Origin and originality of  John Calvin's 'Harmony of the Law', the expository project on Exodus-Deuteronomy (1559-1563)

 

 

E.A. de Boer

Research Fellow, Department of Ecclesiology, Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

 

 

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ABSTRACT

John Calvin's plan to study Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy in the form of a Harmony on the Last Four Books of Moses was conceived in the weekly Bible studies of the joint ministers of Geneva. A surviving manuscript of Cavin's introductory exposition to the series, studied here for the first time since the 16^th century, reveals intriguing details on the conception and execution of this plan. It also sheds light on the history of the congrégations, this fascinating example of concentration on the Bible in Geneva, on the co-operation of the ministers, and on Calvin's role as the moderator of the Company of Pastors. The origin of the Harmony idea is an adaptation of the Gospel Harmonies. Calvin's approach is highly original in the history of exegesis. The text of the congrégation points to Cavin's reading of the commentary of the Lutheran Martin Borrhaus and, possibly, of Johannes Brenz' commentary on Exodus.

Keywords: John Calvin, History of Exegesis, Harmony on Exodus to Deuteronomy, Reformation, Law and gospel

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Trefwoorde: Johannes Calvyn, Geskiedenis van die eksegese, Harmonie van Exodus tot Deuteronomium, Reformasie, Wet en evangelie

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16^th CENTURY LITERATURE (PRIMARY SOURCES)

Beza, T. Lex Dei moralis, ceremonialis, et poiitica, ex iibris Mosis excerpta, et in certas classes distributa à Theodore Beza Vezelio, Apud Petrum Santandreanum, 1577.         [ Links ]

Borrhaus, M. Martini Borrhai in Mosem, divinum legislatorem, paedagogem ad Messiam Servatorem mundi, Commentarii (Basel: Joannes Oporinus,         [ Links ] [1555]).

Brenz, J. In Exodum Mosi Commentarii. Autore loanne Brentio (Halle: Petrus Brubachius, 1544).         [ Links ]

Calvin, J. Commentaires sur les cinq livres de Moyse. Genese est mis à part, les autres quatre livres sont disposez en forme d'Harmonie (Genève: François Estienne, 1564) (BC Il, 64/5).         [ Links ]

Calvin, J. Mosis libri quinque cum commentariis. Genesis seorsum, reliqui quatuor in formam harmoniae digesti (Genève: Henri Estienne, 1563) (BC Il, 63/16).         [ Links ]

Cajetan, T de V. Commentarii illustres planeque insigne in Quinque Mosaicos libros, Thomae de Vio, Caietani quondam Cardinalis (Paris: Joannes Yuernel, 1539).         [ Links ]

Des Gallars, N. In Exodum, qui secundus est liber Mosis, commentarii (Genève: Jean Crespin, 1560).         [ Links ]

Münster, S. Hebraica Bibiia, latina planeque nova Sebast. Munsteri translations [...], 2 ed. (Basel, 1542).         [ Links ]

Pellikan, C. Commentaria bibiiorum et illabrevis quidem ac cathoiica [...] (Zürich: Chr. Froschauer, 1532), vol. 1, f. 66f.         [ Links ]

Zwingli, H. In Exodum alia farraginis annotationum particula (Zürich: Chr. Froschauer, 1527), in: Z 13, 291-427.         [ Links ]