
In Morality After Calvin, Kirk M. Summers examines the development of ethical thought in the Reformed Orthodox tradition immediately following the death of Calvin. Framed around a previously unstudied poetic work of French theologian Theodore Beza, the Cato Censorius Christianus (1591), and read in conjunction with the works and correspondence of Beza and his colleagues, the book reveals the theoretical underpinnings of the disciplinary activity during the period. The poems of the Cato show that the moral fervor of the latter half of the sixteenth century had its genesis in a well-formulated theology that viewed a Christian's sanctification as a process of restoration to an original order created by God. For Beza the Christian life does not end with grace and salvation, but begins there. The principles of morality, in this theoretical framework, look back to the very moment of creation, when God structured human relationships, established a certain order in nature, and issued commands. The Mosaic Law and Christ himself embody these principles, which include an ethos of listening, sincerity of life, engagement with one's calling, love of neighbor, respect for divine order, and a desire for the purity of the flock. With insight and dexterity, as well as the use of previously unavailable sources, Summers contributes this significant volume to the study of Beza and his place in the history of the Reformed Orthodoxy.
This book investigates the theoretical foundations of ethical thought and disciplinary activity within the Reformed Orthodox tradition following the death of John Calvin. Kirk M. Summers, an academic scholar, utilizes a previously unstudied poetic work by Theodore Beza, the Cato Censorius Christianus (1591), to reconstruct the moral framework of the late sixteenth century. By analyzing this text alongside the correspondence and theological writings of Beza and his contemporaries, Summers argues that Reformed morality was rooted in a theology of sanctification as a restoration to a divinely created order.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars in the field of Reformation history recognize this work as a specialized contribution to the study of Theodore Beza and the evolution of Reformed orthodoxy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the author's reliance on primary source materials to support his historical arguments.
Page Count:
400
Publication Date:
2016-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190280085
ISBN-13:
9780190280086
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