The Synod of Dort (1618-1619) was an international Reformed assembly convened in the Netherlands to settle a deep theological controversy between the Remonstrants (Arminians) and the Reformed Church. The Synod reaffirmed the Calvinist doctrines of salvation, formalizing what are now widely known as the Five Points of Calvinism to defend the absolute sovereignty of God in the work of redemption.
The Synod of Dort served as a formal ecclesiastical assembly, consistent with the principle that churches may gather to safeguard sound doctrine. As noted in Westminster Confession of Faith Ch.31 §1, such synods are proper for the government and edification of the body of Christ. The assembly was specifically called to address the Remonstrant challenge, which argued that divine grace could be resisted and that election was conditioned upon foreseen human faith. In response, the gathered delegates sought to defend the biblical truth that salvation is entirely of the Lord, affirming that it is not dependent on the will of man, as described in The Plan of Salvation — V. Calvinism.
The Synod’s primary accomplishment was the rejection of Arminian theology and the articulation of the Five Points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. These points emphasize that God alone is the Author and Finisher of salvation. As explained in The Plan of Salvation — V. Calvinism, this system recognizes that man is dead in sin and utterly dependent on divine intervention. As the Apostle Paul writes, confirming our complete reliance on the sovereign God: 'For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure' (Philippians 2:13). By establishing these doctrines, the Synod ensured that the glory for our salvation remains with Christ alone, consistent with the spirit of The Plan of Salvation — IV. Universalism which highlights that our security is rooted in the unchangeable purpose of God.