STUDIES IN EARLY MODERN RELIGIOUS REFORMS

Transcription

1 THE SCHOOL OF GOD

2 STUDIES IN EARLY MODERN RELIGIOUS REFORMS VOLUME 3 Editor Irena Backus, University of Geneva Board of Consulting Editors Michael J.B. Allen, University of California at Los Angeles Guy Bedouelle, Université de Fribourg Emidio Campi, University of Zürich Bernard Cottret, Université de Paris-Versailles Denis Crouzet, Université de Paris IV-Sorbonne Luc Deitz, Bibliothèque nationale de Luxembourg Paul Grendler, (Emeritus) University of Toronto Susan C. Karant-Nunn, University of Arizona, Tucson Ralph Keen, University of Iowa Maria-Cristina Pitassi, University of Geneva Herman J. Selderhuis, Theological University Apeldoorn David Steinmetz, Duke University, Durham, NC Christoph Strohm, Ruhr Universität Bochum John L. Thompson, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Mark Vessey, The University of British Columbia Lee Palmer Wandel, University of Wisconsin-Madison David F. Wright, The University of Edinburgh

3 THE SCHOOL OF GOD PEDAGOGY AND RHETORIC IN CALVIN'S INTERPRETATION OF DEUTERONOMY by RAYMOND A. BLACKETER

4 A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN (HB) ISBN (HB) ISBN (e-book) ISBN (e-book) Published by Springer, P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Printed on acid-free paper All Rights Reserved 2006 Springer No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work.

5 For Sandra Ryan, Alexandra, and Katelyn with love

6 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS... xiii ABBREVIATIONS... xvi INTRODUCTION: Calvin s Old Testament Exegesis in Context... 1 Calvin in Context... 1 Problems in the Study of Calvin s Exegesis... 3 Confessional Bias... 3 Calvin as the Forerunner of Modern Exegesis... 5 Calvin as the Archetype of Modern Theology... 6 New Directions in Calvin Scholarship... 7 Studies of Calvin s Old Testament Exegesis The Method of the Present Study Calvin s Sources Prospectus of Chapters CHAPTER 1: L ÉCOLE DE DIEU. Pedagogy from the Pulpit Preaching and Pedagogy in Calvin s Vision of a Godly Society Calvin as Pedagogue The Curriculum of the School of God Pulpit Pedagogy The Congregation as Classroom Sermonic Sophistication Calvin s Introductory Sermons vii

7 Calvin s Academic Metaphors The School of God in the Tradition The School of God in Calvin s Institutes The School of God in Calvin s Commentaries The School of God in Calvin s Sermons The Image of the Alphabet The ABC s of Psalm The ABC s of Isaiah 28: CHAPTER 2: AMPLE PREACHING. The Rhetoric of Calvin s Sermons Calvin s Rhetorical Style Arguments About Eloquence Prolixity from Calvin s Pulpit The Sixteenth Century Rhetorical Context Varieties of Eloquent Styles The Problem of Obscurity Brevitas et Amplificatio Neurosis or Eloquence? The Abyss The Labyrinth The Bridle Calvin s Perspective on Rhetoric Brief Commentary, Ample Sermon CHAPTER 3: CALVIN S SERMONS ON DEUTERONOMY. A Course in Remedial Education Deuteronomy as the Ideal Remedial Curriculum Calvin s Sermonic Argumentum to Deuteronomy The Publication of the Law, Second Edition History as Life s Schoolmistress The Shining Face of Moses The Patience of God in Republishing His Law Deuteronomy as an Amplified Version of the Law Warnings Against Ingratitude and Intractability The Scope of Deuteronomy as a Course in Remedial Education Pedagogical Themes in the Deuteronomy Sermons The Divine Teacher The Virtue of Docility Lifelong Learning in the School of God God s Bridle and the Right Path viii

8 Prolixity with a Purpose: Deuteronomy s Rhetorical Style The Style of Deuteronomy in the Exegetical Tradition Calvin s Apologia for Deuteronomy s Verbosity Moses as a Copious Orator A Copious Compendium: Implications for Calvin s Methodology Pulpit Polemics Theological Disputations The Politics of a Godly Society The Genevans as a People in Need of Remedial Education CHAPTER 4: CALVIN S PEDAGOGICALLY CORRECT COMMENTARY ON MOSES PERFECT HISTORY. Improving on Perfection An Unprecedented Method? The Medieval Tradition Early Modern Interpreters The Rabbinic Tradition Philo of Alexandria Philip Melanchthon s Proverbs Commentary Calvin s Gospel Harmony A Traditional Method of Gospel Interpretation Four Gospels, One History Calvin s Method in the Gospel Harmony The Preface to the Mosaic Harmony Problems of Chronological Consistency Apologia for an Innovative Method Improving Moses Perfect Pedagogy The Twin Teachers of History and Doctrine The Eloquence of History Calvin s Organization of the Mosaic Harmony The Preface to the Law The Decalogue Supplements to the Law The End and Use of the Law: A Locus Communis Promises, Threats, and the Via Moderna Improving Moses Perfect Chronology Calvin s Revision of the Mosaic Harmony Errors of the Editors Fine Tuning the Seventh Commandment General and Political Appendices ix

9 Methodological Observations The Function of Loci Communes in the Mosaic Harmony Deviations from the Principle of Brevitas Ecclesiastical and Theological Character of the Mosaic Harmony CHAPTER 5: CALVIN ON THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. The Rhetoric of Rest A Summary of Calvin s Sabbath Sentiments The Sabbath as Allegory The Sabbath Spiritualized in the Tradition The Shadow and Substance of the Sabbath The Sabbath as Object Lesson The Sabbath as Synecdoche Work and Worship Rigorous Repose Pilgrims Studying Holiness The Polity of Weekly Worship Restful Rhetoric and Prayerful Pedagogy A Tower of Reflection The Passed-Over Prayer Ethical Implications of the Fourth Commandment Rest for Beasts and Servants Worship and Work in a Godly Society The Sabbath Commandment in the Mosaic Harmony Methodological Observations CHAPTER 6: CALVIN ON DEUTERONOMY 10:1-2. Smooth Stones, Teachable Hearts The Problem of Calvin s Use of Allegory The Polemical Context of Reform Continuity with the Tradition A Modernized Portrait of Calvin The New Tablets in the Exegetical Tradition The Allegories of Augustine Spiritualized Stones in the Sixteenth Century Calvin s Allegorical Interpretation of the New Tablets The New Tablets in the Mosaic Harmony x

10 Allegory, Rhetoric, and Method Calvin s Complex Comments on Spiritual Interpretation Luther s Love-Hate Relationship with Allegory Lutheran Light on Calvin s Exegesis CHAPTER 7: CALVIN ON DEUTERONOMY 21: The Case of the Incorrigible Son The Incorrigible Son in the Exegetical Tradition Rupert: A Lesson for Parents Grosseteste: A Lesson for the Community Lyra and the Carthusian: A Beneficial Execution Cajetan: Questions of Law and Justice Luther: Letter and Spirit Pellikan: What Luther Said Calvin Sermon on the Incorrigible Son Preventative Parenting The Blessing of Children Discipline: Sustained but Restrained The Requisite Evidence The Duties of Children The Gravity of the Offense Applications Spiritual and Political The Incorrigible Son in the Mosaic Harmony Methodological Observations CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX xi

11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study began as a doctoral dissertation submitted to the faculty of historical theology at Calvin Theological Seminary in I owe a great debt of gratitude to my advisor and friend Prof. Richard A. Muller, P.J. Zondervan Professor of Historical Theology. Prof. Muller epitomizes proper method in his own work, and I am grateful for his guidance and friendship. He always kept research and dissertation writing in proper perspective; he encouraged me to devote adequate time and attention to my family during my graduate studies. He embodies the adage that praises good counsel: Σ µβουλος ερ ν χρ µα (Erasmus, Adagia, II.I.47). It was also my privilege to have as my external dissertation examiner Prof. David C. Steinmetz, Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of the History of Christianity, Duke University Divinity School. It is a true honor to be associated with Prof. Steinmetz, whose work represents a model of contextual historical research that I can only hope to approximate. It was Prof. Steinmetz who suggested the publication of this study in the Springer series Studies in Early Modern Religious Reforms. I also wish to thank Prof. James De Jong of Calvin Theological Seminary for taking the time and making the effort to serve on my dissertation committee as he was completing his tenure as president of Calvin Seminary. I am grateful to those who assisted me with obtaining sources and providing library assistance of various forms during my original dissertation research: Dr. Karin Maag, Director of the H.H. Meeter Center for Calvin Studies, who was particularly helpful with my newborn French and resuscitated Latin; Mr. Paul Fields, Curator of the Meeter Center and Theological Librarian, Hekman Library, who applied his detective skills to tracking down mysteriously missing sources; Ms. Kathy Struck of Hekman Li- xiii

12 brary s Interlibrary Loan office, who scanned the library resources of North America seeking microform copies of obscure sixteenth century titles; and Mrs. Marilyn Grevengoed of Hekman Library. There are fellow scholars whose friendship I value at least as much as their expert advice and counsel. I received input and encouragement on this project from Prof. John L. Thompson of Fuller Theological Seminary, and from Prof. Barbara Pitkin of Stanford University. Dr. Nicole Kuropka, in addition to being a steadfast friend and stimulating colleague, helped me tremendously by bringing to my attention Melanchthon s Proverbs commentary. I also express my appreciation to Prof. Irena Backus of the Institut d histoire de la Réformation at the University of Geneva for accepting my study for publication in this series, and to Floor Oosting and Ingrid van Laarhoven of Springer for their timely transatlantic communication and help in preparing the manuscript. The anonymous referee of the manuscript suggested very helpful and constructive revisions, prompting a major overhaul of the shape of the book. The Consistory of the Neerlandia Christian Reformed Church in northern Alberta, Canada is a living legacy of the reforming work of Jean Calvin in Geneva. I am grateful to them for providing me with relief from my pastoral duties in order to work on the revision of the manuscript. I thank Michael Borgert for reading the manuscript and suggesting corrections and improvements; the faults that remain are my own. I am also indebted to Bruce Wierenga, Jan Aarsen, and Richard Aarsen, venatici magistri, for providing requisite excursions into the silva borealis. Finally, to my wife Sandra and my children Ryan, Alexandra, and Katelyn, I offer my loving thanks for tolerating a frequently preoccupied husband and father, de verstrooide professor. Without Sandra s steadfast support and the inspiration and diversion of my beloved children, I could not have completed this work. It is to these four most important people in my life that this book is dedicated. RAYMOND ANDREW BLACKETER Neerlandia, Alberta Easter 2005 xiv

13 ABBREVIATIONS ACW Ancient Christian Writers. BAC La Bibliothèque de l Académie de Calvin, ed. A. Ganoczy. CCCM Corpus Christianorum, Continuatio Mediævalis. CCSL Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina. CHB Cambridge History of the Bible. CO Ioannis Calvini Opera quæ supersunt omnia. CR Corpus Reformatorum. CSEL Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum. CTS Calvin Translation Society. CWE Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto Edition. DTC Dictionnaire de Théologie Catholique. ET English Translation. FOC The Fathers of the Church. Catholic University Press. GCS Die Griechischen christlichen Schriftsteller der ersten drei Jahrhunderten. ICCR International Congress on Calvin Research LW Luther s Works. American Edition. NPNF 1 Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. First Series. NPNF 2 Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Second Series. OE I. Calvini Opera Omnia, denuo recognita, series II: Opera Exegetica. LB Desiderii Erasmi Opera Omnia Roterodami. Leiden Edition, OS Joannis Calvini Opera Selecta. OO A Opera Omnia Desiderii Erasmi Roterodami. Amsterdam Edition. PG Migne, Patrologiæ cursus completus. Series græca. PL Migne, Patrologiæ cursus completus. Series latina. Quasten Patrology. Edited by J. Quasten and A. DiBernadino. Registres Registres de la Compagnie des Pasteurs de Genève aut temps de Calvin. RGG 3 Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Third edition. xvi

14 SC SJD SM ST WA WATR WSA Supplementa Calviniana. Sermons inédits. Die Schriften des Johannes von Damaskos. Edited by B. Kotter. Supplementa Melanchthoniana. St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiæ. Blackfriars edition. D. Martin Luthers Werke. Weimarer Ausgabe. D. Martin Luthers Werke: Tischreden. Weimarer Ausgabe. The Works of Saint Augustine. A Translation for the 21 st Century. xvii