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The Doctrine of the Cross: a Conversation Between St The Doctrine of the Cross: A Conversation between St. Augustine and John Calvin by Robert James Heffernan Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Theology) Acadia University Spring Convocation 2011 © by Robert James Heffernan, 2011 This thesis by ROBERT JAMES HEFFERNAN was defended successfully in an oral examination on DATE OF DEFENCE. The examining committee for the thesis was: ________________________ Dr. Bruce Fawcett, Chair ________________________ Fr. Dr. Jean-Marc Laporte ________________________ Dr. Carol Anne Janzen ________________________ Dr. William Brackney, Supervisor ________________________ Dr. Craig Evans, Director of MA program, Acadia Divinity College ________________________ Dr. Harry Gardner, President, Acadia Divinity College This thesis is accepted in its present form by the Division of Research and Graduate Studies as satisfying the thesis requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Theology). …………………………………………. i I, ROBERT JAMES HEFFERNAN, grant permission to the University Librarian at Acadia University to reproduce, loan or distribute copies of my thesis in microform, paper or electronic formats on a non-profit basis. I, however, retain the copyright in my thesis. ______________________________ Author ______________________________ Supervisor ______________________________ Date ii To Melissa My Loving Wife iii Soli Deo Gloria We enter the sphere of Christian knowledge in which we have to do with the heart of the message received by and laid upon the Christian community and therefore with the heart of the Church’s dogmatics: that is to say, with the heart of its subject-matter, origin and content. It has a circumference, the doctrine of creation and the doctrine of the last things, the redemption and consummation. But the covenant fulfilled in the atonement is its centre. From this point we can and must see a circumference. But we can see it only from this point. A mistaken or deficient perception here would mean error or deficiency everywhere: the weakening or obscuring of the message, the confession and dogmatics as such. From this point either everything is clear and true and helpful, or it is not so anywhere. This involves a high responsibility in the task which now confronts us. Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics, IV.I.XIII/57 iv CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................ vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................. viii INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1: ST. AUGUSTINE‟S DOCTRINE OF THE CROSS ........................ 7 LIFE & CONTEXT ...................................................................................................... 8 INFLUENTIAL BELIEF SYSTEMS ............................................................................... 14 Donatism.................................................................................................... 14 Cicero & Manichaeism.............................................................................. 16 Neo-Platonism ........................................................................................... 18 Christianity & Ambrose ............................................................................. 20 Pelagianism ............................................................................................... 21 FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF DOCTRINE ............................................................. 23 The Love of God ........................................................................................ 23 The Ascent of the Soul to God ................................................................... 25 The Incarnation of the Son of God ............................................................ 28 The Sacrifice of Christ ............................................................................... 31 KEY CONCEPTS ....................................................................................................... 32 Original Sin ............................................................................................... 32 The Mousetrap Analogy ............................................................................ 33 The Inner Resurrection of the Christian .................................................... 34 THEOLOGICAL HERITAGE ....................................................................................... 38 ANALYSIS: ENTERING THE DIALOGUE .................................................................... 42 SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 47 CHAPTER 2: JOHN CALVIN‟S DOCTRINE OF THE CROSS ......................... 49 LIFE & CONTEXT .................................................................................................... 50 INFLUENTIAL BELIEF SYSTEMS ............................................................................... 56 Late-Medieval Christianity ........................................................................ 57 Humanism .................................................................................................. 61 Luther & Other Reformers ........................................................................ 63 FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF DOCTRINE ............................................................. 67 The Love of God ........................................................................................ 67 The Justice of God ..................................................................................... 69 The Substitutionary Sacrifice of Christ ..................................................... 71 The Two Natures of Christ the Mediator ................................................... 72 KEY CONCEPTS ....................................................................................................... 75 Original Sin ............................................................................................... 75 The Meritorious Work of Christ ................................................................ 76 v The Union between Christ and Sinners ..................................................... 77 THEOLOGICAL HERITAGE ....................................................................................... 78 ANALYSIS: ENTERING THE DIALOGUE .................................................................... 87 SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 94 CHAPTER 3: CONVERGENCES & DIVERGENCES ........................................ 95 CONVERGENCES ..................................................................................................... 95 The Love of God ........................................................................................ 96 The Sacrifice of Christ ............................................................................... 99 The Incarnation & The Two Natures of Christ ....................................... 102 Original Sin ............................................................................................. 104 The Victory of the Cross .......................................................................... 106 DIVERGENCES ....................................................................................................... 107 The Ascent of the Soul to God ................................................................. 108 The Meritorious Work of Christ .............................................................. 110 The Union between Christ and Sinners ................................................... 111 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 112 CHAPTER 4: GENERAL SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS .............................. 114 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................. 119 vi ABSTRACT This thesis explores the convergences and divergences between St. Augustine and John Calvin‟s doctrines of the cross. Although many suggest that Calvin was essentially Augustinian, this paper investigates that assumption. Through an examination of their respective contexts and influential belief systems, the foundational principles and key concepts of their respective doctrines of the cross are surveyed. While appreciating each theologian‟s theological heritage, the author interacts with Augustine and Calvin‟s teachings on the cross before having them interact with each other. As a result, a three- way conversation occurs about the cross of Christ that enables the author to gain insights about the cross from two of the greatest theologians in the history of Western Christianity. At the same time this dialogue reveals the uniqueness of Augustine and Calvin‟s own beliefs on this critical subject to the Christian faith. In conclusion, Calvin is fundamentally Augustinian; however, he goes beyond Augustine at points while also introducing the justice of God into his doctrine of the cross that Augustine did not highlight. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge several people who made the completion of this project a reality. My wife of 10 years has and continues to give sacrificial support and thoughtful encouragement to my calling in life. Along with my children, she is the main reason why I have
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