The Hermeneutics of John Calvin

Footnote

Thomas F. Torrance, The Hermeneutics of John Calvin, Monograph Supplements to Scottish Journal of Theology, ed. A. I. C. Heron and Iain R. Torrance (Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1988); #1988-488

Bibliography

Torrance, Thomas F. The Hermeneutics of John Calvin. Monograph Supplements to Scottish Journal of Theology, edited by A. I. C. Heron and Iain R. Torrance. Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1988; #1988-488

Publication life cycle / General notes

Torrance initially prepared this work to be the second volume of an intended three-volume investigation of the history of hermeneutics. The other volumes were to be devoted to The Hermeneutics of the Fathers (vol. 1; later published as Divine Meaning), and The Hermeneutics of the Moderns (vol. 3). Regarding the latter, Torrance writes " (Preface, p. vii): "Some of the main problems that have arisen in modern hermeneutics have been discussed in Space, Time and Incarnation, Oxford University Press, 1969; Space, Time and Resurrection, The Handsel Press, 1976, and Reality and Evangelical Theology, The Westminster Press, 1981." He continues that the "essence of what I have set out here about Calvin's epistemology was presented in a lecture entitled 'Knowledge of God and Speech about him according to John Calvin,'... published in Theology in Reconstruction" (#1965-223f), and in France (in English) in Revue d'Histoire et de Philosophie Religieuses (#1964-214).

Although this volume was published as a monograph supplement to the Scottish Journal of Theology, it is not numbered like the other volumes (#1972-TFT-1).

Dedicated "To Robert Torrance Walker, Theologian and Scholar, In Admiration and Encouragement."

Contents

Preface, p. vii-ix.

Part I: The Parisian Background to Calvin's Thought.

John Duns Scotus, p. 3.
   Abstractive and Intuitive Knowledge
   Being as the prime object of understanding
   The Knowledge of God:
      perfect and imperfect intuition
     voluntary and natural object
     different levels of knowledge

William of Occam, p. 12.
   Abstractive and Intuitive Knowledge
   Signification:
     rejection of images in the middle
     primary and secondary intention
     theological knowledge
   Impact on hermeneutics

John Major of Haddington, p. 23.
   (1) Notitia
   (2) Dialectica
   (3) Theologia
   (4) Interpretatio

Part II: The Shaping of Calvin's Mind

The Early Writings
Calvin's theological and hermeneutical method, p. 61.

Influences at work in Calvin's Thought.
(A) Late Mediaeval Thought and Piety, p. 72.
   (i) The devotio moderna
   (ii) The Impact of the Collège de Montaigu
     a. scientia practica
     b. notitia intuitiva
           as knowledge according to nature
     ​​​​​​​      as personal knowledge
​​​​​​​      ​​​​​​​      as auditive knowledge
​​​​​​​      c. The nature of theological statements
​​​​​​​      d. The interpretation of Scripture
(B) Sixteenth century thought and scholarship, p. 96.
   a. The effect of Calvin's legal and humanist studies
​​​​​​​      (i) the relation of language to logic
​​​​​​​      (ii) the relation of language to practical life
​​​​​​​      (iii) the relation of language to Scripture
   b. The impact of the new empiricism
​​​​​​​      the importance of inventio in scientific inquiry
​​​​​​​      L. Valla: In dialecticen
​​​​​​​      R. Agricola: De inventione
   c. The impact of classical and biblical studies at the Collège Royal
​​​​​​​      The influence of Desiderius Erasmus
​​​​​​​      (i) The De Clementia
​​​​​​​      (ii) The De Scandalis
   d. Calvin's indebtedness to Martin Luther

Epilogue, p. 161.

Notes, p. 167.

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  • PTS copy.
  • OU copy donated by James B. Walker.