I would be interested in hearing what our Catholic FRiends have to say about this chapter, especially the second paragraph of the first section:
A most pernicious error has very generally prevailed; viz.,that Scripture is of importance only in so far as conceded to it by the suffrage of the Church; as if the eternal and inviolable truth of God could depend on the will of men.
A most pernicious error has very generally prevailed; viz.,that Scripture is of importance only in so far as conceded to it by the suffrage of the Church; as if the eternal and inviolable truth of God could depend on the will of men. With great insult to the Holy Spirit, it is asked, who can assure us that the Scriptures proceeded from God; who guarantee that they have come down safe and unimpaired to our times; who persuade us that this book is to be received with reverence, and that one expunged from the list, did not the Church regulate all these things with certainty? On the determination of the Church, therefore, it is said, depend both the reverence which is due to Scripture, and the books which are to be admitted into the canon. I would be interested in hearing what our Catholic FRiends have to say about this chapter, especially the second paragraph of the first section:
Are you sure about that? :-)
Calvin here sets up a false dichotomy -- that the Canon is either protected and defined by God, or it is protected and defined by the Church.
Of course, the answer is that God guides the Church in the protecting and definition of the Canon.
As with so many other things, the Protestant refuses to contemplate the Incarnation and how God works through man to accomplish His goals.
(For what it's worth, I have never heard a Cahtolic say the Bible depends on the "suffrage" of the Church, or that it depended on the will of man. Instead, as I have said, it is the Holy Spirit working through man.)
SD
But although we may maintain the sacred Word of God against gainsayers, it does not follow that we shall forthwith implant the certainty which faith requires in their hearts. Profane men think that religion rests only on opinion, and, therefore, that they may not believe foolishly, or on slight grounds, desire and insist to have it proved by reason that Moses and the prophets were divinely inspired. But I answer,that the testimony of the Spirit is superior to reason. For as God alone can properly bear witness to his own words, so these words will not obtain full credit in the hearts of men, until they are sealed by the inward testimony of the Spirit. The same Spirit, therefore, who spoke by the mouth of the prophets, must penetrate our hearts, in order to convince us that they faithfully delivered the message with which they were divinely entrusted. This connection is most aptly expressed by Isaiah in these words, "My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever," (Isa. 59: 21.) Some worthy persons feel disconcerted, because, while the wicked murmur with impunity at the Word of God,they have not a clear proof at hand to silence them, forgetting that the Spirit is called an earnest and seal to confirm the faith of the godly, for this very reason, that, until he enlightens their minds, they are tossed to and fro in a sea of doubts. Calvin aptly refuted the claims of RC ownership of Scripture
I have an interest in the above quote for I ~think~ it show the heart of Calvin for the Word and work of God..great reverence for the word of God and the Holy Spirit's work in giving us eyes to see and ears to hear