Old Testament Prophecy and Protestant Conceptions of Sacred History

Abstract

Luther, Swiss Reformed leaders, and Calvin divergently identified the prime content of sacred history. Luther sharply contrasted the history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and historical prophecies of Christ in Old Testament prophecy, the latter serving as the prime content. Swiss Reformed exegetes affirmed the history pertaining to the Old Testament prophets and its Christological fulfillment and did not draw a stark contrast between these. Calvin emphasized the histories pertaining to the Old Testament prophets’ time as a mirror for God’s providential activity with the church across time. Luther’s view of sacred history affirmed a clear apocalyptic element, characterized by the expected decline of the Last Days. Calvin’s view almost completely lacked any apocalyptic element, viewing sacred history as a continual march of progress toward the culmination of Christ’s kingdom. Swiss Reformed leaders retained a stronger apocalyptic element, while ultimately affirming a progressive sense of history.