Scripture’s account of Terah and Abraham’s departure from Ur of the Chaldeans for Canaan (via Haran) presents Calvin with a difficulty. In Genesis 11.31 it appears that Terah takes the…
In Calvin’s estimation, the Christian life is properly one of constant gratitude. Gratitude bears fruit in holiness — we can and should say “thank you” to God with our lives…
On May 6th, 1527 — 488 years ago today — military troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, sacked the ecclesiastical capital of Western Christendom, la città eterna, Rome. Sacking Rome…
I’ve enjoyed the recent interaction between Mark Jones and Rick Phillips on the question of whether divine grace informed the covenant of works. I’ve also appreciated the generally cordial spirit…
“Many things which are now seen in the world are rather corruptions of it than any part of its proper furniture. For ever since man declined from his high original,…
“In time,” Luther opined, “my books will lie forgotten in the dust.” This was no lament on the Reformer’s part. In fact, Luther found much “consolation” in the possibility —…
“I come to the right of interpreting [the Bible], which they arrogate to themselves…. It is theirs, they say, to give the meaning of Scripture, and we must acquiesce.” Thus…
“Thirdly,” Calvin writes in description of Rome’s teaching on Scripture, “repudiating all other versions [of Scripture] whatsoever, they retain the Vulgate only, and order it to be authentic.” Thus Calvin…
Follow the links to read the introduction and part one of this series. “In forming a catalogue of Scripture,” Calvin writes, “they [the Roman Catholic Council of Trent] mark all…
For an explanation of what follows, see the previously posted introduction to this series. Calvin discerned four basic claims in Rome’s teaching on Scripture as discovered in the canons and decrees…
