THE PROVENANCE OF JOHN CALVIN'S EMPHASIS ON THE ...

passages in six different works of Augustine. 1004 His explicitly pneumatological point,
however, he does not support with patristic testament.
Specific patristic support for this does not appear until his second edition of the
Institutio. As compared to the 1536 edition, the 1539 edition of the Institutio exhibits a
significant increase in Calvin's appeals to the writings of the church fathers. 1005 In his
discussion of the Lord's Supper, Calvin provides a polemic against those who (as he
puts their positions) "draw back [Christ's body] under these corruptible elements or . . .
imagine it to be present everywhere." 1006 Such is not necessary for our participation in
the lifegivingness of Christ's body, says Calvin,
since the Lord bestows this benefit upon us through his Spirit so that we may be
made one in body, spirit, and soul with him. The bond of this connection is
therefore the Spirit of Christ, with whom [Christ] we are joined in unity, and is
like a channel [the Spirit] through which all that Christ himself is and has is
conveyed to us. 1007
Beside this passage, Calvin includes a marginal note referring the reader to a sermon of
John Chrsysotom "on the Holy Spirit." The alignment of this reference in the original
printed edition appears exactly as follows:
1004 Deux discours de Calvin au colloque de Lausanne as found in CO 9:877-86; English
translation found in Calvin: Theological Treatises, 35-37. Lane writes, as noted in Chapter 3 above as
well: "In keeping with the humanist principle of ad fontes Calvin read widely in the works of the fathers
themselves. Examination of his quotations at Lausanne makes it clear that this was already his practice by
that stage. They are placed in context and their position within specific homilies is given, clearly
indicating that Calvin had read the originals. There is no serious doubt that Calvin's knowledge of the
fathers came overwhelmingly from his own reading of their writings" ("Calvin's Use of the Fathers and
Medievals," 47, and with reference to Todd, Function of the Patristic Writings, 128-30 and Old, Patristic
Roots, 153).
1005 Van Oort, "John Calvin and the Church Fathers," 673-74: "Calvin's knowledge and use of
the Fathers appears to be enlarged and enriched in accordance with the reworking and enlargement of the
whole work."
1011.
1006 Institutio 1539 (CO 1:1011), per Inst. 1559 LCC 4.17.12.
1007 Inst. 1559 LCC 4.17.12, emphasis added. Instititutio 1539 CO 1: 1003-1004; 1559 CO 2:
310