As I begin my post as director of the Meeter Center, I am conscious both of my debt of gratitude to former and present colleagues and of the significant opportunities open to the Meeter Center in this new phase. Arriving in Grand Rapids on August 19, I have settled in well, largely thanks to the friendly welcome I have received from staff and faculty at Calvin College and Seminary.

I was born and brought up in Montreal, Canada, but spent the last eight years of my life at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland, first as a graduate student, then as a postdoctoral fellow and teaching fellow in the modern history department. I also spent significant amounts of time in Switzerland, working in Geneva on my doctoral research and in Zurich on my postdoctoral project. My contacts with scholars across Europe have shown me that there is a deep, and in many cases growing interest in Reformation history and the history of Calvinism. I hope to build on these links and increase the collaboration of other research centers and archives with the Meeter Center.

This year promises to be an active one in the Meeter Center. Our major event for the autumn occurred on Saturday, October 11, when we hosted an afternoon conference to mark the birth anniversary of Philip Melancthon, the German Reformer and educator. Plans are underway to publish the proceedings of this conference. The Meeter Center is also delighted to be sponsoring a session at the Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, one of the largest gatherings of scholars in early modern history in Atlanta at the end of October. Other plans include the creation of a booklet detailing the sources available for scholars in the Meeter Center, the overhaul of our Web page and the continued recruitment of high-caliber scholars for our Meeter Center fellowships.

As these and other plans get underway, we look forward to your comments, suggestions and visits. The Meeter Center exists to provide research opportunities for scholars and others with an interest in Calvinism and the Reformation. We appreciate your support of our activities and look forward to the next years.

Karin Y. Maag

In honor of the 500th anniversary of Philip Melanchthon’s birth, the Meeter Center devoted its fall colloquium on the afternoon of Saturday, October 11, 1997, to a consideration of various aspects of his theology and influence. Four scholars presented stimulating papers.

Dr. Timothy Wengert, Professor of the History of Christianity at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, delivered the first paper of the afternoon, “‘We Will Feast Together in Heaven Forever’: The Epistolary Friendship of John Calvin and Philip Melanchthon.” Despite their theological differences, the relationship between the two men has traditionally been understood as being very close. This assessment, argued Professor Wengert, fails to appreciate sufficiently the etiquette of Renaissance letter writing, which contextualizes their correspondence. Once this is recognized, it becomes evident that the relationship between Calvin and Melanchthon was an epistolary friendship, a kind of literary fiction imposed on a complex web of interaction, not all of which was friendly. Discernible within the twenty-nine known exchanges between Melanchthon and Calvin are deep tensions over the most important theological disputes of the day. Nonetheless, within the strict and sometimes convoluted rules of Renaissance letter writing, these leading Reformers constructed a literary friendship that successfully papered over their differences while revealing to the careful reader the significant hermeneutical divide between them. This, argued Professor Wengert, was a remarkable achievement worthy of emulation in current theological disputes.

The second address was given by Dr. Richard Muller, P. J. Zondervan Professor of Historical Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. In his paper, “Ordo docendi: Melanchthon and the Organization of Calvin’s Institutes, 1536–1543,” Professor Muller examined a particular aspect of their intellectual dialogue—the rather neglected topic of theological method in the era of the Reformation. Despite vigorous disagreements over several major doctrinal issues, Calvin and Melanchthon appear to share a common theological method. In fact, Calvin appears to have learned much of the method, albeit less of the actual content, of his Institutes from Melanchthon. Specifically, the writings of both Calvin and Melanchthon share a concern to preserve the Pauline pedagogical order reflected in the exegetical interests of the book of Romans. This commitment to Pauline structure not only reflects a certain cross-pollination between the two Reformers but also helps account for developmental differences in Calvin’s middle (1539) and later editions of the Institutes.

The third paper of the afternoon, “What Hath Wittenberg to Do with Heidelberg? Philip Melanchthon and the Heidelberg Catechism,” was delivered by Dr. Lyle Bierma, Professor of Theology at Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Professor Bierma argued that while scholars have long claimed to find evidence of Melanchthon’s influence on the structure, tone, and primary author of the HC (Ursinus), such connections do not constitute proof of direct influence on the text of the catechism itself. Much of what scholars have identified in the HC as distinctively Melanchthonian—the threefold division of the catechism, the central theme of comfort, the doctrine of the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, etc.—can also be traced to other Reformation traditions. Thus, argued Dr. Bierma, the HC contains themes that have their parallels in Melanchthon but not necessarily their origins.

The final presentation of the day was offered by Dr. John Robert Schneider, executive director and resident scholar of the John G. Neihardt Center in Bancroft, Nebraska and presently on leave from his position as professor of religion and theology at Calvin College. In his paper, “Melanchthon’s Rhetoric as a Context for Assessing His Theology,” Dr. Schneider argued that the tradition that views Melanchthon as a secondary thinker needs to be reconsidered. Recent studies suggest that he was much further along in his theological studies when he arrived at Wittenberg and that his views were complementary to, not simply derivative from, those of Luther. Specifically, Melanchthon had already developed a significantly original system of rhetoric that he envisioned as being an instrument of reform in both human studies and in the schools of theology and in the leadership of the churches. Its theological form was a kind of applied Christian philosophy derived from and exemplified by the rhetoric of the apostle Paul in the book of Romans. In his paper Dr. Schneider surveyed the values of Melanchthon’s rhetoric, how they influenced the distinctive crucial decisions he made as a representative of the Lutheran camp, and in what ways certain (almost standard) negative judgments of the quality of his influence are in need of revision. Specifically, the direction of our grading of Philip Melanchthon as a teacher of Scripture and Protestant doctrine must be upwards.

Douglas A. Felch, Ph.D. student
Calvin Theological Seminary

Rare Books

Calvin, Jean. Les Actes du Concile de Trente: avec le remede contre le poison, par M. Jean Calvin. Geneva: Jean Girard, 1548.

Calvin, Johannes. In omnes D. Pauli epistolas, atque etiam in epistolam ad Hebræos.... Geneva: Jean Girard, 1551.

Synodus Bethlehemitica Adversus Calvinistas Hæreticos.... Paris: Edmund Martin, 1676.

Articles

Carbonnier-Burkard, Marianne. “Calvin lecteur des psaumes: l’anatomie de l’âme.” Bulletin de la Societé de l’Histoire du Protestantisme Français 143, 1997: 131–34.

Elliott, Mark W. “Calvin the Hebraiser? Influence and Independence in Calvin’s Old Testament lectures, with special reference to the ‘commentary’ on Jeremiah.” In Interpreting the Bible: Historical and Theological Studies, 99–112. Edited by Anthony N. S. Lane. Great Yarmouth, Britain: Apollos, 1997.

Han, Chul-Ha. “Calvin’s Doctrine of the Divine Election and Pastoral Ministry.” Acts Theological Journal 6, 1996: 1–14.

Johnson, Stephen M. “‘The Sinews of the Body of Christ’ Calvin’s Concept of Church Discipline.” The Westminster Theological Journal 59, no. 1, 1997: 87–100.

Kearsley, Roy. “Calvin and the Power of the Elder: A Case of the Rogue Hermeneutic?” In Interpreting the Bible: Historical and Theological Studies, 113–29. Edited by Anthony N. S. Lane. Great Yarmouth, Britain: Apollos, 1997.

Lane, Anthony N. S. “Calvin and the Fathers in Bondage and Liberation of the Will.” In Calvinus Sincerioris Religionis Vindex: Calvin as Protector of the Purer Religion, 67–96. Edited by W. H. Neuser and B. G. Armstrong. In Sixteenth Century Essays and Studies 36, 1997.

____. “The Sources of Calvin’s Citations in His Genesis Commentary.” In Interpreting the Bible: Historical and Theological Studies, 47–97. Edited by Anthony N. S. Lane. Great Yarmouth, Britain: Apollos, 1997.

____. “Did Calvin Use Lippoman’s Catena in Genesim?” Calvin Theological Journal 31, no. 2, 1997: 404–19.

Maag, Karin. “The spectre of ignorance....” In Fear in Early Modern Society, 137–49. Manchester: University Press, 1997

____.“Education and Training for the Calvinist Ministry: the Academy of Geneva, 1559–1620.” In The Reformation of the Parishes, 133–52. Manchester: University Press, 1993.

____. “Financing Education: The Zurich Approach, 1550–1620.” In Reformations Old and New. 203–16. Aldershot: Scolar Press, 1996.

Payton, James R., Jr. “Calvin and the Libri Carolini.” The Sixteenth Century Journal 28, no. 2, 1997: 467–80.

Strimple, Robert B. “St. Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo and John Calvin’s Doctrine of the Atonement.” In Anselm: Aosta, Bec, and Canterbury: Papers in Commemoration of the Nine-Hundredth Anniversary of Anselm’s Enthronement as Archbishop, 248–60. Edited by D. E. Luscombe and G. R. Evans. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996.

Dissertations

Ahn, Myung Jun. “The Methodology of Brevitas and Facilitas as the Hermeneutic Principle of John Calvin.” Th. M. thesis, Westminster Theological Seminary, 1992.

Moos, James Allen. “Defining the Prophetic: A Reformed and Hermeneutical Model.” Ph. D. diss., Princeton Theological Seminary, 1996.

Books

Haas, Guenther. The Concept of Equity in Calvin’s Ethics. Waterloo, Ontario: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 1997.

Maag, Karin, ed. The Reformation in Eastern and Central Europe. Aldershot: Scolar Press, 1997.

____. Seminary or University? The Genevan Academy and Reformed Higher Education. Aldershot: Scolar Press, 1996.

Forthcoming

Hesselink, I. John. Calvin’s First Catechism: A Commentary. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1997.

Maag, Karin, ed. and trans. The Reformation and the Book. Aldershot: Scolar Press, 1998.

McKim, Donald K., Robert Benedetto and Darrell Guder. Historical Dictionary of Reformed Churches. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1998.

____. Introducing the Reformed Faith. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1998.

Book Review

Leith, John H. Review of Interpreting John Calvin by Ford Lewis Battles. Theology Today, 1997.

April 16, 1997: The third annual student colloquium featured Kathy Ponstein, a Calvin College junior religion and theology major, who read a paper entitled “Theology and Humanism in the Calvin Sadoleto Exchange.” Mark Larson, a Ph. D. student at Calvin Theological Seminary, presented a paper entitled “John Calvin and Genevan ‘Presbyterianism.’”

October 11, 1997: The Melanchthon Conference marked the 500th anniversary of the birth of Philip Melanchthon. See article on page 1.

February 19, 1998: The fourth annual student colloquium.

April 23, 1998: Dr. John D. Witvliet, director of the Institute for Christian Worship, will speak on the topic, “Sursum Corda: Images and Themes in John Calvin’s Theology of Worship.”

Illinois Medieval Association

On February 20–21, 1998, the Illinois Medieval Association will hold its 15th annual meeting on the campus of Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois. For more information contact: B. K. Young, Department of History, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920–3099.

Colloquium on Calvin Studies

The 1998 colloquium will be held at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson, North Carolina on January 30–31. Speakers and their topics are:

• David Wright: “Calvin’s Rhetoric”
• Anthony Lane: “Calvin’s Treatise Against Pighius: The Problem of Bondage and Freedom”
• Max Engammare: “Calvin as Prophet: A Study of the Sermons on Isaiah”
• Herman Selderhuis: “The Hiddenness of God in Calvin’s Psalms Commentary”
• David Puckett: “Calvin as an Old Testament Exegete”
• Richard Muller: “A Review of Recent Calvin Studies”
• Robert Kingdon: “Calvin’s and the Genevans’ Efforts to Control Hate”

Faculty Research Fellowship. Dr. Joy Kleinstuber, assistant lecturer in French, Limerick University, Ireland, is preparing a new edition of Calvin’s Defensio orthodoxae fidei de sacra Trinitate contra prodigiosos errores Michaelis Serveti... Dr. Tae Kyoung Kwon, a post-doctoral research fellow, Reformation Studies Institute, St. Andrews University, Scotland, worked on a comparison of the political thought of John Calvin and John Knox.

Student Research Fellowship. Mr. Peter Aggarwal, a student at Oxford University, Oxford, England, writes of his experience while here (see article below). Mr. David Noe, a student from the University of Iowa, Coralville, Iowa, researched Calvin’s Prefatory Address to King Francis, 1559 Edition: Text and Commentary.

Emo F. J. Van Halsema Fellowship. Dr. Jeffry Stam, associate pastor of Friendship Chapel, Jenison, Michigan and founder of Set Free Ministries, researched historical Reformed views on spiritual warfare against the demonic.

I arrived from England on Tuesday evening. On Thursday morning, still jet-lagged, I found myself with many others singing “Happy Birthday” to John Calvin and eating birthday cake. Now it is my last day, and I am more aware of Calvin College’s Reformed heritage and why it is not completely mad that sane people should sing “Happy Birthday” to someone who has been dead for over 400 years.

I came from Oxford University with two main objectives: to gather secondary resources and to decide on the structure of my doctoral thesis. I succeeded on the first and have some firmer ideas on the second after some advice from Dr. Richard Muller. My thesis is on the debates about Word and Spirit among Zwingli, Hubmaier, Calvin, Marpeck and Menno, and I am being supervised by Dr. Alister McGrath.

In Oxford I work either at home or in the Bodleian Library. Neither provides the easy access to resources that I have enjoyed. It is a sheer delight to read in the Meeter Center and immediately be able to follow up leads in other books, articles, microfiche, rare books or even on the Internet. I am used to waiting for at least 2–4 hours in the Bodleian for books to be delivered and another 2–4 hours if I want anything photocopied.

I would like to thank the Meeter Center for giving me this fellowship. It has given my research a real boost, and I am more confident now than when I came. I would also like to thank the staff, Paul and Susan, for their professional help and their generous hospitality. It has been an enjoyable and productive month, but it is time I returned to my wife and daughter in Oxford.

Peter Aggarwal
Merton College, Oxford