Cast of Characters

Latest posting: March 28, 2006.

Click here to go to the contents page for the history of the reformational movement.

NOTE: This page provides information on the characters who appear in various roles in the drama on which this series comments. There is a separate web page with information on institutions and organizations mentioned here.

As you study this web page, a question may occur to you: Why are some people listed in this cast of characters, and not others? For example, why is person so-and-so not listed here? Isn't he (or she) part of the story? The answer is that it has to do mainly with who gets mentioned in the series as posted to date. Perhaps so-and-so will pop up in a later essay and then make his appearance in the cast of characters. Another factor is whether I have been able to gather the kind of information on person so-and-so that I am looking for. Some of the people listed have cooperated by sending me the information I need, and some others whom I would like to list have not. Of course much of the information is derived from books, periodicals and internet sources.

In trying to respect the boundary between what can be made public and what ought to remain private, I have decided to include (if I have it) where the individual taught, what his doctoral dissertation (DD) dealt with, the supervisor (SP) thereof, where he took his graduate training (GT), and whether he is a student of (SO) any of the leading figures dealt with in this survey of the reformational movement. When I identify one of these characters as having been a student of so-and-so, I mean it in the literal sense: he took formal instruction under him (whether he fully agreed and considers himself as so-and-so's student in the strong sense of the term is another question). It is also helpful to know whether he is related as a family member to others in the case of characters. I include no information on friendships; they do not have as much of a factual character, and there are sometimes estrangements. I have resisted the urge to add bibliographical information: some reformational books already include copious bibliographies.

Please forgive my use of the past tense throughout. In writing, for example, that John Bolt taught systematic theology at Calvin Seminary, I am speaking the truth, but I do not mean to deny that he continues to do so. The point is rather that I do not promise to keep track of when someone identified on this web page retires or stops teaching altogether, even on a part-time basis. Bear in mind that some information inevitably becomes outdated. Finally, please note that the kind of information that is presented here is not easy to come by. Therefore the write-ups on various persons who appear in my narrative are being withheld for the present until I have a chance to do more checking. I will add to this web page from time to time. -Theodore Plantinga.

Go to the contents page for the history of the reformational movement.