Page 479 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

PRESBYTERIAN

principles at the force of law. Calvin prepared a Calvin’s theology influenced the establishment of
statement of faith to which the citizens were required to Presbyterianism in France (Reformed Church), Germany
submit. He also wrote a doctrinal catechism to train (Reformed Church), Holland (Dutch Reformed),
children in Protestant beliefs. Calvin and Farel wanted Scotland (the Church of Scotland), Hungary (Reformed
to establish a Christian theocracy in Geneva, but they Church), and England (the Puritan movement within
were overruled, and Calvin moved to Strasbourg for a the Anglican Church).
couple of years. There he pastored a French The name “Presbyterian” refers specifically to a type
congregation of about 500 and married a widow. His of church polity referring to rule by elders. (The word
only son, though, lived only a few days. In 1541, the “elder” in the New Testament is the Greek word
city of Geneva asked Calvin to return to help them resist “presbuteros.”) Whereas, though, the Bible refers strictly
the efforts of the Catholic Church to regain the city. This to the local congregation when it describes elders,
he agreed to do, and he had a powerful role in the new Presbyterian churches are not independent but are
government that was formed. Calvin enforced Christian joined together into a large denominational structure.
doctrine and principles at the point of the sword. In The Presbyterian Church of Australia is an example.
October 1563, the Geneva government burned to death Each congregation has elders and ministers who rule.
Michael Servetus for heresy. Servetus held unitarian These, in turn, submit to the “general guidance and
views and was definitely a false teacher, but the Bible oversight” of the regional presbytery, which is a
nowhere instructs the churches to kill false teachers. gathering of elders from several congregations in an
Servetus’ death sentence was supported not only by area. The presbyteries, in turn, are subject to the state
Calvin, but also by Melanchthon in Germany and General Assembly (which “provides leadership in wider
Bullinger in Zurich and by other Protestant leaders who areas of the church’s work such as social services,
were consulted about the case. chaplaincy work in the defence forces, hospitals and
Calvin had a strong influence through his teaching other institutions, training of ministers, mission and
and writings in those days, and he has continued to evangelism, and Christian education), and, beyond that,
wield a strong influence ever since. Geneva was a place to the national General Assembly (which “deals with
of refuge for persecuted people from many countries, matters of doctrine, overall standards of training of
and they learned Calvin’s doctrine there and carried it to ministers, receiving ministers from other churches and
many other places. His Institutes of Christian Religion the church’s mission to the world”).
went through many editions until the final one in 1559. The Westminster Confession is another significant part
This work has been reprinted hundreds of times in of the history of Presbyterianism. This was a statement
many languages, and it remains one of the most of faith written during the days when Oliver Cromwell
important doctrinal treatises of Presbyterian churches ruled England from 1640 to 1660. The Westminster
today. It is highly philosophical in nature, and Calvin Assembly, which met from 1643-48, was called by the
presents a doctrine of the sovereignty of God that goes English Parliament to establish a government in the
far beyond what the Bible teaches. He teaches that God Church of England that would do away with bishops.
elects some men to salvation and some to damnation. One of the chief products of this Assembly was the
The TULIP theology, which is the cornerstone of Westminster Confession of faith, which, embodying the
Presbyterianism and which has been adopted by teachings of John Calvin and his successors, expressed
churches of other denominations, including some the doctrinal platform of Presbyterians in England,
Baptists, is derived from Calvin’s Institutes. Though Scotland, and America. This Assembly also produced a
Calvin himself did not use the term TULIP to describe Shorter and a Longer Catechism, which, together with
his theology, it is an accurate, though simplified, the Westminster Confession, are called the Westminster
reflection of his views; and contrary to what some have Standard.
claimed, every standard point of TULIP theology can be The Westminster Confession, while containing
found in Calvin’s Institutes. statements which the Bible-believing Baptist must reject,
(For a study on Calvinism, see “Elect.”) exalts the Bible and Jesus Christ in a particularly precise
Calvin was a prodigious writer. He published and comely manner. Other denominational confessions
commentaries on every book of the Bible except the have borrowed heavily from the Westminster in many
Song of Solomon and Revelation. (He said of cases. Consider some excerpts:
Revelation, “The study of prophecy either finds a man Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God
crazy, or it leaves him so” (cited by Augustus Strong, written, are now contained all the Books of the Old
Systematic Theology, Judson Press, 1907, p. 140). This and New Testaments, which are these: [here are listed
was because he adopted Rome’s false amillennial the 66 books of our English Bible]. All which are given
approach to prophecy instead of approaching it literally. by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life. ...

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 479