Abstract
Ministering the Word of God was a first priority for John Calvin. Through researching his frequent references to the ministry in his sermons and Bible commentaries, it was possible to arrive at a better understanding of his views on the office of pastor and teacher (pastor et doctor). Although the ministry is no imperium, the people of God should honour the servants of Christ on the ground of the dignity of their Master. The ministry is a servitude, but not without authority, so that by it the glory of God may excel among his people and in the world. This is also the ultimate goal of the minister’s preaching, and to this end it should be clear and to the point. This article particularly pursues Calvin’s views on the requirements for a sound proclamation of the Gospel. It is argued that Calvin’s particular consideration of the broader context of a biblical passage in his exegesis points to the fact that he had already established the sound hermeneutic rule of ascertaining the intention of the author and the understanding of the first readers to get to the true meaning. Thus, in his preaching the application of Biblical truths was topical and to the point.
Highlights
Many scholars have been fascinated by the captivating history of John Calvin’s ministry
In this article on Calvin as minister of die divine Word, I will rather embark on an examination of his views on ministry as such, which was inevitably reflected in his own life and position
Ministering the Word of God always remained a first priority for him. This is amply illustrated by the fact that in spite of a very demanding schedule in Geneva, he delivered no less than four thousand sermons! There were periods when he even preached on every day of the week (Van der Walt, 1986:326)
Summary
Many scholars have been fascinated by the captivating history of John Calvin’s ministry. Nearing the end of this earthly life – barely a month before his death – he could state unequivocally that according to the grace God had granted him, he had endeavoured to teach the divine Word soundly in preaching and writing and always to give a true exposition of Holy Scripture (Potgieter, 1982). This was his basic philosophy for the ministry – both for his own and for that of others. This is amply illustrated by the fact that in spite of a very demanding schedule in Geneva, he delivered no less than four thousand sermons! There were periods when he even preached on every day of the week (Van der Walt, 1986:326)
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