Die Ãœbersetzung des Genfer Katechismus (1542/1545) ins Deutsche durch Zacharias Ursinus im Jahr 1563

The translation of the Genevan Catechism (1542/1545) into German by Zacharias Ursinus in 1563 It is with considerable surprise that one finds in the “Opera Selecta Calvini” vol. 2 a German translation of Calvin’s Geneva Catechism (1542/1545). The translation dates from 1563, and originated in Heidelberg. Even more surprising is the translator – none other than Zacharias Ursinus, one of the chief com-posers of the Heidelberg Catechism, which was also penned in 1563. The impression could be created that Calvin’s Catechism was intended at the outset to achieve the position later attained by the Heidelberg Catechism. The title of the German translation of Calvin’s Catechism is also interesting: “Catechism of the protestant churches in France”. Olevianus explained in a letter to Calvin that the translation was titled thus for fear that the Germans would otherwise not read the catechism. Comparing the German translation with the Geneva Catechism, it is evident that Ursinus made use of the French edition of 1542 as well as the Latin edition of 1545 as the source text. While his translation is literal, a few alterations in meaning occur, giving rise to decisive theological adjustments. A comparison with the Heidelberg Catechism is complicated by the fact that Ursinus was only one of a committee of composers who worked on the latter document. The theological corrections made to Calvin’s Catechism in the German edition reveal Ursinus’ tendency to emphasise the soteriological meaning in his translation. Beza would eventually be the one who would irreversibly modify Calvin’s theology in the direction of the reformed orthodoxy

The first outline of Calvin’s theology – the preface to the New Testament in the Olivétan Bible of 1535

The prefaces which Calvin wrote for the Bible translation of Olivétan (1535) conform to the general custom during the Reformation to translate the Bible into the vernacular and to publish these translations simultaneously with interpretation aids. In the preface published in the Olivétan Bible and preceding the New Testament translation, Calvin wants to indicate to the reader (in this case the heathen) the correct way to approach the Bible. Although no captions or headings are included, the preface is structured very precisely, thus also presenting Calvin’s systematic kind of exposition. In order to show the heathen the way to salvation, Calvin indicates a way via prehistory (Gen. 1-11; Rom. 1-2; Acts 14 and 17), the Ten Commandments (Decalogue) to the New Testament witness about Christ. The focus and goal of this path are the fulfilment of the law. Clearly the most noticeable result of the analysis of this preface is the “system of corresponding doctrines” found between creation and salvation. This specific approach of Calvin is a key to understanding his later theology. In the second part of the preface Calvin explains the main Biblical concepts of “Testament”, “Evangelium” and “Messiah”. Regarding this his view corresponds to Luther’s writing, “De captivitate Babylonica ...” (1520), and is perhaps dependent on it. The third part of the preface contains admonitions to Christians who are persecuted to assure them of their salvation. Admonitions to kings, princes, rulers, bishops and pastors are also included

Calvin the preacher: his explanation of the doctrine of predestination in the sermon of 1551 and in the Institutes of 1559

In this study, Calvin 's famous sermon on eternal election of 1551 is discussed and compared to his treatment of the doctrine in his Institutes, 1559. This is a necessary study, never undertaken before, of the correlation between Calvin's pastoral treatment of the Biblical doctrine of predestination and his more didactic-apologetic approach in the Institutes. Here the main argument in the sermon is summarised and, at every point, the corresponding passage in the Institutes is also discussed and the difference in approach and argument evaluated. In this way a more complete knowledge of Calvin's understanding of this doctrine is gained. To assist the reader, the text of the sermon of 1551 is also published. The final conclusion is that the sermon is a valuable addition to the Institutes. Without it, Calvin's pastoral treatment of the doctrine is ignored when evaluating his exposition on eternal election.Spine cut of Journal binding and pages scanned on flatbed EPSON Expression 10000 XL; 400dpi; text/lineart - black and white - stored to Tiff Derivation: Abbyy Fine Reader v.9 work with PNG-format (black and white); Photoshop CS3; Adobe Acrobat v.9 Web display format PDFhttp://explore.up.ac.za/record=b1001341wm201

Appendix: The Dutch translation of Calvin' s sermon on predestination on 18 December 1551 (CO 8, 89-119.)

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Calvin and Luther - Their personal theological relationship

No abstract available

Future tasks of the international Calvin research

With the word international, we think specifically of the worldwide research on Calvin. The term international also points to the international Calvin Congresses, of which, until now, six have been held. At the Congresses we try to combine the international research as well as to give a fresh impetus for research. The lectures of all the previous Congresses have been printed, with exception of the last Congress in Edinburgh, 1994, which is now being printed. The results of these Congresses are therefore easy to obtain - everyone can read them. The task leads to a double question: 1. Which topics of Calvin research have been analysed and discussed succesfully until now? 2. Which topics should urgently be researched in future? The first answer includes both a review of the previous six Congresses as well as a glance at recent Calvin literature; the second answer will be developed in the overview which follows, titled The future tasks of Calvin research.Spine cut of Journal binding and pages scanned on flatbed EPSON Expression 10000 XL; 400dpi; text/lineart - black and white - stored to Tiff Derivation: Abbyy Fine Reader v.9 work with PNG-format (black and white); Photoshop CS3; Adobe Acrobat v.9 Web display format PDFhttp://explore.up.ac.za/record=b1001341wm201