Major Contribution to the formation of Japanese Churches

Footnote

Thomas F. Torrance, "Major Contribution to the formation of Japanese Churches," Fukuin to Sekai (Gospel and World) (1959): 44-47; #1959-153

Bibliography

Torrance, Thomas F. "Major Contribution to the Formation of Japanese Churches." Fukuin to Sekai (Gospel and World), Special Number on John Calvin (1959): 44-47; #1959-153

Publication life cycle / General notes

This issue is a Calvin special and contains an article by Karl Barth, "Calvin as a theologian."

1959 was the 400th anniversary of Calvin's birth, and 450 years from the definitive version of the Institutes of the Christian Religion.  To commemorate these events, some Protestants in Japan announced an initiative to publish a 12-volume translation of Calvin's New Testament commentaries. Five European and American scholars, including Barth and Emil Brunner, sent in remarks to praise this undertaking. 

Torrance's comment is found on p. 46.  It looks like the editor simply took a part of his comment and made it into a title (just as a newspaper editor would do).  Since there is no singular/plural distinction in Japanese nouns, the title may be either "Church" or "churches."  Torrance mentions that Calvin's commentaries are faithful to the Bible and still fresh, and therefore the translations of his works will contribute greatly to the Japanese Christian community. He also mentions his own project of new English translations of Calvin. (Thanks to Tomoko Yoshida for this information.)

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