존 칼빈의 개혁신학에 나타난 법 이해

Abstract

The followings are a summary of the comprehension of law appeared in the Reformed Theology of John Calvin, a religious reformer. 1. The comprehension of Calvin's law is well presented in the Commentary on the De Clemeniza of Seneca of 1532 or a letter sent to Francis I in 1535. Beside this, his comprehension of law is moderately well expressed in his sermons, the Bible Commentary, and letters, but it is appeared systematically in the Calvin's Institutes ( 1532 version). 2. The Commentary on the De Clemenia of Seneca 1532 not only suggests a change in future religious direction toward the Reformed Theology in Calvin's Catholicism, but also it is a foundation of his comprehension of law. He focuses on emphasizing the similarity between the Stoic and Christianity in the Commentary on the De Clemenia of Seneca. Although he accepts absolute monarchy in here, he denies engaging in politics against the will of people and using the authority in unreasonable manner. As the way the Stoic scholars explain, he restricts the domain where the power of public authority can be applied by adding the conception of justice and equality. 3. Calvin's comprehension of law is profoundly related to his view of Torah. Through the Torah, he differentiates the law and explains how individual law can be used. In fact, he classifies the third usage of Torah and the law into three categories: natural law, moral law, and national law. What Calvin highlights is the third usage of Torah, and he endlessly instructs and teaches Christians to do good deeds. When God creates a human, God inscribed inner law inside a spirit. Calvin sees this as the natural law. The natural law allows conscience to distinguish what is good and bad, and simultaneously serves as the law of conscience that proves guilt through evidence in themselves. The moral law is the Torah. The Torah is usually concentrated on the Ten Commandments. The moral law is a true and everlasting norm given by God for people of all ages who wish to regulate their lives according to the will of God. States and societies need law because states can constrain crimes and sustain external order and peace through law. Also, public officers can govern and control their people through law. Calvin recognizes the function of these national law as a process of receiving the holy call from God. 4. Calvin aggressively accepts the equity as a combination between the Ten Commandments (the moral law) and national law. In fact, he eagerly acknowledges the equity when execution of national law specifically violates the idea of the Ten Commandments which is the moral law. The relation between the positive law and the equity is especially important in a system of Calvin idea and law idea because these two factors take a very critical roles in realization of the law of God.