The Deity of Christ by James Abbadie

James Abbadie (c. 1654-1727) was a French Protestant theologian and philosopher. He was born in Nay, a small town in Béarn, France, and was educated in Saumur and Sedan. Abbadie was a Huguenot, a member of the French Protestant minority, which was heavily persecuted during his lifetime. This led him to spend much of his life in exile, first in Switzerland and later in England, where he became a naturalized citizen.

Abbadie is best known for his theological writings, which were influential in the development of Protestant theology in the 18th century. His most famous work, “The Truth of the Christian Religion,” was published in 1684 and went through many editions and translations in Europe and America. In this work, Abbadie argued for the rationality and truth of Christianity, using philosophical and historical arguments.

Abbadie was also a philosopher, and his work reflects the influence of both Descartes and Spinoza. He argued for the existence of God based on the principles of reason and causality, and defended the idea of free will against determinism. His philosophical works include “Discours de la vérité de la religion chrétienne” (Discourse on the Truth of the Christian Religion) and “Traité de la divinité de Jésus-Christ” (Treatise on the Divinity of Jesus Christ).

Abbadie was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time, and was highly respected by both Protestants and Catholics. He died in London in 1727.