Posted on 07/17/2013 9:30:20 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
Though primarily a theologian, the famous Reformation figure John Calvin had much to say about the application of biblical principles to politics. His focus on the sovereignty of God in all aspects of Creation led Calvin to believe in God’s ordinance not only in the spiritual realm, but also in civil government. Citing Scriptural passages such as Proverbs 8:15-16 – “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth” – Calvin demonstrated that all governments are ordained by God. In Calvin’s mind, therefore, the rule of civil authority was paramount to the governance of society.
Law had been the subject of Calvin’s studies before he joined the Reformation movement. Although originally decided for the priesthood, Calvin had been sent to Orleans to study law by his father following a dispute with a local bishop in Paris. It was in Orleans that the importance of the legal order was first engrained into his mind. From there, he moved to Bourges to study under Andrea Alciato, an ingenious Italian humanist lawyer who taught Calvin new ways of studying and analyzing historical legal sources. Calvin would later use these skills in his analysis and interpretation of the Bible. All his training in France would prepare Calvin for a life of theology and statesmanship in Geneva.
The need for the rule of law was rooted in Calvin’s soteriological doctrine of total depravity. Man is intrinsically sinful, and apart from God’s grace, he can do no good. Ever since the sin of Adam and Eve, all mankind has inherited a sinful nature, and man will consistently seek his own sinful desires unless God intervenes. As Paul observed in Romans 3:10-12, “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.’” Apart from the church and God’s law, secular society requires civil law to rein in man’s depravity. Calvin made this clear in his sermon on Galatians 3:19-20 entitled “The Many Functions of God’s Law,” given in 1558:
Were we like angels, blameless and freely able to exercise perfect self-control, we would not need rules or regulations. Why, then, do we have so many laws and statutes? Because of man’s wickedness, for he is constantly overflowing with evil; this is why a remedy is required.
This quote may sound familiar, it reflects the words of James Madison in Federalist No. 51, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” Madison had studied law in Princeton at a Presbyterian institution, where Calvinist doctrine was woven throughout the curriculum and man’s inherent fallibility had a large influence on political philosophy.
Abraham Kuyper, an intellectual descendant of John Calvin, would expand upon Calvin’s ideas. He argued not only that civil government, but ultimately constitutional government could be derived from Calvinist doctrine. In 1898, Kuyper gave a series of lectures known as the “Stone Lectures” at Princeton Seminary upon invitation from B.B. Warfield. In one of his lectures, he discussed at length Calvinism’s implications for politics. He echoed Calvin’s belief that all governments are ordained by God. Kuyper explained that because all men are inherently sinful, man cannot rule over man unless his authority is given to him by God. He proceeded to differentiate between the sovereignty of that State and the sovereignty of “social spheres.” The social spheres of marriage and the family, business, art, and science are not products of the State, but are organic functions of society and therefore sovereign unto themselves. Hence, a tension arises between the State and these social spheres, each of which are made sovereign by God. Thus Kuyper declares, “It was the so-called ‘constitutional government,’ which endeavored more firmly to regulate the mutual relation of these two. And in this struggle Calvinism was the first to take its stand.”
Were we like angels, blameless and freely able to exercise perfect self-control, we would not need rules or regulations. Why, then, do we have so many laws and statutes? Because of man’s wickedness, for he is constantly overflowing with evil; this is why a remedy is required.
This quote may sound familiar, it reflects the words of James Madison in Federalist No. 51, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” Madison had studied law in Princeton at a Presbyterian institution, where Calvinist doctrine was woven throughout the curriculum and man’s inherent fallibility had a large influence on political philosophy....
....Abraham Kuyper, an intellectual descendant of John Calvin, would expand upon Calvin’s ideas...In 1898, Kuyper gave a series of lectures known as the “Stone Lectures” at Princeton Seminary upon invitation from B.B. Warfield...Kuyper explained that because all men are inherently sinful, man cannot rule over man unless his authority is given to him by God. He proceeded to differentiate between the sovereignty of that State and the sovereignty of “social spheres.” The social spheres of marriage and the family, business, art, and science are not products of the State, but are organic functions of society and therefore sovereign unto themselves. Hence, a tension arises between the State and these social spheres, each of which are made sovereign by God.
Ping!
"In the compound republic of America, the power surrendered by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each is further divided among distinct and separate departments."
Vertical separation of powers between the states and federal government was the first and most important. The 17th Amendment must go.
re: “John Calvin had much to say about the application of biblical principles to politics. His focus on the sovereignty of God in all aspects of Creation led Calvin to believe in God’s ordinance not only in the spiritual realm, but also in civil government. Citing Scriptural passages such as Proverbs 8:15-16 – “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth” – Calvin demonstrated that all governments are ordained by God.”
Totally agree on the sinfulness of man and that God has given government for the purpose of providing law and order. However, the idea that All governments are “ordained” by God just isn’t the case. Yes, God permits man freewill to pick lousy leaders and, yes, God could remove and has removed bad leaders, yet, consider this passage from Hosea:
Hosea 8:1-4
“Put the trumpet to your lips!
An eagle is over the house of the LORD
because the people have broken my covenant
and rebelled against my law
2 Israel cries out to me,
‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’
3 But Israel has rejected what is good;
an enemy will pursue him.
4 They set up kings without my consent;
they choose princes without my approval
With their silver and gold
they make idols for themselves
to their own destruction.
ping
Interesting...thanks!
That particular verse of this prophecy which you have quoted is affirmed to have been fulfilled (or started) by Jeroboam, the first of those Kings who received 10 tribes of Israel away from the House of David, leaving only Judah and Benjamin.
That is how Barnes, in his commentary, applies it:
“They have set up kings, but not by ME - God Himself foretold to Jeroboam by Ahijah the prophet, that He would “rend the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon, and give ten tribes” to him,”
So Clarke,
“They have set up kings, but not by me - Properly speaking, not one of the kings of Israel, from the defection of the ten tribes from the house of David, was the anointed of the Lord.”
The Geneva Commentary,
“That is, Jeroboam, by whom they sought their own liberty, and to obey my will.”
So the Illustrious Matthew Henry, who also explains how the verse should be understood:
“So they did when they revolted from their allegiance to the house of David, and set up Jeroboam, wherein, though they fulfilled God’s secret counsel, yet they aimed not at his glory, nor consulted his oracle, nor applied to him by prayer for direction, nor had any regard to his providence, but were led by their own humour and hurried on by the impetus of their own passions.”
Gill applies it the same way, and explains it as Henry does:
“this refers to the case of Jeroboam their first king, after their separation from the house of David, and from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; for though his becoming king of Israel was according to the secret will of God, and by his overruling providence; yet it was done without his express orders, and without asking counsel of him, or his consent, and of their own heads”
This is significant, because God Himself declares that He was the author of this judgment:
1Ki 11:31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
Therefore the meaning isn’t that God was unaware of Jeroboam, as is usually the literal translation (the KJV and YLT renders it “I knew it not,” instead of “approved it not,”) or that God did not set up this ruler, but rather that the people did not consult with the Prophet or make any prayers on the matter, as if God did not exist.
For further support, there is not any ruler in the world who is not set up or brought down by God.
Pro 8:15-16 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. (16) By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God
1Sa 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
Jer 27:6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.
Dan 2:20-21 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: (21) And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Psa 62:11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
Furthermore, all that God foreknows, He predestinates. In other words, nothing He foresees is by chance or what He did not will to occur. He is not ignorant of the future and its happenings, or lets anything go by chance, but rather determines what will happen and what will not happen by decree.
Act 4:26-28 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. (27) For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (28) For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
To make it more clear, the ESV uses the word “predestined”:
Acts 4:28
28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Thank you!
Yep, Calvinism is obviously a lawyer's construct.
:)
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