Richard A. Muller - Calvin and the Reformed Tradition: On the Work of Christ and the Order of Salvation

Chapter 6

. Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1939), pp. 415-422 (on the idea and arrangement of the ordo ), pp. 432-549; Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology , 3 vols. (1871-1873; repr., Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975), II, pp. 639-732; III, pp. 3-258; A. G. Honig, Handboek van de Gereformeerde Dogmatiek (Kampen: J. H. Kok, 1938), pp. 529-539 (on the idea and arrangement of the ordo ), 539-609; Herman Hoeksema, Reformed Dogmatics (Grand Rapids: Reformed Free Publishing Association, 1966), pp. 446-451 (on the idea and arrangement of the ordo ), pp. 452-560; Henry B. Smith, System of Christian Theology (New York: Armstrong, 1884), pp. 515-589.

. Reinhold Seeberg, Heilsordnung, in RE , vol. 7, pp. 598-599; G. C. Berkouwer, Faith and Justification (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1954), p. 25.

. Berkouwer, Faith and Justification , pp. 25-27.

. E.g., Markus Matthias, Ordo salutis : Zur Geschichte eines dogmatischen Begriffs, Zeitschrift fr Kirchengeschichte , 115/3 (2004), pp. 318-346; Schrder, ber die Lehre von der Heilsordnung: Ein kritisch-dogmatischer versuch, Theologische Studien und Kritiken , 30 (1857), pp. 689-734; Hermann Schultz, Der Ordo salutis in der Dogmatik, Theologische Studien und Kritiken , 72 (1899), pp. 350-445; Emil Wacker, Die Heilsordnung (Gtersloh: Bertelsmann, 1898); Max Koch, Der ordo salutis in der alt-lutherischen Dogmatik (Berlin: Duncker, 1899); Reinhold Seeberg, Heilsordnung, in RE , vol. 7, pp. 593-599.

. See, e.g., Julie Canlis, Calvin, Osiander, and Participation in God, International Journal of Systematic Theology , 6/2 (2004), pp. 169-184; William B. Evans, Imputation and Impartation: Union with Christ in American Reformed Theology (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2008); Richard B. Gaffin, Justification and Union with Christ, in A Theological Guide to Calvins Institutes: Essays and Analysis , ed. David W. Hall and Peter A. Lillback (Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed, 2008), pp. 248-269; idem, Calvins Soteriology: The Structure of the Application of Redemption in Book Three of the Institutes , and A Response to John Feskos Review, Ordained Servant , 18 (2009), pp. 68-77, and 104-113; and Charles Partee, The Theology of John Calvin (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 2008), pp. 240-250. There is a potentially significant parallel (despite their radically different conclusions) between these more recent dogmatic critiques of the order of salvation in traditional Reformed theology and the nineteenth-century attack on Reformed orthodox approaches to justification and sanctification by Eduard Bhl, who protested against the development of an order of salvation, declaring it to be indicative of a Reformed Middle Ages on the ground that any notion of inward righteousness associated with sanctification had departed from the sola fide of the great Reformers; see his Von der Rechtfertigung durch den Glauben. Ein Beitrag zur Rettung des protestantischen Cardinaldogmas (Leipzig: K. Gustorff, 1890); in translation, Edward Boehl, The Reformed Doctrine of Justification , trans. C. H. Riedesel (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1946), pp. 57-73, 252-261, 270, 301-303. Note that Bhl praises Beza on imputation, includes Augustine and Bucer among those in error on this issue, and identifies the later Reformed development as Osiandrian. Where Bhl argues strictly for imputation without impartation of righteousness or holiness, lamenting an ordo salutis that distinguishes but includes both, Evans argues for impartation of righteousness, lamenting an ordo salutis that he views as separating it from imputation and understanding salvation as primarily extrinsic. Bhl and Evans identify Calvins approach as sound, albeit for opposite reasons, and both identify the language of an order of salvation as a problem of developing scholasticism and as a departure from the true meaning of the Reformationagain for opposite reasons, each in pursuit of a form of Calvin against the Calvinists thesis.

. Evans, Imputation and Impartation , pp. 52-53.

. Seeberg, Heilsordnung, pp. 593-594, with Koch, Der ordo salutis , pp. 5-6.

. Schrder, ber die Lehre von der Heilsordnung, pp. 701-703.

. Koch, Der ordo salutis , p. 5.

. Seeberg, Heilsordnung, p. 593-594.

. Johann Jacob Rambach, Dogmatische Theologie oder christliche Glaubens-Lehre, vormals in einem Collatio thetico ber des hochberuhmten Herrn D. Joachim Langens... Oeconomiam salutis dogmaticam, mit Zuziehung des gewhnlichen Compendii theologiae positivae des sel. D. Bayers ... aus desselben eigenhandigem Manuscript... gestellt von D. Ernst Friedrich Neubauer (Frankfurt and Leipzig: Wolfgang Ludwig Spring, 1744), II, pp. 1472-1473; cf. his earlier Schrifftmssige Erluterung der Grundlegung der Theologie Herrn Johann Anastasius Freylingshausens ... aus dessen eigenhandigen MScto... herausgegeben von Christian Hecht (Frankfurt am Main: Wolfgang Ludwig Spring, 1738), pp. 12-14, where Rambach offers an outline for his discussion of the redeemed life under the rubric of status refectionis and divides the topic into Gnaden-Wohltaten , Gnaden-Mittel , and Gnaden-Ordnung without attempting to argue a strict ordo . On Rambachs life and work, see Richard A. Muller, J. J. Rambach and the Dogmatics of Scholastic Pietism, Consensus: A Canadian Lutheran Journal of Theology , 16/2 (1990), pp. 7-27.

. Thus, Berkhof, Systematic Theology , pp. 415-422; cf. Berkouwer, Faith and Justification , pp. 25-27.

. Seeberg, Heilsordnung, p. 594.

. As noted in John V. Fesko, Beyond Calvin: Union with Christ and Justification in Early Modern Reformed Theology (1517-1700) (Gttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, forthcoming).

. On the origins of the term, the classic monograph of Koch, Der ordo salutis in der altlutherischen Dogmatik , remains a significant work; also see Matthias, Ordo salutis : Zur Geschichte eines dogmatischen Begriffs. Other literature on the subject is cited below, in chapter 7. Note that in the following essay, I use application of salvation and sequence for the sake of avoiding the anachronistic connotations of either ordo salutis or its English equivalent, order of salvation.

. Johannes Marckius, Compendium theologiae christianae didactico-elencticum (Groningen, 1686; Amsterdam: R. & G. Wetstenius, 1722), xxii.1; xxiii.1.

. Marckius, Compendium theologiae christianae , xxviii.1.

. Francis Turretin, Institutio theologiae elencticae, in qua status controversiae perspicue exponitur, praecipua orthodoxorum argumenta proponuntur, & vindicantur, & fontes solutionum aperiuntur , 3 vols. (Geneva: Samuel de Tournes, 1679-1685), xv, xvi, xvii; in particular, xv.16 (perseverance); xvi.5, 6 (remission of sin, adoption).

. Cf. Daniel Wyttenbach, Tentamen theologiae dogmaticae methodo scientifico pertractatae , 3 vols. (Frankfurt: Andreae and Hort, 1747-1749), IX, 1007-1223; Campegius Vitringa, Doctrina christianae religionis, per aphorismos summatim descripta , 6 vols. (Arnhem: Joannes Melemann, 1761-1786), II, pp. 34-35; Bernhardus de Moor, Commentarius perpetuus in Joh. Marckii compendium theologiae christianae didactico-elencticum , 7 vols. (Leiden: Johannes Hasebroek, 1761-1771), V, pp. 285, 289, 292, 440.

. Berkhof, Systematic Theology , p. 416

. Cf., e.g., Ulrich Zwingli, In Catabaptistarum strophas elenchus , in Opera completa editio prima , ed. Melchior Schuler and Johann Schulthess, 8 vols. in 11, plus supplement (Zrich: Schulthess and Hhr, 1828-1842), III, p. 426 ( catena ); in translation, Refutation of the Tricks of the Catabaptists , in Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531): Selected Works , intro. Edward Peters (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1972), p. 239; Peter Martyr Vermigli, In epistolam s. Pauli apostoli ad Romanos... commentarii (Zrich: s.n., 1559), p. 539; in translation, Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes , Rom. 8:30, in loc. (fol. 228 verso); Hermann Rennecherus, Armilla salutis catena, continens et explicans omnes eius causas (Herborn, 1589); trans as The Golden Chaine of Salvation (London: Valentine Simmes, 1604); William Perkins, Armilla Aurea, id est, theologiae descriptio mirandam seriem causarum & salutis & damnationis juxta verbum Dei proponens (Cambridge: John Legat, 1590); Anthony Maxey, The Goulden Chaine of Mans Saluation, and the fearefull point of Hardening, together with the Churches Sleepe: Preached in three severall sermons before the King , 3 rd ed. (London: . E. for Clement Knight, 1607); Jean Diodati, Pious and Learned Annotations upon the Holy Bible, plainly Expounding the Most Difficult Places Thereof , 4 th ed. (London: T. Roycroft for Nicholas Fussell, 1664), Rom. 8:30, in loc.; Thomas Gataker, et al., Annotations upon all the books of the Old and Nevv Testament this third, above the first and second, edition so enlarged, as they make an entire commentary on the sacred scripture: the like never before published in English. Wherein the text is explained, doubts resolved, scriptures paralleld, and various readings observed; by the labour of certain learned divines thereunto appointed, and therein employed, as is expressed in the preface , 2 vols. (London: Evan Tyler, 1657), Rom. 8:29, in loc.