Comments on: Billings on the Richness of Calvin’s Theology of Participation http://percaritatem.com/2008/05/16/billings-on-the-richness-of-calvins-theology-of-participation/ Non intratur in veritatem nisi per caritatem. St. Augustine Mon, 14 May 2012 13:53:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Jonathan http://percaritatem.com/2008/05/16/billings-on-the-richness-of-calvins-theology-of-participation/comment-page-1/#comment-2538 Jonathan Fri, 23 May 2008 02:30:11 +0000 http://percaritatem.com/?p=545#comment-2538 Cynthia, No, it's an article in Reformed Journal from a couple of decades ago, comparing Augustine's and Calvin's views on human suffering. Here's the bibliographical info if you want to check it out: Nicholas Wolterstorff, "The Wounds of God: Calvin's Theology of Social Injustice," Reformed Journal, 37/6 (June 1987), 14-22. Cynthia,
No, it’s an article in Reformed Journal from a couple of decades ago, comparing Augustine’s and Calvin’s views on human suffering. Here’s the bibliographical info if you want to check it out:
Nicholas Wolterstorff, “The Wounds of God: Calvin’s Theology of Social Injustice,” Reformed Journal, 37/6 (June 1987), 14-22.

]]> By: Cynthia R. Nielsen http://percaritatem.com/2008/05/16/billings-on-the-richness-of-calvins-theology-of-participation/comment-page-1/#comment-2517 Cynthia R. Nielsen Tue, 20 May 2008 15:53:18 +0000 http://percaritatem.com/?p=545#comment-2517 Hi Jonathan, No, I haven't. Is it a new book? What were the highlights of the book that appealed to you? Best, Cynthia Hi Jonathan,

No, I haven’t. Is it a new book? What were the highlights of the book that appealed to you?

Best,
Cynthia

]]> By: Jonathan http://percaritatem.com/2008/05/16/billings-on-the-richness-of-calvins-theology-of-participation/comment-page-1/#comment-2516 Jonathan Tue, 20 May 2008 15:12:47 +0000 http://percaritatem.com/?p=545#comment-2516 Interesting, especially the corporate dimensions of participation. Have you seen Wolterstorff's article, "The Wounds of God: Calvin's Theology of Social Injustice"? Interesting, especially the corporate dimensions of participation. Have you seen Wolterstorff’s article, “The Wounds of God: Calvin’s Theology of Social Injustice”?

]]> By: Dave Belcher http://percaritatem.com/2008/05/16/billings-on-the-richness-of-calvins-theology-of-participation/comment-page-1/#comment-2512 Dave Belcher Mon, 19 May 2008 14:22:12 +0000 http://percaritatem.com/?p=545#comment-2512 Cynthia, thanks for your lengthy response, and especially from the direct quotations from the volume -- I really gotta check this one out. And sorry for not saying more here...I'm swamped right now, but I will respond to this in time. Thanks again. peace Cynthia, thanks for your lengthy response, and especially from the direct quotations from the volume — I really gotta check this one out. And sorry for not saying more here…I’m swamped right now, but I will respond to this in time. Thanks again. peace

]]> By: Cynthia R. Nielsen http://percaritatem.com/2008/05/16/billings-on-the-richness-of-calvins-theology-of-participation/comment-page-1/#comment-2503 Cynthia R. Nielsen Sat, 17 May 2008 14:43:07 +0000 http://percaritatem.com/?p=545#comment-2503 Hi Dave, What Billings argues is that Calvin's doctrine of participation, is, among other things, a kind of doctrine of deification. That is not to say that it is a direct repetition (as if that's possible anyway) of patristic doctrines of theosis/deification, but he does major on a Johannine theology of "indwelling" and even speaks of our "substantial participation" in Christ (Billings devotes an entire chapter, chapter 3 to discuss Calvin's thought on participation in Christ's "substance"). As Billings explains, "Calvin's positive language of participation in and oneness with Christ's 'substance' by the Spirit can be seen as a perichoretic model of interpenetration" (p. 64). In contrast with e.g., Osiander, Calvin holds on this particular point, that believers are not infused with Christ's substance (as he wants to uphold the Creator/creature distinction and even employed an kind of Chalcedonian analogy of oneness without confusion in his attempt to explain the intimate relation b/w Christ and believers), rather they receive the substance of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, "who brings the blessings of the Father given to the Son to the community of faith. Participation in the substance of Christ is irreducibly Trinitarian and communal in Calvin's thought" (p. 64). However, I don't think that one needs to deny Platonic influences on Calvin, as Calvin was hugely influenced by Augustine, who, of course, is permeated with Platonic ideas (no pun intended). However, both Calvin and Augustine, I would argue, tend to Christianize and hence transform Platonic insights such that they would not be accpetable to a (speaking anachronistically) non-Christian Platonist. Best wishes, Cynthia Hi Dave,

What Billings argues is that Calvin’s doctrine of participation, is, among other things, a kind of doctrine of deification. That is not to say that it is a direct repetition (as if that’s possible anyway) of patristic doctrines of theosis/deification, but he does major on a Johannine theology of “indwelling” and even speaks of our “substantial participation” in Christ (Billings devotes an entire chapter, chapter 3 to discuss Calvin’s thought on participation in Christ’s “substance”).

As Billings explains, “Calvin’s positive language of participation in and oneness with Christ’s ‘substance’ by the Spirit can be seen as a perichoretic model of interpenetration” (p. 64). In contrast with e.g., Osiander, Calvin holds on this particular point, that believers are not infused with Christ’s substance (as he wants to uphold the Creator/creature distinction and even employed an kind of Chalcedonian analogy of oneness without confusion in his attempt to explain the intimate relation b/w Christ and believers), rather they receive the substance of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, “who brings the blessings of the Father given to the Son to the community of faith. Participation in the substance of Christ is irreducibly Trinitarian and communal in Calvin’s thought” (p. 64).

However, I don’t think that one needs to deny Platonic influences on Calvin, as Calvin was hugely influenced by Augustine, who, of course, is permeated with Platonic ideas (no pun intended). However, both Calvin and Augustine, I would argue, tend to Christianize and hence transform Platonic insights such that they would not be accpetable to a (speaking anachronistically) non-Christian Platonist.

Best wishes,
Cynthia

]]> By: Dave Belcher http://percaritatem.com/2008/05/16/billings-on-the-richness-of-calvins-theology-of-participation/comment-page-1/#comment-2502 Dave Belcher Sat, 17 May 2008 14:22:17 +0000 http://percaritatem.com/?p=545#comment-2502 Hi Cynthia -- thanks again for these thoughts on this book I need to check out! Is it your intimation that Billings would make the claim (or perhaps it's overt) that over against the "gift theologians" (I'm actually thinking <i>specifically</i> of Milbank here) Calvin's "participation" is <i>non</i>-Platonic in orientation (and that because of the "inner transformation" of the believer in being incorporated by participation in the Triune life)? Thanks again. Peace, dave b Hi Cynthia — thanks again for these thoughts on this book I need to check out!

Is it your intimation that Billings would make the claim (or perhaps it’s overt) that over against the “gift theologians” (I’m actually thinking specifically of Milbank here) Calvin’s “participation” is non-Platonic in orientation (and that because of the “inner transformation” of the believer in being incorporated by participation in the Triune life)? Thanks again. Peace,

dave b

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