Loci Communes was the Latin phrase chosen by Phillip Melanchthon when he penned his title for the first systematic theology of the Protestant Reformation. It was also the title chosen by Peter Martyr Vermigli for his systematic theology. Vermigli was a Italian Reformer and contemporary of John Calvin. He and Calvin were considered to be the most important theologians of the Reformed tradition within the Sixteenth century.

Common Places also refers to the common city within the great work of Saint Augustine, The City of God. This is the city of common grace, inhabited by those of two distinct kingdoms. Within this city culture is created and commerce takes place. It is a place for the arts as well as the marketplace. Ideas are exchanged and the consequences of such ideas bare forth within the same city.

These themes of theology, culture, ideas, and consequence coalesce in common places. These are earthy maters of the soil and the fruit of our hands. These are maters of metaphysical dialog that take place within ivory towers. This is the substance of our common existence and our shared experience. All of life Coram Deo, in the presence of God.

“Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.”

“But though the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves are bound together by a mutual tie, due arrangement requires that we treat of the former in the first place, and then descend to the latter.”

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Chapter I