Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562) and the Outward Instruments of Divine Grace

by Zuidema, Jason

• ISBN13: 9783525569160
• ISBN10: 3525569165
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-12-31
• Publisher: Isd

Summary

In all his thought Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562) sought to steer the middle course between theological extremes in taking what was good and rejecting what was bad from each. Typical of this tendency to steer the middle course are his insights into the outward instruments of divine grace. According to Vermigli such instruments-the human nature of Christ, the audibe words of Scripture and the visible words of the Sacraments-should not be over-carnalized, nor over-spiritualized. Although God could work immediately (i.e. without instruments), he has chosen to work through these instruments for salvation. Hence, the inward spiritual power and the outward instrument must not be divorced from each other.

Author Biography

Jason Zuidema PhD, is lecturer in Church History at the Farel Facult de Thologie Rforme and McGill University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. 7
Preface	p. 9
Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562): A Man in the Middle	p. 13
Introduction	p. 13
The Vermigli Research Renaissance	p. 17
Conclusion	p. 35
Historical Introduction: Over-Carnalized and Over-Spiritualized Religion	p. 37
Introduction	p. 37
Over-Carnalized Religion	p. 38
Over-Spiritualized Religion	p. 44
Vermigli's Early Life, Education, and Career	p. 47
Conclusion	p. 54
'Sailing in the Midst of Extremes': The Incarnate Word of God	p. 55
Introduction	p. 55
The Sources of Vermigli's Christology	p. 57
Historical Survey of Vermigli's Christology	p. 59
Conclusion: Vermigli and the 'Heretics'	p. 88
Holy Scripture: The Audible Words of God	p. 93
Introduction	p. 93
Scripture and God's Will	p. 96
Scripture as Instrument	p. 109
Description of Scripture	p. 117
Of Bees and Spiders: Tradition and the Authority of Scripture	p. 121
Interpreting Scripture	p. 125
Preaching and the Pastoral Ministry	p. 133
Conclusion	p. 136
The Bending of the Knee and the Visible Words of God	p. 137
Introduction	p. 137
Instrumentality and the Outward Element	p. 140
Conclusion	p. 156
The 'Mean' Mystery: Vermigli and Union with Christ	p. 159
Introduction	p. 159
Vermigli on the Mystical Union	p. 159
Good Works and the Middle Way	p. 165
Conclusion	p. 167
Vermigli Studies Bibliography	p. 169
General Bibliography	p. 186
Abbreviations	p. 192
Index	p. 193
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.