The "Whole Office of the Law" in the Theology of John Calvin
Oh, How Love I Thy Law—It Is My Meditation All the Day Long.Psalms 119: 97John Calvin's (1509-64) theology, as expounded in his definitive work, the Institutes of the Christian Religion, and in his topical theological treatises, biblical commentaries and sermons, may be accurately described as...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
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| Published: |
Cambridge Univ. Press
1985
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| In: |
Journal of law and religion
Year: 1985, Volume: 3, Issue: 1, Pages: 117-139 |
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| Summary: | Oh, How Love I Thy Law—It Is My Meditation All the Day Long.Psalms 119: 97John Calvin's (1509-64) theology, as expounded in his definitive work, the Institutes of the Christian Religion, and in his topical theological treatises, biblical commentaries and sermons, may be accurately described as a lifelong meditation on the law of God. And, as was true for the Psalmist David (Psalm 119), his meditation is characterized by delight, praise, and thanksgiving for the law, in all its various forms and uses; as a blessing, a gift of a gracious God solicitous of the welfare of his chosen people.In order to teach this positive view of the law properly and to evoke a similar response of appreciation for the law from Christians, Calvin attempts in his theology to present "the whole doctrine of the law" or "the whole office of the law." He takes care, therefore, to avoid some of the more common partial theological interpretations of the law of his day. Specifically, in his theology he strives: not to place inordinate emphasis on the negative, punitive function of the law, as Luther was prone to do; not to ignore the punitive function of the moral law, as the "papists" were wont to do; not to reject the benefits of civil law, as the Anabaptists tended to do; and finally, not to reject the law altogether, as the Libertines did. In response he carefully constructs a balanced and nuanced view of the law that incorporates a variety of forms and a variety of uses (both negative and positive) of the law. The following presentation of his understanding of the law in relation to creation, sin, justification, and sanctification is an attempt to summarize that complex position. |
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| ISSN: | 2163-3088 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of law and religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2307/1051350 |