Ray Berrian
New Member
Is John Calvin a safe spiritual guide?
Much of his teaching is warmed-over Roman Catholicism. This is from "Calvin's Institutes." 'But as it is now our purpose to discourse of the visible Church, let us learn, from her single title of Mother, how useful, nay, how necessary the knowledge of her is, since there is no other means of entering into life unless she conceive us in the womb and give us birth, unless she nourish us at her breasts, and, in short, keep us under her charge and government, until, divested of mortal flesh, we become like the angels . . . . Moreover, beyond the pale of the Church no forgiveness of sins, no salvation can be hoped for . . . . hence the abandonment of the Church is always fatal.' (John Calvin, "Method and Arrangement," in "Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. Henry Beveridge {Wm. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998 ed.} p. 29)
Calvinists David Steele and Curtis Thomas point out that "The basic doctrines of the Calvinistic position had been vigorously defended by Augustine against Pelagius during the fifth century." (David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas, "The Five Points of Calvinism" {Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co. 1963), p. 19.
C.H. Spurgeon admitted that 'perhaps Calvin himself derived it {Calvinism} mainly from the writings of Augustine.' (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, ed., "Exposition of the Doctrine of Grace {Pilgrim Publications, n.d.} p 298.
Alvin L. Baker wrote, 'There is hardly a doctrine of Calvin that does not bear the marks of Augustine's influence.' (Alvin L. Baker, "Berkouwer's Doctrine of Election: Balance or Imbalance? {Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1981) p. 25
C. Gregg Singer said, 'The main features of Calvin's theology are found in the writings of St. Augustine to such an extent that many theologians regard Calvinism as a more fully developed form of Augustinianism.' (C. Gregg Singer, "John Calvin: His Roots and Fruits {A Press, 1989), VII.
Henry H. Milman said this. 'Augustinianism was worked up into a still more rigid and uncompromising system by the severe intellect of Calvin. (Henry H. Milman, "History of Christianity" {A.C. Armstrong and Son, 1886} 3:176.
Calvin called himself 'an Augustinian theologian.' (Kenneth G. Talbot and W. Gary Crampton, "Calvinism, Hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism" {Still Water Revival Books, 1990, p. 79.
William P. Grady writes this. 'The deluded Augustine (354-430 A.D.) went so far as to announce {through his book, "The City of God"} that Rome had been privileged to usher in the millennial kingdom (otherswise known as the Dark Ages). (William P. Grady, "Final Authority: A Christian's Guide to the King James Bible {Grady Publications, 1993), p.54.
Calvin is 'joined at the hip' to St. Augustine the notible Roman Catholic theologian. People need to study and investigate the Greek when difficult passages appear, rather than the Latin that they focused on during their life time. This is why many believe that Augustinianism and much later Calvinism has passed all the 'Check Points' of the Holy See, through the centuries.
Much of his teaching is warmed-over Roman Catholicism. This is from "Calvin's Institutes." 'But as it is now our purpose to discourse of the visible Church, let us learn, from her single title of Mother, how useful, nay, how necessary the knowledge of her is, since there is no other means of entering into life unless she conceive us in the womb and give us birth, unless she nourish us at her breasts, and, in short, keep us under her charge and government, until, divested of mortal flesh, we become like the angels . . . . Moreover, beyond the pale of the Church no forgiveness of sins, no salvation can be hoped for . . . . hence the abandonment of the Church is always fatal.' (John Calvin, "Method and Arrangement," in "Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. Henry Beveridge {Wm. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998 ed.} p. 29)
Calvinists David Steele and Curtis Thomas point out that "The basic doctrines of the Calvinistic position had been vigorously defended by Augustine against Pelagius during the fifth century." (David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas, "The Five Points of Calvinism" {Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co. 1963), p. 19.
C.H. Spurgeon admitted that 'perhaps Calvin himself derived it {Calvinism} mainly from the writings of Augustine.' (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, ed., "Exposition of the Doctrine of Grace {Pilgrim Publications, n.d.} p 298.
Alvin L. Baker wrote, 'There is hardly a doctrine of Calvin that does not bear the marks of Augustine's influence.' (Alvin L. Baker, "Berkouwer's Doctrine of Election: Balance or Imbalance? {Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1981) p. 25
C. Gregg Singer said, 'The main features of Calvin's theology are found in the writings of St. Augustine to such an extent that many theologians regard Calvinism as a more fully developed form of Augustinianism.' (C. Gregg Singer, "John Calvin: His Roots and Fruits {A Press, 1989), VII.
Henry H. Milman said this. 'Augustinianism was worked up into a still more rigid and uncompromising system by the severe intellect of Calvin. (Henry H. Milman, "History of Christianity" {A.C. Armstrong and Son, 1886} 3:176.
Calvin called himself 'an Augustinian theologian.' (Kenneth G. Talbot and W. Gary Crampton, "Calvinism, Hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism" {Still Water Revival Books, 1990, p. 79.
William P. Grady writes this. 'The deluded Augustine (354-430 A.D.) went so far as to announce {through his book, "The City of God"} that Rome had been privileged to usher in the millennial kingdom (otherswise known as the Dark Ages). (William P. Grady, "Final Authority: A Christian's Guide to the King James Bible {Grady Publications, 1993), p.54.
Calvin is 'joined at the hip' to St. Augustine the notible Roman Catholic theologian. People need to study and investigate the Greek when difficult passages appear, rather than the Latin that they focused on during their life time. This is why many believe that Augustinianism and much later Calvinism has passed all the 'Check Points' of the Holy See, through the centuries.
