John Calvin on the Merits of Christ

What is it about?

In several of his writings, John Calvin criticizes Peter Lombard for claiming that Christ merited exaltation for himself, arguing that this was an imposition of a Catholic merit theology on Christ's mission. This paper argues this criticism of Catholic christology indicates Calvin's desire to re-configure the relationship between Christ and the covenant.

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Why is it important?

This essay contributes to larger discussions on the significance of the doctrine of union with Christ in Calvin's theology. It argues that scholastic interpretations of Calvin's christology that make Christ's election a consequence of the covenant misinterpret Calvin. It is argued that Calvin's substitutionary theology of the atonement leads him to critique Lombard's christology as pelagian. And that this critique actually represents an attempt of Calvin to make Christ's election the basis of the covenant.

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