Prayer and Ethics: Reflections on Calvin and Barth

1989 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-184
Author(s):  
John Kelsay
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Exercises ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
Vision Of God ◽  
The Way

Because the title of this article is ambiguous, I will begin by sharpening the issue of the justification of prayer. The point, in the first place, is to see how Calvin and Barth, as Reformed theologians, answer the question, “Why pray?” A second interest emerges in the discussion: prayer provides a case for illustrating the significant differences in the reasoning of Calvin and Barth on matters of ethics. In particular, the case of prayer indicates the way that Calvin's ruledeontology allows an important (albeit circumscribed) role for teleological appeals in the justification of prayer. Barth's act-deonotological theory consistently eschews such appeals. And this fact leads to a third interest of the paper: what are the strengths and weaknesses of the Reformed tradition for discussions of “spirituality” and ethics? If “spirituality” entails, as some would argue, a notion of “spiritual exercises” aimed at the cultivation of certain dispositions/virtues requisite to the vision of God, can Reformed theology have a “spirituality”? I argue that it can, but only if it is possible to preserve the teleological dimensions of Calvin's justification for acts such as prayer, which (as he would have it) is the “chief exercise of faith.”

scholarly journals Probleme rondom die Bybel in die gereformeerde teologie: besinning vanuit ’n Christelike filosofie

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Church Leaders ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
The Bible ◽  
God's Word ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Way

Problems with the Bible in reformed theology: reflections from a Christian philosophical perspective The motivation for undertaking this investigation is the present tension in the reformed theology and in the reformed churches in South Africa. In spite of the fact that the reformed tradition confesses the authority of the Bible, theologians and church leaders are at the moment divided on how to view and interpret the Scriptures. They disagree about the message of God’s Word in the case of topical issues, for instance whether women should be allowed in ecclesiastical offices or on what the Bible has to say about homosexuality. The author is of the opinion that these tensions in the same church are caused, not only by different methods of interpreting the Bible but, at a much deeper level, also by the way in which one views the Bible according to different worldviews. In trying to resolve these problems and the resulting conflict of opinion, a Christian philosophical approach will be taken instead of the current theological efforts.

The Divine Decree

2020 ◽  
pp. 403-419
Author(s):  
Paul T. Nimmo
Keyword(s):  
Karl Barth ◽  
Friedrich Schleiermacher ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
The Way

This chapter explores the doctrine of the divine decree in Reformed theology, with specific attention to the tradition’s teaching on election and reprobation. It begins by considering the shape of the doctrine in general, noting some of the doctrine’s more controversial possibilities. It proceeds to focus on the way in which the early Reformed tradition understood the decree in both its positive and negative aspects, drawing variously on the texts of early Reformed writers and confessions and the works of Reformed orthodoxy. It then turns to the work of two more recent figures who have advanced significant revisions of the classical Reformed doctrine—Friedrich Schleiermacher and Karl Barth. It concludes with a concise series of recommendations in respect of ongoing reflection on this doctrine.

After Arminius

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. McCall ◽  
Keith D. Stanglin
Keyword(s):  
Primary Sources ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Proper Understanding ◽  
System Building ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Modern Thought ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Vision Of God ◽  
Important Position

“Arminianism” was the subject of important theological controversies in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and it maintains an important position within Protestant thought. What became known as “Arminian” theology was held by people across a swath of geographical and ecclesial positions; it developed in European, British, and American contexts, and it engaged with a wide range of intellectual challenges. While standing together in their common rejection of several key planks of Reformed theology, proponents of Arminianism took various positions on other matters. Some were broadly committed to catholic and creedal theology; others were more open to theological revision. Some were concerned primarily with practical concerns; others were engaged in system building as they sought to articulate and defend an overarching vision of God and the world. The story of this development is both complex and important for a proper understanding of the history of Protestant theology. However, this historical development of Arminian theology is not well known. In this book, Thomas H. McCall and Keith D. Stanglin offer a historical introduction to Arminian theology as it developed in modern thought, providing an account that is based upon important primary sources and recent secondary research that will be helpful to scholars of ecclesial history and modern thought as well as comprehensible and relevant for students.

Federalism and Reformed Scholasticism

2021 ◽  
pp. 182-198
Author(s):  
Willem van Vlastuin
Keyword(s):  
Instrumental Function ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Reformed Tradition

Jonathan Edwards’s understanding of the covenant is treated in this chapter. It is made clear that Edwards developed this theology in the broader context of reformed theology and in his own specific context. In his reflections on the covenant, Edwards concluded that one must draw a distinction between the covenant of redemption and the covenant of grace if one is to understand Arminianism and Antinomianism. Drawing this distinction also allows one to interpret God’s works in history. In his understanding of the covenant of grace, Edwards developed a stricter view of the covenant. In comparison with the reformed tradition and the puritan tradition of Westminster, he minimized the instrumental function that the covenant has, because he interpreted it as a marriage between Christ and his believers. The emphasis on the indwelling of the Spirit in the covenanted believers caused him to reject the preaching of law to believers. Ultimately he also rejected the Half-Way Covenant.

scholarly journals Reformed identity revisited: Proposals in the spirit of Ecclesia Semper Reformanda est

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nico Vorster
Keyword(s):  
Historical Narrative ◽  
Original Sin ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
Human Uniqueness ◽  
Existential Perspective

This article commences by reflecting on the evolving nature of traditions. In order to pass the continual test of plausibility and authenticity, traditions need to be flexible enough to incorporate new insights into its core intellectual matrix. Implausible elements need to be re-articulated or dispensed with. This rationale is subsequently applied to the reformed tradition who considers the necessity to continually reform itself (Ecclesia Semper Reformanda est) as a fundamental aspect of the tradition. Recently, various tenets of the reformed faith have come under scrutiny. These include the reformed faith’s understanding of God’s relation to creation; its view of human uniqueness; its understanding of original sin and the transmission of sin; and its supposed sola Scriptura approach to ethics. This article addresses these critiques by proposing that reformed theology incorporates the notion of creation as a gift in its thinking; that it dispenses with attempts to provide a historical narrative on the origin and transmission of sin and rather approach the theme from an existential perspective; and that it works towards an ethics that is scripturally based but ecclesiastically shaped.

The Divine Trinity

2018 ◽  
pp. 39-53
Author(s):  
William J. Abraham
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Divine Action ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Attributes Of God ◽  
Vision Of God ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity ◽  
The Way

The Christian vision of God is that God is three Persons in one Substance. This vision went beyond Scripture in order to do justice to Jewish monotheism, encounters with Jesus as an agent of divine action, and personal and corporate experiences of the Holy Spirit. Objections based on entanglement with Greek metaphysics and on certain feminist claims about male language fail. Loss of the Trinity involves serious impoverishment of the life and work of the church. Its continued embrace prepares the way for the exploration of the attributes of God.

“To Always Work Somewhat Faster”

Karl Barth ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 100-120
Author(s):  
Christiane Tietz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Situation ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
Academic Challenges ◽  
Christian Religion

Barth’s first commentary on the Epistle to the Romans led to the invitation to become honorary professor for Reformed theology in Göttingen. Barth began his teaching by giving exegetic lectures and lectures on the Reformed tradition to become acquainted with its great texts. He found teaching burdensome and frequently complained to Swiss friends about his inability to master the academic challenges. His lectures on “Instruction in the Christian Religion” became his first attempt to delineate his own dogmatics. Barth quickly developed a good rapport with his students, but the relationships to his colleagues proved to be difficult. He travelled frequently to give lectures throughout Germany, and many interested in his theology visited him in Göttingen. Barth was moved by the tense economic situation in Germany, but troubled by German nationalism.

scholarly journals Libertà e contingenza della fruizione beatifica nello scotismo del primo ’300

2005 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Alliney
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Free Choice ◽  
Main Interest ◽  
14Th Century ◽  
Beatific Vision ◽  
The Will ◽  
Vision Of God ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
The Way

Este estudo tem como objeto a recepção da teoria scotista da vontade no início do século 14. Interesse precípuo é o modo como autores, sobretudo franciscanos, a partir das Universidades de Paris e de Oxford, discutiram sobre a possibilidade de uma escolha livre ou de um ato da própria vontade, por parte dos bemaventurados, quando da visão de Deus. Para tanto, pressuposições gerais da teoria scotista da vontade são apresentadas, bem como as inovações dos filósofos influenciados por Scotus. PALAVRAS-CHAVE – Teoria scotista da vontade. Visão beatífica. Liberdade. Influência do pensamento scotista no século 14. ABSTRACT This study aims to analyse the reception of Scotus’s theory of will in the beginning of the 14th Century. The main interest is the way some authors, specially Franciscan thinkers, departing from the Universities of Paris and Oxford, discussed about the possibility for the blessed of a free choice or an act of the will itself concerning the vision of God. For this purpose, general pressupositions of Scotus’s theory of will shall be presented, as well as the innovations of those philosophers influenced by Scotus. KEY WORDS – Scotus’s theory of will. Beatific vision. Freedom. Influence os Scotistic thought in the 14th Century.

Troubles After Dort

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay T. Collier
Keyword(s):  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

Chapter 4 surveys a significant debate that Richard Montagu stirred in the aftermath of Dort. This debate has been largely classified, both then and now, as one between Arminians and Calvinists. However, a reanalysis of the debate suggests that Montagu’s argument better fits the profile of a previously permitted minority opinion within the Reformed tradition that followed a different reading of Augustine on perseverance. The chapter argues that Montagu was not a genuine Arminian and that his repudiation of an irrespective divine decree did not propose a view of election caused by foreseen faith. By better understanding Montagu’s context and arguments, one can see that Montagu’s denial of the perseverance of all saints was not presented on semi-Pelagian grounds. The chapter also demonstrates the way Dort’s narrowing tendencies created difficulties for the Church of England’s broad-church approach to being Reformed.

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