Calvin

Question 1

Who was Calvin?

Answer 1

• 16th century
• French theologian and reformer
• Christian theology
• Elaborated on the Augustinian
• Eleven centuries on from Augustines predestination theory
• Calvin developed a theory which became known as the doctrine of election

Question 2

Main ideas

Answer 2

• Humanity is depraved due to ‘the fall’ of Adam + Eve
• Calvins theory is based on the idea that God alone determines who will saved
• His theory is based purely based on Biblical teachings
  Jesus says “you did not choose me, but I choose you”

Question 3

What was Gods two predestined groups?

Answer 3

1) The elect
2) The reprobates
This view is sometimes referred to as double predestination

Question 4

The elect

Answer 4

• Moral agent has done nothing to receive this good fortune
• No need to can know which group they belong to
• ‘the calling of God’ - inward certainty that God has chosen them for salvation
• the elect would also generally show traits of being an elect e.g. hardworking, honest ect

Question 5

The reprobates

Answer 5

• Randomly chosen by God
• Reprobates more likely to show traits such as laziness and alcoholism
• they could still be morally good but will ultimately fall to sin
• the reprobate is deaf and blind to the message of the gospel

Question 6

Elect or reprobate?

Answer 6

• No one can be completely sure which one they are but it is fixed by God
• God made a predestined choice for all mankind from birth