Required reading
Institutes of Christian religion by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 8 of Book 4.
My summary
This week Calvin looks at the authority of the church in doctrine.
Firstly Calvin establishes that the authority of the church rests in the word given to the ministers, not the ministers themselves: 'Therefore, it is here necessary to remember, that whatever authority and dignity the Holy Spirit in Scripture confers on priests, or prophets, or apostles, or successors of Apostles, is wholly given not to men themselves, but to the ministry to which they are appointed; or, to speak more plainly, to the word, to the ministry of which they are appointed.'
Thus Calvin tells us that the Bible is the source of the church's authority: 'there is no word of God to which place should be given in the Church save that which is contained, first, in the Law and the Prophets; and, secondly, in the writings of the Apostles, and that the only due method of teaching in the Church is according to the prescription and rule of his word.'
Then Calvin shows that this means that Roman Catholic church has erred by believing 'that a universal council is a true representation of the Church' and 'that such councils are under the immediate guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore cannot err.'
What grabbed me
I liked Calvin's job description for pastors: 'We conclude, therefore, that it does not now belong to faithful ministers to coin some new doctrine, but simply to adhere to the doctrine to which all, without exception, are made subject.'
Ministers are not responsible to produce fresh revelation.
But they are responsible to cling to what has already be revealed.
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 9 of Book 4.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment