R*o
发帖数: 3781 | 1 How Much Calvin In Calvinism?
There is an attempt today to disassociate Calvin from Calvinism in view of i
ts earlier origins in Augustine and the Latin Vulgate Bible. Moreover, it wa
s not until the Great Synod of Dort (Dordrecht) more than fifty years after
Calvin's death that the five points of Calvinism were first set forth in ord
er.
Ironically, this declaration came about only as an expression of opposition
to the five points of Arminianism. Nevertheless, this system of thought cont
inues to be universally known as "Calvinism."
Loraine Boettner says...... it was Calvin who wrought out this system of the
ological thought with such logical clearness and emphasis that it has ever s
ince borne his name." Where it really came from, as we shall see in the next
chapter, is admitted by Custance who says that Augustine was "perhaps the f
irst after Paul to realize the Total Depravity of man." Farrar agrees: "To h
im [Augustine] . . . [is] due the exaggerated doctrine of total human deprav
ity ......."
In spite of its long and varied origins and development, the term "Calvinism
" remains as the commonly used identification. As Engelsma says, speaking fo
r the overwhelming majority of Calvinists, "it was Calvin who developed thes
e truths, systematically and fully; and therefore, they came to be called by
his name." B.B. Warfield makes it even stronger: "It was he who gave the Ev
angelical movement a theology." Timothy George goes so far as to say that it
was Calvin who "presented more clearly and more masterfully than anyone bef
ore him the essential elements of Protestant theology." R. Tudor Jones calls
Calvin's Institutes "one of the seminal works of Christian theology ... his
thinking was to be the motive force behind revolutionary changes in several
European countries. '°Edwin H. Palmer expresses an admiration for Calvin w
hich seems to grow ever stronger among his followers:
The name Calvinism has often been used, not because Calvin was the first or
sole teacher, but because after the long silence of the Middle Ages, he was
the most eloquent and systematic expositor of these truths. To the novitiate
, however, it seemed as if Calvin originated them.
Of course, Calvinists are convinced that the Bible itself is the true source
of this religious system. C.H. Spurgeon declared, "I believe nothing becaus
e Calvin taught it, but because I have found his teaching in the Word of God
. "... We hold and assert again and again that the truth which Calvin preach
ed was the very truth which the apostle Paul had long before written in his
inspired epistles, and which is most clearly revealed in the discourses of o
ur blessed Lord Himself."
We respectfully disagree with this great preacher. Certainly some of what Ca
lvin taught (such as limited atonement) was repugnant to Spurgeon, so that h
e had to pick and choose which of Calvin's beliefs to embrace. In fact, as w
e shall see, especially in his later years, Spurgeon often made statements w
hich were in direct conflict with Calvinism. His favorite sermon, the one th
rough which he said more souls had come to Christ than through any other, wa
s criticized as being Arminian! | i*****t
发帖数: 24265 | 2 Are you a Calvinism? Why post Calvin everyday? | R*o
发帖数: 3781 | 3 The author Dave Hunt wrote this book to rebuke Calvinism
Calvinists often said we don't understand the Calvinism. Actually they take
Calvinism as their belief, because they themselves don't understand the Cal
vinism either.
Then we can take some time to see what the Calvinism actually is.
【在 i*****t 的大作中提到】
: Are you a Calvinism? Why post Calvin everyday?
| R*o
发帖数: 3781 | 4 If we don't stop the false teachings of Calvinists here, they will poison mo
re young Christians' hearts.
take
Cal
【在 R*o 的大作中提到】
: The author Dave Hunt wrote this book to rebuke Calvinism
: Calvinists often said we don't understand the Calvinism. Actually they take
: Calvinism as their belief, because they themselves don't understand the Cal
: vinism either.
: Then we can take some time to see what the Calvinism actually is.
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