CALVIN AND CALVINISM STUDY
GUIDE
Exam #2 / Prof. Michael
Andres
Calvin’s Institutes of
the Christian Religion
Describe
the development, structure, and purpose of the Institutes.
Book
I: Briefly explain Calvin’s view and
compare to alternative views:
Relation
of knowledge of self and knowledge of God, sensus
divinitatis, noetic effects of sin (e.g. factory
of idols, labyrinth, etc), idolatry, natural theology, Scripture (e.g.
accommodation, baby talk, spectacles, etc), internal witness of the Holy Spirit
/ self-authentication (compare to Catholic and Anabaptist views), prophetic
fanatics, Word and Spirit, iconoclasm, Trinity, providence (e.g. extent/areas
of providence, Creatio Continuata,
comparision to fatalism and deism, benefits, pastoral
significance, etc.), original righteousness, free choice and Adam’s
responsibility (compare to Pelagius).
Book
II: Briefly explain Calvin’s view and
compare to alternative views:
Define: original sin, guilt, pollution. Transmission of original sin, nature of
original sin (disease metaphor), extent of original sin, comparison to Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism,
knowledge by arts and sciences, common/general grace, freedom/bondage of will
(e.g. philosopher’s view, three kinds of freedom, etc.), God’s sovereignty in
human will/heart, three functions of law, Christ as mediator, Osiander, divinity and humanity of Christ (e.g. extra Calvinisticum, “distinguished but not separated” [distinctio sed non
separation], etc), ubiquity, Christ’s threefold offices, priesthood of
believers, atonement (Anselm, necessity, divine wrath and love, active/passive
obedience, penal substitution, Christus
Victor, subjective/objective), Christ’s descent to hell.
Book
III: Briefly explain Calvin’s view and
compare to alternative views:
Union with Christ (unio mystica), Bernard of Clairvaux, Patristic view, Medieval view (Aquinas, implicit/explicit faith, formed/unformed faith, etc.), and Calvin’s view of faith (e.g. trust/confidence, not meritorious, God-given, certain), , repentance (e.g. continual, God-given, theocentric/lordship salvation, etc) sanctification (e.g. virtue ethic, motives for Christian life, self-denial, piety of imitatio, cross as basis for self-denial, etc.), Medieval view of justification (e.g. Lombard and Aquinas, treasury of merit, supererogatory merit, progressive justification, role of grace and righteousness, etc.), Luther and Melanchthon on justification, Osiander on justification, Calvin’s view of justification (e.g. forensic/personal, justification and works, extrinsic imputed/infused righteousness [Jacob receiving blessing], forgiveness, faith alone [empty jar], etc), prayer (necessity, digging treasure, prayer and foreknowledge, four rules, Lord’s Prayer, etc), election (e.g. placement in Institutes, pastoral significance, dangers in approach, foreknowledge vs predestination, absolute, particular, and double election), objections to absolute predestination.
Book
IV: Briefly
explain Calvin’s view and compare to alternative views:
Relation of election to view of church, visible/invisible church, Catholic marks of church, Calvin’s marks of church, church discipline, Calvin on church government, metaphors for ‘church’ (mother and school), sacraments (word and sign, covenant, means of grace, etc), baptism (covenant, infant baptism, , union with Christ, cleansing, mode, preaching, etc), Lord’s Supper (means of grace/spiritual nourishment, Christ’s presence, promise sealed, ushered to heaven, frequency, etc).
Essay Question (will be one of the following):
Describe in detail, give Scriptural support, and
respond to objections to Calvin’s view on:
1. Scripture
2.
3. Original Sin / Bondage of Will
4. Sanctification