The ministry of the Word – the concept of doctrina as used by Calvin in his first Institutes (1536)

Among other important theological concepts (e.g. religio or iustificatio, etc.) the concept of doctrina and its usage concern the heart of Reformational theology – especially in the theology of John Calvin. In spite of some important investigations that have already been undertaken in this regard, there is still a deficiency in respect of a comprehensive theological investigation of this theme. The fact that some well-known contemporary scholars nevertheless do not pay attention to the respective and different cardinal usages of doctrina by Calvin, underlines the need for further research. It is of considerable importance to analyse the way Calvin used the concept of doctrina, not only in a dogmatic and dogmen-historical sense but also with regard to homiletics, catechetics and pastoral care. In this article the focus is on the 1536 edition of the Institutes of Calvin. Using an adequate method to analyse Calvin’s usage, the results of such an analysis are presented in order to emphasise the importance of a careful dealing with concepts in general and in dealing with Calvin’s usage of doctrina in particular. This investigation shows that Calvin used doctrina in such an active and dynamic way that one often has to translate it with a verb, a verbalised noun or even with a verbal phrase. It is of utmost importance to distinguish between Calvin’s lexical usage and his discourse-analytical usage of the concept. Calvin’s bond to Scripture and his stressing of doctrina as proclamation accentuate his “Word-of-God-theology”

Drie geslagte du toit-bybelvertalers

Hoofsaak is dat daar vertalings is wat diediens-knegtelike gestalte aangeneem het endiep buig voor die majesteit van die oorspronklike,omdat daardeur die ewige Woordvan God verklank is, terwyl daarteenoor staanvertalings wat in lugtige Westerse gewaadwil pronk, volgens nuwerwetse opvatting,’n stuk Oosterse letterkunde.3Bible translation has a long history on the continent of Africa, in particular if one considers the Septuagint. In the 19th and 20th centuries in South Africa, three prominent translators of the Bible into Afrikaans, the three generations of the Du Toit family, namely S.J. du Toit (the grandfather, 1847-1911), J.D. du Toit (the father, 1875-1953) and S. du Toit (the son, 1905-1982), have applied a Bible translation principle that dates back more than 15 centuries to Augustine of Northern Africa. This article outlines the work as well as the principles used by these three generations in translating the Bible from the original languages, Hebrew and Greek

Die ware en valse kerk volgens artikels 28 en 29 van die NGB

The true and false church according to articles 28 and 29 of the Confessio BelgicaThe concept ‘true and false church’ date back to the sixteenth century; even so its meaning is obscure in the twentieth century. The reformers based their differentiation between these two terms on the Bible. According to the Confessio Belgica, the true and false church are differentiated by the symbols of preaching, the sacraments and the implementation of church discipline. Articles 28 and 29, which deal specifically with this matter, are therefore presented in this paper

Die dood van dogma? Calvyn se gebruik van die begrippe dogma en doctrina

Dogma’s death? Calvin’s use of the concepts dogma and doctrina In theological as well as in popular articles it has become customary to refer to “dogma” in a negative context. The trend to report negatively on the role and place of dogma in faith, religion and theology is especially obvious in reflections and studies on the sixteenth century Reformers – in particular John Calvin. There is, however, a conspicuous absence of due allowance for important aspects of the understanding and elucidation of historical texts by most authors, including researchers and journalists. The fact that almost 500 years’ history of spiritual trends and philosophical development has already developed between us and the sixteenth century is ignored to a great extent. Concepts are used as if there were no semantic and linguistic development, and this approach leads to superficial evaluation of historical texts and figures. This article points to the gap in existing research and then investigates the interaction between the concepts “dogma” and “doctrina”. It is indicated that a doctrinal treatment of the Word, or even dogmatism, was never an issue in Calvin’s thought. In research on Calvin or in translating his work it is important to be aware of the nuances and wide spectrum of possibilities he worked with when using concepts. These aspects should be considered linguistically and hermeneutically. The danger of reading Calvin eclectically, ignoring the genre and historical background, is also indicated in this article

„…Glaubensgerechtigkeit“ Calvins Begründung der Reformation

“… Justification by faith”Calvin’s grounds for the Reformation In 1539, at the young age of 30, Calvin wrote a letter to Cardinal Jacopo Sadoleto, an eminent scholar and proponent of the Roman Church, in answer to the latter’s letter earlier that year to Geneva. This answer of Calvin, as requested urgently by the City of Geneva, is very well-known for the way how Calvin refuted Sadoleto’s arguments against the Reformation and thus took up the cudgels for the very city that banned him only a year before. This Calvin did by justifying the quintessence of and necessity for the Reformation. Since then, this text has not only been known as one of the most famous defences of the principles of the Reformation of the six-teenth century but even has been described as probably the most powerful and sys-tematic successful apologetic Reformation writing of that age as such. In this article, Calvin’s analysis of the core of the Reformation is discussed against the background of his relation to Martin Luther and their appreciation for each other. According to Calvin the “heart” of the Reformation was justification by grace alone. Ultimately it is only a matter of faith in Christ alone. For his explanation of justification by grace and faith alone, Calvin refers consistently to Scripture as the Word of God. In this Chris-tological approach – for which Luther according to a witness expressed his apprecia-tion – Calvin and Luther are very close to each other indeed. “… regverdigmaking deur die geloof”Calvyn se begronding van die ReformasieOpsommingOp die jong ouderdom van 30 skryf Calvyn in 1539 ’n brief aan Kardinaal Jacopo Sadoletus, beroemde geleerde en verteenwoordiger van die Roomse Kerk. Hierdie brief van Calvyn wat hy op die dringende smeekversoek van die stadsraad van Genève geskryf het, het hom baie roem laat inoes. Calvyn weerlê met hierdie skrywe Sadoletus se aanklagte teen die Reformasie en tree daarmee in die bresse vir die stad wat hom die jaar vantevore verban het. Daarby begrond hy die kern van die Reformasie en die noodsaak daarvoor. Sedertdien staan hierdie brief nie slegs bekend as een van die mees befaamde apologetiese geskrifte van die Reformasie nie maar is dit selfs beskryf as die mees kragtige en teologies suksesvolle verdediging daarvan in die sestiende eeu. In hierdie artikel word Calvyn se verklaring van die kern van die Reformasie bespreek teen die agtergrond van sy verhouding met Martin Luther en beide van hulle se respek vir mekaar. Volgens Calvyn is die hart van die Reformasie die regverdigmaking deur genade alleen. Dit gaan ten volle oor geloof in Christus alleen. Vir sy verklaring van die regverdigmaking deur genade en geloof alleen beroep Calvyn hom konsekwent op die Skrif as Woord van God. In hierdie Christologiese benadering – waarvoor Luther volgens ’n getuie waardering uitgespreek het – staan Calvyn en Luther dig bymekaar.   https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.85.1.250

Calvyn, servet en ons ... teologie, geskiedenis en die negende gebod

Dit is so dat ’n mens baie keer die standpunt van vreemdes te maklik en te oppervlakkig weergee en hulle sonder voldoende gronde veroordeel of help veroordeel. Dan oortree ons die negende gebod. — Ludi F. Schulze2 Die menslike denke neig ... om gebeure in die werklikheid te ‘oorveralgemeen’.3 In der Geschichte findet eine höchst komplizierte Wechselwirkung dreier Prinzipien statt: des Prinzips der Notwendigkeit, des Prinzips der Freiheit und des wandelungskräftigen Prinzips der Gnade. — Nikolaus BerdjajewThe case of Servet has not only been the subject of extensive investigation in church history often, but is also a case about which there has always been much speculation. However, even in works of a scientific nature, the religious, cultural, historical an

Calvinus: Auctoritas Dei (Calvin: The authority of God)

No abstract available

Calvin as an exegete of Scripture: a few remarks with reference to Calvin research in general

Calvin did not start his famous vocation as an interpreter of Scripture with Scripture itself. After a thorough training in interpreting classical literature as a philologist, he made his debut before turning 23, with a highly respected commentary on Seneca’s “De Clementia”. His focus shifted to Scripture shortly thereafter. Certain features of his exegetical approach as part of his “Word of God theology” can thus be observed, especially as they relate to his use of the concept of “doctrina”. His exegesis used not only the principle of “sola Scriptura” as point of departure, but also the principle of “tota Scriptura”, i.e. to take the whole of Scripture into account when expositing a certain biblical text. For Calvin the original intention of the writer of a particular (Bible) book is of crucial importance. The exegesis should be done using a sound theological-methodological, historical-grammatical method. Knowledge of the original lang- uages of Scripture is therefore a prerequisite for any exegesis. In his exegesis Calvin emphasises the point that Scripture as the Word of God and the Holy Spirit cannot be separated. As the truth is simple, Calvin avoids any traces of allegory in his exegetical activities and aims to keep his exegesis and ex- position of Scripture simple, brief, clear and understandable – exegesis should always exhibit the quality of clarity and brevity. In all exegesis, Scripture as the Word of God should be accepted as the final authority on any issue, not the church as institute

Bybelvertalers en Bybelvertalings die afgelope honderd jaar, in besonder vanuit die Fakulteit Teologie van die Universiteit van Pretoria

With the 500 year celebration of the Reformation, it is necessary that Bible translation be reviewed again. The year 2017 is not only the year of Reformation celebration, but also the year of centenary celebration of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria (UP). The article attempts to briefly refer to the roots of Bible translation, which is anchored in the Reformation; but also to look at Bible translation in South Africa over the last hundred years, as well as the contribution made especially by the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria (UP) in this regard