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The Philosophy of Calvinism

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JonC

JonC

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Sai said:
He was tempted in the three areas, the flesh the world and Satan. However he wasn’t tempted to post on forums all day.


Joy unspeakable full of glory
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He may have been tempted to post on forums all day if He were forced to work remotely from home. :Biggrin
But I'm sure He would have overcome that temptation. :(
 
Y

Yeshua1

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JonC said:
Theology starts with Christ. We cannot know God except as revealed in Christ. Even understanding Scripture and the gospel starts with Christ.
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Theology actually starts with God the Father, as he is the One that sent Jesus to be the Messiah and Savior!
 
L

LaGrange

Active Member
JonC said:
Calvinism is derived systematically from Scripture. By definition (of systematic theology) Calvinism is dependent on scripture and extra-biblical sources. Extra-biblical sources include philosophy, cultural influences, contemporary issues (at the time of development), prior theological writings and opinions (historical theology), and human reasoning.

One thing to remember – Calvinism as the Doctrines of Grace, TULIP, or the Canons of Dort were not self-standing expressions or complete theological formations. The Canons of Dort were a response to and rebuttal of the Five Articles of the Remonstrance which were articles put forward by then-Calvinists concerning the philosophical question predestination as it relates to the problem of evil.

Is Calvinism Theology or Philosophy?

Calvinism itself, as defined by “the Doctrines of Grace” or TULIP is not a theology but rather a religious philosophy associated with the branch of theology called soteriology (the study of salvation). This does not make Calvinism wrong, but it would be wrong to refer to Calvinism itself as a study of salvation (as a soteriology) and even more incorrect to refer to Calvinism as a theology.

Historical Calvinism, on the other hand, as defined by the system of belief held by John Calvin and further developed by Theodore Beza is a theology and Calvin’s Institutes is a Systematic Theology. The soteriology within Calvinistic Theology is more developed and complex than the issues of divine predestination within salvation (than Calvinism as a religious philosophy).

Calvinism as we use it (TULIP or the Doctrines of Grace) begin with Historical Calvinist’s answer to the Remonstrates concerning the philosophical question of predestination and the problem of sin.

What philosophical presuppositions is Calvinism built upon?

The most obvious starting point for Calvinism is the assumption that one philosophy of justice, retributive justice, is descriptive of divine justice and how God deals with man in a moral sense.

Another equally important but perhaps less on the surface is the philosophy concerning types of substitution and punishment. There are two primary ideas of punishment. They are punishment as healing or preventing evils and punishment as retribution or balancing out the wrong done. Aquinas argued that an innocent man could justly be punished in the place of a guilty man (provided all parties were in agreement) BUT no man can justly be punished for the sins of another. John Calvin was trained as a lawyer rather than a theologian. When he reformed Aquinas’ position he decided that an innocent man could not only be punished for a guilty man, but also that he could be punished for the sins of the guilty man.

Linked with the two is the philosophical idea that sin can be treated as a thing and this thing be spoken of independently of the sinner. Sins, therefore, can be transferred from one person to another person. Sins themselves can be punished. Those two things being assumed, sins can be transferred from one person to another person and punished on or in that other person. This can be viewed as just based on Calvin’s reworking of Aquinas’ idea of atonement.

There are many other philosophical and theoretical ideas upon which Calvinism is built. One is the assumption that moral justness is at the heart of God’s work of reconciliation. Another is that righteousness is a moral (rather than relational). And of course, there are many others. But I think what is listed is at the very foundation of Calvinism.
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Thanks Jon C. I’ll have to study this a little.
 
JonC

JonC

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Yeshua1 said:
Theology actually starts with God the Father, as he is the One that sent Jesus to be the Messiah and Savior!
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Christian theology starts with Christ. That is what Jesus said. You cannot know the Father except by the Son.

Theology that starts with the Father is religious philosophy.
 
JonC

JonC

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Moderator
LaGrange said:
Thanks Jon C. I’ll have to study this a little.
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Rumour spreadin' 'round
In that Texas town :D

You are welcome. We all need to study this a little (emphasis on a little). The main thing is not theology but spiritual truth. Share Christ with someone.
 
Y

Yeshua1

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JonC said:
Christian theology starts with Christ. That is what Jesus said. You cannot know the Father except by the Son.

Theology that starts with the Father is religious philosophy.
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Theology proper starts with the trinity, as all 3 are God, and one not exclusive over others!
Jesus Himself diverted them to the Father, while the Spirit diverts us to Jesus!
 
A

AustinC

Well-Known Member
JonC said:
Christian theology starts with Christ. That is what Jesus said. You cannot know the Father except by the Son.

Theology that starts with the Father is religious philosophy.
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Is God not one, John? Are you espousing three separate deities? (No, I don't think you are. But, you are being legalistic in this issue.)
 
JonC

JonC

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Moderator
AustinC said:
Is God not one, John? Are you espousing three separate deities? (No, I don't think you are. But, you are being legalistic in this issue.)
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No. I am referencing Scripture. No man can know the Father except through the Son (John 14).

It is not a popular view anymore, but at one time it was the foundation of Christian theology.

Times change.
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Yeshua1 said:
Theology proper starts with the trinity, as all 3 are God, and one not exclusive over others!
Jesus Himself diverted them to the Father, while the Spirit diverts us to Jesus!
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Christian theology begins and ends with Christ. Read the Bible.
 
Dave G

Dave G

Well-Known Member
JonC said:
The problem comes in, though, when people are not satisfied with Paul's words that we now see dimly as through a glass.
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" When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity." ( 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 ).

Jon, I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that Christians cannot understand the Bible completely at some point in our lives, but I don't see it here.
I see that we see Christ through a glass, darkly...

But then when we see Him face to face, we shall see Him clearly, and as He is.
for now we see Him through Scripture and experience His presence through the Spirit..
Later?

In Person.:)
JonC said:
Scripture tells us all we need to know, but not always all we want to know.
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I agree.
But it does tells me all that god has decided that what we need to know.
JonC said:
Over the years God has taught me a very important spiritual truth - Spiritual truths deal with spiritual issues. When it comes to many of the "isms" the issue is knowing about God, how God did this or how God did that. In other words, it is an attempt to acquire human knowledge of divine workings. But spiritual truth is how what has actually been revealed works in our lives. This is not an addition to Scripture (like, for example, saying that Calvinism is the gospel, or that Arminianism is the gospel) but an application of Scripture in the lives of God's children.
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I'm sorry, but you've lost me.

To me, God's word is addressed to me and others like me...
His children.

It's what He wants me to know about Him and about how and why He graciously bothered with saving my worthless hide from eternal punishment.
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Dave G said:
" When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity." ( 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 ).

Jon, I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that Christians cannot understand the Bible completely at some point in our lives, but I don't see it here.
I see that we see Christ through a glass, darkly...

But then when we see Him face to face, we shall see Him clearly, and as He is.

I agree.
But it does tells me all that god has decided that what we need to know.

I'm sorry, but you've lost me.

To me, God's word is addressed to me and others like me...
His children.

It's what He wants me to know about Him and about how and why He graciously bothered with saving my worthless hide from eternal punishment.
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I think you misunderstood me, brother.

I never said we cannot understand the Bible.

I am saying we cannot understand the mind of God beyond what He has revealed to us.
 
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