John Calvin

Thesis: In Calvin’s writings, he sets precedent the fundamental ideas of predestination which are crucial to the Protestant Reformation but also applies these ideas to secular things like the role of elders and the treatment of kings.

The Institutes

· Predestination – “no one, desirous of the credit of piety, dares absolutely to deny”

o Foreknowledge and piety both belong to god, but “it is preposterous to represent one as dependent on the other”

· Foreknowledge – God knows everything – “all things have ever been, perpetually remain, before his eyes, so that to his knowledge nothing is future or past, but all things are present”

o Foreknowledge extends to Predestination – God has a plan, different for everyone

§ “eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others”

o Moses teaches, “their exaltation is wholly from God’s gratuitous love”

· “No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my father” [John 6:65]

· Quotes Augustine – “If, on hearing this, some persons become torpid and slothful, and exchanging labour for lawless desire, pursue the various objects of concupiscence, must what is declared concerning the foreknowledge of God be therefore accounted false?”

o Questions the claim to know whether one is predestined or not

Ecclesiastical Ordinances

· Office of elders – watch over individuals and admonish them for doing what they see as wrong

o Assembles once a week with the ministers – to discuss disorder in the church and necessary courses of action

Obedience to Secular Rulers

· “and even before thee, O king, I have committed nothing wrong”

o Calvin gives the example of a Prophet in the bible

§ Does not confess because he “conducted himself with fidelity in all his duties”

§ E.g. Daniel and king of the Perisans

· Calvin explains that all secular rulers are constituted by God

o Therefore Daniel could not disobey God by obeying the secular king’s edict

· “Fear God, honour the king” [1 Peter 2:17]

o Calvin describes the that both commands are connected and cannot be separate

§ But the fear of God precedes obedience to kings

o Those who reverse it and put obeying secular rulers first will “act preposterously, since this is a complete perversion of the order of nature”

· Secular rulers will only obtain authority if God shines forth