AIZAWL THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

RESOURCES FOR CONSTRUCTING THEOLOGIES: THEOLOGY OF JOHN CALVIN

Topic : Ecclessiology of John Calvin

Submitted to : Rev. Rosiamliana Tochhawng
Submitted by : R Vanhmingmawia, BD III Roll No. 6
H Lalramliani, BD III Roll No. 15
Lalhminghlui, BD III Roll No. 22

1. Introduction

Ecclesiology or Doctrine of the Church was one of the important theological issues of the Reformation.
Calvin developed his doctrine of the church and ministry in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church of
his days and to the negation of the Spiritualists and Anabaptists of the sixteenth century. In this paper,
we will be dealing with the images of the church- mother of all believers, body of Christ; true marks of
the Church; Christ as head of the Church; and Church as invisible and visible.

2. Ecclesiastical Context

In 285 AD when Emperor Diocletian decided that the Roman Empire was too big to manage, the empire
was split into two parts, the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire. The empire was
split again in 395 AD upon the death of the Emperor Theodosius. The Western Empire was ruled from
Rome, the Eastern Empire was ruled from Constantinople.1

Like the empire, the Church too was split into two, into The Roman Catholic in the west which owed
allegiance to the Pope and used Latin, and the Eastern Orthodox Churches which owed allegiance to the
Patriarchs and used Greek as their official language. The views of these two Churches gradually
diverged over the years in regards to doctrine, ecclesiastical matters and political issues eventually
resulting into a formal split in 1054 AD, now known as "The great Schism" or the "East West Schism"
as a result of the forcible closure of Eastern Churches by Pope Leo IX and the retaliatory closure of
western churches by Michael I Cerularius the Patriarch of Constantinople.2

1
H.Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin (Aizawl: Lallianpuii Publication, 2020 ), 6. Hereafter cited as
H.Vanlalauva, Theology of John Calvin…
2
Williston Walker, A History of the Christian Church (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1959), 203.

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The Papacy and the Roman Catholic Church saw a decline in prestige and power in the Fourteenth and
fifteenth Centuries, largely due to incidents like the "Papal Schism" which saw a divide in the Catholic
Church and the "Babylonian Captivity" when the Papacy was under influence of the French Throne. The
Catholic Church was also plagued by worldly and material concerns such as degenerate priests and
clergy who drank and kept women.

The practice of Simony, that is, buying and selling holy relics, church appointments etc, was very
common. Many clergy members were openly corrupt, and ecclesiastical abuse increased with sale of
indulgences. After many voices were raised against this abuse, the Council of Trent accepted that there
existed a deterioration of the ecclesiastical situation in the sixteenth century.3

Attempts to reform the Church both from the inside and outside were made by various groups like the
Albigenses, the Waldenses, Wycliff, Lolards, John Huss and the Hussites and the Christian Humanists.
The Conciliarists tried to reform by means of council, although they had some success in resolving the
Papal Schism, they were unable to address the deteriorating ecclesiastical situation. Despite these
efforts, the Church remained corrupt and sinful.

In the above ecclesiastical context which had remained at a low ebb for centuries, the Protestant
Reformers came out in different parts of Europe and made their best efforts to address not only
ecclesiastical but also socio-economic and political problems and issues in their theologizing and
reforming works.4

3. Image of God
3.1. Mother of all believers

Calvin strongly maintains the church as a mother of all believers. He believe that there is no other means
of entry into life except that it should receive and bear us in its womb, feed us at its breasts, and then
preserve us under its guardianship and guidance until we have put off this mortal flesh and have become
like the angels.5 The church is the mother of all the believers who shows maternal care in gathering the
individuals to her bosom. God is pleased to gather his children into the church not only that they may be

3
H. Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin…, 7.
4
H. Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin..., 8.
5
Wilhelm Niesel, The Theology of Calvin, translated by Harold Knight (Michigan: Lutterworth Press, 1956), 186.
Hereafter cited as Wilhelm Niesel, The Theology of Calvin...

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nourished as long as they are infants, but also that they may be guided by her motherly until they mature
and at least they reach the goal of faith.6 He believes that there is no salvation outside the church.
Therefore the church is indispensable to all believers.

We the humans are so ignorant, slothful and vain that we need this external helps to allow faith to be
born in us and to grow unceasingly to its appointed end, God has given us the same as a means of grace
to help us out in our weakness. God graciously condescends to us so that there may be encounter
between Himself and ourselves.7 Thus in the ministry of the church there takes place a condescension of
God to our world in Jesus Christ.8

3.2. Body of Christ

By using the body of Christ image, Calvin brings out the fact that the church is a living organism, a
fellowship of mutual service and helpfulness through the work of the Holy Spirit. 9 The Holy Spirit unite
the believers and to strengthen one another through fellowship. All the community of believers who are
indwelt by the Holy Spirit are united in one body with Christ as its head. Like the body of Christ,
everyone inside the Church complement each other. When one suffers, all share his or her sufferings.
This shows the unity of the church which moves horizontally between each members through the work
of the Holy Spirit.

The body of Christ is built up, and we grow in every part to Him who is the head and we become unite.
Because the church acts upon us and within us we are drawn to its bosom. We become one body with
Christ and by our union with him are drawn into a fellowship with each other which is distinguished
from all earthly and religious fellowship. 10 Calvin asserts the church as a fellowship of mutual service of
the communion of saints. Here Christ alone is the head of the church. No one rule the church; Jesus
alone is the ruler and the head.

The Holy Spirit works within the church and the spiritual gifts are given to the individual members of
the church so that all should work in one accord for the edification of the whole body. 11 As compared
with Him we are all nothing but unprofitable servants. In order that we may serve Him, as His wills, He

6
H. Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin..., 135.
7
Wilhelm Niesel, The Theology of Calvin..., 187.
8
Wilhelm Niesel, The Theology of Calvin..., 187.
9
H. Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin..., 136.
10
Wilhelm Niesel, The Theology of Calvin…, 188.
11
H. Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin..., 136.

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must impart to each of us the gifts of His spirit. Each receives from Him special gifts with which He is
to work for the edification of the whole. According to the gifts which Christ imparts, and the services
which He expects from individuals so endowed, the various members of the church are dependent on
each other. It must be confessed, and the confession must be put into practice, that we as individuals and
as a community are subject body and soul to Jesus Christ our Head in order that we may serve Him
alone. 12

4. True marks of the Church

For Calvin, the true church must be one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. It can be discussed by the
following ways:

 One Church: There is one church, which, by the increase of its fruitfulness, spreads into
multitude, just as there are many rays of the sun, but only one light. Just like that Calvin believes
in one church because, Christ cannot be divided.13
 Holy: When Calvin asserts that the Church is holy, he makes it clear that the holiness of the
church does not depend upon the life and character of the believers. Rather the church is holy
because its foundation, the Christ is holy.14
 Catholic: For Calvin, the idea of the head of unity and catholicity of the church are inseparable.
When Calvin says that there is one church, he means by it one Catholic Church comprising all
the believers scattered around the world. Christ’s headship is the condition of the church.15
 Apostolic: In Calvin’s thought, what make the church truly apostolic are not the apostolic
succession but rather its obedience and faithfulness to the apostolic teachings based on the
scriptures and also its willingness to obey Christ’s command to carry out the church’s mission
and services.16

The unity of the church is assumed on the basis of believers and the actual unity of the body; it binds
together Christian from all periods and all places. According to Calvin, the preaching of the word and
administering of the sacraments are also the marks of the church. The church is present whenever the

12
Wilhelm Niesel, The Theology of Calvin..., 189.
13
H. Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin..., 142.
14
H. Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin..., 142.
15
H. Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin..., 141-142.
16
H. Vanlalauva, The Theology of John Calvin..., 143.

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word is preached and sacraments are administered purely.17 However, the word of God must be preached
correctly and the sacrament should be rightly administered.

The duty of the church is to guide and help its members in their sanctification. If the church’s preaching
is not to be in vain and if the sacraments are effectually to confirm the faithful in their faith, the church
will have to practise constant self-examination in order to avoid all error and, in matters concerning its
own members, it will have to use some ecclesiastical discipline towards them. The discipline that thus
makes its appearance in Calvin is to maintain the purity of the church’s teaching and the believer’s
efforts towards sanctification.18This discipline was carried by the church leaders in respect of the
celebration of supper.

5. Church as head of the church

During the Protestant Reformation, one of the important issues is the headship of the church. In
the New Testament, one of the important images of the church is the body of Christ. In these images of
the church, what is emphasized is that Christ is the head of the church. 19 The body of Christ is build up,
and we grow in every part in adhesion to him who is the Head and become at unity among ourselves.
Jesus Christ alone is its ruler and head.20 By using the body of Christ image, Calvin emphasizes the
headship of Christ. For Him, Christ is the head of the church. He alone is the Lord of the church. Neither
the individuals nor collective body should not rule over the church. Jesus Christ alone is the ruler and
head of the church. The church has no identity of its own except the identity of Christ.21

5.1. Headship of Jesus Christ

 Christ himself is the head and where the lives of all its members are ruled by him through the
diversity of minister in the body. For Calvin, All authority in the church must be related to
Christ. It is Christ alone who should rule over the church. He is indeed the sole authority in the
Church. He has given human the authority of governing the church “not by transferring His

17
Herman J. Selderhuis, ed., The Calvin Handbook (Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 328.
Hereafter cited as Herman J. Selderhuis, The Calvin Handbook…
18
Francois Wendel, Calvin: Origins and Development of His Religious Thought, translated by Philip Mairet
(Michigan: Baker Books, 1997), 298. Hereafter cited as Francois Wendel, Calvin: Origins and Development of His Religious
Thought…
19
H.Vanlalauva, Theology of John Calvin…,146.
20
Wilhelm Niesel, The Theology of Calvin...,188.
21
H.Vanlalauva, Theology of John Calvin…, 146.

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 authority to them but that through them His authority might be made effective.” Calvin writes:
“See how all men, without exception, are placed in the body whiles the honor and name of the
Head is left to Christ alone.”22

 The Church is in Christ. Without Christ the whole world is shapeless chaos and frightening
confusion. We are brought into actual unity by Christ alone. Because Christ is head of the
church. He not only has final authority over the Church but He gives life to the church. Calvin
comments that as head of the church, Jesus is the “root, from which vital energy is diffused
through all the members, so the life of the church flows out form Christ. The Church finds her
life in Jesus Christ our Lord”.23
5.2. The identity of the believer within the Church.
 For Calvin, the Church is the Body or community to which Christ only is the head and others
members irrespective of the offices or position they hold are equal under him. The ministerial
authority is given to the whole church and is there distributed among many officers according to
what God has gifted and called them. All those who hold offices do so by election of the people
whose representative they are.24
 The importance of the church for the Christian life is at least threefold. In the first place, the
divine acts which constitute the church originate, sustain and direct the Christian life. In the
second place, the church is the communion of saints in whom the Christians are united not only
with Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, but also with one another. Finally, the church
provides the governmental and disciplinary environment which is suitable for the work of the
Holy Spirit.25
 The church is to governed and directed by assemblies of office holders, such as, Pastors,
Teachers or doctors, Elders and Deacons chosen to provide just representation for the church as
a whole. The preaching of the Gospel and the institution of the teaching ministry are intended to
awaken the faith and promote the collective sanctification of the members of the ecclesiastical
community.26

22
H. Vanlalauva, Theology of John Calvin…, 148.
23
https://www.ligonier.org/lern/devotionals/head-of-the-church (Accessed on 1st August, 2022).
24
H. Vanlalauva ,Theology of John Calvin…, 148.
25
John H. Leith, John Calvin Doctrine of the Christian life (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox Press,
1989), 167. Hereafter cited as John H.Leith, John Calvin Doctrine of the Christian…
26
John H. Leith, John Calvin Doctrine of the Christian…, 168.

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 6. Church as visible and invisible

Following Augustine and Luther, Calvin speaks of the visible and invisible church. If Calvin makes use
of the Augustinian distinction between the visible and invisible church, it is not in order to withdrawal
the visible Church partly or wholly from the rule of Christ and to hand it over to other powers. He takes
over the ideas of Augustine, not in order to develop a doctrine of two churches, but rather in order to
confront the empirical church which we know the concept of the invisible Church. All this play of ideas
is intended to show clearly that God is really the Lord of the church and that therefore the church in
which we live is not simply identical in its empirical reality with the Body of Christ. 27 Calvin views
Church as Visible and Invisible. The distinction between Church as visible and invisible are given as
follows:-

6.1. Visible Church:

 Calvin stresses that all believers are obliged to honor and remain committed to the
visible church, despite is its weaknesses, on account of the visible church, the true body
of Christ. Even so, there is only one church, a single entity with Jesus Christ as its head.
 The visible dimension of the church denotes the fact of permixtum, not only believers,
but also unbelievers and other members of the Church who confess their faith belong,
are baptized, take part in the Lord’s supper, and go to Sunday worship. Both aspects of
the one church are combined making the believing church necessary: invisible because
election cannot be seen and visible because, despite its mixture, the church is comprised
of the elect.28 But that beside this is the Church with which we are directly concerned
during our earthly life that is the visible church formed by the grouping of Christians
together in one and the sane parish.29
 For Calvin, the visible church is the body of Christ. To be in Christ means to be within
the visible church. For Calvin, it is to the visible church that Christ has committed his
treasure, the gospel. Through the proclamation of the gospel, people are brought to
Christ and save.30
27
William Niesel, The Theology of Calvin…,192.
28
Herman J. Selderhuis , The Calvin Handbook…, 325.
29
Francois Wendel, Calvin :Origins and Development of His Religious Thought…,296.
30
H. Vanlalauva, Theology of John Calvin…, 140.

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6.2. Invisible Church:
 For Calvin, invisible church is in the sight of God. All the Children of God are received into it by
the grace of adoption and by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. They consist not only of the
saints who dwell on earth but all who were elects from the beginning of the world. Even those
who are outside the visible church are included in the invisible Church.31
 The invisible church includes all of God’s elect who are only known to God. Talks of the
invisible body (of the church) indicate that only God knows who belongs to it. Here the
community of the saved includes all of the elect, includes those who have already died.
According to Calvin, Abraham and therefore, the Jewish people also belong to the body of the
church elect.32

7. Critical appraisal
7.1. Calvin’s understanding of the marks of the true church is very much trustworthy. As the
church practices are succeeded from the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:20), and Calvin goes in
line with the teachings of them. When the church or other ministries goes beyond this practice, it
becomes heretics. In today’s context, there are many heretical teachings; they were forming
groups and practice according to what they believe. They may also claim themselves as one who
goes to the right path. However, if the sacraments and the preaching of the word are not rightly
developed under good administration, it is not the true church. And that group/church is not safe
and trustworthy for the believers to stay within it.
7.2. Church is the mother of all believers and we are nurturing and growing in its bosom.
However, ‘no salvation outside the church’ is too exclusive and it is not truly acceptable.
Because salvation does not depend on the church but through the grace of God. However, the
most suitable way to grow in the Lord is to be a member of the church.
7.3. Calvin maintains that the invisible church is intrinsically related to the visible church.
For Calvin there can be no invisible church apart from the visible church and so also true church
without the invisible church.33The church is also understood as a guiding organisms through the
work of the Holy spirit that both the election of and the form of the church are not separate but

31
H. Vanlalauva, Theology of John Calvin…, 140.
32
Herman J. Selderhuis, The Calvin Handbook…, 25.
33
H.Vanlalauva, Theology of John Calvin…, 25.

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 are seen as different corresponds to the relationship between judgment and salvation ,whose
arrangement, moreover, follows the order of Christ. 34 Through Calvin it is very clear that Christ
is the head of the church and who established the church to fellowship his followers in order to
help each other under His authority. All the believer are value and have right to take part in the
Church. It is very important to follow Jesus by knowing that he is the one who have authority in
the Church. The Church is where the many saints communicate with the Lord as his one Body.
We can clearly acknowledge that according to John Calvin the church is the real body of Christ.
Calvin accepts and emphasize that the Church is holy and catholic.

8. Conclusion
The perspective of John Calvin for the ecclesiological brought new idea and inspiration not only
in the European Countries on 16th Century but also to different countries in the present day. The
church to Calvin is not an institute outside us, but it is the place where all believers horizontally
unites and grows with unity. His ideology of visible and invisible church, its imperfectness as
long as it exists upon earth bring forth that it must labour continuously at its own sanctification
and to each of the members.

34
Herman J. Selderhuis, The Calvin Handbook…, 325.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Vanlalauva, H. The Theology of John Calvin. Aizawl: Lallianpuii Publication, 2020.

Walker, Williston. A History of the Christian Church. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1959.

Niesel, Wilhelm. The Theology of Calvin. Translated by Harold Knight. Michigan: Lutterworth Press,
1956.

Selderhuis, Herman J., ed. The Calvin Handbook. Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,
2009.

Wendel, Francois. Calvin: Origins and Development of His Religious Thought. Translated by Philip
Mairet. Michigan: Baker Books, 1997.

Leith, John H. John Calvin Doctrine of the Christian life. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox
Press, 1989.

INTERNET SOURCE

https://www.ligonier.org/lern/devotionals/head-of-the-church (Accessed on 1st August, 2022).

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