Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: St_Thomas_Aquinas; PieterCasparzen
Why would anyone follow John Calvin when they have the Bible?

Exactly, that’s why no one does.

Really ignorant remarks. Calvin and the other 16th Century reformers are WHY WE HAVE THE BIBLE!!! Bible reading and study by the common man was first allowed and taught by Calvin, Luther and the other reformers.

Calvin is also arguably the father of the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation, which all (conservative, bible-believing) bible scholars today take for granted, as the primary way of understanding a biblical text in context. Medieval scholastic biblical interpretation before Calvin was a mess, to say the least.

The great majority of Protestants today have some elements of Calvinism as part and parcel with what their churches believe, and how they are governed.

Even something as basic as representative democracy...or a democratic republic (a Free Republic) is a variation on rule by elders (representatives) which was pioneered and developed by Calvin. Before him it was church rule strictly by dictate of priests, bishops and popes.

Even assumptions such as rule of law (same law for everyone...not a divine right of kings)and, title-deeds for property ownership, and free-market capitalism...all in some measure are due to Calvin and Calvinism.

30 posted on 10/01/2013 9:38:40 PM PDT by AnalogReigns ((Yes, Dr. Kruger was a professor of mine (and a hard professor at that!)))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies ]


To: AnalogReigns
Why would anyone follow John Calvin when they have the Bible?

Exactly, that’s why no one does.

Really ignorant remarks.


I'm just pointing out that Reformed Christians don't "follow" Calvin, they follow Jesus Christ, according to God's Word, the Bible. Calvin was certainly one of the key figures in the Reformation. But frequently detractors of the achievements of the Reformation use the label "Calvinism", etc., to make the false and ridiculous accusation that Reformed Christianity elevates Calvin's writings above the Bible, which deliberately ignores sola scriptura, i.e., the getting back to the Bible that the Reformation was all about.
35 posted on 10/02/2013 7:38:31 AM PDT by PieterCasparzen (We have to fix things ourselves)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson