Was Augustine a Calvinist?

[Pjs2ejs]

“Archbishop”, I have never found predestination to be helpful in any discussion I have had. If there are some who were chosen and some who were not, I still have no control over it. THe bible is ambiguous at best about the subject. I have never heard of anyone coming to any church because of predestination, but I can tell you that many have been turned off to the church because of this subject.

Who wouldn’t be turned off? First we are told that if we believe in Christ and do his will, we will be saved. Then someone like yourself brings up that we don’t have any control or say in our salvation and anyone could be predestined.

See, even this discussion is turning a bit sour. Why are we even talking about it?

 

[Steadfast]

The Reformation has been described as a debate between Augustine’s ecclesiology (he held for apostolic succession in the historic episcopate with an authoritative church) and his soteriology (whatever some may say, he was even more monergistic than Aquinas who owes a lot to him).

It can be said fairly that the “magisterial reformers” (Luther and Calvin) were thoroughgoing Augustinians in their soteriology though it may not be said that Augustine was a Calvinist (or a Lutheran for that matter) even though in the matter of grace, salvation, election, predestination, etc. Calvin and Luther were closer to him than most (though not all, see Pole, Contarini, Cajetan, etc.) Catholic scholars at the time.

 

[Contarini]

Steadfast:

The Reformation has been described as a debate between Augustine’s ecclesiology (he held for apostolic succession in the historic episcopate with an authoritative church) and his soteriology (whatever some may say, he was even more monergistic than Aquinas who owes a lot to him).

Yes, this is a famous dictum, but it’s bunk. Or at least highly exaggerated! Sure, Augustine held to apostolic succession, so I’m not claiming that Protestants adopted all aspects of his ecclesiology. But Calvin adopts Augustine’s anti-Donatist polemic to use against the Anabaptists. Calvin believed that the visible Church is our mother and that out of her there is no salvation. Calvin thought as harshly of Christians who separate from other Christian churches (where the Word is truly preached and the Sacraments rightly administered) as Augustine did.

And on the other side, while Augustine was monergistic, his very monergism allowed him to have a robust doctrine of merit. I see no faith/works dichotomy in the later Augustine (more early on when he hadn’t developed his views on predestination). Because our works are God’s free gifts, Augustine had no problem speaking of our works as meritorious. This is completely alien to Luther’s theology–somewhat less so to Calvin’s. But Calvin (following Bucer, presumably?) held to a doctrine of perseverance that is completely foreign to Augustine.

I don’t think these are just nit-picking points. The Protestants (Calvin more than Luther) held to central aspects of Augustine’s ecclesiology, and (Luther more than Calvin) rejected central aspects of his soteriology.

Calvin and Luther were closer to him than most (though not all, see Pole, Contarini, Cajetan, etc.) Catholic scholars at the time.

Seripando was more Augustinian than any of the figures you mention. I’m not sure how Augustinian Contarini was (I should know that since I use his name as my alias!). He wasn’t a very profound theologian and tends, in my experience, to stay away from speculative issues. Certainly his doctrine of justification (I’ve translated his letter on the subject) shows an Augustinian sense of the pervasiveness of sin in believers. Cajetan is often accused of having interpreted Aquinas in an insufficiently Augustinian manner.

Edwin

 

[Steadfast]

Be nice. We’re old friends, you and I.