II After Merit

John Calvin’s Theology of Works and Rewards
1. Auflage 2016
ISBN: 978-3-647-55248-4
Verlag: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, Band Band 034, 190 Seiten

Reihe: Refo500 Academic Studies (R5AS)

In this study Charles Raith II fills a gap in Reformation-era scholarship by analyzing Calvin's teaching on works and reward in light of medieval theological developments surrounding the doctrine of merit. While significant analysis has been given to Calvin's doctrine of justification, its relation to sanctification, the notion of union with Christ, and the role of participation, there is as yet no sustained analysis of how these teachings are shaped by the most hostile and pervasive of his polemics, namely, his confrontation with a merit-based framework for understanding Christian salvation. This volume, however, interprets Calvin's own theological constructions as contextually determined by the reigning polemics of his day. In addition, previous scholarship on these topics has largely failed to properly contextualize Calvin's own thought against the background of scholastic theological developments-developments that Calvin both accepts and rejects in the formulation of his own theology. After Merit addresses these gaps by (1) analyzing Calvin's tracts, scriptural commentaries and Institutes to demonstrate Calvin's unique distain for the doctrine of merit among the early Reformers and the pervasiveness of this polemic within his theological program; (2) reviewing the scholastic developments surrounding the doctrine of merit from the High to Late Middle Ages as background to Calvin's thought; (3) highlighting Calvin's principle problems with the doctrine of merit: the competitive-causal schema between divine and human causality, merit as a basis for justification, and good works as 'deserving' of reward; and (4) unpacking Calvin's theology of justification, sanctification, the worth of works, and the role of works in salvation as an alternative to the 'opponents' doctrine of merit. The volume concludes by reflecting on the reception of Calvin's theology of works and reward in later Reformed thought.

Charles Raith II, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy and Director of the Paradosis Center for Theology and Scripture at the John Brown University in Siloam Springs, USA.

Autoren/Hrsg.

II, Charles Raith

Weitere Mitwirkende

Frank, Günter

Lotz-Heumann, Ute

Mahlmann-Bauer, Barbara

Schilling, Johannes

Wassilowsky, Günther

Westphal, Siegrid

Rasmussen, Tarald

Lamberigts, Mathijs

Gordon, Bruce

Whitford, David M.

Tóth, Zsombor

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christliche Kirchen, Konfessionen, Denominationen Protestantismus, evangelische und protestantische Kirchen Reformierte Kirchen, Calvinisten, presbyterianische Kirchen
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Systematische Theologie Christliche Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Systematische Theologie Geschichte der Theologie, Einzelne Theologen
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religionsphilosophie, Philosophische Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Religionsphilosophie, Philosophische Theologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Cover;1
2;Title Page;4
3;Copyright;5
4;Body;8
5;Preface;8
6;Abbreviations;10
6.1;Journals;10
6.2;Compilations;10
6.3;Works of Calvin;11
6.4;Other Works;12
7;Introduction;14
7.1;1. Calvin's Theology as a Soteriological Alternative to Merit;17
7.1.1;1.1 Calvin's Unique Position on Merit, Works, and Reward;18
7.1.2;1.2 The Centrality of Calvin's Polemic against Merit;23
7.1.2.1;1.2.1 Calvin's Commentary on Romans;26
7.1.2.2;1.2.2 The Institutes of the Christian Religion;31
7.2;2. Plan for the Work;33
8;Chapter 1: The Lineaments of the Medieval Development of Merit;38
8.1;1. Thomas Aquinas;41
8.2;2. John Duns Scotus;49
8.3;3. William of Ockham;56
8.4;4. Gabriel Biel;62
8.5;5. Conclusion;66
9;Chapter 2: Calvin's Opponents (as Calvin Understood Them);68
9.1;1. An Issue of Competitive Causality;70
9.2;2. An Issue of Justification;75
9.3;3. An Issue of Meriting Perseverance;83
9.4;4. An Issue of “Worth” and “Due”;84
9.5;5. Conclusion;88
10;Chapter 3: Justification sola Dei misericordia: Creating Space for a Proper Understanding of Works and Reward;92
10.1;1. The Effects of Adam's Fall: Total Spiritual Incapacity;93
10.2;2. Clarification of Calvin's Criticism of “Free Will”;99
10.3;3. Double Predestination Contextualized;101
10.4;4. The Role of Prevenient Grace;105
10.5;5. Conclusion: The Extrinsicism of Justification;107
11;Chapter 4: The Christian Life and Struggle in the Spirit;110
11.1;1. Noncompetitive Causality and Participation;112
11.2;2. Partial Sanctification and the Divided Christian;116
11.3;3. The Nature-Grace Distinction;120
11.4;4. The Nature of Perfection;122
11.5;5. The Damnworthiness of Concupiscence;126
11.6;6. Rejecting the Venial-Mortal Sin Distinction;130
11.7;7. Conclusion;131
12;Chapter 5: God's Will to Reward;134
12.1;1. The Foundation of Faith in Receiving Rewards;135
12.2;2. The Worthless Worth of Works;138
12.3;3. God's acceptatio of Damnworthy Works;142
12.4;4. The Liberality of Rewards;145
12.5;5. Conclusion;147
13;Chapter 6: The Content of Rewards;150
13.1;1. The Purpose of Rewards and God's Accommodation;151
13.2;2. Grace for Grace;153
13.3;3. Eternal Life Both Is and Is Not Obtained through Works;158
13.4;4. Degrees of Heaven;170
13.5;5. Conclusion;173
14;Chapter 7: Conclusion – Retrieving Calvin's Doctrine of Reward for Works;176
15;Bibliography of Modern Works;182

Über Autor(innen)

II, Charles Raith
Charles Raith II, Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy and Director of the Paradosis Center for Theology and Scripture at the John Brown University in Siloam Springs, USA.