The 9th chapter of Romans is one of the most disputed chapters of the Bible since the early church. Theologians have argued for centuries wether the calvinistic or arminian interpretation is the correct way to interpret the passage, to no avail. I am not trying to convince readers of one school of thought or the other (at least in this particular post), but I wanted to share some insight from Calvin’s commentary that I thought would be beneficial to all, Calvinist or Arminian.
Romans 9.14 “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!” (ESV)
Calvin had this to say on this particular verse:
“The predestination of God is indeed in reality a labyrinth, from which the mind of man can by no means extricate itself: but so unreasonable is the curiosity of man, that the more perilous the examination of a subject is, the more boldly he proceeds; so that when predestination is discussed, as he cannot restrain himself within due limits, he immediately, through his rashness, plunges himself, as it were, into the depth of the sea. What remedy then is there for the godly? Must they avoid every thought of predestination? By no means: for as the Holy Spirit has taught us nothing but what it behoves us to know, the knowledge of this would no doubt be useful, provided it be confined to the word of God. Let this then be our sacred rule, to seek to know nothing concerning it, except what Scripture teaches us: when the Lord closes his holy mouth, let us also stop the way, that we may not go farther. But as we are men, to whom foolish questions naturally occur, let us hear from Paul how they are to be met.”
-John Calvin, in his commentary on Romans
“Monstrous surely is the madness of the human mind, that it is more disposed to charge God with unrighteousness than to blame itself for blindness. Paul indeed had no wish to go out of his way to find out things by which he might confound his readers; but he took up as it were from what was common the wicked suggestion, which immediately enters the minds of many, when they hear that God determines respecting every individual according to his own will.”
-John Calvin, in his commentary on Romans
If we are to seriously study the Bible as God’s word, then we must divorce our emotions from the scripture, and let scripture speak for itself. As Calvin says, we should “seek to know nothing concerning it, except what scripture teaches us.” Or as Martin Luther put it at the Diet of Worms, “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason alone… I cannot and will not recant anything.”
Though the focus of this has been the difficult passage of Romans 9, we would do well to bring that same exegetical practice to the whole of scripture. Whether Calvinist or Arminian, we cannot let go of sola scriptura, scripture only. We are bound by what the Word of God says, and what the Word of God says only. Whether you are Calvinist or Arminian, be so by being convinced only by scripture. Maybe we should stand on what tradition holds as Luther’s other famous remarks at Worms:
“Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
-Bryani{content: normal !important}
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