NB: I’ll be on the road tomorrow so this puts us an extra day ahead. Book 4/Chapter 14 Definition of a sacrament (section 1) 1. What does a sacrament do? 2. How does Calvin define a sacrament? 3. What is Augustine’s shorter definition? Sacrament and mystery (section 2) 1. The Latin word sacrament translates what …
Widows, Deaconesses, and Nuns
Book 4/Chapter 13 The case of enrolled widows (section 18) 1. What argument do the Romanists make from 1 Tim. 5:12? 2. What does Calvin grant? 3. What does he deny? 4. What three points does Calvin make about this? Nuns are different (section 19) 1. What does Calvin call these enrolled widows? 2. What …
Away With Monkish Vows
Book 4/Chapter 13 Monastic sectarianism (section 14) 1. What does Calvin call blasphemy? 2. How were the ancient monks different from Calvin’s contemporaries? 3. What does Calvin call this? Indictment of the monks (section 15) 1. What is rare among monasteries? 2. Even in Augustine’s day, what does he lament? 3. Does Calvin think there …
Probing a Secret Wound
Book 4/Chapter 13 Early and late monasticism (section 10) 1. What is the chief part of the sanctity for the monks of Calvin’s day? 2. According to Augustine, what was almost the only rule for monks? Striving for perfection (section 11) 1. What kind of life do monks think they live? 2. When pressed, what …
The Foundational Vow
Book 4/Chapter 13 Vows for the future (section 5) 1. Does Calvin allow for vows to restrain future behavior? 2. What limits? Basic vows (section 6) 1. What is the basic vow of a Christian? 2. How is this vow confirmed and sanctioned? 3. Does this vow anticipate the presence of sin? 4. Beyond this, …
Celibacy One Thing, Virginity Another
Book 4/Chapter 13 Degeneration (section 1) 1. What is the entire praise of righteousness? 2. What is the difference between a promise and a vow? 3. What do we promise men? 4. How does this apply to vows? Three things (section 2) 1. What are the three things to keep in mind concerning vows? 2. …
Marriage is Chastity
Book 4/Chapter 12 Marriage enjoined (section 24) 1. How do the Romanists interpret Paul’s requirement that a bishop must be married? 2. What do their canons call cohabitation? Levite and Christian (section 25) 1. According to Calvin, how are Levite priests and Christian pastors distinct? 2. What was the example of the apostles? Celibacy (section …
Christ’s Only Fast
Book 4/Chapter 12 Superstitious fasting (section 19) 1. What are the three dangers that Calvin mentions with regard to fasting? Christ and fasting (section 20) 1. How many times is it recorded that Christ fasted? 2. Why did He fast? Corrupt fasting (section 21) 1. How had the Romanists corrupted fasting? Clerical restrictions (section 22) …
Severe Mercy
Book 4/Chapter 12 Levels of discipline (section 13) 1. According to Augustine, when is the “severe mercy” of sharp discipline necessary? Another form of discipline (section 14) 1. What other element of discipline, not properly contained within the power of the keys, is important? 2. What sort of occasion would call for this? Three objectives …
Discipline, Not Butchery
Book 4/Chapter 12 Practice of discipline (section 6) 1. What are the two kinds of sins that church must address? 2. What kind of sin does the church not address? 3. How does the church handle scandalous public sins? Princes and citizens alike (section 7) 1. Who is subject to discipline? 2. Do the elders …