De katholieke ecclesiologie van de Confessio Belgica in het licht van Le Baston de la Foy

Samenvatting

The ecclesiology of the Belgic Confession, found in articles 27-32, is compared to the
first theological work of its author, Guy de Brès. This work, Le Baston de la Foy
Chrestienne (translated into English in 1577 as The Staffe of Christian Faith), is studied
in the four consecutive editions between 1555 and 1559. The character of the book is a
patristic anthology, meant to train the Reformed people to defend and confess their
faith. A comparison is made between De Brès’ use of Christological titles in his ecclesiology
in the anthology and the confession. The feminine images for the Church, which
were given a prominent place in Le Baston, did not recur in the text of the Confession.
Still, the comparison between the two works brings out the catholic character of De
Brès’ ecclesiology.