Abstract

DIEDERICKS, Morné. Calvin's teaching on providence: From his debates. Koers (Online) [online]. 2014, vol.79, n.4, pp.01-07. ISSN 2304-8557.

ABSTRACT Calvin's teaching on God's providence is without doubt one of the most controversial subjects in his theology. This is clear in all the debates in which Calvin had to defend his teaching on providence, against, for example, Pighius, Bolsec, Bullinger and Castellio. Five hundred years later Calvin has again been publicly attacked on his teaching on providence by a South African theologian, Adrio König. König, however, did not consider Calvin's response to Castellio in The secret providence of God. In Calvin's defence of his teaching on providence he in no circumstances denies the sovereignty of God, but also does not give God the blame for any ills that might result - an accusation that Castellio and König levied against him. For Calvin, the consolation of God's providence rests in the fact that God ordains all things, including adversity and affliction, through his secret providence for the purpose of leading his children closer to him.

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