A Reexamination Of Calvin’s Approach To Romans 8:17 -- By: William N. W. Pass III

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 170:677 (Jan 2013)
Article: A Reexamination Of Calvin’s Approach To Romans 8:17
Author: William N. W. Pass III


A Reexamination Of Calvin’s Approach To Romans 8:17

William N. W. Pass III

William N. W. Pass III is Pastor, Grace Community Bible Church, Victoria, Texas.

Romans 8:17 sets forth a remarkable concept: “co-heirs with Christ” (NIV). To contemplate the magnificence of a resurrection life is challenging in itself. But to add to this the idea of having a share in the inheritance with the One who is “heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2), the eternal Son of God, is even more challenging. And yet to motivate his readers Paul asked them to envision that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18).

It is curious that the most widely accepted approach to Romans 8:17, as set forth by John Calvin,1 undermines the motivational force of Paul’s exhortation by offering an explanation that raises doubt as to the certainty of his conclusion. For Calvin, being “co-heirs with Christ” is part of the salvation “package” and so is bestowed on all believers without distinction. This article examines Calvin’s approach with a focus on the problem that calls into question the reliability of this conclusion and offers an alternative.

Evidence Of An Unsolved Problem

Calvin’s commentary on Romans contains references to commentaries by Ambrose, Beza, Chrysostom, and Peter Martyr.2 Calvin’s view, however, seems to have set the standard for the treatment of this verse by commentators in recent centuries, including Chalmers, Liddon, Godet, Meyer, Hodge, Moule, Parry, Barnhouse,

Cranfield, Harrison, Dunn, Moo, Schreiner, and Jewett.3 With some minor variations their views on this verse follow Calvin’s, namely, that salvation is the basis for co-heirship with Christ. From these authors Meyer and Barnhouse were selected for further evaluation because each takes a different approach to this verse. Meyer sees εἴπερ (“if”) in verse 17 as conditional, and Barnhouse sees it as unconditional.4

Calvin’s Approach

Calvin divided Romans 8:17 into two parts, indicated by the headings under which he d...

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