WJEC/Eduqas RS for A2/Yr2: Religion and Ethics (DRAFT)

WJEC / Eduqas Religious Studies for A Level Year 2 and A2 Religion and Ethics Specification content John Calvin: Doctrine of Election: the absolute power of God, the corrupted nature of humans, the elect and the reprobates, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and perseverance of the elect.

John Calvin’s Doctrine of Election: the absolute power of God, the corrupted nature of human beings Eleven centuries on from Augustine’s theory of predestination, John Calvin (1509– 1564CE) presented his predestination theory. Calvin, who was one of the leading figures in the reformation, developed a theory that became known as the ‘Doctrine of Election’ (‘The Doctrine of the Living Saints’). Calvin’s theory revolves around the belief in the uncompromised sovereignty of God and scripture as the source of knowledge of and about God. In Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion he stated that scripture functions as a set of ‘spectacles’ that bring general revelation back into proper focus. Calvin thus dismisses all efforts at going beyond the scriptures (and a great deal of classical metaphysics), as pure speculation, both wrong and sinful. This central driving force of scripture rather than philosophy is Calvin’s reasoning in his doctrine of election. Key quotes Belief in predestination is not an article of faith in its own right but is the final outcome of scripturally informed reflection on the effects of grace upon individuals in the light of the enigmas of experience. (McGrath) According to Calvin, scripture makes clear that some people respond to the gospel whilst others do not. Calvin was also convinced that sin had corrupted both the will and the intellect. He regarded humanity as totally depraved owing to ‘the fall’ of Adam and Eve. Totally depraved here does not mean completely depraved or as depraved as you could possibly be. It means tainted or depraved in all areas of the heart, mind and will. Humanity was unable to respond in faithful obedience to the invitation of God through Jesus. In other words, people cannot choose for themselves to repent and believe. Neither did ‘total depravity’ mean that Calvin believed that all humanity was predestined to damnation. He believed that some people would receive salvation from God. Calvin’s theory is based on the idea that God alone determines who will be saved. Key quotes God preordained, for his own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation. (Calvin) … a man will be justified by faith when, excluded from righteousness of works, he by faith lays hold of the righteousness of Christ, and clothed in it, appears in the sight of God not as a sinner, but as righteous … (Calvin) You see how every thing is denied to free will, for the very purpose of leaving no room for merit. And yet, as the beneficence and liberality of God are manifold and inexhaustible, the grace which he bestows upon us, inasmuch as he makes it our own, he recompenses as if the virtuous acts were our own. (Calvin) Christ is indeed presented to all, but God opens the eyes of the elect alone, and enables them by faith to seek after him. (Calvin) AO1 Activity Work in groups of four. Firstly, divide the ‘Doctrine of Election’ into four equal parts. Take a part each and think of an imaginative way to present it to the other three that does not involve just reading it out. Each person presents their quarter of the theory to the other three.

DRAFT

John Calvin

Calvin’s book Institutes of the Christian Religion

Key term Sovereignty of God: the ability of God to exercise his holy will or supremacy

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