BOOK REVIEW
John Calvin’s Ideas, Paul Helm, Oxford: OUP, 2004, 448 pp, $90
For a copy of the original article written in Spanish click here
Introduction
Content
Suitability for the Latin American pastor and seminary student
Evaluation
Strengths
Weaknesses
Introduction
If you were to draw up a list of the top ten New Testament scholars since the apostles basing it on the lasting value and influence of their writings, then it would be justifiable to place Calvin near the top. Even after 500 years his commentaries are still in print, his contribution to theology is a frequent theme within postgraduate studies and most evangelical denominations could trace, albeit in a distant way, their origins to him.
I found this book difficult to stop reading because it presents a new perspective on this well-known commentator and theologian. Calvin is examined as a philosopher and as one who, at times, followed the teachings of his Catholic predecessors. As the author explains, “John Calvin is a theological genius, but that genius did not express itself in a vacuum”
[1]
Such a presentation does not fit so obviously with the stereotype of Calvin as the radical Bible scholar who challenged and overthrew medieval Catholic hermeneutics. Helm looks at the question as to how much of Catholic thinking, that is, it’s scholasticism and it’s philosophical theology, remained in Calvin. He says that Calvin, the reformer, “re-formed his Christian inheritance, with its intricate interplay of theological and philosophical themes, along distinctly evangelical lines, but he did not abandon it”
[2]
Content
There are about 20 themes in 13 chapters and subjects include the trinity, providence, the soul, free will, divine accommodation, natural theology, revelation and angels. The extent to which Calvin was still using the contemporary ideas of his time is demonstrated. For instance, his use of terminology such as substance and person when describing God are not biblical terms but owe their origin to Aristotelian philosophy. Or his idea of a God who is known by what he does, reflects scholasticism. And, common grace is not so much a worldview as we use the term today, but simply an addition to Calvin’s acceptance of the concept of natural law.
Helm constantly interacts with current scholarship, as is seen is his mention of the significant debates on whether Karl Barth was a Calvinist and of Calvin’s followers going beyond Calvin.
It should also be noted that he presents the reformer’s thinking in terms of its philosophical categories rather than the familiar theological ones.
Suitability for the Latin American pastor and seminary student
This book is relevant for two reasons. First, to strengthen the debate between evangelical and Catholic clergy. Training for the Roman Catholic priesthood involves typically four years study of philosophy before studying theology. In comparison, evangelical pastors are at a disadvantage as they have usually, at most, had a few classes of philosophy during their theological studies.
Secondly, the publication explains in a fresh way, the nature of the evangelical heritage. Although it is not always appreciated, the modern evangelical church is the heir of the 16th century European reformers. Such churches share the same confidence in the Bible, the preaching of salvation only through faith in Christ and the desire to live lives dedicated to him. Despite the gap of 500 years, evangelicals owe much to Calvin, and this book gives us a new way of appreciating him as a thinker and theologian. And surprisingly makes us think of our own Catholic heritage.
Evaluation
Strengths
1.
This is a new perspective on Calvin. It presents a philosopher’s study, rather than a theologian’s or Biblical scholar’s. Such a perspective provides an insight into Calvin which is unusual and helpful.
2.
It covers important themes in an understandable way. Many complex subjects are considered: God, humanity, grace, revelation and the Lord’s Supper. Comparisons are made with medieval Catholicism, scholasticism and current university scholarship. But through all this the writer presents his material in a clear and easy to follow style.
3.
The book is relevant for present day ministry. The philosophy of Calvin brings the reader to a number of contemporary debates, with such issues as: Natural Theology and Divine Accommodation, Barthianism, reformed epistemology and whether God has passions or not
Weaknesses
1.
There is an excessive interaction with modern scholarship. The author constantly draws attention to contemporary scholarship on Calvin. This is important and relevant, but at times it leads him to concentrate not so much on Calvin’s ideas, but on the ideas of those who have written about him.
2.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of a clear structure joining the themes studied together. Although the chapters indicate a philosophical progression of ideas, it would have been helpful if there was a more obvious gathering of the chapters into sections. In the present format, it seems to be a book composed of a series of articles on the common theme of Calvin’s philosophy.
3.
At $90 this book is not going to be found in many Christian bookshops. It is a useful one which unfortunately is beyond the economic reach of those who would benefit from it, the evangelical pastors, the heirs of Calvin.
David E.C. Ford
Professor of Hermeneutics and Biblical Theology
Fundación Universitaria Seminario Bíblico de Colombia