
Aquinas and Calvin on Romans
God's Justification and Our Participation
Charles Raith II(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 8. May 2014
Book
Hardback
244 pages
978-0-19-870825-4 (ISBN)
Description
Aquinas and Calvin on Romans is a comparative study of John Calvin's and Thomas Aquinas's commentaries on the first eight chapters of Paul's letter to the Romans. Focusing on the role of human participation in God's work of salvation, Charles Raith argues that Calvin's critiques of the "schoolmen" arising from his reading of Romans fail to find a target in Aquinas's theology while Calvin's principal positive affirmations are embraced by Aquinas as well. Aquinas upholds many fundamental insights that Calvin would later also obtain in his reading of Romans, such as justification sola fide non merito (by faith alone and not by merit), the centrality of Christ for salvation, the ongoing imperfection of the sanctified life, the work of the Spirit guiding the believer along the path of sanctification, and the assurance of salvation that one obtains through the indwelling of the Spirit, to name only a few. Even more, numerous identical interpretations arising in their commentaries makes it necessary to consider Calvin's reading of Romans as appropriating a tradition of interpretation that includes Aquinas. At the same time, the nonparticipatory dimensions of Calvin's reading of Romans becomes clear when set beside Aquinas's reading, and these nonparticipatory dimensions create difficulties for Calvin's interpretation, especially on Romans 8, that are not present in Aquinas's account. Raith therefore suggests how Calvin's reading of Romans, especially as it pertains to justification and merit, should be augmented by the participatory framework reflected in Aquinas's interpretation. The book concludes by revisiting Calvin's criticisms of the Council of Trent in light of these suggestions.
Reviews / Votes
Raiths book is a well-constructed and thought-provoking essay in historical theology that should stimulate serious ecumenical discussion about the theologies of Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin and their interpretation of Paul. * David C. Steinmetz, Journal of Religion * Raith's study clarifies two approaches at the nub of Reformation controversies. * Donald K. McKim, Church History *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
443 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-870825-4 (9780198708254)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2014
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€60.99
Available for download
Person
Charles Raith II (Ph.D., Ave Maria University) is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy and Director of the Paradosis Center for Theology and Scripture, and presently holds the J. Vernon McGee Chair of Biblical Studies at John Brown University.
Author
Assistant Professor of Religion and PhilosophyAssistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy, John Brown University
Content
Preface ; Introduction ; 1. Justification (1:16b-17; 2:13; 3:21-26) ; 2. Abraham (4:1-25) ; 3. Peace with God, Hope of Eternal Life, and the Adam-Christ Typology (5:1-11; 12-19) ; 4. The Spirit s Work of Transformation: Part 1 (6:1-23) ; 5. The Spirit s Transformation: Part 2 (7:14-25) ; 6. Life in the Spirit (8:1-18) ; 7. Conclusion ; Bibliography