Divinity Compromised

by Balserak, Jon

• ISBN13: 9781402050558
• ISBN10: 1402050550
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-09-15
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

This book is the first monograph devoted to the theme of divine accommodation in the writings of John Calvin to appear in any language. The work offers careful analysis of the topic along several different lines: it analyzes the character of Calvin's thinking on accommodation. It gives an account of the ways in which accommodation expresses itself in his writings. It probes the question of the penetration of accommodation into Calvin's theology and particularly its implications for his doctrine of God. And it compares Calvin's handling of accommodation with that of other exegetes in order to set his thinking in context. In pursuing these matters, Dr Balserak provides a rigorous consideration of many of the individual places in Calvin's corpus where he discusses accommodation. This enables him to set out a summary of the basic qualities which characterize Calvin's handling of the motif. The addition of chapters on the relationship of Calvin's thought on accommodation to his use of the potentia absoluta/ordinata distinction and on the influence of accommodation on his views on the truth and applicability of Scripture allows this study to examine its topic from different angles. This, coupled with the thoroughness of the author's analysis, results in a work which offers a substantial reassessment of Calvin's thinking on divine accommodation.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(1)
Assessing the Progress of Research Since 1952	1	(9)
The Contents of this Study	10	(3)
DIVINE ACCOMMODATION IN THE TRADITION AND CALVIN	13	(22)
Accommodation in Christian Tradition	13	(6)
Calvin and the Tradition; A Preliminary Sketch of Calvin's Thought on the Motif	19	(16)
Texts Touching on Contact Between God and the World	21	(4)
Joel 3: 4-5	21	(1)
Shewbread	22	(2)
Zephaniah 3: 16-17	24	(1)
Angels: Psalm 91: 11, 12 and Psalm 34: 7	25	(2)
Divine Promises: Hosea 2: 19-22	27	(2)
OT case laws: Exodus 21: 7-11	29	(3)
Summary	32	(3)
HUMAN CAPTUS	35	(24)
Human Nature in Calvin	35	(5)
Historical Background	35	(1)
Calvin Studies and Calvin	36	(2)
Sin and the `totus homo'	38	(2)
Human Captus in Calvin's Thought in Relation to Accommodation	40	(14)
Assessing Opinion on this Issue	40	(1)
Edward Dowey's Contribution	40	(1)
E. David Willis' Contribution	41	(1)
David Wright's Contribution	41	(1)
Summary	42	(1)
Human Capacity: A Survey of its Various Senses	42	(12)
General References to Human Capacity	43	(1)
The Human Condition	44	(2)
The Question of Sin and its Relation to Human Capacity	46	(1)
Mental Weakness Respecting the Knowledge of God and Spiritual Matters	47	(2)
Fear, Grief and Doubt	49	(1)
Lack of Restraint, Inappropriate Desires and Imperfection	50	(1)
Sluggishness, Willfulness, and Hypocrisy	51	(2)
Barbarity	53	(1)
The Various Senses Reviewed	54	(1)
Analyzing Calvin's Teaching on Human Captus: the Recipients of Accommodation	54	(3)
Human Beings as Creatures	55	(1)
Human Beings as Sinners	55	(1)
Israel as Primitive Nation	56	(1)
Human Beings as Either the Wicked or the Godly	56	(1)
Conclusion	57	(2)
GOD'S ACCOMMODATING RESPONSES TO HUMAN CAPTUS	59	(40)
God's Accommodating According to Calvin	59	(37)
When God Instructs	59	(8)
God Reveals Himself Through his Works	60	(1)
God Speaks	60	(4)
God Discloses Himself in Christ	64	(2)
God's Unaccommodated Revelation to his People in Glory	66	(1)
When God Legislates and Commands	67	(9)
God's Moral Law	67	(3)
God's Old Testament Case Laws	70	(1)
God's ad hoc Commands Given to Israel	71	(2)
God's Rewarding of Obedience	73	(2)
The Duration of these Forms of Accommodation	75	(1)
When God Sanctions Religious Rites and Practices, and Receives the Worship of his People	76	(7)
God's Accommodating of the Practices Sanctioned in Worship	76	(5)
God's Accommodating of the Reception of Worship	81	(2)
The End of Accommodated Worship	83	(1)
When God Pastors his Flock	83	(8)
God Cares for, Leads, and Protects his People	84	(1)
God Employs Angels	85	(2)
God Rouses, Threatens, Tests, and Chastens	87	(4)
When God Comes to Earth	91	(2)
When God Covenants	93	(3)
Conclusion	96	(3)
Reviewing the Chapter	96	(1)
Assessing Findings up to this Point	97	(2)
GOD'S REASONS FOR ACCOMMODATING---IMAGES OF GOD IN CALVIN'S HANDLING OF ACCOMMODATION	99	(38)
An Introduction to Calvin's Statements on God's Reasons for Accommodating	99	(5)
Reference to a Motive	101	(1)
Reference to a Cause	102	(1)
Reference to a Purpose	102	(1)
Reference to a Contingency with Which God Must Deal	103	(1)
Earlier Portraits of Calvin's Accommodating God	104	(2)
Images of Calvin's Accommodating God	106	(30)
Transcendent and Incomprehensible; Good and Loving	106	(4)
Practical and Productive	110	(3)
Expedient, Pragmatic	113	(4)
Unprincipled, Desperate	117	(7)
Anxious, Obsessive	124	(6)
Tender, Tolerant, Enslaved	130	(6)
Conclusion	136	(1)
ACCOMMODATION AND CALVIN'S THINKING ON THE POWER OF GOD	137	(26)
Calvin and the Potentia Absoluta/Ordinata Distinction	137	(13)
A Brief History of the Distinction	137	(4)
Calvin and the Distinction	141	(9)
Calvin and the Absolute Power of God---Traditional	145	(1)
Calvin and the Absolute Power of God---Scotistic	146	(3)
On the Joining of these Two Viewpoints	149	(1)
Summary	150	(1)
Accommodation and the Potentia Ordinata in Calvin	150	(12)
The Created Order	151	(4)
The Order of Salvation	155	(7)
Instruments, Angels and Baptism	155	(2)
The Law	157	(1)
God's Providential Care	158	(3)
Other Loci: The Incarnation and Atonement	161	(1)
Summary	161	(1)
Conclusion	162	(1)
THE VOLATILITY OF ACCOMMODATION	163	(22)
Scripture, Meaning and Truth	163	(5)
Scripture, Meaning and Application	168	(15)
Examples of Calvin's Treating of Divine Injunctions	169	(8)
Deuteronomy 21: 10-13	169	(1)
Deuteronomy 20: 12-15	170	(1)
Deuteronomy 20: 16-18	171	(1)
Exodus 21: 12, 18	171	(1)
Matthew 19: 7-8	171	(2)
Deuteronomy 22: 22-27	173	(1)
Leviticus 18: 22-30 and Exodus 22: 19	174	(1)
Exodus 21: 1-11	175	(1)
Summarizing Calvin's Practice	176	(1)
Assessing Calvin's Treatment of the Law	177	(6)
Gauging Calvin's Reception of the Law	177	(1)
Questioning Calvin's Practice	177	(1)
Examining Calvin's Method	178	(5)
Conclusion	183	(2)
CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS	185	(8)
Summary	185	(2)
Some Thoughts on Accommodation and Calvin's Doctrine of God	187	(3)
Future Topics for Research	190	(3)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	193	(14)
Abbreviations	193	(1)
Bibliography	193	(14)
Calvin's Works	193	(1)
Translations of Calvin's Works	194	(1)
Patristic, Medieval and Reformation Works	195	(2)
Secondary Works [selected]	197	(10)
Index of Calvin's Works	207	(6)
Index of Persons	213