John Calvin versus the Westminster Confession

by Holmes Rolston

Paperback.

Genres: Theology

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Holmes Rolston was a Presbyterian Minister.

Reviews

[Peter Mead]

This isn’t the easiest to get hold of, but once you get into it you discover some real gold. Some of these chapters will make you stop and think and pray and ponder long after you read them. Well worth getting hold of if you want an enriching theological read. Controversial because the author is willing to challenge some sacred theological cows!

[Chris Comis]

Way too much has been made over the years about the differences between the Reformer from Geneva and his successors. This book is indicative of this. Rolston makes some very good points, however, about Calvin's take on the so-called covenant of works versus that of the Westminster divines. Calvin didn't just see sin (especially original sin) as the transgression of God's righteous law (a la Westminster Confession), but also as the transgression of God's kindness and grace.

But then again, Rolston wants to completely do away with any talk of a covenant between God and Man. And he thinks that the whole system of covenant theology, as most Reformed churches have it today, needs to be done away with . . . like yesterday! In other words, Rolston thinks that the WCF's take on covenant theology is the only one for sale -- and who would want to buy into that?

It's just sad when you see a guy who has been raised in the Reformed world despise his own inheritance.