John Calvin-Life,Legacy and Theology

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JOHN CALVIN : LIFE, LEGACY AND THEOLOGY - PROF. M. M. NINAN the creeds (the credo), the Lord's Prayer (Our Father) and the sacraments of which he accepted only two, as Luther did, namely baptism and the Eucharist, as well as a chapter on Christian Liberty and Political Theology. In the more personal last chapter “Christian freedom” Calvin dealt with the city’s organization and also split the civilian government in three parts : The magistrate or civil authority, defender and keeper of the laws, The law, The people governed by the laws and law abiding. One exception to the obedience to the magistrate was allowed when his legislation was against God’s laws. Calvin advocated passive resistance. Jean Calvin’s Institutes was essentially a textbook for Christian education. This was simply a general summary of the Protestant theological position, in contrast to the Roman Catholic Theology, and an expansion of Luther’s catechisms. The work was an apologia or defense of his faith and a statement of the doctrinal position of the reformers. He also intended it to serve as an elementary instruction book for anyone interested in the reformation faith. . Calvin's teachings emphasized the sovereignty of the scriptures and divine predestination—a doctrine holding that God chooses those who will enter Heaven based His omnipotence and grace. The book was the first expression of his theology. Calvin updated the work and published new editions throughout his life. Soon after publishing it, Calvin began his ministry in Geneva, Switzerland.In Basel in 1536 Calvin published Institutes of the Christian Religion, a six-chapter catechism and he continuously revised it and the book grew to 80 chapters by its final edition in 1559. It is widely regarded as the clearest, most systematic treatise of the Reformation. Here is the description Given by the translator Henry Beveridge (who died in 1929) which was first published in 1845. ================================> Method and Arrangement,or Subject of the Whole Work [From an Epitome of the Institutions, by Gaspar Olevian.] http://www.reformed.org/master/index.html?mainframe=/books/institutes/ The subject handled by the author of these Christian Institutes is twofold: the former, the knowledge of God, which leads to a blessed immortality; and the latter, (which is subordinate to the former,) the knowledge of ourselves. With this view the author simply adopts the arrangement of the Apostles' Creed, as that with which all Christians are most familiar. For as the Creed consists of four parts, 22
JOHN CALVIN : LIFE, LEGACY AND THEOLOGY - PROF. M. M. NINAN the first relating to God the Father, the second to the Son, the third to the Holy Spirit, and the fourth to the Church, so the author, in fulfilment of his task, divides his Institutes into four parts, corresponding to those of the Creed. Each of these parts it will now be proper to explain separately. Title page from the final edition of Calvin's magnum opus, Institutio Christiane Religionis, which summarises his theology. BOOK I. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE CREATOR. The first statement in the Institutes acknowledges its central theme. It states that the sum of human wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. Calvin argues that the knowledge of God is not inherent in humanity nor can it be discovered by observing this world. The only way to obtain it is to study scripture. Calvin writes, "For anyone to arrive at God the Creator he needs Scripture as his Guide and Teacher." He does not try to prove the authority of scripture but rather describes it as autopiston or self-authenticating. He defends the trinitarian view of God and, in a strong polemical stand against the Catholic Church, argues that images of God lead to idolatry. At the end of the first book, he offers his views on providence, writing, "By his Power God cherishes and guards the World which he made and by his Providence rules its individual Parts." Humans are unable to fully comprehend why God performs any particular action, but whatever good or evil people may practise, their efforts always result in the execution of God's will and judgments Contents of Book 1. 23
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