Posted on 10/01/2013 12:44:31 PM PDT by Gamecock
Calvin placed preaching the Scripture squarely at the center of the church. In his words, “Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, and the sacraments administered according to the institution of Christ; there, it is not to be doubted, is a church of God.” Out of his many writings on Scripture, a few choice quotes remind us how to handle God’s written Word properly—and why it’s important to do so.
1. Scripture should be treated with reverence.
“We owe to the Scripture the same reverence that we owe to God; because it has proceeded from him alone, and has nothing belonging to man mixed with it.”
—Calvin’s commentary on 2 Timothy 3:16
2. Scripture proves itself to be the Word of God.
“Then only … does Scripture suffice to give a saving knowledge of God when its certainty is founded on the inward persuasion of the Holy Spirit. Still the human testimonies which go to confirm it will not be without effect, if they are used in subordination to that chief and highest proof, as secondary helps to our weakness. But it is foolish to attempt to prove to infidels that the Scripture is the Word of God. This it cannot be known to be, except by faith.”
—The Institutes of the Christian Religion
3. Scripture teaches us about God and idols—and how to discern between the two.
“It is necessary to apply to Scripture in order to learn the sure marks that distinguish God, as the Creator of the world, from the whole herd of fictitious gods.”
—The Institutes of the Christian Religion
4. Scripture doesn’t always teach what we’d like it to teach.
“On the whole subject of religion one rule of modesty and soberness is to be observed, and it is this: In obscure matters not to speak or think, or even long to know, more than the Word of God has delivered. A second rule is that in reading the Scriptures we should constantly direct our inquiries and meditations to those things which tend to edification, not indulge in curiosity or in studying things of no use. And since the Lord has been pleased to instruct us, not in frivolous questions, but in solid piety, in the fear of his name, in true faith, and the duties of holiness, let us rest satisfied with such knowledge.”
—The Institutes of the Christian Religion
5. Scripture enables pastors in all aspects of ministry.
“The pastor ought to have two voices: one for gathering the sheep, and another for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both; for he who is deeply skilled in it will be able both to govern those who are teachable, and to refute the enemies of the truth.”
—Calvin’s commentary on Titus 1:9
“We owe to the Scripture the same reverence that we owe to God; because it has proceeded from him alone, and has nothing belonging to man mixed with it.”
No, that can’t be right. Catholics are quick to assure us that all Scripture proceeds from THEM.
Reformation Trust giving away this book about John Calvin during the month of October. Come get it!
http://www.ligonier.org/blog/john-calvin-heart-devotion-doctrine-and-doxology/
eBook free, that is.
re: quote #4, ouch... wow... I agree.
Many, many good things proceeded from the pen of Calvin. Those of us who recognize just how biblical this material was are grateful that he did not hold himself up as “the individual” with infallability. The label “Calvinism”, and all that it has been accused of, would likely give him fits.
If God made the longest Psalm (119) about His word, and placed in smack in the middle of His Bible, then He must have felt it was pretty important.
Why would anyone follow John Calvin when they have the Bible?
Exactly, that’s why no one does.
Calvin's preaching was of one kind from beginning to end: he preached steadily through book after book of the Bible. He never wavered from this approach to preaching for almost twenty-five years of ministry in St. Peter's church of Geneva - with the exception of a few high festivals and special occasions. "On Sunday he took always the New Testament, except for a few Psalms on Sunday afternoons. During the week . . . it was always the Old Testament". The records show fewer than half a dozen exceptions for the sake of the Christian year. He almost entirely ignored Christmas and Easter in the selection of his text.To give you some idea of the scope of the Calvin's pulpit, he began his series on the book of Acts on August 25, 1549, and ended it in March of 1554. After Acts he went on to the epistles to the Thessalonians (46 sermons), Corinthians (186 sermons), pastorals (86 sermons), Galatians (43 sermons), Ephesians (48 sermons) - till May 1558. Then there is a gap when he is ill. In the spring of 1559 he began the Harmony of the Gospels and was not finished when he died in May, 1564. During the week of that season he preached 159 sermons on Job, 200 on Deuteronomy, 353 on Isaiah, 123 on Genesis and so on.
One of the clearest illustrations that this was a self-conscious choice on Calvin's part was the fact that on Easter Day, 1538, after preaching, he left the pulpit of St. Peter's, banished by the City Council. He returned in September, 1541 - over three years later - and picked up the exposition in the next verse.
-- excerpted from John Piper's The Divine Majesty Of The Word
Calvinism is simply another name for biblical Christianity. Sadly, the Roman Church hid the faith from sinners for centuries. It took men like Wycliffe, Hus, Luther and Calvin to recover the gospel. By the time they came along so few understood what Christianity is and what it looks like movements developed in their name. But, make no mistake, Calvinism is Christianity. God is sovereign in all things, including the salvation of sinners.
I don’t see Calvin in the Bible. Or Luther. Or any of the Protestant revolutionaries.
What teaching authority did they have?
What teaching authority does any religious leader/Pope/preacher/priest, etc have? Heck, by the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, I have been commanded to go teach the Gospel. Are you telling me that I can’t teach the Good News???? What gives you the right to declare who or who can’t teach????
Calvinism is nothing more than a cult.
You were just DESTINED to say that.
I don’t see Calvin in the Bible. Or Luther. Or any of the Protestant s
..........
Nor a single pope
Some type of tradition mumbo-jumbo coupled with the torturing of Bible verses.
But do you see Peter as the head of the Apostles? Indeed, Christ founded the Church on Peter and the Apostles, the first Bishops.
John Calvin Institutes of Christian Religion Book III CH 21
Please don't waste your time citing 500 vague examples of how Calvin isn't actually saying what he is clearly saying: some animals are more equal than others. No thanks. You can keep it.
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