Calvin and the Rhetoric of Piety (Columbia Series in Reformed Theology)

The Columbia Series in Reformed Theology represents a joint commitment by Columbia Theological Seminary and Westminster John Knox Press to provide theological resources from the Reformed tradition for the church today. Volumes in this series are intended for scholars, theologians, pastors, and lay people who are committed to faith in search of understanding. Front Cover......Page 1 The Columbia Series in Reformed Theology......Page 2 Copyright......Page 3 Contents......Page 4 Abbreviations ix......Page 5 Introduction 1......Page 6 1. Calvin and the Rhetorical Tradition 11......Page 11 The World of Renaissance Rhetoric......Page 13 Renaissance Rhetoric's Theoretical Underpinnings......Page 16 Calvin's Use of Rhetoric......Page 20 Notes......Page 27 2. Calvin's Context: Prefacing and Placing 46......Page 34 Development of Calvin's Three Prefaces......Page 36 Rhetorical Function of the Three Prefaces......Page 39 Theological Significance of the Prefaces......Page 40 The Terrain of Early Modern France......Page 41 The Main Audience: Calvin's Students ......Page 43 The Evangelical Churches in France ......Page 44 The World According to Calvin......Page 45 A Pedagogical Rhetoric......Page 48 Calvin's humanist mentors Budé, Erasmus, and LeFèvre would also have been included in this group.......Page 49 Summary: Four Social Functions of the Institutes ......Page 50 The Universal Reader......Page 51 Notes......Page 53 A Reading of Chapter 1 of Book 1 of the Institutes: "The Knowledge of God and That of Ourselves Are Connected. How They Are Interrelated"......Page 60 Rhetorical Reading of Book 1, Chapter 1......Page 61 The First Thesis: "Without Knowledge of Self There Is No Knowledge of God" ......Page 64 The Second Thesis: "Without Knowledge of God There Is No Knowledge of Self" ......Page 67 The Human Person Must Stand in Awe before God's Majesty ......Page 70 Calvin's Rhetorical Accomplishment......Page 72 Challenging Two Assumptions......Page 75 Notes......Page 76 A Reading of Chapter 2 of Book 1 of the Institutes: "What It Is to Know God, and to What Purpose the Knowledge of Him Tends" ......Page 81 Calvin's Introductory Comments......Page 82 The First Wave......Page 86 The Second Wave......Page 87 The Third Wave......Page 90 The Fourth Wave......Page 93 The Character of Calvin's Theology......Page 96 Notes......Page 99 A Reading of Chapter 3 of Book 1 of the Institutes: "The Knowledge of God Has Been Naturally Implanted in the Minds of Men" ......Page 102 An Unresolved Puzzle......Page 103 The Opening Paragraph......Page 105 Paragraphs Two and Three......Page 110 The Historical Face of Calvin's "Atheist"......Page 112 An Interweave of Agendas......Page 115 Theological Conclusions......Page 116 Notes......Page 118 6. Calvin and the Rhetorics of Contemporary Theology 185......Page 121 The Double Purpose of Theological Discourse......Page 122 The Nature and Function of Doctrine......Page 126 Calvin and Contemporary Discussions of Doctrine......Page 130 Godwhich are all the creature can grasp of Godare felt, experienced, and thereby known.......Page 133 Calvin as a Communal Rhetorician......Page 134 Notes......Page 135 Book One The Knowledge of God the Creator......Page 137 Bibliography 218......Page 141 Index 232......Page 154