(completed on 11 March 2010; published on 11 March 2010 by Lulu; 388 pages)<\/span><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Purchase Options<\/span><\/p>\n ***<\/b><\/p>\n [PAPERBACK: $21.95<\/a>] [KINDLE: 2.99<\/a>]<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dedication<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Introduction<\/p><\/blockquote>\n 1. The Catholic Church vs. the Bible?.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..15 1. Denial of the Primacy of St. Peter Among the Apostles..\u2026107 1. Calvin\u2019s Accusation of Catholic Semi-Pelagianism\u2026\u2026\u2026157 1. The Eucharist in the Bible: Sign and Seal Only?\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.217 [see<\/span> 50 excerpted points of agreement<\/a> taken from the sections below]<\/span><\/p>\n 1. The Church as an Absolutely Necessary \u201cMother\u201d..\u2026\u2026\u2026..323 1. Good Works as the Necessary Proof of True Saving Faith..355 1. Sacraments Can Only be Instituted by Christ\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..371 I\u2019ve done a great deal of research on Martin Luther, so it is long overdue for me (as a Catholic apologist) to start paying relatively more attention to the other important figure in the Protestant Revolt: John Calvin. In many ways, Calvin has had even more influence in the subsequent history of Protestantism than Luther himself. Much of Calvin\u2019s subject matter in his famous tome gets to the heart \u2014 the very crux \u2014 of the disagreement between Catholics and Protestants.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be utilizing for my purposes, the Institutes of the Christian Religion<\/span>, translated by Henry Beveridge for the Calvin Translation Society in 1845, from the 1559 edition in Latin; reprinted by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (Grand Rapids, Michigan), 1995, and available online<\/a> at the wonderful Christian Classics Ethereal Library site.<\/p>\n This work is in the public domain because of its age. That being the case, I was able to easily cut and paste everything in it, without a great deal of extra typing being necessary. This allowed me to easily reply in my preferred socratic manner, and to go \u201cback and forth\u201d with Calvin.<\/p>\n My biggest interest lies in Book IV: Of the Holy Catholic Church<\/span>. It runs about 500 pages. This is where the real contrast between Calvinism and Catholicism is most evident, in my opinion: even more than in soteriology, or the theology of salvation (Book III), where the two sides are far closer than many in both parties (including John Calvin himself) realize. I like to go right to the heart of any given issue, and that\u2019s located here, in my opinion.<\/p>\n In the much longer online version of my replies (entries listed on my Calvin and Calvinism web page<\/span>), I responded line-by-line to the entirety of Book IV of the Institutes<\/span>. For my purposes in this book, and for the convenience of reference, I have edited, abridged, and reorganized that material, and have added additional related replies of mine having to do with John Calvin.<\/p>\n Calvin, of course, has the big advantage going in, in such a \u201cdebate.\u201d He\u2019s the famous and extremely influential theologian and scholar, with lots of formal education, rhetorical and literary ability in droves, and a remarkable encyclopedic knowledge in many areas. I\u2019m just a lay Catholic apologist with a degree in sociology, and no formal theological education (but with lots of informal theological education for over thirty years).<\/p>\n I rather like that. I love to play David over against a \u201cGoliath.\u201d I relish the challenge, and this was assuredly one that took a lot <\/span>of effort and very hard work on my part: with intense research often required. Calvin can\u2019t counter-respond, but such is the necessary disadvantage of being dead for almost 450 years. Calvin\u2019s superior education makes up for his deceased status.<\/p>\n If it is concluded that I prevail here and there in my replies, then it will bring (all the more) the point home that, as we believe, Calvin was wrong in his arguments, where he opposed the Catholic Church. I\u2019m confident that he has been, throughout my replies, very often plainly shown to be in error. I\u2019ve often noted that one may be the greatest genius of all time, but if the facts and the truth are not on one\u2019s side, even an infant who knows the truth can \u201cget the better of them\u201d in discussion.<\/p>\n I gave it my best shot. You, the reader, are the judge and jury. You<\/span> can and should decide where the truth lies. Read and consider Calvin\u2019s arguments and then ponder the replies that this one orthodox Catholic gives, and make up your own mind. I have always advocated the process of reading two opposing arguments and then deciding which one is more plausible; which has the \u201cring of truth\u201d to it.<\/p>\n In conclusion, I would like to respond to objections I have already heard, even before this book was published. A few (minority anti-Catholic type) Reformed Protestants, familiar with my apologetic work and highly critical of it, have questioned whether I am qualified at all to undertake such a project as this.<\/p>\n My response has been twofold. I stated, first of all, that if I were as profoundly ignorant and underinformed and unqualified as they made out, then Calvinists had nothing whatever to fear from this book, or the larger set of online replies, as they would be their own refutation, and self-evidently absurd.<\/p>\n Their very protest, then, seemed to suggest that they feared such a reply far more than their words were letting on. Why worry about it? I can do no harm to their cause if they are correct about my alleged utter lack of qualifications.<\/p>\n The second defense I made was to appeal to Calvin\u2019s own<\/span> claims for his work, and its intended audience. It was not supposed to be for scholars and theologians only, but rather, primarily for students and laymen (just as St. Thomas Aquinas\u2019 Summa Theologica<\/span> was intended as introductory instruction). He expresses this in several introductory comments to The Institutes<\/span>. For example:<\/p>\n My intention was only to furnish a kind of rudiments, by which those who feel some interest in religion might be trained to true godliness. . . . in a simple and elementary form adapted for instruction. . . . what I have here given may be regarded as a summary . . .\u00a0(Prefatory Address<\/a>, Basle, 1536)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n [M]y object in this work was to prepare and train students of theology for the study of the Sacred Volume, so that they might both have an easy introduction to it, and be able to proceed in it, with unfaltering step, seeing I have endeavoured to give such a summary of religion in all its parts, and have digested it into such an order as may make it not difficult for any one, who is rightly acquainted with it, to ascertain both what he ought principally to look for in Scripture, and also to what head he ought to refer whatever is contained in it.\u00a0(Prefatory Epistle to the Reader<\/a>, 2nd edition, Strasbourg, 1539)<\/p>\n [I]t is the duty of those who have received from God more light than others to assist the simple in this matter, and, as it were, lend them their hand to guide and assist them in finding the sum of what God has been pleased to teach us in his word. . . . it will be a kind of key opening up to all the children of God a right and ready access to the understanding of the sacred volume. . . . a summary of Christian doctrine, . . . an introduction to the profitable reading both of the Old and New Testament.\u00a0(Subject of the Present Work<\/a>, French edition, Geneva, 1545)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Now, if we are dealing with an introductory work written to the masses (not scholars and academics): for folks just starting to get acquainted with Scripture, then certainly it is not out of bounds for a non-scholar apologist like myself, with over thirty years of experience of intense study of theology and Scripture, to undertake a popular-level critique of the popular-level introductory work.<\/p>\n Calvin is far more qualified<\/span> than I am, as I freely concede, but it is not<\/span> the case that no non-scholar can ever deign to reply to him or that we have no relevant or substantive replies, merely by the fact of our lesser formal academic achievements.<\/p>\n No law or rule can be found that would forbid me from doing this, or entail that this endeavor ought to be defined as having \u201cno concept\u201d of my \u201climitations,\u201d as one of my critics put it, or, \u201can exercise in self-conceited charlatanry,\u201d as another delightfully opined.<\/p>\n This is, sadly, how the academic snob views most popular analyses, written for the masses and the proverbial \u201ccommon man,\u201d rather than merely to academics and pointy-headed \u201cintellectuals.\u201d Neither of these men, however (ironically), are actually academics themselves<\/span>. One is a teaching assistant and the other is still trying, in his late thirties, to obtain a graduate degree.<\/p>\n Both have been very active on the Internet for years (a \u201cpopular\u201d medium if there ever was one), since that has been the only way they could be read at all<\/span> (neither having had a book published by reputable publishers, as I have, six times now). They seem to believe that the only people who can think and analyze and critique are scholars and professors. Yet they write such analyses all the time, and are scarcely more qualified than I am (if not less) to do so.<\/p>\n In a lighthearted vein, I consider this book a gift to John Calvin, on the occasion of his 500th birthday (he was born in 1509). The actual writing (apart from a portion of this Introduction) was finished in December 2009 (I met the \u201cdeadline\u201d!), and was merely edited in 2010.<\/p>\n The Institutes<\/span> is widely used to this day. Since it is so critical of Catholicism, it needs to be answered from a Catholic perspective. I have tried to keep polemics to a bare minimum. That was assuredly somewhat difficult, because Calvin is often highly<\/span> provocative and polemical: plain insulting; but my goal was to stick to rational arguments from Scripture and history.<\/p>\n I hope my reply is helpful for readers who seek to understand the difference between the two theological systems and competing claims. May God the Holy Spirit, our Helper, guide us all into all truth, and grant us the will, by His grace, to want to always seek truth.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Purchase Options<\/span><\/p>\n ***<\/b><\/p>\n [PAPERBACK: $21.95<\/a>] [KINDLE: 2.99<\/a>]<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Last updated on 5 December 2025<\/p>\n ***<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (completed on 11 March 2010; published on 11 March 2010 by Lulu; 388 pages) *** Purchase Options *** [PAPERBACK: $21.95] [KINDLE: 2.99] *** TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication Introduction PART ONE: CRITICISM I. Ecclesiology (Theology of the Church and Church Government)\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u2026\u2026..15 1. The Catholic Church vs. the Bible?.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..15 2. Denigration of Tradition\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u202617 3. Denial of Apostolic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":4828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[160,312,37],"tags":[2360,148,342,2355],"class_list":["post-640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books-by-dave-armstrong","category-calvinism-general-protestantism","category-john-calvin","tag-books-by-dave-armstrong","tag-calvinism","tag-institutes-of-the-christian-religion","tag-john-calvin"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Calvin](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2010\/03\/Calvin-550x825.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nI. Ecclesiology (Theology of the Church and Church Government)<\/span>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u2026\u2026..15<\/p>\n
\n2. Denigration of Tradition\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u202617
\n3. Denial of Apostolic Succession\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.19
\n4. Indefectibility of the Church vs. Massive Apostasy\u2026\u2026\u2026..24
\n5. \u201cPrimary\u201d vs. \u201cSecondary\u201d Doctrines\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u202644
\n6. Conscience, Private Judgment, and Church Authority\u2026\u2026..48
\n7. Denial of Infallible Church Councils\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.59
\n8. The Nature of St. Paul\u2019s Calling and Commissioning\u2026\u2026\u202666
\n9. Church Government According to the Early Church.\u2026\u2026\u202668
\n10. Equating of the Offices of Presbyter, Pastor, and Bishop.\u202672
\n11. Can Laymen Declare Clergy Illegitimate?\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u202677
\n12. Denigration of the Vows and Oaths of Consecration\u2026\u2026\u202678
\n13. Clerical Celibacy.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u2026\u2026\u202683
\n14. Justification of the Protestant Schism\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u202692
\n15. Boy-Bishops vs. Calvin and Boy-King Edward VI.\u2026\u2026\u2026..96
\n16. The Church and Capital Punishment for Heresy.\u2026..\u2026\u2026..100<\/p>\n
\nII. Papal, Petrine, and Roman Primacy<\/span>\u2026\u2026.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026107<\/p>\n
\n2. Was the Papacy Instituted by Jesus Christ?\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.112
\n3. Is Peter the \u201cRock\u201d on Whom Christ Built His Church?\u2026.114
\n4. Jesus Tells Peter to \u201cFeed My Lambs\u201d (John 21:15)\u2026..\u2026115
\n5. Analogy of Ancient Israel and the Jewish High Priest\u2026\u2026116
\n6. Peter\u2019s Primacy and Papal Succession Through History\u2026.119
\n7. The Papacy in St. Paul\u2019s Teaching and Thinking\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026120
\n8. St. Peter\u2019s and St. Paul\u2019s Martyrdoms in Rome..\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.123
\n9. Roman Primacy: Merely Historical Happenstance?\u2026\u2026\u2026125
\n10. The Church Fathers and the Pope as \u201cHead\u201d\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..125
\n11. Questionable Use of St. Cyprian Contra the Papacy.\u2026\u2026..127
\n12. Did St. Jerome Deny Papal and Roman Supremacy?\u2026\u2026..130
\n13. Constantinople, Apostolicity, and Pope Leo the Great\u2026\u2026131
\n14. Was Pope Gregory the Great\u2019s Reign a Sea-Change?\u2026\u2026.133
\n15. Was St. Bernard an Opponent of Papal Supremacy?\u2026\u2026\u2026137
\n16. Pope John XXII\u2019s Error and Papal Infallibility\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026142
\n17. When Did the Pope Become Antichrist?\u2026145
\n18. The Donation of Constantine Forgery\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.148
\n19. Do \u201cBad Popes\u201d Disprove the Papacy?\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026149
\n20. Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand): \u201cImpure and Wicked\u201d?\u2026153
\n21. Popes as \u201cTyrants\u201d vs. Calvin\u2019s \u201cAuthority\u201d\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..155<\/p>\n
\nIII. Salvation, Justification, Sanctification, Sacraments, and the Spiritual Life<\/span>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026157<\/p>\n
\n2. Cooperation With God\u2019s Grace (Synergism) and Merit\u2026..162
\n3. Absolution and Forgiveness of Sins by the Clergy\u2026\u2026\u2026..164
\n4. The \u201cEvangelical Counsels\u201d and Monastic Perfection\u2026\u2026.167
\n5. Public, Communal Fasting and Abstinence \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.178
\n6. Holy Water..\u2026\u2026.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026183
\n7. Holy Days\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.184
\n8. The Sacraments: Basic Definitions and Disputes\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.187
\n9. Catholic Sacramental Principle of Ex Opere Operato<\/span>\u2026\u2026.195
\n10. Baptism: Sign and Seal Only, or Regeneration?\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.201
\n11. Baptism: Calvin vs. the Church Fathers\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..212<\/p>\n
\nIV. The Holy Eucharist and the Sacrifice of the Mass<\/span>\u2026\u2026..217<\/p>\n
\n2. Calvin vs. the Church Fathers on the Eucharist..\u2026.\u2026\u2026\u2026258
\n3. Calvin vs. Luther on the Real Presence in the Eucharist\u2026.275
\n4. Calvin and Berengarius\u2019 Eucharistic Errors.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026276
\n5. Calvin vs. the Bible on the Sacrifice of the Mass\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026280
\n6. Calvin vs. the Fathers on the Sacrifice of the Mass.\u2026\u2026\u2026297
\n7. Crosses, Crucifixes, and Statues of Christ: Idolatry?.\u2026\u2026..316<\/p>\n\n
\nV. Agreement on Ecclesiology (Theology of the Church and Church Government)<\/span>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u2026\u2026.323<\/p>\n
\n2. No Salvation Outside of the Church\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.324
\n3. The Church as Guardian of True Doctrine and Truth\u2026\u2026\u2026326
\n4. The Church as the Mystical Body of Christ\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.327
\n5. The Church: Analogy to the Old Testament Assembly\u2026\u2026327
\n6. Church Councils Have a Legitimate Place\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026328
\n7. The Church Can Impose Penances\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026329
\n8. De Facto<\/span> \u201cIndulgences\u201d (Relaxing Temporal Penalties)\u2026.331
\n9. The Church Has the Power of Excommunication\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026333
\n10. Excommunication is Not Damnation\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..335
\n11. Authority of the Clergy.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..336
\n12. Pastors Are Called and in Some Sense \u201cOrdained\u201d\u2026\u2026\u2026338
\n13. Pastors Are in Some Sense Successors of the Apostles\u2026..340
\n14. The Primacy of Peter Among the Disciples\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026341
\n15. Apostolic Deposit: Nothing Essential Ever Added\u2026\u2026\u2026.342
\n16. Sacred, Passed-Down Tradition in Some Sense\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..343
\n17. Development of Doctrine\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.344
\n18. Holy and Sacred Places\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026344
\n19. Sinners in the Visible Church.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.345
\n20. Denominations and Schism Ruled Out\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026349
\n21. Roman Primacy in Some Sense in the Early Church\u2026\u2026..353
\n22. Semblance of Remaining Christianity in Catholicism\u2026\u2026354<\/p>\n
\nVI. Agreement on Salvation, Justification, Sanctification, and the Spiritual Life<\/span>.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u2026.355<\/p>\n
\n2. Progressive Sanctification\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026357
\n3. Only God Absolutely Knows Who is Among the Elect\u2026\u2026359
\n4. Cooperation With God\u2019s Grace (Synergism) and Merit\u2026\u2026361
\n5. St. Paul as God\u2019s Co-Worker\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026361
\n6. St. Paul and Others as Distributors of God\u2019s Salvation\u2026\u2026362
\n7. Acknowledgment of the Existence of \u201cGood\u201d Persons\u2026\u2026362
\n8. Approximation of Catholic \u201cBaptism of Desire\u201d\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.362
\n9. Fasting and Abstinence as Helpful Spiritual Practices\u2026\u2026.363
\n10. Bodily Mortification Approved\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026366
\n11. Self-Denial Practices Not Much Different from Lent\u2026\u2026.368
\n12. \u201cPuritanical\u201d Legalism and Spiritual Pride\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.368
\n13. Contraception is Gravely Sinful\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..369
\n14. The Perpetual Virginity of Mary\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.369
\n15. Mary is Honored and Called \u201cBlessed\u201d.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..370<\/p>\n
\nVII. Agreement on the Sacraments<\/span>..\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u2026..371<\/p>\n
\n2. Sacraments Do Something<\/span> In and To Us\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..371
\n3. Distinction Between Sacraments and Sacramentals\u2026\u2026\u2026.373
\n4. Baptism Initiates Us Into the Body of Christ\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026373
\n5. Catholic Baptism is Valid\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026374
\n6. Baptism Has Some Sort of Relation to Regeneration\u2026\u2026..375
\n7. Validity of Infant Baptism: Analogy of Circumcision\u2026\u2026.378
\n8. Infant Baptism: Analogy of Jesus Welcoming Children\u2026..380
\n9. Baptismal Immersion is Not Strictly Necessary\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026380
\n10. The Eucharist is Related to Salvation in Some Sense\u2026\u2026..381
\n11. Communion Ought to be at Least a Weekly Observance\u2026384
\n12. Partaking of the Eucharist Presupposes Doctrinal Unity\u2026.385
\n13. Partaking of the Eucharist in Grave Sin is Harmful\u2026\u2026\u2026385
\n14. Holy Ordination Can Possibly be Called a Sacrament\u2026\u2026386
\n15. Approximation of Catholic Sacrament of Confirmation\u2026.386
\n16. Approximation of the Catholic Sacrament of Penance\u2026\u2026387
\n17. Approximation of the Catholic Sacrament of Anointing\u2026388<\/p>\n
\nINTRODUCTION<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nMISC.
\n<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n