Papers by Raymond A. (Randy) Blacketer
The glory of the atonement, 2004
Renaissance Quarterly, 2013
Studies in Early Modern Religious Reforms, 2006
Church History and Religious Culture, 2018
less precise impressions of the other side. At times the Luther presented in individual essays he... more less precise impressions of the other side. At times the Luther presented in individual essays here is not the Luther of the most recent Luther research, but that does not usually create a serious barrier to using the research set forth in the essays. Even a volume with twenty-eight essays cannot touch all possible aspects of a field as broad as 'Luther and Calvinism'. Many studies exist that compare Luther and Calvin and/or other Reformed theologians of the Reformation period, and others have begun to focus on the widening rift between adherents of the two during the late Reformation, including the study of use of the ancient Church Fathers in the debate between Calvin and Joachim Westphal by Esther Chung-Kim, and the several essays on various aspects of the growing antagonism and feelings of betrayal by the other among Reformed and Lutheran theologians by Irene Dingel. Further such studies will benefit both historical understanding and ecumenical exchange. This is a most helpful collection of essays which should inspire and evoke more study of the relationship between Luther and Calvin and the traditions that flow from their seminal interpretation of Scripture. It is also a stimulating source for instruction and discussion across a wide spectrum of theological and historical fora. Authors and editors are to be commended for this collection.
Essays in Honour of Willem J. van Asselt
The English theologian and preacher William Perkins is known both for his lively pastoral piety a... more The English theologian and preacher William Perkins is known both for his lively pastoral piety and his rigorous scholastic theological method, giving the lie to the modern stereotype of post-Reformation theology as dry and overly intellectual. William Perkins was as committed to the Church of England as he was convinced of Reformed theology. He was optimistic about the potential of sound and energetic preaching to gradually transform the Church of England into the Reformed church that it was in name. Perkins aspiration to see the Church of England reformed from within through the labors of holy and conscientious preachers reflects the optimism of many renaissance thinkers, Philip Melanchthon foremost among them, who believed in the power of sound rhetoric and dialectic, and particularly the divine rhetoric of the Holy Spirit, to effect dramatic change. Keywords: Church; Philip Melanchthon; preaching; rhetorical analysis; William Perkins
Reformation & Renaissance Review, 2008
The frequency with which Old Testament figures use mendacious means to achieve good and even holy... more The frequency with which Old Testament figures use mendacious means to achieve good and even holy ends presents a challenge to John Calvin's exegesis of the Hebrew Scriptures. Following Augustine, Calvin takes a hard line against all forms of intentional deception. He rejects the solution offered by some in the Christian tradition that there are situations that call for a 'dutiful lie' {mendacium officiosum). This necessitates some exegetical acrobatics on Calvin's part when he interprets texts in which liars are blessed, rewarded, and praised for their actions. Calvin does not, however, reject all forms of dissimulation, which is all the more surprising given his opposition to the half-truths employed by the Nicodemites. While Calvin strives for a consistent ethic of veracity in his exegesis, however, there remains the question of how consistently truthful Calvin was in his own practices, particularly in his use of Renaissance flattery and pseudonyms.
Church and School in Early Modern Protestantism, 2013
Richard A. Muller's study of the relationship between John Calvin's thought and that of l... more Richard A. Muller's study of the relationship between John Calvin's thought and that of later "Calvinist" thinkers began as a doctoral dissertation at Duke University Divinity School in 1976-one that changed the mind of his mentor David Steinmetz regarding the character of later Reformed thinkers such as Theodore Beza. Beza's reflections on God's providential care and predestining grace would serve as an encouragement to Polish coreligionists who were under attack from Lutherans, Jesuits, and anti-Trinitarians. The document would also provide a formidable defense against attacks on the Reformed perspective on predestination, particularly in its Genevan iteration. Unlike some modern seminary curricula, Beza's De praedestinationis doctrina exemplifies how early Reformed instruction in pastoral theology was fully integrated with biblical and theological subjects. The curriculum, like this document, was simultaneously practical and academic, pastoral and scholastic. Keywords: De praedestinationis doctrina ; early reformed historiography; John Calvin; pastoral theology; Theodore Beza
Calvin and the Bible, 2006
The Pietist Theologians, 2005
Calvin and the Bible, 2006
The pioneering French encyclopedist of the seventeenth century, Louis Moréri, noted the existence... more The pioneering French encyclopedist of the seventeenth century, Louis Moréri, noted the existence of two British churchmen named Henry Ainsworth. The first was "the celebrated commentator on Holy Scripture" who was perfectly fluent in the Hebrew of the Old Testament and that of the rabbis. This Henry Ainsworth was exceptionally adept at the interpretation of difficult passages, explicating them by comparison with other biblical texts, and drawing heavily from the Greek and Chaldean (Aramaic) versions and rabbinic writings. Moréri even records a rumor that the great John Lightfoot pillaged most of his learned commentary from the pages of Ainsworth's Annotations. The second Henry Ains worth, however, was a despicable heresiarch and schismatic, one of the chief "Brownists or separatists," clearly not worthy to be remembered. 1 In fact, however, these two Henry Ainsworths were the same individual. 2 Ainsworth was indeed a leading Christian Hebraist of the early seventeenth
Did John Calvin teach "limited atonement," or did later Reformed thinkers, such as Theodore Beza,... more Did John Calvin teach "limited atonement," or did later Reformed thinkers, such as Theodore Beza, concoct this allegedly harsh doctrine by substituting Calvin's restrained biblical exegesis with a deterministic, rationalistic, and deductive system? The fact that scholars have had difficulty answering this question arises out of the fact that the question itself is flawed on a number of levels. Studies of this issue are often plagued with wrong turns and false starts, depositing students of the question into a methodological labyrinth, to use one of Calvin's favorite terms.
Reformation and Renaissance Review, 2010
The frequency with which Old Testament figures use mendacious means to achieve good and even holy... more The frequency with which Old Testament figures use mendacious means to achieve good and even holy ends presents a challenge to John Calvins exegesis of the Hebrew Scriptures. Following Augustine, Calvin takes a hard line against all forms of intentional deception. He rejects the solu tion offered by some in the Christian tradition that there are situations that call for a 'dutiful lie' (mendacium officiosum). This necessitates some exegetical acrobatics on Calvins part when he interprets texts in which liars are blessed, rewarded, and praised for their actions. Calvin does not, however, reject all forms of dissimulation, which is all the more surpris ing given his opposition to the half-truths employed by the Nicodemites. While Calvin strives for a consistent ethic of veracity in his exegesis, how ever, there remains the question of how consistently truthful Calvin was in his own practices, particularly in his use of Renaissance flattery and pseudonyms.
Nederlands Archief Voor Kerkgeschiedenis, 2005
Calvin's final commentary, an exposition of the book of Joshua, reflects both Calvin's immersion ... more Calvin's final commentary, an exposition of the book of Joshua, reflects both Calvin's immersion in and dialogue with the exegetical and theological tradition, as well as his concern with the image and identity of Reformed believers, and especially the Huguenots of France. Prominent in this commentary is Calvin's wrestling with moral issues that arise in the text. Calvin's scrupulous treatment of these moral problems reflects his concern to depict Reformed believers as people who are loyal and obedient to the authorities and to the law, and as people who are truthful and avoid deception and duplicity. It also reflects his concern that his coreligionists actually strive to live up to that image. On occasion Calvin's treatment of these moral issues ends in an unresolved tension -a tension that reflects the moral and political ambiguities that French Reformed believers faced at the beginning of the Wars of Religion in France.
Calvin Theological Journal, 2003
The scholarly detail of a biblical commentary is no measure of its usefulness for preaching and t... more The scholarly detail of a biblical commentary is no measure of its usefulness for preaching and teaching. This observation impressed itself upon me as I prepared to preach on the lectioriary gospel reading for Easter 3B: Luke 24:13-35, which narrates the appearance of the risen Jesus to two disciples on their way to Emmaus. Here in Neerlandia, in northern Alberta, my exegetical resources are somewhat limited. I own a total of two commentaries on the gospel of Luke. The nearest decent library is one hundred miles away. I also have access to Internet resources as well as the Libronix Digital Library (i.e., Logos Bible software).
Nederlands Archief Voor Kerkgeschiedenis, 2000
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Papers by Raymond A. (Randy) Blacketer