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John Calvin's Understanding of Baptism, and the Relation Between View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE 〔Note〕 John Calvin’s Understanding of Baptism, and the Relation Between the Sacraments and Christian Ethics IsaoMATSUDAIRA Ⅰ. Calvin’s Understanding of Baptism. JohnCalvindefinesbaptismas“the signoftheinitiationbywhichweare receivedintothesocietyoftheChurch,inorderthat,engraftedtoChrist, wemaybereckonedamongGod’schildren”.1）Hementionsthreetokens whichareimpartedtotheChristianinbaptism;forgivenessofhumansins, thebeliever’smortificationandrenewalinChrist,andtheunionbetween ChristandHisbelievers.2）Thefirsttwoofthesetokensdependwhollyupon thethird,sinceCalvin’steachingconcerningbaptismalwaysreturnstothat figurativeunion. WhileCalvinaffirmsthatbaptismis“a signofforgiveness,”whichdoes notsignifythepowerofpurificationinwater,itisGod’sdeclarationthat believersareincorporatedintothebodyofChrist.ThusCalvinnotesthat “weputonChristinbaptism”.3）AtheologianDanielMigliore,likewise, キーワード：ジョン・カルビン，洗礼，サクラメント，キリスト教倫理 1 ）JohnCalvin,Institutes of the Christian Religion,ed.JohnT.McNeill,trans. FordLewisBattles（Philadelphia: WestminsterPress,n.d.）,Vol.2,p.1303. 2 ）Ibid.,pp.1304-1308. 3 ）Ibid.,p.1305. ― 201 ― 桃山学院大学キリスト教論集 第50号 writesthat“the eventofbaptismthusmarksthebeginningoftheChristian’s participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.”4） Therefore, CalvinobservesthatChrististherealobjectofbaptism. AccordingtoCalvin,baptism’sunionwithChristrepresentsnotonlyHis deathandresurrection,butalsoHisblessing.5）Thismysticalunionoccurs bytheworkoftheHolySpirit,bywhosegracebelieversaretransformed tothenewnessoflifeandbroughtintothefellowshipofChrist.6）Ronald WallaceexplainsCalvin’sviewthat“this newlifeisthelifeofsonshipof theFatherinunionwithChrist,whowasdeclaredthesonofGodbythe resurrectionfromthedead.Baptismisthusasignofadoptionintothe familyofGod.”7） AlthoughIagreewithallofCalvin’saforementionedviewsonbaptism, I am more hesitant concerning his theory of infant baptism. Calvin asserts that infant baptism corresponds to Jewish circumcision, since baptism occupies the place of circumcision to fulfill the same office amongChristians.8）Heseesbothbaptismandcircumcisionasthesame confirmationofGod’scovenant,whichcontinuesfromtheOldTestament totheNewTestament.9）BecauseScripturestatesthatChristinvitedand blessedlittlechildrenaspartakersoftheKingdomofHeaven（in Matthew 19:13-15）,CalvinarguesthatChristiansshouldnotexcludethemfromthe 4 ）DanielL.Migliore,FaithSeeingUnderstanding:AnIntroductiontoChristian Theology（Grand Rapids:EerdmansPublishingCo.,1991）,p.215. 5 ）Calvin,p.1307. 6 ）Ibid.,p.1325. 7 ）RonaldS.Wallace,Calvin’sDoctrineoftheWordandSacrament（Grand Rapids:EerdmansPublishingC.,1957）,p.180. 8 ）Calvin,p.1327. 9 ）Ibid.,p.1329. ― 202 ― JohnCalvin’sUnderstandingofBaptism,andtheRelationBetweentheSacramentsandChristianEthics signandthebenefitofbaptism.10） I agree with Calvin’s view that the covenant in operation in the Old TestamentisessentiallythesameasthecovenantintheNewTestament. Bothbaptismandcircumcisionsymbolizesalvationtoitsdeepestandfullest extent.Thereisonlyonebasicunderlyingcovenantforallages. JesuscommandsHisapostlestogointothewholeworldtopreachthe gospel,andHesaysthat“He whohasbelievedandhasbeenbaptizedshall besaved;buthewhohasdisbelievedshallbecondemned”（in Mark16: 16）.However,inotherword,Jesussaysthatapersonshallnotbesaved, eventhoughhehasbeenbaptized,ifhedoesnotbelieve.Thus,without faithbaptismwouldbeinvain.InboththeOldTestamentandtheNew Testament, the covenant gave only one Mediator, namely Jesus Christ; thereisonlyoneconditionforsalvation,namelyfaith.Christiansmustnot ignorethatfact. Migliore notes Karl Barth’s opinion that“in baptism there is first an actionofGod（baptism withtheSpirit）andthenacorrespondinghuman action（baptism withwater）:thereisadivinegiftandahumanresponse.”11） Inasense,BarthdividesbaptismintothebaptismoftheSpiritandthat ofwater.Thefirstreferstocovenantlove,andthelastreferstohuman faith.IagreewiththisviewsinceIbelievethat“baptism andfaithare inseparablyrelated.”12）Ifthisviewiscorrect,infantbaptismfailstoexplain howinfantseitherreceivebaptisminfaith,orwitnesstoitsfaithbeforethe congregation. Calvindeclaresthatrejectionofinfantbaptismstandsfortherefection 10）Ibid.,p.1332. 11）Migliore,p.216. 12）Ibid.,p.218. ― 203 ― 桃山学院大学キリスト教論集 第50号 of infants as heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.13） Nevertheless, I must doubtwhetherthepracticeofinfantbaptismtrulyreflectsthemeaningof welcomingthemintotheChurchcommunity.Therefore,whenChristians identifybaptismwithwaterasadeclarationoftheirfaith,itisdefficultto regardinfantbaptismasthetruebaptism. Ⅱ. The Relation Between the Sacraments and Christian Ethics. Thedoctrineofthesacramentsprimarilybringsanunderstandingthat thepromisesgivenintheWordarethatofaChristian’smysticalunionwith thebodyofChrist.AsIstatedpreviously,forCalvin,thisunionwithChrist isoneofthemostimportantdoctrinesforunderstandingthemeaningofthe sacraments.CalvinspeaksofbothsacramentsasbeingsignsofChristians’ incorporationintothebodyofChrist. Therefore,thepurposeofthesacramentsistoshowthesolidarityof allChristiansasmembersofChrist’sbody.Especiallyinthepracticeof baptism,thisunionisobvious.ChristiansarejoinedtoChrist’sdeathand resurrection,thatsecretunionbywhichtheygrowintoonewithChrist.14） Christiansmustrealizethattheunionsignifiesnotonlytheunionbetween ChristandHisbelievers,butalsotheunionamongallofChrist’sbelievers. There is no difference in each individual, for all believers are equally engraftedintoChrist.Migliorenotesthat“baptism createsasolidaritythat defiesandshattersthedivisionsandbarriersthatsinfulhumanbeingshave created.”15） Besides,Calvinsuggeststhatthereisnobenefitinbaptism 13）Calvin,p.1330. 14）Ibid.,p.1385. 15）Migliore,p.224. ― 204 ― JohnCalvin’sUnderstandingofBaptism,andtheRelationBetweentheSacramentsandChristianEthics withouttheunity.16）Accordingly,torefusethegracioussolidarityinChrist istorefusetocometotheonesuresourceofthegraceofChrist.“Racism, sexism,andotherideologiesofseparation”17）mustbeeliminatedfromthe Church,sincetheyonlycauseadenialofsolidaritywithintheChristian community. Miglioreexplainsthatbaptismsignifiesmultidenominationalsolidarity, andtheLord’sSuppersignifiesmultidenominationalsharing.18）Christians should comprehend that both sacraments are mutually related. To this end, Enrique Dussel notes that for Christianity to be a religion that emphasizesthespiritualunionbetweenbelieversinChrist,theChristian lifeshouldestablishtheessentialimportanceofsensitivityfortheneedsof itsmembers.19）ThisisindeedtrueforChristianlife.Miglioreaddressesthe Lord’sSupperas“the sacramentofhumanparticipationinthedivinelifeby sharinglifewitheachother.”20）Sharinglifewithothers,becauseoftheunity inChrist,isthemostimportantissueconcerningtherelationbetweenthe sacramentsandChristianethics.TherearemillionsofhungryChristians intheworld,withwhomChristiansshouldsharetheirbreadandwine,if theyaretrulyunitedinChrist.Inthissense,theLord’sSupperrequiresthe Christian’sresponsibleparticipationinChrist’sbodybysharingeachother. Finally,implicitinthedescriptionofthepracticesofbothsacramentsis anunderstandingofimportanceofforgivenessinChristianlife.Gregory Jonesnotesthat“communities thatcomeintobeingbearingthenameof 16）Calvin,p.1385. 17）Migliore,p.224. 18）Ibid.,p.225. 19）EnriqueDussel,Ethics and Community,trans.RobertR.Barr（New York: OrbisBooks,1988）,p.66. 20）Migliore,p.225. ― 205 ― 桃山学院大学キリスト教論集 第50号 Christaretobecommunitiesinwhichforgiveness,notpunishment,isthe norm.”21）SinceChristiancommunityistobeshapedintheonenesswith ChristthroughtheforgivenessofGod,membersofChristiancommunities cannotengageinunitywithChristwithoutforgivingeachother.Through the practices of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, Christian communities should realize thattheirexistenceisbasedonChrist’sforgiveness,and thatthepracticeofforgivenessrelatestoeachChristian’sfriendshipin Christ.Thisforgivenessbringsnewlife,unionwithChrist,andpeacewithin Christiancommunitiesworldwide. Bibliography Calvin,John.Institutes of the Christian Religion.Volume2.EditedbyJohnT. McNeill.TranslatedbyFordLewisBattles.Philadelphia:WestminsterPress, n.d. Dussel,Enrique.Ethics and Community.TranslatedbyRobertR.Barr.New York:OrbisBooks,1988. Jones,L.Gregory.Transformed Judgment: Toward a Trinitarian Account of the Moral Life.London:UniversityofNotreDamePress,1990. Migliore,DanielL.Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology.GrandRapids:EerdmansPublishingC.,1991. Wallace,RonaldS.Calvin’s Doctrine of the Word and Sacrament.GrandRapids: EerdmansPublishingCo.,1957. 21）L.GregoryJones,Transformed Judgment: Toward a Trinitarian Account of the Moral Life（London: UniversityofNotreDamePress,1990）,p.147. ― 206 ―.
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