The Concept of Equity in Calvin’s Ethics

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgements xi Introduction 1 PART ONE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Chapter 1. Development of Calvin's Thought 7 Pre-Conversion Education 7 Commentary on Seneca's 'De dementia' 10 The Work of the Reformer 13 Chapter 2. Historical Development of the Concept of Equity 17 Aristotle 17 Cicero 19 Seneca 21 Roman Law 22 Augustine 24 Medieval Revival of Roman Law 27 Thomas Aquinas 29 Summary 30 Chapter 3. The Concept of Equity in Calvin's Contemporaries 33 Humanists 33 Erasmus 35 Bude 36 Alciati 37 Zasius 38 Protestant Reformers 39 Zwingli 39 Bucer 41 Luther 42 Melanchthon 43 Summary 45 vii viii The Concept of Equity in Calvin's Ethics PART TWO EQUITY IN CALVIN'S ETHICS Chapter 4. Equity, Love, and Justice 49 Equity: The Implementation of Love 49 Equity and Justice 50 Equity, and the Love and Justice of God 53 Self-Love, Self-Denial, and the Imitation of Christ 58 Love for the Needy 60 Summary 63 Chapter 5. Equity and the Law 65 The Natural Law 67 The Moral Law of Scripture 72 Summary 75 Chapter 6. Equity as the Harmonizer of Biblical Law 79 Unity of Old Testament Law and Christ's Teachings 79 Principles of Interpretation of the Law 83 (1) Inward and Outward Righteousness 84 (2) The Intention of God 86 (3) The Two Tables of the Law 88 Summary 90 Chapter 7. Equity in the Commandments of the Second Table 93 The Fifth Commandment 93 The Sixth Commandment 96 The Seventh Commandment 99 The Eighth Commandment 100 The Ninth Commandment 103 The Tenth Commandment 104 Summary 105 Chapter 8. Equity in the State and in the Church 107 Equity in the State 107 Civil Law 108 The Civil Magistrate 110 The Subjects Ill Equity in the Church 112 Summary 115 Table of Contents ix Chapter 9. Equity and Usury 117 Conclusion 123 NOTES Introduction 127 Chapter 1 128 Chapter 2 133 Chapter 3 140 Chapter 4 146 Chapter 5 152 Chapter 6 158 Chapter 7 165 Chapter 8 172 Chapter 9 178 Conclusion 180 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Abbreviations 181 I. Calvin: Primary Sources 182 II. Calvin: Secondary Sources 182 III. Related Studies 190 IV. Miscellaneous 197 INDICES Index of Persons 199 Index of Words and Phrases 203 This page intentionally left blank ...