Introduction
In much of the academic conversation surrounding theological interpretation of Scripture (TIS) one of the figureheads for studying a style and method for doing the old and re-imagined avenue of interpreting Scripture is John Calvin, yet Calvin is not particularly unique to his context because, as John Thompson notes, Calvin "accidentally" came into this second wave of seeing the necessity for biblical interpretation (Thompson, 59). Yet, instead of abstracting the theory or method for interpreting Scripture, it is prudent to investigate the actual practice of his sermons and commentary writing to understand how Calvin functions as a biblical interpreter. If John Thompson 's thought holds weight, then it will come to see that Calvin interprets the Scripture in a traditional way, while using new perspectives and tools to elucidate the meaning and engaged in some "idiosyncratically derived" ideas on Scripture (Thompson, 59). However, to examine the plethora of writings during Calvin 's time would be too exhaustive for this essay; instead, I argue that Calvin was a sort of Robin Hood providing the same insights and exegetical decision within his sermons as one can find in his commentaries. The reason for this is Calvin 's …show more content…
Furthermore, Calvin continually questions the reader to examine themselves, while guiding them to evaluate the cost of following this God who calls us to the possible absurd. Overall, the commentary, as well as the sermon, follows embodying the virtuous life with faith, instead of an overwhelming allegorized or analogized interpretation that the story is about Christ. Instead, any outlook towards Christ is a theological one moved from the cost of living the life of
In much of the academic conversation surrounding theological interpretation of Scripture (TIS) one of the figureheads for studying a style and method for doing the old and re-imagined avenue of interpreting Scripture is John Calvin, yet Calvin is not particularly unique to his context because, as John Thompson notes, Calvin "accidentally" came into this second wave of seeing the necessity for biblical interpretation (Thompson, 59). Yet, instead of abstracting the theory or method for interpreting Scripture, it is prudent to investigate the actual practice of his sermons and commentary writing to understand how Calvin functions as a biblical interpreter. If John Thompson 's thought holds weight, then it will come to see that Calvin interprets the Scripture in a traditional way, while using new perspectives and tools to elucidate the meaning and engaged in some "idiosyncratically derived" ideas on Scripture (Thompson, 59). However, to examine the plethora of writings during Calvin 's time would be too exhaustive for this essay; instead, I argue that Calvin was a sort of Robin Hood providing the same insights and exegetical decision within his sermons as one can find in his commentaries. The reason for this is Calvin 's …show more content…
Furthermore, Calvin continually questions the reader to examine themselves, while guiding them to evaluate the cost of following this God who calls us to the possible absurd. Overall, the commentary, as well as the sermon, follows embodying the virtuous life with faith, instead of an overwhelming allegorized or analogized interpretation that the story is about Christ. Instead, any outlook towards Christ is a theological one moved from the cost of living the life of