1. Which two denominational "families" spring most directly from the work of John Calvin?
a. Baptist;
b. Presbyterian;
c. Methodist;
d. Reformed.
2. John Calvin wrote his famous Institutes of the Christian Religion at age:
a. 26
b. 46
c. 66
d. 86
3. Calvin wrote the Institutes:
a. to expose the errors of ancient Roman Catholicism;
b. to urge the king of France not to persecute Protestant Christians;
c. to distinguish his teaching from Luther's;
d. to earn money for his retirement.
4. For Calvin, the great unifying theme of Scripture was:
a. the righteousness of God;
b. the sovereignty of God;
c. the love of God;
d. the wrath of God.
5. In classic Reformed theology, "predestination" refers primarily to the fact that:
a. everything we do in life is predetermined before we are born;
b. our salvation is due to God's initiative from first to last;
c. a person who is non-elect cannot be saved, although he desperately wishes to be;
d. a person who is elect will be saved, whether she wants to be or not.
__________
ANSWERS
1. (b) and (d). The two denominational "families" that spring most directly from the work of John Calvin are the Presbyterian and the Reformed. Baptists and Methodists both come later.
2. (a). John Calvin wrote his famous Institutes of the Christian Religion at age 26. God uses people of all ages to advance his kingdom.
3. (b). Calvin wrote the Institutes to urge the king of France not to persecute Protestant Christians. "Ancient Roman Catholicism" included Augustine, with whom Calvin (and Luther) had much in common.
4. (b). For Calvin, the great unifying theme of Scripture was the sovereignty of God. That is another way of saying that God is due all the glory for the salvation of the saved, including for their repentance and faith which both are God's gifts.
5. (b). In classic Reformed theology, "predestination" refers primarily to the fact that our salvation is due to God's initiative from first to last. Some Reformed Christians believe that (a) is true, but others do not. The situations expressed in (c) and (d) will never occur.
For more on other Christian groups, click here.