John Calvin didnt believe in Limited Atonement, at least not according to his commentaries that I just read for class. How Calvinistic was John Calvin? What did he teach concerning the extent of the atonement? Let us ponder his own words: On Isaiah 53:12–I approve of the ordinary reading, that He alone bore the punishment of many, because on Him was laid the guilt of the whole world. It is evident from other passages, and especially from the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, that many sometimes denotes all. On Mark 14:24 – The word many does not mean a part of the world only, but the whole human race. In other words, Christ’s blood was shed for the whole human race. On Matthew 20:28–‘Many’ is used, not for a definite number, but for a large number, in that He sets Himself over against all others. And this is its meaning also in Rom. 5:15, where Paul is not talking of a part of mankind but of the whole human race. On John 1:29 – And when he says the sin OF THE WORLD, He extends this favour indiscriminately to the whole human race….all men without exception are guilty of unrighteousness before God and need to be reconciled to Him….Now our duty is, to embrace the benefit which is offered to all, that each of us may be convinced that there is nothing to hinder him from obtaining reconciliation in Christ, provided that he comes to him by…faith. On John 3:16 – He has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers….He shows Himself to be reconciled to the whole world, when He invites all men without exception to the faith of Christ. On Romans 5:18 – He makes this favor common to all, because it is propoundable to all, and not because it is in reality extended to all (i.e. in the experience); for though Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world, and is offered through God’s benignity indiscriminately to all, yet all do not receive Him. On 2 Corinthians 5:19 – God shows Himself to be reconciled to the whole world and Calvin goes on to say that the whole world means all men without exception. On Galatians 5:12 – It is the will of God that we should seek the salvation of all men without exception, as Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world. On Colossians 1:15–This redemption was procured by the blood of Christ, for by the sacrifice of His death all the sins of the world have been expiated. On Hebrews 5:9–He (the writer of Hebrews) has inserted the universal term ‘to all’ to show that no one is excluded from this salvation who proves to be attentive and obedient to the Gospel of Christ. I truly wonder how many Calvinists actually read what John Calvin wrote in his commentaries. the only thing I have found so far for limited atonement is in 1 timothy and it was only one phrase in passing.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 03:08:57 +0000
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