Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 73:2 (Fall 2011)
Article: Calvin On The “Shared Design” Of The Old And New Testament Authors: The Case Of The Minor Prophets
Author: G. Sujin Pak

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WTJ 73:2 (Fall201 1) p. 255

Calvin On The “Shared Design” Of The Old And New Testament Authors: The Case Of The Minor Prophets

G. Sujin Pak

G. Sujin Pak is Assistant Professor of the History of Christianity at Duke Divinity School in Durham, N.C.

A number of recent studies have highlighted the significance of Calvin’s interpretations of OT prophecy in the history of exegesis. Barbara Pitkin has shown that Calvin’s interpretations of the prophecies of Daniel run counter to the prevailing views of his Protestant contemporaries, for he reads them as past events rather than as an apocalyptic lens for present times.1 Pete Wilcox has argued that Calvin’s interpretations of the OT prophets contain theological themes and emphases beyond those found in the Institutes; in particular, Wilcox demonstrates that Calvin uses the biblical prophets to frame salvation history through the concepts of “the progress of the Kingdom of Christ” and “the restoration of the Church.”2 In addition, Wilcox has rightly attested to the role Calvin’s audience plays, especially in his lectures on the biblical prophets.3 More recently, Frederick Harms has written a book on Calvin’s ecclesiology as found in his interpretations of the Minor Prophets in which he argues that Calvin applies the teachings of the Minor Prophets as a mirror for the church today in order to supply enduring lessons of discipline, consolation, and hope.4 Another recent book, The Judaizing Calvin, argues, amongst other things, that Calvin’s exegesis marks a shift in the history of biblical interpretation particularly concerning OT prophecies cited by NT authors, where Calvin can be

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viewed as demarcating the christological possibilities of several OT psalms—even at times eclipsing their christological import.5

Indeed, this article will demonstrate that in Calvin’s exegesis of the passages in the Minor Prophets cited by NT authors only those that Calvin reads typologically (Mal 3:1 and Hag 2:21) apply to Christ per se. All the other passages in which Calvin affirms the christological readings apply more specifically to Christ’s kingdom—that is, they apply to the church. This, coupled with Calvin’s rejection of several prior christological readings of these OT prophecies by the antecedent Christian tradition, generates a larger impression of an eclipse of chris...

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