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

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