The Concept of Equity in Calvin’s Ethics

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Equity, Love, andJustice Calvin bases his view of the Christian life upon our participation in Christ. Every action of the Christian is to be an expression of this participation. The law functions as a rule whereby believers are guided by the Holy Spirit to express the righteousness of Christ in their own lives. Central to an understanding of the rule of righteousness is the most excellent way of love.1 Calvin finds this clearly stated in Matt. 22:35-40 where, in response to the question, "Which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus replies, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind ... [and] Love your neighbour as yourself."2 Love of God is the beginning of religion, and love for our neighbour necessarily flows from it.3 The conclusion here is: "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matt. 22:40). Calvin understands this to mean, not that Christ intends to restrict the whole teaching of Scripture to this, but that any instruction from the Scripture on leading a holy and upright life should be directed by the goal of love as expressed in these two great commandments.4 "Christ is ... indicating in His answer that the requirements of the Law and Prophets are precisely that each should love God and his neighbours: as if to say that the whole foundation and structure of holy upright living was the service of God and love for men."5 It is to this most excellent way of love that Calvin relates the concept of equity. Equity: The Implementation of Love In Matt. 7:12 we find the statement of what is commonly called the Golden Rule: "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." In his commentary on this verse Calvin defines aequitas by the content of the Golden Rule. He states that here "Christ is setting His disciples a rule of fair-dealing [aequitatetn], and is giving a short and simple definition of it." The Golden Rule is "the rule of fairness [aequitatis regulam]" which shines in the hearts of all people. 49 50 The Concept of Equity in Calvin's Ethics Calvin notes that the reason why this rule of equity is so important, and why Christ gives a definition of it that anyone can remember, is because it gives us a rule of thumb to guide us in the implementation of the second great commandment -love ofneighbour - in ourdaily lives. So Christteaches them, that the rule for each man to use, in living rightly and fairly [recte et iuste] with his neighbours, is for each to offer the other what he would have done to himself. This cuts across all empty pretence, which men think up for themselves, to cover and disguise all their injustice [iniustitiam }. No doubt, perfect equity [aequitas] would reign amongstus, if we were such faithful disciples of what I might call active charity [caritas], as we are so acute in the passiveinstructionwe give on the subject.6 Calvin states that the Golden Rule sums up the Law and the Prophets because all that is taught there on charity (de caritate), and all the laws and exhortations found there to promote righteousness, must be related to this rule. "So the sense is, that the second table of the decalogue is satisfied if a man behaves towards others, as he would have the other behave towards himself ." Love of neighbour, which is taught in the Law and the Prophets, and summarized in the Second Table of the Decalogue, is related to the theme of equity, because for Calvin equity, as summarized in the Golden Rule, provides the guideline for the implementation of love in our dealings with others .7 Calvin notes that this rule does not allow people to make a distinction between equity for themselves and for others. The only reason for there being such a reign of hatred upon the earth, men antagonistic towards each other for so many causes, is that they knowinglyand willingly tread equity [aequitatem] underfoot, yet every man demands its strict application for himself. Where our own advantageis concerned, there is none of us who cannotgo into detail, chapter and verse, on the extent of our right. Everyone showshimself an exact scholarof equitable dealing [aequitato ].8 Why is this? Because we tend to be very wise concerning our...