Magisterial authority and competing theories of natural law in Calvin's Institutes (original) (raw)

Abstract

In this paper, I argue that John Calvin's problematic grant of magisterial authority to enforce proper religious worship contradicts much of his own political theology and in fact depends upon an ambiguity in his natural law theory. I demonstrate this ambiguity by examining the differing claims in the Institutes regarding which of the tables of the Decalogue are accessible through natural law reasoning. I also consider the significance of this ambiguity for Calvin's political theology. I then suggest a partial retrieval of Calvin's political theology which is both more compelling to many contemporary Christians and in a better alignment with much of Calvin's own political theory.

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

References (9)

1. For a more general overview of the place of the Decalogue in Calvin's thought, especially as it applies to Christians, see Susan S. Shreiner, 'John Calvin', in Jeffrey P. Greenman and Timothy Larsen (eds), The Decalogue through the Centuries: From Hebrew Scripture through Benedict XVI (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 2012), pp. 119-34.
2. Calvin, Institutes, I.iii.1.
3. 83 Ibid., I.v.4.
4. 84 Ibid., I.iii.2.
5. Helm, 'John Calvin and Noetic Effects', p. 93.
6. Calvin, Institutes, I.iii.1.
7. 88 Ibid., I.vii.6.
8. See Calvin's discussion of this passage in ibid., II.viii.52.
9. Helm, 'John Calvin and Noetic Effects', p. 97.