The Calvinist International
Let us return to Irenaeus again, for a brief addendum to last week’s post. In Against Heresies 3.1, Irenaeus writes this: We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed […]
On the One Hand… Let’s take a statement out of context, shall we? Irenaeus, in Against Heresies 3.2, writes: But, again, when we refer [the heretics] to that tradition which originates from the apostles, [and] which is preserved by means of the succession of presbyters in the Churches, they object to tradition, saying that they themselves are wiser not merely than the presbyters, but […]
John Calvin, commenting on 1 Cor. 10:31 (“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”), remarks that we should always be conscious of the end, or goal, of life, which is the glory of God. It may seem counterintuitive that such an end should affect even […]
In two passages of Book 2 of De doctrina christiana (“On Christian Teaching”), Augustine gives clear expression to the basic principle of the analogy of Scripture, summarized, for example, in Westminster Confession of Faith 1.9: “The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full […]
Did the Reformers hold to a version of the “analogy of faith”? I affirm, says Bavinck. And this he sees as perfectly in keeping with sola Scriptura; and indeed, for him, the derivation and intelligibility of this “analogy” is closely dependent on the clarity, or perspecuity, of Scripture. He explains as follows: On account of this […]
One basic tenet of the Reformed doctrine of Scripture is that doctrine should be derived from Scripture as its source, but that Scripture “knows” more than it puts forward explicitly in so many words. That is, the words of Scripture themselves necessitate further deductions that in turn provide matter for dogmatic reflection and formulation. A […]
Thinkers have sometimes stated that scripture is not metaphysical, or does not do metaphysics. This is obviously correct in one sense: the writings of the Bible are not generally characterized by philosophical jargon, but rather for the most part appear in everyday language. However, this statement is not true in another sense: the Bible does […]
It is perhaps one of the most famous wisdom Psalms, and with good reason. Psalm 19 meditates on creation and the law, distilling their message and benefits for Israel’s choirs. However, for at least two reasons readers today may miss the wisdom of the song. Firstly, David’s brevity assumes wisdom in his audience without providing […]