Paper Category: Early Christian Theology in Protestant Thought

The Influence of Augustine’s Totus Christus in Protestant Hermeneutics

This essay seeks to validate recent observations regarding premodern exegesis by further exploring Augustine’s notion of totus Christus (“the whole Christ”). Additionally, this essay will trace the influence of Totus Christus in select protestant biblical interpreters. The interpretive framework of Totus Christus is especially noticeable in Augustine’s interpretation of the Psalms, primarily contained within his … Read more

Calvin’s Engagement with Augustine’s Exegesis in Developing a Reformed Ecclesiology

It is commonplace in much Protestant scholarship to argue that the Reformers intended to retrieve Augustine’s theology of grace while largely rejecting his theology of the church. This sentiment is encapsulated in B.B. Warfield’s famous quip in which he described the Protestant Reformation as “the ultimate triumph of Augustine’s doctrine of grace over Augustine’s doctrine of … Read more

A Retrieval of Calvin’s Thought on Romans 9:6-29 in light of Paul’s Intent

Paul explicitly states in his salutation in his letter to the Romans his purpose to “evangelize” Rome, and he states after the body of the letter his desire to proclaim the gospel of Christ in Spain. Part of Paul’s theological emphases for his practical purpose of evangelism concerns instructing the Roman believers concerning God’s election … Read more

Christ’s Two Natures and Reading John 11

In his important work, On the Unity of Christ, Cyril of Alexandria writes, “For there is only one Son, the Word who was made man for our sake. I would say that everything refers to him, words and deeds, both those that befit the deity, as well as those which are human.” While affirming Christ’s … Read more