The fire crackled in the hearth of the Leiden study, casting long, dancing shadows across volumes of Greek, Hebrew, and theology. Jacobus Arminius, his face etched with a day’s fatigue, nonetheless smiled warmly at you, the young student fidgeting before him.

“So, my fellow,” Arminius began, his voice softer than his public pulpit tone. “You are troubled by the decree of predestination.”