Calvin and the Independence of the Church: 25 (Reformed Historical Theology) - Hardcover

Herman A. Speelman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 352557021X ISBN 13: 9783525570210

Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co.KG, 2014

Synopsis

Speelman deals with a central question in the intellectual history of the sixteenth century: to what extent can Calvin be regarded as responsible for the tendency in Calvinism or, more broadly, in Reformed Protestantism, to form a church which has its own ecclesiastical organization and office bearers? So far, claiming a great deal of independence for the church has been considered an important aspect of Calvin's legacy. In this line of reasoning, it is assumed that Calvin was a strong opponent of the church as a state organization that did not have its own governing body and power of excommunication. To better understand this issue, the text examines the position of the church within the city-state of Bern. Secondly, it directs its attention to the manner in which Calvin gave form to ecclesiastical life in Geneva. Next, it deals with the church in France, and finally, it examines the influence of Calvin and French Calvinism on the organization of the Reformed church in The Netherlands in the 1570s.

About this title

About the Author:

Herman A. Speelman is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the field of early modern reformed theology at the Theological University of Kampen, the Netherlands and an Associate Professor in Ecumenics in the Seminary Bovendonk in the diocese Breda.

About this edition

• Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co.KG
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 352557021X
• ISBN 13: 9783525570210
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 291