Snippets from Calvin's Commentaries

I did not want to derail another thread with this subject matter . It seems many are confused regarding Calvin . My Calvinism is not based on John Calvin, but the Bible . Yet John Calvin was a wonderful Bible expositor among his many gifts . I think it is unfair to cast him aside with a wave of the hand and a bigoted frame of mind . It is best to really read what he wrote before lambasting him . And after really reading him you may end up commending him .:love2:

Here is some of what John Calvin commented on regarding 1 Timothy 2:4.

Hence we see the childish folly of those who represent this passage to be opposed to predestination . " If God " say they, " wishes all men indiscriminately to be saved , it is false that some are predestined by his eternal purpose to salvation , and others to perdition . " They might have had some ground for saying this , if Paul were speaking here about individual men ; although even then we should not have wanted the means of replying to their argument ; for , although the will of God ought not to be judged from his secret decrees , when he reveals them to us by outward signs , yet it does not therefore follow that he has not determined with himself what he intends to do as to every individual man .
... the apostle simply means ; that there is no people and no rank in the world that is excluded from salvation ; because God wishes that the gospel should be proclaimed to all without exception . Now the preaching of the gospel gives life ; and hence he justly concludes that God invites all equally to partake salvation . But the present discourse relates to classes of men , and not to individual persons ; for his sole object is , to include in this number princes and foreign nations .

 

Commenting on 2 Thessalonians 2;13 he says in part:

... this consolation belongs to all the elect of God , without exception . When , therefore , he says , from the beginning , he means that there is no danger lest their salvation , which is founded on God's eternal election , should be overthrown , whatever tumultuous changes may occur . "However Satan may mix and confound all things in the world , your salvation , notwithstanding , has been placed on a footing of safety , prior to the creation of the world ." Here therefore , is the true port of safety , that God , who elected us of old , will deliver us from all the evils that threaten us . For we are elected to salvation ; we shall , therefore , be safe from destruction .

 

This excerpt is from his comments on John 3:16 :

Let us remember , on the other hand , that while life is promised universally to all who believe in Christ , still faith is not common to all . For Christ is made known and held out to the view of all , but the elect alone are they whose eyes God opens , that they may seek him by faith .

 

This is from his comments on 1 John 2:1,2 :

"And not ours only. " He added this for the sake of amplifying , in order that the faithful might be assured that the expiation made by Christ , extends to all who by faith embrace the gospel .
Here a question may be raised , how have the sins of the whole world been expiated ? I pass by the dotages of the fanatics , who under this pretence extend salvation to all the reprobate , and therefore to Satan himself . Such a monstrous thing deserves no refutation ... for the design of John was no other than to make this benefit common to the whole Church . Then under the word "all' or whole , he does not include the reprobate , but designates those who should believe as well as those who were then scattered through various parts of the world . For then is really made evident , as it is meet , the grace of Christ , when it is declared to be the only true salvation of the world .

 

The following is a bit of Calvin's remarks on a section of Hebrews 2:13 :

"Which God hath given me ." Here is pointed out the primary cause of obedience , even that God has adopted us . Christ brings none to the Father , but those given him by the Father ; and this donation , we know , depends on eternal election ; for those whom the Father has destined to life , he delivers to the keeping of his Son , that he may defend them . This is what he says by John , " All that the Father has given me , will come to me ." ( John 6:37.) That we then submit to God by the obedience of faith , let us learn to ascribe this altogether to his mercy ; for otherwise we shall never be led to him by the hand of Christ . Besides ,this doctrine supplies us with strong ground of confidence ; for who can tremble under the guidance and protection of Christ ? Who , while relying on such a keeper and guardian , would not boldly disregard all dangers ? And , doubtless , while Christ says , " Behold , I and the children," he really fulfills what he elsewhere promises , that he will not suffer any of those to perish whom he has received from the Father . ( John 10:28.)

 

Allan , you have not read his Institutes or commentaries as closely as you would have others to believe . You are reading through the filter of Ron Rhoades who probably got it from Norm Geisler Vance or Hunt . John Calvin does not reverse himself in the course of a few paragraphs . He said earlier in reference to some words on John 3:16 :

"Both points are distinctly stated to us : namely , that faith in Christ brings life to all , and that Christ brought life , because The Heavenly Father loves the human race ..."

Allan , you have to exercise more caution when reading Calvin , Gill or Owen . Many times they are prefacing the thoughts of adversaries before they tell their side . Make sure of what is really going on , otherwise you will remain confused .

 

You are right Allan . I was not reading the Calvin quote in context . He was not speaking of adversaries at all . Calvin in that section did say that " The Heavenly Father loves the human race " etc. I am sorry about that . I guess I had my Calvinistic lenses on there . John Calvin was not really sounding too Calvinistic in that place . But , of course he said shortly afterwards that "the elect alone are they whose eyes God opens , that they may seek him by faith ."

I know it may sound strange and even contradictory that Calvin wasn't being very Calvinistic in that place . I said in my OP that Calvin was a fallible man and open to criticism . So Owen , Gill , Henry ,Turretin , Hoeksema , Warfield and many others should be consulted for explanations of biblical texts in addition to calvin

I still maintain that there is no disjunction between Calvin's Institutes ( written between ages 26 and 50 ) and his commentaries . Since various editions of his Institutes span most of his life alongside his commentaries .

Mr. Ron Rhoades is " an avowed Calvinist" you said . I usually hear the word "avowed" before the word communist though . It has a distinctly negative connotation . Please don't depend on him second-hand for your info on John Calvin . I do not regard Rhoades as any more a Calvinist than Norm Geisler .

Allan , you had said in passing that Calvin never uses Scripture for his positions -- ever . That of course is as wrong as can be . Perhaps you were referencing only one passage he was commenting upon .