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Calvin as Analogical Theologian

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2009

Randall C. Zachman
Randall C. Zachman
Affiliation:
Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
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Extract

In his oft-cited article, ‘God Was Accommodating Himself to Human Capacity’, Ford Lewis Battles makes the following claim:

It may be that we have succumbed to the temptation of putting the concept of accommodation too much at the center of Calvin's thought and of trying to organize everything around this notion. Yet, if this be a faithful interpretation, accommodation would seem (even when Calvin does not explicitly advert to it) his fundamental way of explaining how the secret, hidden God reveals himself to us.

Type
Research Article
Information
Scottish Journal of Theology , Volume 51 , Issue 2 , May 1998 , pp. 162 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © Scottish Journal of Theology Ltd 1998

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References

1 Battles, Ford Lewis, ‘God Was Accommodating Himself to Human Capacity’, in Calvin and Calvinism, edited by Gamble, Richard C. (New York: Carland Publishing Co., 1992), Vol. 6Google Scholar, Calvin and Hermeneutics, p. 27. See also Dowey, Edward J. Jr., The Knowledge of God in Calvin's Theology (New York: Columbia University Press, 1952), pp. 1–18, 243–4Google Scholar; Bouwsma, William J., John Calvin: A Sixteenth Century Portrait (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988), p. 124.Google Scholar

2 The Necessity of Reforming the Church', Calvin: Theological Treatises, edited by Reid, J. K. S. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1954), p. 204.Google Scholar

3 Ibid., pp. 204–5.

4 Secunda Defensio Contra Westphalum, Tracts and Treatises, translated by Beveridge, Henry, 3 Vols. (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1958), Vol. 2, p. 250. Hereafter Tracts and Treatises 2:250; CO 9:48C–49A.Google Scholar

5 Comm. Hebrews 11:3, Calvin's New Testament Commentaries, edited by David, W. and Torrance, Thomas F., 12 Vols. (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1959–1972), Vol. 12, p. 159Google Scholar; Ioannis Calvini opera quae supersunt omnia, edited by Wilhelm Baum, Edward Cunitz, and Edward Reuss, 59 Vols. Corpus Reformatorum, Vols. 29–87 (Brunswick: A, Schwetchke and Son (M. Bruhn), 1863–1900)Google Scholar, Vol. 55, p. 145. Hereafter CNTC 12:159; CO 55:145.

6 Comm. Matt. 6:21, CNTC 1:216; CO 45:205B.

7 Comm. 1 John 2:3, CNTC 5:245; CO 55:311A.

8 Comm. 1 Peter 2:3, CNTC 12:257–8; CO 55:233B.

9 The highest human good is therefore simply union with God. We attain it when we are brought into conformity with His likeness' (Comm. Hebrews 4:10, CNTC 12:48; CO55:48B).

10 Comm. 2 Peter 1:4, CNTC 12:330; CO 55:446–7.

11 John Calvin, Institutio Christianae religionis 15591.iii.3; loannis Calvini opera selecta, Vol. III–V, edited by Peter Barth, Wilhelm Niesel, and Dona Scheuner (Munich: Chr. Kaiser, 1926–52), Vol. III, p. 40, lines 18–22; Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion, edited by McNeill, John T. and translated by Battles, Ford Lewis, 2 Vols. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960)Google Scholar, Vol. 1, pp. 46–7. Hereafter inst I.iii.3; OS III.40.18–22; (1:46–7).

12 Comm. Col. 3:10, CNTC 11:350; Opera Exegetica XVI, Commentarii in Pauli epistolas (Geneve: Libraire Droz, 1992), pp. 448–449Google Scholar; Comm. Gen. 17:22, CTS 1:463; CO 23:247B.

13 For the influence of Plato on the thought of Calvin, see Boisset, Jean, Sagesse et Saintete dans la Pensee de Jean Calvin (Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1959), pp. 253–314.Google Scholar

14 Comm. Is. 40:18, The Commentaries of John Calvin on the Old Testament. 30 Vols. (Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1843–1848), Vol. 15, p. 223. Hereafter CTS 15:223; CO 37:19C.Google Scholar

15 Comm. Romans 1:20, CNTC 8:31; Ioannis Calvin: Commentarius in Epistolam Pauli ad Romanos, edited by Parker, T. H. L. (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1981), pp. 29–30. Hereafter Romans.29–30.Google Scholar

16 Comm. Hebrews 9:9, CNTC 12:118; CO 55:108A.

17 Comm. Romans 1:19, CNTC 8:31; Romans.29.

18 Inst. I.v.10, OS III.54.19–21; (1:63).

19 Comm. Acts 17:27, CNTC 7:118; CO 48:412.

20 Comm. Hebrews 11:3, CNTC 12:159–60; CO 55:146A.

21 Comm Romans 1:20, CNTC 8:31; Romans:29–30.

22 Inst. I.v.9, OS 111.53; (1:62); Inst. I.ii.l, OS 111.34–35; (1:40–41).

23 Inst.I.x.1, OS III.85.7–16; (1:96).

24 Inst. I.x.2, OS III.86.6–22; (1:97–8).

25 Comm. Jonah 4:2, CTS 28:122; CO 43:265C.

26 Comm. Jonah 4:2, CTS 28:123; CO 43:266B; Comm. Is. 33:3, CTS 15:12; CO 36:560A.

27 Comm. Ps. 77:7–8, CTS 10:211; CO 31:714A.

28 He does not speak of the hidden and mysterious essence (abscondita Dei essentia) which fills heaven and earth, but of the manifestations of his power, wisdom, goodness, and righteousness, which are clearly exhibited, although they are too vast for our limited intelligence to understand'(Comm. Ps. 77:14, CTS 10:219; CO 31:718B).

29 Comm. Ps. 77:9, CTS 10:213; CO 31:715A.

30 Comm. Lam. 3:32, CTS 21:421; CO 39:584B; Comm. Dan. 9:9, CTS 25:159; CO 41:142B; Comm. Lam. 3:8, CTS 21:394; CO 39:566A.

31 In a particularly striking statement, Calvin says, The majesty, or the authority, or the glory of God does not consist in some imaginary brightness, but in those works (officiis) which so necessarily belong to him that they cannot be separated from his very essence (non possunt ab eius essentia avelli). It is what particularly belongs to God, to govern the world, and to exercise care over mankind, and also to make a difference between good and evil, to help the miserable, to punish all wickedness, to check injustice and violence' (Comm. Zeph. 1:12, CTS 29:217; CO 44:22B).

32 Comm. John 1:1, CNTC 4:7; CO 47:1C.

33 Comm. Jer. 5:15, CTS 17:286; CO 37:626C; Comm. Ps. 15:2, CTS 8:206; CO 31:144B; Comm. Jer. 9:5, CTS 17:466; CO 38:30C; Comm. Ps. 34:13, CTS 8:567; CO 31:341–2.

34 Comm. 1 Cor. 2:11, CNTC 9:58; CO 49:341C.

35 Ibid.

36 Comm. Jer. 23:20, CTS 19:175; CO 38:429C.

37 See Jane Dempsey Douglass, ‘Calvin's Use of Metaphorical Language for God: God as Enemy and God as Mother’, in Calvin and Hermeneutics, pp. 89–102. Douglass notes Calvin's interest in metaphors, but does not examine the role of analogy and anagoge. The same holds true of Frye, Roland M., ‘Calvin's Theological Use of Figurative Language’, in John Calvin and the Church, edited by George, Timothy (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1990), pp. 172–189.Google Scholar

38 Comm. Is. 42:14, CTS 15:302; CO 37:69C. See also Comm Is. 40:18: ‘for God cannot reveal himself to us in any other way than by a comparison with things which we know’ (CTS 15:223; CO 37:19C).

39 Comm. Is. 46:3, CTS 15:436; CO 37:154C.

40 Comm. Zeph. 3:167–17, CTS 29:305; CO 44:72C.

41 Comm. Is. 42:14, CTS 15:302; CO 37:69C.

42 Comm. Is. 49:15, CTS 16:30–31; CO 37:204C.

43 Ibid.

44 Ibid.

45 Inst.II.i.5; OS III.232–233; (1:246).

46 Comm. 1 Peter 1:21, CNTC 12:250; CO 55:227A.

47 Comm. John 6:47, CNTC 4:166; CO 47:151 A.

48 Comm. Isaiah 30:25, CTS 14:375; CO 36:524C.

49 Comm. Dan. 7:27; CTS 25:73; CO 41:82B.

50 Comm. Jer. 31:12, CTS 20:82; CO 38:660B.

51 Comm. 1 Peter 1:19, CNTC 12:248; CO 55:225B.

52 Comm Jer. 23:5–6, CTS 19:142; CO 38:410C.

53 Comm. Hebrews 10:1, CNTC 12:132; CO 55:121B.

54 Comm. Hebrews 7:3, CNTC 12:90; CO 55:84A.

55 Comm. Hebrews 7:9. CNTC 12:94; CO 55:87–88.

56 Comm. Gen. 15:17, CTS 1:420; CO 23:221A.

57 Comm. Hebrews 8:5, CNTC 12:107; CO 55:98C.

58 Comm. Ps. 84:2, CTS 10:355; CO 31:780C.

59 Comm. Gen. 3:23, CTS 1:186; CO 23:186C.

60 Secunda Defensio Contra Westphalum, Tracts and Treatises 2:296; CO 9:84B.

61 Comm. Ps. 84:2, CTS 10:355; CO 31:780C.

62 Comm. Gen. 28:12. CTS 2:112–13; CO 23:391A.

63 Comm. Ps. 132:7, CTS 12; CO 32:345C.

64 Comm. John 20:28, CNTC 5:211; CO 47:444B.

65 Comm. Matt. 8:17, CNTC 1:163; CO 45:156A.

66 Comm.John 5:19, CNTC 4:125–6; CO 47:112C.

67 Comm.John 17:25, CNTC 5:151; CO 47:390C.

68 Comm. Heb. 4:15, CNTC 12:54; CO 55:53A.

69 Comm. John 11:33, CNTC 5:12; CO 47:265B.

70 Comm. Hebrews 4:15, CNTC 12:56; CO 55:55:A;Comm.John 11:33, CNTC5:12; CO 47:266A.

71 Comm.John 11:33, CNTC 5:13; CO 47:266B.

72 Comm. Romans 8:3, CNTC 8:159; Romans 159.22–29.

73 Comm. John 12:23, CNTC 5:37; CO 47:288C

74 Comm. Matt. 27:46, CNTC 3:208; CO 45:779B.

75 Ibid.

76 Comm. Luke 2:40, CNTC 1:107; CO 45:104B.

77 Comm. John 12:23, CNTC 5:39; CO 47:291A..

78 Comm. Luke 23:42, CNTC 3:203; CO 45:774B.

79 Inst. II.xvi.13, O.S. III.499.29–31, 500.16–19; (1:520–21).

79 Inst. II.xvi.14, O.S. III.501.22–25; (1:522).

81 Comm. John 12:23, CNTC 5:36–7; CO 47:288B.

82 Inst. II.xvi.17, O.S. 111.504.27–35; (1:525).

83 Comm.John 13:31, CNTC 5:68; CO 47:316–17.

84 Comm. John 13:32, CNTC 5:69; CO 47:317B.

85 ‘Proud men are ashamed of Christ's humiliation and therefore fly to God's incomprehensible divinity. But faith will never reach heaven unless it submits to Christ who appears as Cod lowly in aspect; nor will it be firm unless it seeks a foundation in the weakness of Christ’ (Comm. John 14:1, CNTC 5:74; CO 47:322A).

86 Comm. Matt. 26:29, CNTC 3:137; CO 45:709A.

87 Secunda Defensio Contra Westphalum, Tracts and Treatises 2:296; CO 9:84.

88 Comm. John 17:22, CNTC 5:149; CO 47:388A.

89 Comm. 2 Cor. 3:18, CNTC 10:50; Op. Ex. XV:66.

90 Comm. Luke 24:32, CNTC 3:239; CO 45:810A.