tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post8356785741704734634..comments2023-07-22T04:24:08.498-04:00Comments on Controversial Calvinism: More about Calvin on 1Timothy 2:4Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01602468757765608379noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post-9307674622296066532009-01-01T14:20:00.000-05:002009-01-01T14:20:00.000-05:00Anonymous says "reading your own theology into Cal...Anonymous says "reading your own theology into Calvin..." That's laughable. Here's more of Calvin from 2:4:<BR/><BR/>"<EM>And may come to the acknowledgment of the truth.</EM> Lastly, he demonstrates that God has at heart the salvation of all, because he invites all to the acknowledgment of his truth. This belongs to that kind of argument in which the cause is proved from the effect; for, if “the gospel is the power of God for salvation to every one that believeth,” (Romans 1:16,) it is certain that all those to whom the gospel is addressed are invited to the hope of eternal life.<BR/><BR/>End of quote from Calvin. Now I ask, is Calvin writing in the imperative when he says "God has at heart the salvation of all?"Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01602468757765608379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post-44705113141011873092007-09-02T18:21:00.000-04:002007-09-02T18:21:00.000-04:00"here is something from that commentary that does ...<I>"here is something from that commentary that does indeed suggest a universal desire or will: "... God wishes that the gospel should be proclaimed to all without exception . . . .</I><BR/><BR/>You're wrong Steve and this is another example of trying to infer something in the indicative (desire) from something written in the imperative (the universal proclamation of the gospel).<BR/><BR/>Christians are commanded to preach the gospel to all men in every nation, but you can't infer from this a desire on the part of God for the salvation of all men or that all men will respond positively to that message. <BR/><BR/>It doesn't follow. <BR/><BR/>You're reading your own theology into Calvin again. Ironically, Calvin refutes the error of your position in his commentary of this critical passage and you don't even notice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post-34685577516986933132007-08-27T13:30:00.000-04:002007-08-27T13:30:00.000-04:00Anonymous criticizes me as engaging in "linguistic...Anonymous criticizes me as engaging in "linguistic gymnastics" and suggests I need to reread Calvin's commentary. Well, here is something from that commentary that does indeed suggest a universal desire or will: "... 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." No gymnastics required here, other than to try to explain it away.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01602468757765608379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post-83720866330062673882007-08-27T12:36:00.000-04:002007-08-27T12:36:00.000-04:00Calvin often represents God to us as an indulgent ...<B>Calvin often represents God to us as an indulgent and loving Father, who pleads for the salvation of all men.</B><BR/><BR/>You need to read Calvin's commentary on this passage again, for no universal desire or will for the salvation for all can be inferred from anything Calvin wrote. He says; "the present discourse relates to classes of<BR/>men, and not to individual persons; for his sole object is, to include in this number princes and foreign nations."<BR/><BR/>Calvin exegetes this passage as has all Reformed men since and that "all" is a reference to various classes and ranks of men. Nothing in either the original citation, your additions, or from his commentary supports the idea that Calvin believed that God desires or wills the salvation of all men head for head -- much less that Christ's cross works extends to Judas and other reprobates.<BR/><BR/>But evidently your linguistic gymnastics impressed at least one reader who had his ears tickled. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post-5348687383794183592007-08-24T11:30:00.000-04:002007-08-24T11:30:00.000-04:00Good understanding of the entirety of Calvin's the...Good understanding of the entirety of Calvin's theology. This is where the problems usually lie, in that, some don't read the whole of one's theology, or they don't like the whole of one's theology, or in this case, the whole of the quote, so they leave out the part they don't like. Either way...it's dishonest or lack of study.<BR/><BR/>Good post.Seth McBeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08765679934165890595noreply@blogger.com