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CALVIN, GENEVA AND THE REFORMATION
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CALVIN, GENEVA AND THE REFORMATION.
(I) CALVIN, GENEVA AND THE REFORMATION (RONALDS WALLACE)
(A STUDY OF CALVIN AS SOCIAL REFORMER, CHURCHMAN
PASTOR AND THEOLOGIAN) BAKER BOOK HOUSE, GRAND RAPIDS.1990
Ronalds Wallace, the author of this book read and collected so many
materials in order to be able to master the complicated details of affairs
in Geneva to the extent necessary for such a task.
Tills book is divided into three parts:
(1) The Reformer and his City,
(2) Churchman and Pastor and
(3) The Theologian.
Of course he wrote the historical background of that times and his calling and early ministry just in front of writing 'the Reformer and his City'. In chapter 1 he wrote the historical setting! of sixteenth century pilgrimage, especially humanism and the Holy Scripture.
And in chapter 2 lie described Calvin's calling to Geneva as pastor, preacher and teacher(doctor). As mentioned above this work consists of three parts. The first part is the an account of Calvin's work as a reformer of the society. The second
part is an account of his work as a pastor of Church, and the third part an account of the work of theological foundation as a theologian.
PART I : THE REFORMER AND HIS CITY
In this part lie dealt with seven chapters about Calvin as a reformer and
the historical setting of the City of Geneva at those days. He described
the aim and plan of his reformation in which he suggest discipline of a
churchman rather than of a politician with the Word of God through the
consistory in Church (Christianity).
Presenting the decisive issues in a mundane setting, he insisted on the struggle for the spiritual government. In spite of his rumour, slanders and the objection as the cases of Sebastian Castellio, Jerome Bolsec, and Michael Servetus, lie had been
promoting the reformation of economics, education, and humanities in Geneva
toward a Christian Society.
What are their objections? Castellio did not have accepted the Song of Songs as an canon, the descent into hell, and was unconvinced by Calvin's own interpretation of it. Bolsec did not accept Calvin's doctrine of predestination. He seemed to raise the question of Calvin's honesty and integrity.
And Servetus had attacked on the doctrine of the Trinity. The writer tried to describe the efforts of Calvin who had wanted Geneva economics to be carried on under the Word of God toward a healthy commerce by the blessing of God, and to be distributed to whole society.
And he tried to describe educational reformation by Calvin of which the founding of the university was one. After all he
tried to talk about the Christian society which Calvin want to be done.
It is important for him to intend to emphasize the absolute Sovereignty of
God which had, and has been the central concept(thought) of Calvin.
PART II : CHURCHMAN AND PASTOR
This part contains five chapters about the field of Church. In this part
the writer-dealt with the role of pastor and church. He dealt with the
servant of the Lord (pastor) as an internal architect of the church, and
with the external order.
In chapter 11 he dealt with church leadership, in which it has contained ecumenical movement and diplomatic outreach to the world even the counsel to the church under persecution. In chapter 12 he dealt with the pastor who should cure the souls of man. He wrote In the chapter 12 the concern of individuals no matter how much he was involved in social concerns and in Church affairs. That was, and is the most important pastoral concern of pastoral care in ministry.
He also dealt with the preaching to open the door of Kingdom of God to the hearer, and pastoral care taking advantage of home-visitation and pastoral conversation so to speak counselling. And another concern about the pastor was pastoral sympathy. In chapter 13 he dealt with the guidance for the Christian
life. He has explained the Christian life with six sections.
Firstly, a Calvinistic Way of Life, in which the theology, ethics and culture
have been contained within them. And
secondly the Golden Book of the Christian Life, the first section of the Institutes
to be translated into English to which was given the title. Thirdly the
Call to Self-Denial.
Fourthly, Submission under the Cross, and fifthly the Christian between Two Worlds, i.e. heaven and present world, lastly the use and Enjoyment of this Present World. In this section Calvin has rejected the use and enjoyment of this present world because it shows itself with features that are often alien and antagonistic to a life centered on God.
Therefore it has to be used under the condition before God, by faith only. In other words pleasure is indeed to be condemned, unless it be combined with the fear of God, and with the common benefit of humanity. Lastly, in chapter 14 he dealt with Pastoral Exhortation and assurance.
This part is divided into three sections, namely (1) The Call to Watchfulness and Discipline, (2) Life before God. and (3) The Note of Triumphant Assurance.
PART III : THE THEOLOGIAN
In this part he described Calvin as a great theologian in contrast to
Luther as a great reformer of religion. This part is divided into three
chapters, namely chapter 15 The nature and pursuit of theology, chapter
16 a theology: Catholic, Reformed and open-central issues, and chapter 17
The man and his theology.
In chapter 15 lie identified the theology of Calvin with a theology of the Word of God. The nature of his theology is based on the only Word of God. He explained how the theology becomes an expression of truth instead of falsehood.
In chapter16 the author explained Calvin's Catholic tendency to the theology, which is clearly reflected in his uncritical acceptance of Church tradition in the form of quotations from the Fathers which are places in a subordinate position to proof from Scripture, but in his critical acceptance of the theology of Roman Catholic Church of which its doctrine had the fallible facts. He dealt in this chapter with three sections, namely
(A) The Person of Christ.
(B) The Work of Christ and
(C) The Nature and Attributes of God as the open-central issues.
Lastly he dealt in chapter 17 with the man and his theology which contained three sections, namely
(A) Human deliberation and Divine providence in Geneva,
(B) Predestination and problems
(C) A contrast in style anil
(D) The private man and the public image.
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선교운동소개
나눔의광장 