Our main morning message was by Welshman Professor Derek Thomas, on Calvin's sermons on Jeremiah.He began by explaining how Calvin preached a large number of sermons week by week. From September 1549 the sermons were recorded in some 44 volumes that in the 19th Century were distributed across Europe for the cost of the paper. Some 2,300 appear to have been written down and about 1500 are extant. The opera contain 872 and a supplement of 618 also exists. Calvin only published some 4 sermons himself but was willing at times to see his sermons published. Not all versions were official. Calvin was not entirely happy with this process, fearing he could be quoted, the sermons being given without the usual care bestowed on other works. He felt it was all done too hastily, he felt. Examples of sermon sets appearing include those on Job.
Only 27 sermons on Jeremiah exist today (2 are on Lamentations). The sermons were preached from October 1548-September 1550 and so there must have been around 300 altogether. These few are in the supplement to the opera and are in French. Calvin deals with about 5 or 6 verses each time in the lectio continua style.
There was also a five volume commentary on Jeremiah (published posthumously just after 1564). This grew out of his lectures. Students would make notes and compare them. Calvin was much less reluctant about these as although they were still very much unprepared they were given in an academic context.
Two main points were made from the sermons.
1. They give us an insight into what preaching is
Derek pointed for example to the way Calvin speaks against the lack of attention to preaching that was a problem in Geneva. He also speaks against false teaching and stresses the need of preachers to warn people.
2. They give us an insight into what preaching does
Here we chiefly just give the headings
1. For Calvin preaching is always in the context of tribulation
The sermons show a great deal of sensitivity to a suffering congregation and often speak of the troubles of life. We should not be surprised at such things.
2. For Calvin one of the main themes in the prophets is idolatry
Calvin often speaks against idolatry in its various manifestations. He is preaching to hearts idolatrous by nature. People often misconstrue - that is why Calvin strove for simplicity.
3. Calvin employs a redemptive-historical approach
Calvin saw prophecy as having relevance to the contemporary situation, predictive of Christ's coming and referring to the whole history of mankind until the end. His hermeneutic is amazing. He saw a line of continuity in the days of the prophets and of the apostles. He was very much aware of the pattern of dark days followed by restoration. His emphasis is on reformation rather than revival, reformation of worship in particular - this relates back to his opposition to idolatry.
4. Calvin employs a gospel hermeneutic
His ability to find Christ in a passage is not wooden (indeed shortly after his death he was taken to task by a Lutheran writer who did not think he found Christ enough).
5. Calvin uses a homilectically experiential approach
He anticipates the Westminster Directory in his awareness of different kinds of hearer.
This was a fine message on unknown material well suited to its audience.
Only 27 sermons on Jeremiah exist today (2 are on Lamentations). The sermons were preached from October 1548-September 1550 and so there must have been around 300 altogether. These few are in the supplement to the opera and are in French. Calvin deals with about 5 or 6 verses each time in the lectio continua style.
There was also a five volume commentary on Jeremiah (published posthumously just after 1564). This grew out of his lectures. Students would make notes and compare them. Calvin was much less reluctant about these as although they were still very much unprepared they were given in an academic context.
Two main points were made from the sermons.
1. They give us an insight into what preaching is
Derek pointed for example to the way Calvin speaks against the lack of attention to preaching that was a problem in Geneva. He also speaks against false teaching and stresses the need of preachers to warn people.
2. They give us an insight into what preaching does
Here we chiefly just give the headings
1. For Calvin preaching is always in the context of tribulation
The sermons show a great deal of sensitivity to a suffering congregation and often speak of the troubles of life. We should not be surprised at such things.
2. For Calvin one of the main themes in the prophets is idolatry
Calvin often speaks against idolatry in its various manifestations. He is preaching to hearts idolatrous by nature. People often misconstrue - that is why Calvin strove for simplicity.
3. Calvin employs a redemptive-historical approach
Calvin saw prophecy as having relevance to the contemporary situation, predictive of Christ's coming and referring to the whole history of mankind until the end. His hermeneutic is amazing. He saw a line of continuity in the days of the prophets and of the apostles. He was very much aware of the pattern of dark days followed by restoration. His emphasis is on reformation rather than revival, reformation of worship in particular - this relates back to his opposition to idolatry.
4. Calvin employs a gospel hermeneutic
His ability to find Christ in a passage is not wooden (indeed shortly after his death he was taken to task by a Lutheran writer who did not think he found Christ enough).
5. Calvin uses a homilectically experiential approach
He anticipates the Westminster Directory in his awareness of different kinds of hearer.
This was a fine message on unknown material well suited to its audience.
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