John Calvin As Teacher, Pastor and Theologian: The Shape of His Writings and Thought.
Holder, R. Ward
Randall C. Zachman. John Calvin As Teacher, Pastor and Theologian:
The Shape of His Writings and Thought.
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006. 278 pp. index. bibl. $24.95.
ISBN: 0-8010-3129-X.
Randall Zachman's new work on Calvin gathers together his
published articles on Calvin's thought. The majority of the
articles were published between 1997 and 2003, though one is very early,
dating to 1990. If the value of the new book was exhausted by the
convenience of this collection, then handiness would be its greatest
significance. Happily, that is not the case. Instead, Zachman's
ordering of topics and skillful inclusion of two previously unpublished
articles transforms this from a simple collection of articles into a
significant argument about the meaning and method of Calvin's
theology.
Zachman breaks the book into two sections: "Calvin as Teacher
and Pastor" includes the first seven chapters, and the second
section, "Calvin as Theologian," includes the final five
chapters. This division represents Zachman's insight that Calvin,
in his own person, combined two offices of the Church, which he very
carefully separated in theory, those of pastor and teacher (or doctor).
The first section of the book sets out Calvin as holding these two
offices simultaneously, while the second gets further into his
theological method.
The first chapter sets out the life and work of Calvin
biographically, considering briefly his influences and the issues he
faced. The second chapter takes up Calvin's relationship with
Philip Melanchthon, who the author clearly sets out as Calvin's
most significant contemporary theological interlocutor. Chapter 3
discusses how Calvin supplied guidance for reading scripture, and
chapter four considers the purpose and function of Calvin's
Institutes. The fifth chapter addresses Calvin's exegetical method,
while the sixth considers Calvin's catechetical directions for the
children of Geneva, and the seventh tackles the link between extracting
biblical meaning and application in the lives of believers. Thus, the
chapters of the first section give the reader an idea of who Calvin was,
who influenced him in his self-conception, and then how his work flowed
from that, especially in the consideration of scripture in the minds and
lives of believers.
In the second section, the eighth chapter takes up Calvin's
and Luther's ideas of word and image, finding Calvin far more open
to an emphasis on imagery in the lives of believers, an idea Zachman
expands in the ninth chapter on manifestation and proclamation in
Calvin's thought. The tenth chapter focuses on Calvin's
analogical method, and links it to his theology's anagogical movement; the eleventh and twelfth chapters consider two images of God
in Calvin's thought, the universe and Jesus Christ. Hence, the
second section clearly sets out a model of Calvin's thought which
is not well-represented in the literature, Calvin as the contemplative
theologian.
Throughout, Zachman presents a paradigm of historical theology. His
notes are clear, his reasoning is careful, no assertions dangle in the
breeze without textual warrant. The arrangement of the chapters of the
book, and addition of chapters 6 and 8 create a text that can serve as a
theological introduction to John Calvin, but one that seeks to make a
discernible argument, that Calvin is best understood as a theologian
seeking to read scripture with the Church, and that his thought has a
deeply contemplative cast. Finally, it is worthwhile noting that as one
reads these articles again, the reader is struck by just how often terms
and turns of phrase that Zachman popularized have become basic
vocabulary for the modern academy in Calvin studies. This volume has
excellence for both novices and the adept; while the author has chosen
not to say everything, this choice has allowed him to say two things
quite well.
R. WARD HOLDER
Saint Anselm College
