CHRIST

AND THE DECREE

Christology and Predestination

in Reformed Theology

from Calvin to Perkins

RICHARD A. MULLER

BakerAcademic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

© 1986, 2008 by Richard A. Muller

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

Hardcover edition published in 1986 by The Labyrinth Press

Paperback edition published in 1988 by Baker Academic

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data for the previous edition is on file at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC

ISBN 978-0-8010-3610-1

For Gloria

CONTENTS

Preface to the 2008 Printing

Preface to the 1988 Printing

Preface to the 1986 Printing

Abbreviations

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Protestant Orthodoxy: Survey of Opinion

2. Theological and Methodological Considerations

PART I

REFORMED THEOLOGY IN ITS FIRST CODIFICATION:

The Systems of Calvin, Bullinger, Musculus and Vermigli

II. PREDESTINATION AND CHRISTOLOGY IN THE THOUGHT OF CALVIN

1. Fundamental Distinctions in Calvin’s Theology

2. Calvin’s Doctrine of Predestination

3. Patterns in Calvin’s Christology

4. Christ and Election—The Interrelationship of Two Focal Points in Calvin’s Theology

III. THE SYSTEMS OF CALVIN’s CONTEMPORARIES

1. Predestination and Christology in the Thought of Heinrich Bullinger

2. Musculus’ Loci Communes

3. Vermigli’s Loci Communes

EPILOGUE: Christ and the Decree in the First Codification of Reformed Theology

PART II

THE FORMULATION OF ORTHODOX SYSTEM:

Reformed Theology in Its Second Codification

Division 1. The Movement Toward Orthodoxy

IV. PREDESTINATION AND CHRISTOLOGY IN THE THOUGHT OF THEODORE Beza

1. The Tabula Praedestinationis (1555)

2. Beza’s Contribution to the Systematic Structure of Reformed Theology

V. REFORMED THEOLOGY IN HEIDELBERG: ZACHARIAS URSINUS AND JEROME ZANCHI

1. Ursinus on Christ and the Decree

2. Christology and Predestination in the Theology of Zanchi

EPILOGUE: The Movement Toward Orthodoxy

Division 2. The Early Orthodoxy Codification

VI. CALVINISM AT THE CLOSE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY: POLANUS AND PERKINS

1. Predestination in the Doctrinal Structure of Early Orthodoxy

2. The Development of Christological Structures in Early Reformed Orthodoxy

3. Predestination and Its Christological Referent in the Theology of Polanus and Perkins

EPILOGUE: The Early Orthodox Codification

VII. CHRIST AND THE DECREE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY ORTHODOXY: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT

Select Bibliography

Index of Authors