Calvin's Doctrine of Biblical Authority

Calvin's Doctrine of Biblical Authority offers a profound new approach to a long-debated topic. Istafanous draws upon Calvin's twofold structure regarding salvation to illumine the Reformer's twofold knowledge of God with particular focus on biblical authority. In doing so, Istafanous presents Calvin's view of biblical authority framed within modern discussions of inspiration. In the 1539 edition of the Institutes, and in all subsequent editions, John Calvin presented justification and sanctification as the ""twofold grace of God."" He repeatedly taught this concept in all of his commentaries, sermons, and other writings. More than any other reformer, Calvin used the ""twofold grace"" to express the full relationship between justification and sanctification. In the definitive edition of the Institutes (1559), Calvin introduced the concept of the ""twofold knowledge of God."" This framework has been considered by many as the ordering principle of the Institutes and all of Calvin's theology. Istafanous argues that the ""twofold Grace"" inspired Calvin to introduce the concept of the ""twofold knowledge"" in 1559. Thus, the ""twofold grace of God"" provides the key to understanding the ""twofold knowledge"" specifically and Calvin's theology generally. ""This is a book not only for scholars and theologians, however, but for all preachers and teachers of the Gospel who have missionary and pastoral tasks to fulfill. I believe it will have a particularly valuable contribution to make to the church today in the West as well as in the East, for it directs us straight back to the authority of the word of God himself as it sounds to us through the Bible."" --from the foreword by Thomas F. Torrance ""This important book offers helpful and clear exposition of John Calvin's doctrine of biblical authority in The Institutes of the Christian Religion. Drawing on insights from the Reformer's understanding of the twofold grace of God, Istafanous explicates the depth logic of Calvin's thought regarding biblical authority. Scholars, pastors, and students alike will benefit from Istafanous's significant contribution to Calvin scholarship."" --Darren Kennedy Professor of Theology Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo Abd-el-Masih Istafanous is Professor of Theology at Evangelical Theological Seminary, Cairo, Egypt. He is the author of many books in Arabic and many articles in Arabic and English.