Category – Historical Studies

I. Calvin's Exegesis of Consolation (in Paul) In the first part we saw that Calvin was a pilgrim who himself needed the consolation of the gospel, given by the Spirit, through the ministry of Word, sacrament, and prayer. He was also a careful, thoughtful, and sophisticated reader of texts and…
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Wikipedia, that ubiquitous source of unimpeachable scholarship, defines “consolation” as “something of value, when one fails to get something of higher value....” That is precisely the opposite of what John Calvin (1509–64) meant by “consolation.”For Calvin, the consolation that Christ gives to his people, by the gospel, through the Spirit,…
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  9. Do you have any counsel for those who are interested in studying 16th and 17th century theology? If you love it, do it, but don’t count on getting a job teaching it. Of course, at Westminster California you can get a good taste for 16th and 17th century…
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  8. In what way has your study of Cocceius benefitted your pastoral ministry? Just last night, a new member of our church — an adult convert and an avid reader — asked me if I preached according to the “redemptive historical” method. He had come across the term in…
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  6. What insights have you gained from your study of Cocceius? Incorporating unity, progress, and diversity in our understanding of the covenants is key to reading the Bible, because it puts Christ and the cross at the center of the story. The redemptive historical unity and unfolding of the…
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