A Comparison Of The Doctrine Of Assurance In The Theology Of John Calvin And Karl Barth

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaroslav VIAZOVSKI
Keyword(s):  
Karl Barth ◽  
John Calvin

The Augustinian Type of Theodicy: Is It Outdated?

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nico Vorster
Keyword(s):  
Karl Barth ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
John Hick ◽  
Reformed Theology

AbstractIn his famous work ‘Evil and the God of love,’ John Hick suggests that the ‘Augustinian’ type of theodicy is based on an outdated worldview and ought to be replaced by what he calls an ‘Irenaean’ type of theodicy. This article examines Hick’s claim by analyzing the views of the three main theological exponents of the Augustinian paradigm on evil namely Augustine, John Calvin and Karl Barth. It suggests that Reformed theology rethinks its linear concept of time and considers the possibility that the Fall could be an event in time with an eternal significance that works both ‘backwards’ and ‘forwards’. The article concludes that weaknesses in the Augustinian paradigm can be resolved from within, and that no need exists for Reformed theologians to replace the Augustinian paradigm with an alternative Ireneaen paradigm that reject key Scriptural teachings on creation and sin.

scholarly journals Toward justice and social transformation? Appealing to the tradition against the tradition

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet J. Naude
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Karl Barth ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
Christian Life ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
The Poor

This article starts with a brief statement on the well-known contradictory nature of the Reformed tradition in South Africa, defending injustice and struggling for justice in the name of the same tradition. By following the work of Reformed systematic theologian D.J. Smit, it argues that the justice-affirming potential of the Reformed tradition is a hermeneutical task built on three specific re-interpretations: (1) the reinterpretation of Scripture from the perspective of the weak, the poor and the oppressed (against a hermeneutic of creation orders and God-willed division of people) (2) a rereading of John Calvin to affirm the dignity and freedom of all humans (against the grain of neo-Calvinist interpretations) (3) a rereading of Karl Barth with a focus on God’s inclusive grace, Christian confessions and the nature of the Christian life (against the limitation of his influence because of his perceived actualistic view on Scripture or unscientific, foundational methodology). The article closes with a brief look into the agenda for social transformation faced by us in the second decade of the 21st century, and under what conditions the  Reformed faith will be able to make an enduring contribution to public life in (South) Africa.

Bonhoeffer and Reformation Ecclesiology

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-189
Author(s):  
Javier Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Karl Barth ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
The Common

AbstractThis article offers a threefold engagement with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s ecumenically oriented ecclesiology. First, it proposes a new avenue of understanding Bonhoeffer’s ecclesiology in relation to the Reformed tradition by comparing him with John Calvin instead of with Karl Barth, which is the common route of Bonhoeffer scholarship. Second, it identifies points of convergence between Bonhoeffer and Calvin that have been neglected in the literature, notably in the areas of ecclesial participation and sanctification. Third, it calls for a return to Bonhoeffer’s primary goal in ecumenism—to discern God’s concrete commandment to the churches in history—in the Trump era.

scholarly journals ‘... conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary’: The exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism in the light of present-day criticism

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignatius W.C. Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
No Value ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Virgin Mary ◽  
Karl Barth ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
Virgin Birth ◽  
Peter Berger ◽  
Liberal Protestantism ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Questions And Answers

The article is a contribution to the 450 year celebrations of the Heidelberg Catechism (HC). Sunday 14, Questions and Answers 35 and 36 receive attention. It deals with the two statements of the creed ‘… conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary’. The exposition of the HC is compared to the catechisms of Zacharias Ursinus and John Calvin in order to capture something about the historicity of the text. The exposition of the creed is an on-going process. Karl Barth, Eberhard Busch and Jan Milič Lochman are good examples of Reformed theologians who remain faithful to the intention of the HC, but who explain these statements with present-day criticism in mind. The exposition of Peter Berger is valuable because this sceptic argues that the opinion of modern, liberal Protestantism is of no value. The article concludes that the ‘virgin birth’ as such has no great value. It is only one aspect of the Christian gospel. It also does not proof the divinity of Christ. The divinity of Christ is presupposed.

scholarly journals THE ROOT OF UNION WITH CHRIST: COMPARISON OF ELECTION IN JOHN CALVIN AND KARL BARTH

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-287
Author(s):  
Jason Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Significant Role ◽  
Future Study ◽  
Church History ◽  
Karl Barth ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
Union With Christ ◽  
Doctrine Of Election ◽  
The Way

As two of the arguably greatest theologians in church history, both John Calvin and Karl Barth have recognized the significant role of union with Christ and presented it in their works respectively. However, there is no study devoted specifically on the comparison of the two theologians' thoughts regarding this critical theme. This article will start from exploring Calvin and Barth's doctrine of election, the root of their theology of union with Christ. Karl Barth frankly admits that he has departed from Calvin radically on the doctrine of election. While vindicating Barth's assertion, this article further argues that Calvin and Barth's divergent understandings on the root of union with Christ are driven by their contrasting ontological presuppositions. The clarification of that rooted difference will pave the way for our future study of Calvin and Barth's distinctive characterizing of union with Christ.

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