Wily Distinctions

Calvin's Institutes
Book One - the Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 11 - It is Unlawful to Attribute a Visible Form to God, and
generally whoever sets up idols revolts against the true God

Section 11 - Foolish evasions of the papists
Image worshipers say it's fine, because they are serving, not worshiping, idols. This is a "wily distinction."
This doesn't work because the Greek word for serve means worship.

Section 12 - the Functions and Limits of Art
"And yet.... sculpture and painting are gifts of God."
We should only paint what we can see.
[Disagree with Calvin here: can't we paint angels? He also questions the value of any art with no teaching value. I'd say a still life of fruit with no overt or clear message is just fine.]

Section 13 - As long as doctrine was pure and strong, the church rejected images
The Church had no images for 500 years, wisely seeing in them more potential harm than edification.
The images God has provided for us are baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Section 14 - Childish arguments for images at the Council of Nicea (787)
Arguments from Scripture (Gen 1:27; Song 2:14; Matt 5:15; Ps 4:7; 25:5; 1 John 1:1; Ps 67:36; 15:3) don't prove anything about images.

Section 15 - Ridiculous misuse of Scripture texts
They are shredding Scripture to make a case for using images from Gen 47:10, 31; Heb 11:21; Gen 28:18; Ps 98:5, 9; 44:13.

Section 16 - Blasphemous and shocking claims for images
They claim image use is older than it is.
They overstate their case saying we should give the same honor to images as to the Trinity. This undoes the distinction between service and worship, which they use to justify using images.

A perpetual factory of idols

Calvin's Institutes

Book One - the Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 11 - It is Unlawful to Attribute a Visible Form to God, and

generally whoever sets up idols revolts against the true God

Sections 5-7 - Pope Gregory's error in this refuted from Scripture and the fathers

Section 5 - Scripture judges otherwise

Pope Gregory first argued that images are the books of the uneducated.

The prophets declare them sources of "vanity and falsehood."

Jer 10:8; Hab 2:18.

Section 6 - The doctors of the church, too, partly judged otherwise

Lactantius, Eusebius and Augustine also differed with Gregory

The Council of Elvira (305) also declared against them.

Section 7 - The images of the papists are entirely inappropriate

Their images are obscene and more provocative than prostitutes

The only reason the unlearned need images to teach them is because the Church has not done it.

We wouldn't need pictures of crosses if the Church would teach the truths in Gal 3:13; Heb 10:10; Rev 1:5; Rom 5:10

Section 8 - The origin of images: man's desire for a tangible deity

Idols didn't begin from ancestor worship, but from the human heart.

Laban (Gen 31:19) and Terah (Josh 24:2) were both idol worshipers, from the line of Shem.

Israel needed a visible form for proof of God's presence (Ex 32:1).

Section 9 - Any use of images leads to idolatry

We can't help but ascribe deity to images, even if we say there is a difference.

Israel claimed their idols were the very gods that freed them.

Lev 26:13; Ex 32:4-8

Section 10 - Image worship in the church

Image worshipers claim God isn't in the image, but kneel and turn to it.

Israel didn't call their idols their gods, but were committing idolatry with them anyway (Jer 2:27; Ezek 6:4ff; Isa 40:19-20; Hab 2:18-19; Deut 32:37).

Panting after Figures of God

Calvin's Institutes

(Scripture references are all original to Calvin)

Book One - the Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 11 - It is Unlawful to Attribute a Visible Form to God, and

generally whoever sets up idols revolts against the true God

Sections 1-4 - Scriptural argument for rejecting images in worship

Section 1 - We are forbidden every pictorial representation of God

Scripture always contrasts God with idols.

The world pants after visible figures of God.

God's glory is corrupted whenever any form is attached to him.

The Greeks worshipped gods in human form, appearing better than other pagans.

But God repudiates all forms alike (Ex 20:4).

Section 2 - Every figurative representation of God contradicts His being

God reminds Israel that they saw no form when God spoke to them (Deut 4:12-16).

Any image of God displeases Him as dishonoring His majesty.

Section 3 - Even direct signs of the divine Presence give no justification for images

God did act visibly, with cloud, fire and smoke (Deut 4:11).

But these were all formless, too, keeping us from forming images in our minds.

Moses only saw God's back (Ex 33:11, 20).

The Spirit did not remain as a dove for long (Matt 3:16).

The cherubim were hidden behind the veil and pointed beyond themselves (Ex 25:17-21).

The seraphim covered their faces in God's presence (Isa 6:2).

Even the pagan Juvenal knew Israel had no image of God to worship;

but the papists try to say they did!

Papists also try to say the image superstition was uniquely Jewish, but it is not.

Section 4 - Images and pictures aare contary to Scripture

Ps 135:15 mentions idols of silver and gold so we aren't wowed by the shiny and expensive.

Horace mocks idolatry the same way Isaiah does (44:12-17):

the craftsman decides to make firewood, a stool, or an idol from the same wood.

Idols are fashioned by men, not truly of God

(Isa 2:8; 31:7; 37:19; Hos 14:3; Micah 5:13)

Those who make them will be like them (Ps 115:8).

Pictures no less than sculpted, carved images are forbidden:

they are "an insult to His majesty."

His Fatherly Goodness & Beneficently Inclined Will

Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion

Book One - the Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 10 - Scripture, to correct all superstition, has set the true God alone over against all the gods of the heathen

Section 1 - The Scriptural doctrine of God the Creator

All we need to do is understand that God governs the universe founded by Him.

Section 2 - The attributes of God according to Scripture agree with those known in His creatures

The name Yahweh reveals His eternity and self-existence.

We must know of God's mercy, judgment and justice, which reveal His goodness and holiness.

Jeremiah 9:24; 1 Cor 1:31; Ps 145:5; Ps 25:8-10

Section 3 - Because the unity of God was also not unknown to the heathen, the worshipers of idols are the more inexcusable

Even pagans who worship many gods still use the singular "God" in their speech.

All pagans have defected from the true God.

Things charismatics dream up

Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion

Book One - the Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 9 - Fanatics, abandoning Scripture and flying over to revelation, cast down all the principles of godliness

Section 1 - The fanatics wrongly appeal to the Holy Spirit

Fanatics leave the Word to find another way to God.

They say they are following the Spirit.

But the Spirit and Word are joined (Isaiah 59:21).

Paul had visions (2 Cor 12:2) but still pointed Timothy to the Word for direction (1 Tim 4:13; 2 Tim 3:16-17).

Jesus sent the Spirit to lead them into the truth found in the Word (John 16:13).

Section 2 - The Holy Spirit is recognized in his agreement with Scripture

We need a standard to discern the truth of the Spirit speaking to us, for Satan disguises himself to us as a lying spirit (Gal 1:6-9; 2 Cor 11:14).

It is fine to test the Spirit against the Word, for He wrote it!

The prophets speaking by the Spirit in the early church were less certain that the Word we have (2 Peter 1:19).

Section 3 - Word and Spirit belong inseparably together

When Paul says the letter kills but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor 3:6) he contrasts the Old Covenant without Christ with the New Covenant with Christ; he does not mean to contrast the Bible and the Spirit.

Only when reverently in the Word does the Spirit show forth in power.

The Spirit confirms and illumines the truth in the Word we read.

"Fanatics... seize upon whatever they may have conceived while snoring."

Refuting filthy calumnies

Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion

Book One - the Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 8 - So far as human reason goes, sufficiently firm proofs are at hand to establish the credibility of Scripture

Section 5-10 - Refutation of objections regarding miracles and prophecy

Section 5 - Miracles strengthen the authority of God's messengers

Moses' credibility as God's spokeman was confirmed by supernatural events.

Ex 24:18; 34:29; 19:16; 40:34; Num 16:24; 20:10-11; Ex 17:6; 1 Cor 10:3-4; Num 11:9; Ex 16:13.

Section 6 - Moses' miracles are incontestable

No one in Israel objected to the miracles as fraud

Section 7 - Prophecies that are fulfilled contrary to all human expectation

Jacob foretells Judah as the source of Israel's king (Gen 49:10).

Section 8 - God has confirmed the prophetic words

Isaiah prophesied Israel's exile and improbable return via Cyrus (Isa 39:6-7; 45:1), over 100 years before it happens.

Jeremiah prophesies 70 years before return, which happens (Jer 25:11-12; 29:10).

Jeremiah and Ezekiel say the same things, though separated by 1000 miles.

Daniel prophesies historical events with exact detail.

Section 9 - The transmission of the law is to be trusted.

The first 5 books of the Bible, with the rest of the OT, were rediscovered in their entirety by King Josiah (2 Kings 22:8; 2 Chron 34:15). From then they have been handed down to each new generation "from hand to hand."

Section 10 - God has marvelously preserved the Law and the Prophets

...in the persecutions by Antiochus between the OT and NT. 

No one protests that the Jews substituted false copies after this.

Section 11 - Simplicity and heavenly character and authority of the New Testament

Matthew was a tax collector; Paul a persecutor of the church. The NT writers were greatly changed in character and ability before speaking and writing eloquently in Scripture.

Section 12 - Unvarying testimony of the church to the Scripture

Debunkers of every generation fail to topple Scripture.

It is not tied to national identity, further proving its truth.

Section 13 - Martyrs died firmly for Scripture doctrine

Not from reckless abandon, but intentional soberness.

These are all secondary proofs; the Spirit's testimony, giving us faith is needed first.

[Calvin and Van Til agree; apologetics must presuppose faith.

Crammed with thoughts not humanly conceived

Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion

Book One - the Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 8 - So far as human reason goes, sufficiently firm proofs are at hand to establish the credibility of Scripture

Section 1-4 - The unique majesty and impressiveness, and the high antiquity, of Scripture

Section 1 - Scripture is superior to all human wisdom

You need the Spirit's testimony to Scripture's divine source before human arguments will help. When the former is present, the latter will be of secondary assistance.

Scripture is shown to be from God in that it shows God's wisdom, in how all the parts fit together beautifully, but most of all in the "grandeur of subjects." There may be more eloquent writing, but it pales next to the penetrating Word.

Section 2 - Not style but content is decisive

The Bible's content could not have been humanly conceived.

Its style is sometimes rustic, sometimes eloquent;

but the Spirit brings the majesty through the events and thoughts.

Section 3 - The great antiquity of Scripture

Moses recalls Abraham's covenant and prophecy of 400 years in Egypt.

Egypt or Greece are not nearly so old as Abraham.

Section 4 - The truhfulness of Scripture shown by Moses' example

Moses records Levi's wickedness, his own ancestor!

Also Aaron and Miriam's grumblings.

These would not be recorded were it a merely human book.