
Heidelcast Heidelcast: Special Guest Patrick O'Banion on Girolamo Zanchi
Zanchi As Midwife Of The Reformation
- Zanchi helped move Reformed theology from its early, improvised stage into a durable theological tradition.
- He integrated Calvinist thought with church fathers, medieval theologians, and Italian Reformation humanism.
Zanchi Found Learning In A Monastery
- After losing his parents, Zanchi entered an Augustinian religious order and embraced its learning and disciplined life.
- His education eventually led to a prestigious public-preacher appointment and ministry in Lucca.
Preaching Forced Zanchi To Flee Italy
- The Inquisition targeted Lucca's evangelical network, forcing its leaders to flee, hide, or face arrest.
- Zanchi stayed longer than Peter Martyr, but preaching the gospel eventually exposed him and sent him across the Alps.














In this episode, Dr. Clark talk with special guest Patrick O'Banion about his work and publications on Italian Reformer Girolamo Zanchi (1516-1590). They discuss Patrick's most recent work, "Five Books on the Nature of God, or On the Divine Attributes, Volume I," published by Merchant Royal Press.
First published in 1577, Reformed theologian Girolamo Zanchi's Five Books on the Nature of God, or On the Divine Attributes is one of the most in-depth and significant treatises on theology proper written during the post-Reformation period. Exegetically driven, informed by cutting-edge scholarship, pastorally focused, and deeply engaged with the long tradition of classical Christian reflection upon God, Zanchi's work presents and awe-inspiring vision of the who God is and what He is like, especially as He makes Himself known to His people in Christ.
In addition to a historical and theological introduction, this first of five volumes includes modern English translations of Zanchi's letter to Prince John Casimir, his brief letter to the reader, and the complete first book of The Nature of God, which takes up the divine names as its central topic.
Patrick graduated from Westminster Seminary California (MA, Historical Theology) and earned his PhD in history at St Louis University. He was professor of History at Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO) 2009–19. He has also published three books on early Modern Spain and numerous articles in academic journals. He is the translator of Girolamo Zanchi, The Spiritual Marriage between Christ and His Church and Every One of the Faithful. Patrick was ordained as a ruling elder in the PCA in 2008 and he is now licensed to preach by the Siouxlands Presbytery, PCA.
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