Defending Christ’s church by knowing her history: Jephthah’s example*

Douglas Kuiper, professor at the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary, argues for the vital importance of historical knowledge in ministerial education and church defense, using Jephthah's biblical example as his framework. The article presents the seminary's curriculum structure, which devotes 20% of coursework to history alongside comparable emphases on doctrine, biblical exegesis, and practical theology, demonstrating that historical knowledge strengthens rather than detracts from theological training. This address illustrates the Protestant Reformed conviction that understanding church history—both biblical and post-apostolic—equips ministers to defend Christ's church faithfully.