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John Calvin
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QUOTE: John Calvin commentary on
Romans 13 verse 4: For he is God’s minister for
good, etc. Magistrates may hence learn what
their vocation is, for they are not to rule for their own interest, but for the
public good; nor are they endued with unbridled power, but what is restricted
to the wellbeing of their subjects; in short, they are responsible to God and
to men in the exercise of their power. For as they are deputed by God and do
his business, they must give an account to him: and then the ministration which
God has committed to them has a regard to the subjects, they are therefore
debtors also to them. And private men are reminded, that it is through the
divine goodness that they are defended by the sword of princes against injuries
done by the wicked.
For they bear not the sword in vain, etc. It is another part of
the office of magistrates, that they ought forcibly to repress the waywardness
of evil men, who do not willingly suffer themselves to be governed by laws, and
to inflict such punishment on their offenses as God’s judgment requires; for he
expressly declares, that they are armed with the sword, not for an empty show,
but that they may smite evil-doers.
And then he says, An avenger, to
execute wrath, “a revenger to execute wrath,” Com. Ver., Doddridge;
“a revenger for wrath,” Hammond. Wrath is here taken to mean punishment, by
Luther, Beza, Grotius, Mede, etc. see Romans 2:5; Romans 3:5; Romans 4:15.
The phrase then might be rendered, “condemning to punishment the doer of evil.”
There is a contrast between “for wrath” and “for good” at the beginning of the
verse. — This is the same as if it had been said, that he is an executioner of
God’s wrath; and this he shows himself to be by having the sword, which the
Lord has delivered into his hand. This is a remarkable passage for the purpose
of proving the right of the sword; for if the Lord, by arming the magistrate,
has also committed to him the use of the sword, whenever he visits the guilty
with death, by executing God’s vengeance, he obeys his commands. Contend then
do they with God who think it unlawful to shed the blood of wicked men.
AUTHOR: John Calvin (French: Jean Calvin, born Jehan Cauvin: 10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564) was an influential French theologian
and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the
development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism.
Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic
Church around 1530. After religious tensions provoked a violent uprising
against Protestants in France, Calvin fled to Basel, Switzerland, where he
published the first edition of his seminal work The Institutes of the
Christian Religion in 1536. In that year, Calvin was recruited by William
Farel to help reform the church in Geneva. The city council resisted the
implementation of Calvin and Farel's ideas, and both men were expelled. At the
invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg, where he became the
minister of a church of French refugees. He continued to support the reform
movement in Geneva, and was eventually invited back to lead its church.
Following his return, Calvin introduced new forms of church government and
liturgy, despite the opposition of several powerful families in the city who
tried to curb his authority. During this time, the trial of Michael Servetus
was extended by libertines in an attempt to harass Calvin. However, since
Servetus was also condemned and wanted by the Inquisition, outside pressure
from all over Europe forced the trial to continue. Following an influx of
supportive refugees and new elections to the city council, Calvin's opponents
were forced out. Calvin spent his final years promoting the Reformation both in
Geneva and throughout Europe. Calvin was a tireless polemic and apologetic
writer who generated much controversy. He also exchanged cordial and supportive
letters with many reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich
Bullinger. In addition to the Institutes, he wrote commentaries on most
books of the Bible, as well as theological treatises and confessional
documents. He regularly preached sermons throughout the week in Geneva. Calvin
was influenced by the Augustinian tradition, which led him to expound the
doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation of
the human soul from death and eternal damnation. Calvin's writing and
preachings provided the seeds for the branch of theology that bears his name.
The Reformed and Presbyterian churches, which look to Calvin as a chief
expositor of their beliefs, have spread throughout the world.
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