November 2007 - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

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Book Reviews ture on the basis of the original Calvin preached no fewer than text. His commentaries are 4,000 sermons. Significantly, at filled with references to the least 2,000 sermons were on the original Hebrew and Greek. In Old Testament. Fully half of his his commentaries Calvin works preaching was preaching on the with the original text by way of Old Testament Scriptures. In extensive word studies, as well this regard, too, Calvin is a as grammatical and syntactical model to Reformed preachers. analysis. The commentaries are Calvin’s sermons were expository—explanations of the replete with examples of grammatical insights and fruits of text of Scripture. He preached etymological research. without notes. He objected to Calvin’s main calling was read sermons. Calvin’s commitment to extempore preaching lecturer in the Academy of Geneva. Ordinarily his lectures did not mean that he came into were on books of the Bible. As the pulpit unprepared. His extant sermons show clearly the was the custom of the day, he taught theology in connection extent of his careful preparation with instruction on specific before mounting the pulpit. But books of the Old and New Testaments. His method was in- his Bible in hand, that is, his He- he came to the pulpit with only variably to read the text of his brew Old Testament or Greek lecture in Hebrew or Greek, offer a very literal translation into mons exhibit his wrestling with New Testament. And the ser- Latin, after which he would often also provide a smoother, his understanding of the mean- the original text in arriving at more colloquial translation, followed by his comments on the His preaching clearly “… deming and appropriate application. passage. Calvin’s practice was onstrates his considerable ability to work with the original to sight-read the text, whether Hebrew or Greek, without any texts” (p. 28). linguistic aids. Such was the The book ends with a Reformer’s mastery of the biblical languages. Currid lambastes the seminaries plea—a timely and urgent plea. Besides being a professor in today that are deemphasizing Geneva’s Academy, Calvin was and even abandoning biblical also the senior minister in language requirements. “Many Geneva. It is estimated that Protestant and Evangelical November 2007 93
Protestant Reformed Theological Journal seminaries do not require the inexcusable. Worse, he contends biblical languages for the divinity that the neglect of the bib- degree, and many do not lical languages puts those who teach them at all, especially as are guilty of this neglect in jeopardy regards the language of Hebrew. of losing not only a distinc- Some theological schools have tive feature of the Reformation, retreated to the point of teaching but of the heritage of the Reforline the biblical languages onmation itself. “We need pastor- or simply offering a ‘tools’ scholars, men like Calvin and approach” (p. 79). At the same those whom he trained, to stand time, it seems to be rare that up and guard the sacred deposit ministers keep up their language that has been left to our charge” skills after graduating seminary (p. 84). and entering the ministry. The This is a fine book, a book minister often uses the excuse that this reviewer wholeheartedly that he is too busy to take the recommends. The thesis of time to labor with the original the book regarding the Reformer text in sermon preparation, and John Calvin’s estimation congregations and consistories and use of the biblical languages do not always see the importance is well-documented. of it. “Preachers today The plea of the author is timely. often proudly say that they One can only hope that Reformed never make use of the language and Presbyterian semi- skills they acquired in seminary naries and ministers will respond – having heard some of them positively to the plea. preach, I have no doubt that they Currid is right. Retaining the are telling the truth!” (p. 83). biblical languages is inexorably This situation in Reformed bound up with retention of our and Evangelical seminaries and Reformation heritage. ■ among ministers, Currid finds 94 Vol. 41, No. 1
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November 2007 - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

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