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John Calvin vs Calvinism
This study is on the “L” of the acronym TULIP, which were drawn up at the Synod of Dort, between 1618-1619, by “Calvinists”, who were supposed to be followers of the teaching of the French theologian, John Calvin.
“L” is defined by the website, gotquestions.org, as:
“Limited Atonement - Because God determined that certain ones should be saved as a result of God’s unconditional election, He determined that Christ should die for the elect alone. All whom God has elected and for whom Christ died will be saved” (https://www.gotquestions.org/calvinism.html)
This is to do with the extent of the Death of Jesus Christ. Did Jesus die for the whole world without exception, as most Calvinists/Reformed teach, or, did He die only for the “elect” only?
It is very clear from the examples from the commentaries of John Calvin, that he did not believe or teach, that Jesus Christ died only for the “elect”, but, in fact, uses the phrase, “everyone without exception”, and, not as “Calvinists” believe, “everyone without distinction”.
John Calvin on John 3:16
“That whosoever believeth on him may not perish. It is a remarkable commendation of faith, that it frees us from everlasting destruction. For he intended expressly to state that, though we appear to have been born to death, undoubted deliverance is offered to us by the faith of Christ; and, therefore, that we ought not to fear death, which otherwise hangs over us. And he has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers. Such is also the import of the term World, which he formerly used; for though nothing will be found in the world that is worthy of the favor of God, yet he shows himself to be reconciled to the whole world, when he invites all men without exception to the faith of Christ, which is nothing else than an entrance into life” (emphasis mine)
Calvin on Mark 14:24, where Jesus says that His death is a “ransom for many”.
“Which is shed for many. By the word many he means not a part of the world only, but the whole human race”
The context of these comments by Calvin, are very important.
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.” NKJV
Here we read of Jesus Christ giving the “Lord’s Supper” in the bread and wine, which represent His Body and Blood offered on the cross for lost sinners. Jesus’ use of “shed for many”, Calvin rightly says, is NOT “a part of the world”, as in the “elect”, which is the false teaching of some “Calvinists/Reformed”; but for “the WHOLE HUMAN RACE”. No doubt here about the extent of the Death of Jesus Christ, as Calvin understood what the Bible says.
Further, we also read in the Account in Luke’s Gospel, that Judas was present for the Lord’s Supper, and actually took part in the bread and wine.
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table” Luke 22:20-21
“poured out for YOU”, also includes Judas.
Some argue, that the Greek does not have the word “is”, which is in italics in Versions like the King James. However, the Greek participle παραδιδόντος, used here, “of him who betrays”, is in the present tense, which means the use of “is”, is correct.
Some honest Reformed theologians actually admit to this fact.
Matthew Henry,
"By placing this after the institution of the Lord’s supper, though in Matthew and Mark it is placed before it, it seems plain that Judas did receive the Lord’s supper, did eat of that bread and drink of that cup; for, after the solemnity was over, Christ said, Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table."
John Gill
"From Luke's account it appears most clearly, that Judas was not only at the passover, but at the Lord's supper, since this was said when both were over"
Jesus Christ shed His Blood even for Judas!
Calvin on John 1:29
“Who taketh away the sin of the world. He uses the word sin in the singular number, for any kind of iniquity; as if he had said, that every kind of unrighteousness which alienates men from God is taken away by Christ. And when he says, the sin Of The World, he extends this favor indiscriminately to the whole human race; that the Jews might not think that he had been sent to them alone. But hence we infer that the whole world is involved in the same condemnation; and that as all men without exception are guilty of unrighteousness before God, they need to be reconciled to him. John the Baptist, therefore, by speaking generally of the sin of the world, intended to impress upon us the conviction of our own misery, and to exhort us to seek the remedy. 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 the guidance of faith.”
Note again the language that Calvin uses here. “indiscriminately to the whole human race”; “all men without exception…they need to be reconciled to him”; “offered to all, that each of us”. Nothing LIMITED in the extent of the Death of Jesus Christ here by John Calvin!
Calvin on Romans 5:18
“He makes this favor common to all, because it is propounded to all, and not because it is in reality extended to all; 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”
Yet again the language used by Calvin, is clearly for a UNIVERSAL Death of Jesus Christ!
How can those who claim to be “Calvinists”, and say they follow the teaching of John Calvin, continue to believe in the UNBIBLICAL HERESY, that Jesus Christ only died for the “elect”? They honestly cannot call themselves “Calvinists”, and continue to teach that Jesus did not die for the ENTIRE HUMAN RACE, and the Inspired Word of God clearly Teaches.
This study is on the “L” of the acronym TULIP, which were drawn up at the Synod of Dort, between 1618-1619, by “Calvinists”, who were supposed to be followers of the teaching of the French theologian, John Calvin.
“L” is defined by the website, gotquestions.org, as:
“Limited Atonement - Because God determined that certain ones should be saved as a result of God’s unconditional election, He determined that Christ should die for the elect alone. All whom God has elected and for whom Christ died will be saved” (https://www.gotquestions.org/calvinism.html)
This is to do with the extent of the Death of Jesus Christ. Did Jesus die for the whole world without exception, as most Calvinists/Reformed teach, or, did He die only for the “elect” only?
It is very clear from the examples from the commentaries of John Calvin, that he did not believe or teach, that Jesus Christ died only for the “elect”, but, in fact, uses the phrase, “everyone without exception”, and, not as “Calvinists” believe, “everyone without distinction”.
John Calvin on John 3:16
“That whosoever believeth on him may not perish. It is a remarkable commendation of faith, that it frees us from everlasting destruction. For he intended expressly to state that, though we appear to have been born to death, undoubted deliverance is offered to us by the faith of Christ; and, therefore, that we ought not to fear death, which otherwise hangs over us. And he has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers. Such is also the import of the term World, which he formerly used; for though nothing will be found in the world that is worthy of the favor of God, yet he shows himself to be reconciled to the whole world, when he invites all men without exception to the faith of Christ, which is nothing else than an entrance into life” (emphasis mine)
Calvin on Mark 14:24, where Jesus says that His death is a “ransom for many”.
“Which is shed for many. By the word many he means not a part of the world only, but the whole human race”
The context of these comments by Calvin, are very important.
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.” NKJV
Here we read of Jesus Christ giving the “Lord’s Supper” in the bread and wine, which represent His Body and Blood offered on the cross for lost sinners. Jesus’ use of “shed for many”, Calvin rightly says, is NOT “a part of the world”, as in the “elect”, which is the false teaching of some “Calvinists/Reformed”; but for “the WHOLE HUMAN RACE”. No doubt here about the extent of the Death of Jesus Christ, as Calvin understood what the Bible says.
Further, we also read in the Account in Luke’s Gospel, that Judas was present for the Lord’s Supper, and actually took part in the bread and wine.
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table” Luke 22:20-21
“poured out for YOU”, also includes Judas.
Some argue, that the Greek does not have the word “is”, which is in italics in Versions like the King James. However, the Greek participle παραδιδόντος, used here, “of him who betrays”, is in the present tense, which means the use of “is”, is correct.
Some honest Reformed theologians actually admit to this fact.
Matthew Henry,
"By placing this after the institution of the Lord’s supper, though in Matthew and Mark it is placed before it, it seems plain that Judas did receive the Lord’s supper, did eat of that bread and drink of that cup; for, after the solemnity was over, Christ said, Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table."
John Gill
"From Luke's account it appears most clearly, that Judas was not only at the passover, but at the Lord's supper, since this was said when both were over"
Jesus Christ shed His Blood even for Judas!
Calvin on John 1:29
“Who taketh away the sin of the world. He uses the word sin in the singular number, for any kind of iniquity; as if he had said, that every kind of unrighteousness which alienates men from God is taken away by Christ. And when he says, the sin Of The World, he extends this favor indiscriminately to the whole human race; that the Jews might not think that he had been sent to them alone. But hence we infer that the whole world is involved in the same condemnation; and that as all men without exception are guilty of unrighteousness before God, they need to be reconciled to him. John the Baptist, therefore, by speaking generally of the sin of the world, intended to impress upon us the conviction of our own misery, and to exhort us to seek the remedy. 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 the guidance of faith.”
Note again the language that Calvin uses here. “indiscriminately to the whole human race”; “all men without exception…they need to be reconciled to him”; “offered to all, that each of us”. Nothing LIMITED in the extent of the Death of Jesus Christ here by John Calvin!
Calvin on Romans 5:18
“He makes this favor common to all, because it is propounded to all, and not because it is in reality extended to all; 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”
Yet again the language used by Calvin, is clearly for a UNIVERSAL Death of Jesus Christ!
How can those who claim to be “Calvinists”, and say they follow the teaching of John Calvin, continue to believe in the UNBIBLICAL HERESY, that Jesus Christ only died for the “elect”? They honestly cannot call themselves “Calvinists”, and continue to teach that Jesus did not die for the ENTIRE HUMAN RACE, and the Inspired Word of God clearly Teaches.
