. Also added are four classes of passages of the New Testament, [Section] 165     401
Chapter XIII
The latter, destructive part responds to the arguments of the Photinians, which are drawn     415
From the unity of the divine essence, [Section] 167
From the simplicity of the divine essence, [Section] 168
From the majesty of the heavenly Father, [Section] 169
Glossary     419
Name Index     423
Scripture Index     431
Works Cited     445