Restoration Through Redemption: John Calvin Revisited Studies in Reformed Theology

Restoration through Redemption: John Calvin Revisited Studies in Reformed Theology Editor-in-chief Eddy Van der Borght, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Editorial Board Abraham van de Beek, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Martien Brinkman, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Alasdair Heron, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Dirk van Keulen, Theological University Kampen Daniel Migliore, Princeton Theological Seminary Richard Mouw, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Gerrit Singgih, Duta Wacana Christian University, Yogjakarta Conrad Wethmar, University of Pretoria VOLUME 23 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/srt Studies in Reformed Theology Restoration through Redemption: John Calvin Revisited Editor-in-chief Eddy Van der Borght, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Edited by Editorial Board Henk van den Belt Abraham van de Beek, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Martien Brinkman, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Alasdair Heron, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Dirk van Keulen, Theological University Kampen Daniel Migliore, Princeton Theological Seminary Richard Mouw, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Gerrit Singgih, Duta Wacana Christian University, Yogjakarta Conrad Wethmar, University of Pretoria VOLUME 23 LEIDEN • BOSTON The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/srt 2013 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Restoration through redemption : John Calvin revisited / edited by Henk van den Belt. pages cm. — (Studies in Reformed theology, ISSN 1571-4799 ; v. 23) Includes index. ISBN 978-90-04-24466-5 (hardback : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-90-04-24467-2 (e-book) 1. Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564. I. Belt, H. van den, 1971– BX9418.R38 2013 230’.42092—dc23 2012041304 This publication has been typeset in the multilingual “Brill” typeface. With over 5,100 characters covering Latin, IPA, Greek, and Cyrillic, this typeface is especially suitable for use in the humanities. For more information, please see www.brill.com/brill-typeface. ISSN 1571-4799 ISBN 978-90-04-24466-5 (hardback) ISBN 978-90-04-24467-2 (e-book) Copyright 2013 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Global Oriental, Hotei Publishing, IDC Publishers and Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Koninklijke Brill NV provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change. This book is printed on acid-free paper. CONTENTS List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................... vii List of Contributors ........................................................................................ ix Introduction: Revisiting Calvin: Analysis, Assessment, and Reception ..................................................................................................... 1 Henk van den Belt 1. Calvin and the Early Christian Doctrine of the Trinity ................. 15 Gijsbert van den Brink 2. The Two Means of Knowing God: Not an Article of Confession for Calvin ...................................................................................................... 31 Rinse Reeling Brouwer 3. Calvin’s Modification of Augustine’s Doctrine of Original Sin .... 45 Nico Vorster 4. The Key Characteristics of a Christian Life: A Comparison of the Ethics of Calvin and Augustine and their Relevance Today ............................................................................................................. 63 J.H. (Amie) van Wyk 5. The Exegetical Background of Calvin’s View of the Government ................................................................................................ 83 Henk van den Belt 6. Darwin’s Ambiguous Gift to Reformed Theology: The Problem of Natural Suffering and Calvin’s Meditation on the Future Life ................................................................................................................. 95 Ernst M. Conradie 7. Calvin’s Concept of Penal Substitution: Acknowledgement and Challenge ............................................................................................. 113 Jaeseung Cha vi contents 8. John Calvin’s Understanding of Christ’s Descent into Hell ........ 135 Johan Buitendag 9. Calvin’s Contribution to a Common Ecclesial Spirituality ......... 159 Roger Haight, S. J. 10. John Calvin and the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper: A Contemporary Appraisal ................................................................... 171 J. Todd Billings 11. Life as Pilgrimage: The Eschatology of John Calvin ...................... 185 Cornelis van der Kooi 12. Accommodation and Incarnation: A Favourite Concept of Calvin in the Theology of Oepke Noordmans ................................. 199 Phillipe (Flip) Theron 13. Calvin and Human Dignity ................................................................... 215 J.M. Vorster 14. Calvin Studies in North America ........................................................ 231 I. John Hesselink 15. Calvin’s Theological Heritage in South Africa: Engaging an Ambivalent, Contested and Promising Legacy ............................... 247 Robert Vosloo 16. Calvin and France: A Paradoxical Legacy ........................................ 271 Paul Wells Index ................................................................................................................... 283 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS CO John Calvin, Joannis Calvini Opera quae Supersunt Omnia, ed. Wilhelm Baum, Edward Cunitz and Edward Reuss (Brunswick: Schwetschke and Sons, 1863–1900). CCSL Corpus Christianorum: Series Latina. (Turnhout: Brepols, 1954–). NPNF Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (eds), A select library of Nicene and post-Nicene fathers of the Christian Church (Oxford: Parker, 1890– 1900). PL J.-P. Migne (ed.), Patrologiae cursus completus accurante (Paris: Migne, 1844–64). LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS J. Todd Billings, Associate Professor of Reformed Theology at Western Theological Seminary Johan Buitendag, Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, University of Pretoria Jaeseung Cha, Associate Professor of Foundational and Constructive Theology New Brunswick Theological Seminary Ernst M. Conradie, Professor in the Department of Religion and Theology and teaches especially Systematic Theology and Ethics Roger Haight, S. J., Scholar in Residence at Union Theological Seminary I. John Hesselink, Former President and Former Albertus C. van Raalte Professor of Systematic Theology at Western Theological Seminary Rinse H. Reeling Brouwer, Extraordinary Professor at the Protestant Theological University, The Netherlands Phillipe Theron (1942–2010) was Professor in Systematic Theology at the University of Stellenbosch Henk van den Belt, Extraordinary Professor of Reformed Theology, University of Groningen Gijsbert van den Brink, Extraordinary Professor of the Theology of Reformed Protestantism at the Protestant Theological University and Associate Professor of Christian Doctrine at VU-University Amsterdam Cornelis van der Kooi, Professor of Western Systematic Theology at VU-University Amsterdam Amie van Wyk, Emeritus Professor of Potchefstroom University (now Northwest University), South Africa J.M. (Koos) Vorster, Research Professor in Theological Ethics at the Faculty of Theology, Northwest University, South Africa Nico Vorster, Research Professor in Systematic Theology at the Faculty of Theology, Northwest University, South Africa Robert Vosloo, Professor of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology at Stellenbosch University, South Africa Paul Wells, Adjunct Dean of the Faculté Jean Calvin, Aix-en-Provence, France and Affiliate Professor at Northwest University, South Africa INTRODUCTION: REVISITING CALVIN: ANALYSIS, ASSESSMENT, AND RECEPTION Henk van den Belt John Calvin has exercised a tremendous influence and his theology has played an important part in the development of the Christian tradition. The commemoration of the 500th Calvin anniversary in 2009 offered an opportunity to revisit his theological heritage during the 8th conference of the International Reformed Theological Institute (IRTI). The conference was held in France, and hosted by the Free Faculty of Reformed Theol- ogy, now called ‘Faculté Jean Calvin,’ in Aix-en-Provence. The aim of the conference was to look back at Calvin’s theology from the perspectives of current Christianity and the Reformed tradition in particular and trace his influence in the different contexts of the approximately hundred partici- pants, scholars and students from all over the world. Paul Wells, from Aix-en-Provence, opened the conference with an analysis of Calvin’s paradoxical legacy. A remark by this lecturer—that Calvin was a “scarecrow” because of his character and his polemics—found its way to a headline in the Dutch Reformed Daily.1 This volume shows that much more can be said about his influence and legacy in and outside of France. There are at least three ways to revisit Calvin. In the first place one can turn to the sources and analyze Calvin’s theology, either by closely read- ing the Reformer or by studying his sources. A different approach pays more attention to the present context and returns to

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