Canons of Dort, Head 3: Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof (Total Depravity + Effectual Calling)
Source: Canons of the Synod of Dort (1618-1619) (Head 3) · creed
Man was originally formed after the image of God. But, revolting from God by the instigation of the devil, all men are conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, incapable of saving good, prone to evil, dead in sin, and in bondage thereto. Without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they neither will nor can return.
Witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15)
- manuscript_tradition: Rufinus of Aquileia, Commentary on the Apostles' Creed (c. AD 404)
- manuscript_tradition: Pirminius, De singulis libris canonicis scarapsus (c. AD 750) — earliest received form
- translation: Latin (Symbolum Apostolicum) — Western Church
- citation_tradition: Cited by every major catechism since 8th century
- republication: CCEL — Creeds of Christendom (Schaff)