Calvin and Missions - World Evangelical Alliance
Calvin and Missions - World Evangelical Alliance
Calvin and Missions - World Evangelical Alliance
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Chaney: The Missionary Dynamic in the Theology of John <strong>Calvin</strong> (1964) 97<br />
The Progress of the Kingdom<br />
A second important missionary principle in <strong>Calvin</strong>’s thought was the<br />
progressive extension of the Kingdom of Christ throughout the world. <strong>Calvin</strong><br />
used the metaphor of the royal sceptre often to express this concept.<br />
“Christ’s Kingdom shall be vastly extended, because God would make his<br />
sceptre stretch far <strong>and</strong> wide.” 109<br />
<strong>Calvin</strong>’s view of the Kingdom was one of certain conquest. He said:<br />
Though the Kingdom of Christ is in such a condition that it appears as if it<br />
were about to perish at every moment, yet God not only protects <strong>and</strong> defends<br />
it, but also extends its boundaries far <strong>and</strong> wide, <strong>and</strong> then preserves <strong>and</strong> carries<br />
it forward in uninterrupted progress to eternity. 110<br />
With the coming of Christ, his Kingdom was only begun in the world. 111<br />
“Yet it ought to be observed, that while the fullness of days began at the<br />
coming of Christ, it flows on in uninterrupted progress until he appears the<br />
second time for our salvation.” 112<br />
The church has a part in this “uninterrupted progress.” The church participates<br />
in the Kingdom. <strong>Calvin</strong> lamented, then exhorted:<br />
Would that Christ reigned entirely among us! For then would peace also<br />
have its perfect influence. But since we are widely distant from that peaceful<br />
reign, we must always think of making progress … 113<br />
T. F. Torrance has pointed out the missionary significance of this participation<br />
in the Kingdom by the church.<br />
It is because of this participation in the Kingdom of Christ, in the heavenly<br />
peace, that the church can engage in its arduous task of extending that Kingdom<br />
on earth. And so throughout his works <strong>Calvin</strong> made it a point to teach the<br />
combination of the medkatio vitae futurae with the unceasing activity of the<br />
Church on earth in the growth <strong>and</strong> extension of the Kingdom. 114<br />
109<br />
Commentary on Psalm 110, Works, v. 11, p. 300.<br />
110<br />
Commentary on Isaiah 9:7, Works, v. 13, p. 313.<br />
111<br />
Commentary on Micah 4:3, Works, v. 28, p. 265.<br />
112<br />
Commentary on Isaiah 2:2, Works, v. 13, p. 92.<br />
113<br />
Commentary on Isaiah 2:4, Ibid., p. 102.<br />
114<br />
T. F. Torrance, “The Eschatology of the Reformers,” Eschatology, eds. T. F. Torrance<br />
<strong>and</strong> J. K. S. Reid, Scottish Journal of Theology Occasional Papers. No. 2,<br />
Edinburgh: Oliver <strong>and</strong> Boyd, Ltd., 1952, p. 55.
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