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The Sola Panel is dead; long live the Sola Panel! by Tony Payne (4 comments). Regular Sola Panel readers will no doubt have detected a little slowness and quietness over the past six weeks or so. … more
Kids’ culture watch spot: Facing fear by Gordon Cheng (3 comments). By popular demand (two people asked), here is my next script for a culture watch spot I did with the kids … more
Daniel 2-7, Harry Potter and Narnia by Gordon Cheng (1 comment). It's a Sunday as I write this, and I'm speaking on Daniel 2 and 7 later this morning at a friend's … more
A constituent on same-sex marriage by Sandy Grant (34 comments). Last year, the Australian Parliament agreed that its Members of Parliament (MPs) should seek the … more
A tribute to John Stott by Sandy Grant (2 comments). Friends, I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear when I opened up my computer on Thursday morning to read … more
Talkin’ ’bout my generation (part 3): On giants’ shoulders by Scott Newling (26 comments). This is the third post in this series; you can read part one, and more
Bible reading with kids by Sandy Grant (0 comments). I was asked for recommendations for resources that would encourage parents to read the Bible with their kids, especially … more
Talkin’ ’bout my generation (part 2): Stepping aside (not out) so others can step up (not in) by Scott Newling (3 comments). This is the second post in this series; you can read the first post, Unassuming … more
One more sip of the coffee by Tony Payne (8 comments). Sandy Grant is a man of integrity. Back in the early days of Sola Panel, I wrote a post … more
Talkin’ ’bout my generation (part 1): Unassuming generations by Scott Newling (30 comments). There is a model of ‘intergenerational theological decline’ that has been doing the rounds of late, and perhaps you … more
Tony Payne
Paul is one of the Staff Editors at Matthias Media. He is married to Cathy and has three fantastic kids. He loves student ministry, reading, writing music and playing the saxophone, and is looking forward to meeting Jesus face to face.
Sola Panellists
- Tony Payne (convenor)
- Jennie Baddeley
- Mark Baddeley
- Andrew Barry
- Peter Bolt
- Gordon Cheng
- a local church and a certain Christian publishing house. (Sometimes the latter vocations can happen without the first.) Many people call him a nerd, which he prefers to geek. He\'s keen on biblical studies, languages, great technology, science fiction, coffee, photography, frisbee, family, jazz, and hats. You could call his tastes eclectic. ");'>Sam Freney
- Sandy Grant
- Scott Newling
- Gavin Perkins
- Ben Pfahlert
- Peter Sholl
- Claire Smith
- Nicole Starling
- Jean Williams
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we like (Why these?)
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- Anglican Church League
- challies
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- Girl Talk
- Gordon Cheng's Blog
- The Gospel Coalition
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I should add that I wish I had come across the re-print of Parker’s Portrait earlier, as I now see how much later biographical sketches are dependent on him.
He really gives you an excellent feel for Calvin, above all as a Bible man, with plenty of quotes from Calvin himself.
One slight disappointment is that he does use footnotes and thus does not tell you where each quote comes from.
I had also come to the same conclusion I later discovered Ligon Duncan expressed, which is that Parker does have some Barthian qualms about Calvin on predestination and also reads him as a conservative Barthian on his doctrine of Scripture.
I should also put in a plug for Moore College’s annual School of Theology “Calvin@500”.
Their blurb says that
DATES: 16th and 17th September
Speakers:
Lastly, St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney has organised a one-day conference on “Calvin and the Holy Spirit” (scroll down the link for more info).
2-5pm Saturday
25 July 2009
Speakers:
Perhaps the lack of comments shows the lack of interest, or maybe you all beat me to the punch. But I did remember one more fascinating side issue - Justin Taylor’s question on the origin of TULIP - the acronym - not the five points of Calvinism it picks up.
This flushed out a great article by Ken Stewart (direct link to pdf), which I would urge anyone who uses the acronym to read. That, and a little further research by commenters on Justin’s thread revealed that it seems there’s no evidence of the acronym TULIP being used much before 1900. Stewart’s survey also shows that people before weren’t especially in favour of the term ‘limited’ either, preferring ideas like particular redemption. But read his article for yourself.
If you want to listen to Calvin preaching, you can download one of his sermons in mp3 format from http://www.theologian.org.uk (which has a special 500th birthday edition in honour of Calvin - with other goodies on there too). There’ll also be an article in the next Themelios journal on union with Christ in Calvin on Ephesians.
Hi Lee and thanks for your link. I love the fact that you read one of his sermons too. I only wish we’d recorded ours. Thanks for your ministry at The Theologian…
Now here’s a link to Michael Horton’s top five books on Calvin.
the only birthday ,the christian world should be celabrating publicly is, our lord and saviour’s Jesus Christ. John calvin’s 5 point tulip theory is largly not biblical, also John calvin does not get a mention in the bible, and the vast majority of the christian world today does not accept or recognise calvin’s 5 point theory.
I would enjoy to read your thoughts sandy.
Hi Darren, and thanks for posting.
No one is making you celebrate Calvin’s birth or his teachings. Please feel free to ignore him if your conscience so dictates.
However, what verse or principle of the Bible can you give me for forbidding the celebration of a birthday or an anniversary? I would have thought that it was a matter of Christian liberty. There’s an old saying which says, “Do not forbid what God does not forbid, and do not command what God does not command.”
Of course, we should not imply that Calvin was perfect, and if you had been at St Michael’s you would have heard us make this point on several occasions.
In regards to Calvin and TULIP, you may have noticed that I did not say it was his theory, although it flows from the strong view of God’s electing sovereignty which he taught. And of course Calvin was not mentioned in the Bible! Neither is the internet or computers, but we discuss and even benefit from them too!
Lastly, on the merits or otherwise of TULIP, I would have thought you needed to demonstrate why it is not biblical, rather than just assert it. And certainly the argument that many Christians don’t accept it is not a very strong argument. Since when did we determine truth by how many votes it could attract? (See 2 Tim 4:3-4!)
Unfortunately for this discussion, I am going away on some annual leave where I am away from the computer, and so will not be able to comment much further. If I can manage it, I will post a link to the audio files, so people can assess for themselves how well my material on TULIP interacted with God’s Word.
Thank you very much for posting such a wealth of timely resources.
It is quite unfortunate that many moder-day “christians” misuderstand John Calvin just as much as the rest of the world have.
Michael Jensen writes about this in an article printed in The Australian, which can be visited here: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25685534-7583,00.html
Whatever faults John Calvin had, he was still a man used mightily of God to show us the God-Centredness of God’s Word… the God-Centredness of His creation… the God-Centredness of life, death, salvation, damnation, victory and defeat… John Calvin helped point us to the Centrality of Christ in All Things, exactly as Scripture proclaims:
“For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”
BB Warfield has written, “The Calvinist in a word, is the man who sees God. He has caught sight of the ineffable Vision, and he will not let it fade for a moment from his eyes—-God in nature, God in history, God in grace. Everywhere he sees God in His mighty stepping, everywhere he feels the working of His mighty arm, the throbbing of His mighty heart… In every modification of what is, that takes place, His hand is visible, as through all occurrences His “one increasing purpose runs”. Man himself is His—-created for His glory, and having as the one supreme end of his existence to glorify his Maker, and haply also to enjoy Him for ever. And salvation, in every step and stage of it, is of God.” (http://www.reformationtheology.com/2006/07/what_is_calvinism_by_b_b_warfi.php)
May more and more of today’s “christians” see Christ as Scripture reveals Christ, just as Calvin reminded us to.
Please enjoy this article by Pastor John Samson about Calvin: a mere man born 500 years ago, but whose intensely Biblical vision of Christ we all need especially today. (http://www.reformationtheology.com/2009/07/john_calvin_born_500_years_ago.php#more)
Thank you and God bless!
hi sandy
for mine “christian” liberty is about celebrating christ and not trying to advertise John calvin and his doctrine. which is not biblical. for example the L in tulip is heresy to say the least, how so? 1tim 1:15 christ died for sinners [plural], who are sinners? rom 3:23 for “all” have sinned.
1tim 2:4 God wants all to be saved,john 3:16 God loved the world not many or some.
or john 12:32 when christ is lifted up on the cross he draws all men to himself.
Darren, if you want to throw the heavy charges of heresy around so easily I am not sure there’s much value in trying to discuss these matters - especially via the format of a blog.
If you think it is enough simply to quote the verse you have without entering into the exegetical questions of what each verse means in its context and how to read Scripture in light of Scripture and so on, then we have even less chance of a fruitful discussion.
Christians on both sides over disputes about predestination know it’s more than just quoting a few ‘proof texts’. The best form of interaction will try to engage with the alternative view in its strongest form, rather than damning it with the easy charge of heresy and thinking that quoting a couple of verses has substantiated such a crime.
I wish you well, but as I said, I am off for some annual leave.
hi sandy
i trust you will have a good holiday. I am happy to discuss the bible further with you. but as far as translations are concerned, they have been taken care of, hense we have the bible in english. I would also add that I have no interest in “man inspired” books or lofty letters out side the bible.
looking forward to chatting with you
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