The Aberdeen doctors or Doctors of Aberdeen were six divines working at Marischal College and

King's College King's College or The King's College refers to two higher education institutions in the United Kingdom: *King's College, Cambridge, a constituent of the University of Cambridge *King's College London, a constituent of the University of London It ca ...

in Aberdeen, Scotland in the seventeenth century. Until 1635, they enjoyed the leadership of Patrick Forbes, Bishop of Aberdeen. They are distinguished not only for their positions at Aberdeen, but also by their

irenicist Irenicism in Christian theology refers to attempts to unify Christian apologetical systems by using reason as an essential attribute. The word is derived from the Greek word ''ειρήνη (eirene)'' meaning peace. It is a concept related to a commu ...

opposition to the

National Covenant of 1638 Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from '' Coven ...

. Their adherence to Episcopacy and their support for the Articles of the Assembly at Perth (1618), which prescribed several English forms of worship, form the backdrop of their opposition to the

Presbyterian Covenanters Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from '' Coven ...

History

When Patrick Forbes was consecrated Bishop of Aberdeen in 1618, he endowed a

chair A chair is a type of seat, typically designed for one person and consisting of one or more legs, a flat or slightly angled seat and a back-rest. They may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in vario ...

of divinity in each Aberdeen college. He revived the awarding of degrees in divinity which earlier Protestants had suppressed as prideful or as redolent of the Roman Catholic title

Doctor of the Church Doctor of the Church (Latin: ''doctor'' "teacher"), also referred to as Doctor of the Universal Church (Latin: ''Doctor Ecclesiae Universalis''), is a title given by the Catholic Church to saints recognized as having made a significant contribu ...

. The early recipients of the

Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...

who stayed on to teach at the colleges became known as the "Aberdeen doctors". John Dury wrote to the doctors seeking their opinion on the points of dispute between the Lutherans and the

Calvinists Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...

. Their reply of 20 February 1637 was supported by

Robert Baillie Robert Baillie (30 April 16021662) was a Church of Scotland minister who became famous as an author and a propagandist for the Covenanters.

but opposed by

Samuel Rutherford Samuel Rutherford (also Rutherfurd or Rutherfoord; – 29 March 1661) was a Scottish Presbyterian pastor and theologian who wrote widely read letters, sermons, devotional and scholastic works. As a political theorist, he is known for "L ...

. On 20 July 1638, a deputation seeking Aberdeen's adhesion to February's National Covenant arrived, comprising the

Earl of Montrose Montrose may refer to: Places Scotland * Montrose, Angus (the original after which all others ultimately named or derived) ** Montrose Academy, the secondary school in Montrose Australia * Montrose, Queensland (Southern Downs Region), a locality ...

Lord Cupar The title of Lord Balmerino (or Balmerinoch) was a title in the Peerage of Scotland; it was created in 1606 and forfeited in 1746 on the attainder and execution of the 6th Lord Balmerino in the Tower of London. The title of Lord Coupar or Cupar ...

, the Master of Forbes, and Sir Thomas Burnett, Laird of Leyes representing the nobility; and Alexander Henderson, David Dickson, and Andrew Cant, the ministry. The doctors were prepared to adhere provided satisfactory answers were given to 14 written questions, termed "demands". The Covenanter ministers' "answers" were submitted the following day, prompting "replies" from the doctors and "second answers" from the Covenanters, who then left the town. The doctors issued further replies which they called "duplies", which went unanswered. All the texts were quickly printed and widely circulated and debated. The doctors' obduracy contributed to the First Bishops' War of 1639 in which the Covenanters sought the submission of Aberdeen.

List

The six doctors who participated in the 1638 disputation were: * William Leslie, Principal of King's College, leader after death of Bishop Forbes in 1635 * John Forbes of Corse, theologian at King's College and son of Bishop Forbes *

Alexander Scroggie Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...

, scholar of King's College, Minister in Old Aberdeen * Alexander Ross, Scholar of King's College, Minister in Aberdeen * Robert Baron, Professor of Divinity at Marischal, Minister in Aberdeen *

James Sibbald James Sibbald (–1647) was a Scottish Royalist divine, and theologian. Life James Sibbald was of an ancient family in the Mearns. His birth, about 1595, may be inferred from his being on ordination trials with the presbytery of Deer on 28 O ...

, Professor of Natural Philosophy at Marischal, Minister in Aberdeen As well as Bishop Patrick Forbes, two other notable Aberdeen divines were associated with the six doctors:Macmillan 1909, pp.48–49 * William Guild, who subscribed to the six doctors' initial demands but then switched to the side of the Covenanters * William Forbes, principal of Marischal until made Bishop of Edinburgh in 1634, months before his death

References

Sources

;Primary: * ''The Answers of Some Brethren of the Ministerie to the Replies of the Ministers and Professours of Divinitie in Aberdene, Concerning the Late Covenant. Also, Duplies of the Ministers and Professors of Aberdene, to the second Answers of some reverend Brethren, Concerning the Late Covenant'', R. Young: Edinburgh, 1638. ;Secondary: * * *

Citations

{{University of Aberdeen, state=collapsed 17th century in Scotland Scottish Episcopal theologians University of Aberdeen Wars of the Three Kingdoms