Blog 225: 4.17.25 – 4.17.28
Calvin identifies in the polemics of transubstantiation a fatal hermeneutical flaw: interpret the text to fit the theory rather than allow the theory to be governed (in this case, abandoned)…
Derek Thomas
Blog 224: 4.17.21 – 4.17.24
What does “ís” mean in “This is my body”? Metonymy, Calvin answers in the same way that Scripture represents one thing by another in such expressions as, “circumcision is a…
Blog 223: 4.17.16 – 4.17.20
Transubstantiation and consubstantiation equally infer the ubiquity of Christ’s physical body, a matter which Calvin now begins to address. The notion that Christ’s physical body (in Bethlehem’s manger, on the…
Blog 222: 4.17.12 – 4.17.15
Calvin’s doctrine of the Supper, often (too often!) referred to (incorrectly) as one of “real presence” is one of communion with Christ crucified and resurrected. It’s focus on the bodily…
Hell and its problems
Further to recent blogs on the topic “How Can a loving God send People to Hell?” readers might like to watch a video clip (posted by Martin Downes) of Don…
Books on my desk…
A couple of books that have come my way are outstanding: the first, by Tony Merida (Ok, he’s in Mississippi, so I’m biased), called Faithful Preaching: Declaring Scripture with…
Blog 216: 4.16.14 – 4.16.19
Another objection to infant baptism is considered: infants are incapable of understanding the gospel and therefore cannot be regenerated. Therefore they should not be baptized. If, Calvin argues, they are…
Blog 215: 4.16.7 – 4.16.13
“What does this have to do with baptism?” is the frequent response to citing Jesus’ blessing the little children (Matt. 19:13-15), as much in Calvin’s day apparently as today. Calvin’s…
Packer on hell
Martin Downes draws my attention to a lecture on hell and annhilation given by J. I. Packer in Cardiff in 1991. You can find an audio file here.
Blog 214: 4.16.1 – 4.16.6
A polemic in favor of infant baptism built on the following platform: 1) An anagogic relationship between circumcision and baptism: both are covenantal signs and seals to faith of forgiveness of…