John Calvin's Understanding of Baptism, and the Relation Between the Sacraments and Christian Ethics

John Calvin’s Understanding of

Baptism, and the Relation Between the

Sacraments and Christian Ethics

 IsaoMATSUDAIRA

Ⅰ. Calvin’s Understanding of Baptism.

　JohnCalvindefinesbaptismas“thesignoftheinitiationbywhichweare receivedintothesocietyoftheChurch,inorderthat,engraftedtoChrist, wemaybereckonedamongGod’schildren”.1）_{Hementionsthreetokens} whichareimpartedtotheChristianinbaptism;forgivenessofhumansins, thebeliever’smortificationandrenewalinChrist,andtheunionbetween ChristandHisbelievers.2）_{Thefirsttwoofthesetokensdependwhollyupon} thethird,sinceCalvin’steachingconcerningbaptismalwaysreturnstothat figurativeunion. 　WhileCalvinaffirmsthatbaptismis“asignofforgiveness,”whichdoes notsignifythepowerofpurificationinwater,itisGod’sdeclarationthat believersareincorporatedintothebodyofChrist.ThusCalvinnotesthat “weputonChristinbaptism”.3）_{AtheologianDanielMigliore,likewise,} キーワード：ジョン・カルビン，洗礼，サクラメント，キリスト教倫理

1 ）JohnCalvin,Institutes of the Christian Religion,ed.JohnT.McNeill,trans. FordLewisBattles（Philadelphia:WestminsterPress,n.d.）,Vol.2,p.1303. 2 ）Ibid.,pp.1304-1308.

writesthat“theeventofbaptismthusmarksthebeginningoftheChristian’s participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.”4）_{ Therefore,}

CalvinobservesthatChrististherealobjectofbaptism. 　AccordingtoCalvin,baptism’sunionwithChristrepresentsnotonlyHis deathandresurrection,butalsoHisblessing.5）_{Thismysticalunionoccurs} bytheworkoftheHolySpirit,bywhosegracebelieversaretransformed tothenewnessoflifeandbroughtintothefellowshipofChrist.6）_Ronald WallaceexplainsCalvin’sviewthat“thisnewlifeisthelifeofsonshipof theFatherinunionwithChrist,whowasdeclaredthesonofGodbythe resurrectionfromthedead.Baptismisthusasignofadoptionintothe familyofGod.”7） 　AlthoughIagreewithallofCalvin’saforementionedviewsonbaptism, I am more hesitant concerning his theory of infant baptism. Calvin asserts that infant baptism corresponds to Jewish circumcision, since baptism occupies the place of circumcision to fulfill the same office amongChristians.8）_{Heseesbothbaptismandcircumcisionasthesame} confirmationofGod’scovenant,whichcontinuesfromtheOldTestament totheNewTestament.9）_{BecauseScripturestatesthatChristinvitedand} blessedlittlechildrenaspartakersoftheKingdomofHeaven（inMatthew 19:13-15）,CalvinarguesthatChristiansshouldnotexcludethemfromthe 4 ）DanielL.Migliore,FaithSeeingUnderstanding:AnIntroductiontoChristian Theology（GrandRapids:EerdmansPublishingCo.,1991）,p.215. 5 ）Calvin,p.1307. 6 ）Ibid.,p.1325. 7 ）RonaldS.Wallace,Calvin’sDoctrineoftheWordandSacrament（Grand Rapids:EerdmansPublishingC.,1957）,p.180. 8 ）Calvin,p.1327. 9 ）Ibid.,p.1329.

signandthebenefitofbaptism.10）

　I agree with Calvin’s view that the covenant in operation in the Old TestamentisessentiallythesameasthecovenantintheNewTestament. Bothbaptismandcircumcisionsymbolizesalvationtoitsdeepestandfullest extent.Thereisonlyonebasicunderlyingcovenantforallages. 　JesuscommandsHisapostlestogointothewholeworldtopreachthe gospel,andHesaysthat“Hewhohasbelievedandhasbeenbaptizedshall besaved;buthewhohasdisbelievedshallbecondemned”（inMark16: 16）.However,inotherword,Jesussaysthatapersonshallnotbesaved, eventhoughhehasbeenbaptized,ifhedoesnotbelieve.Thus,without faithbaptismwouldbeinvain.InboththeOldTestamentandtheNew Testament, the covenant gave only one Mediator, namely Jesus Christ; thereisonlyoneconditionforsalvation,namelyfaith.Christiansmustnot ignorethatfact. 　MigliorenotesKarlBarth’sopinionthat“inbaptismthereisfirstan actionofGod（baptismwiththeSpirit）andthenacorrespondinghuman action（baptismwithwater）:thereisadivinegiftandahumanresponse.”11）_ Inasense,BarthdividesbaptismintothebaptismoftheSpiritandthat ofwater.Thefirstreferstocovenantlove,andthelastreferstohuman faith.IagreewiththisviewsinceIbelievethat“baptismandfaithare inseparablyrelated.”12）_{Ifthisviewiscorrect,infantbaptismfailstoexplain} howinfantseitherreceivebaptisminfaith,orwitnesstoitsfaithbeforethe congregation. 　Calvindeclaresthatrejectionofinfantbaptismstandsfortherefection 10）Ibid.,p.1332. 11）Migliore,p.216. 12）Ibid.,p.218.

of infants as heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.13）_{ Nevertheless, I must}

doubtwhetherthepracticeofinfantbaptismtrulyreflectsthemeaningof welcomingthemintotheChurchcommunity.Therefore,whenChristians identifybaptismwithwaterasadeclarationoftheirfaith,itisdefficultto regardinfantbaptismasthetruebaptism.

Ⅱ. The Relation Between the Sacraments and Christian Ethics.

　Thedoctrineofthesacramentsprimarilybringsanunderstandingthat thepromisesgivenintheWordarethatofaChristian’smysticalunionwith thebodyofChrist.AsIstatedpreviously,forCalvin,thisunionwithChrist isoneofthemostimportantdoctrinesforunderstandingthemeaningofthe sacraments.CalvinspeaksofbothsacramentsasbeingsignsofChristians’ incorporationintothebodyofChrist. 　Therefore,thepurposeofthesacramentsistoshowthesolidarityof allChristiansasmembersofChrist’sbody.Especiallyinthepracticeof baptism,thisunionisobvious.ChristiansarejoinedtoChrist’sdeathand resurrection,thatsecretunionbywhichtheygrowintoonewithChrist.14）_ Christiansmustrealizethattheunionsignifiesnotonlytheunionbetween ChristandHisbelievers,butalsotheunionamongallofChrist’sbelievers. There is no difference in each individual, for all believers are equally engraftedintoChrist.Migliorenotesthat“baptismcreatesasolidaritythat defiesandshattersthedivisionsandbarriersthatsinfulhumanbeingshave created.”15）_{Besides,Calvinsuggeststhatthereisnobenefitinbaptism} 13）Calvin,p.1330. 14）Ibid.,p.1385. 15）Migliore,p.224.

withouttheunity.16）_{Accordingly,torefusethegracioussolidarityinChrist} istorefusetocometotheonesuresourceofthegraceofChrist.“Racism, sexism,andotherideologiesofseparation”17）_{mustbeeliminatedfromthe} Church,sincetheyonlycauseadenialofsolidaritywithintheChristian community. 　Miglioreexplainsthatbaptismsignifiesmultidenominationalsolidarity, andtheLord’sSuppersignifiesmultidenominationalsharing.18）_Christians

should comprehend that both sacraments are mutually related. To this end, Enrique Dussel notes that for Christianity to be a religion that emphasizesthespiritualunionbetweenbelieversinChrist,theChristian lifeshouldestablishtheessentialimportanceofsensitivityfortheneedsof itsmembers.19）_{ThisisindeedtrueforChristianlife.Miglioreaddressesthe} Lord’sSupperas“thesacramentofhumanparticipationinthedivinelifeby sharinglifewitheachother.”20）_{Sharinglifewithothers,becauseoftheunity} inChrist,isthemostimportantissueconcerningtherelationbetweenthe sacramentsandChristianethics.TherearemillionsofhungryChristians intheworld,withwhomChristiansshouldsharetheirbreadandwine,if theyaretrulyunitedinChrist.Inthissense,theLord’sSupperrequiresthe Christian’sresponsibleparticipationinChrist’sbodybysharingeachother. 　Finally,implicitinthedescriptionofthepracticesofbothsacramentsis anunderstandingofimportanceofforgivenessinChristianlife.Gregory Jonesnotesthat“communitiesthatcomeintobeingbearingthenameof 16）Calvin,p.1385. 17）Migliore,p.224. 18）Ibid.,p.225.

19）EnriqueDussel,Ethics and Community,trans.RobertR.Barr（NewYork: OrbisBooks,1988）,p.66.

Christaretobecommunitiesinwhichforgiveness,notpunishment,isthe norm.”21）_{SinceChristiancommunityistobeshapedintheonenesswith}

ChristthroughtheforgivenessofGod,membersofChristiancommunities cannotengageinunitywithChristwithoutforgivingeachother.Through the practices of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, Christian communities shouldrealizethattheirexistenceisbasedonChrist’sforgiveness,and thatthepracticeofforgivenessrelatestoeachChristian’sfriendshipin Christ.Thisforgivenessbringsnewlife,unionwithChrist,andpeacewithin Christiancommunitiesworldwide.

Bibliography

Calvin,John.Institutes of the Christian Religion.Volume2.EditedbyJohnT. McNeill.TranslatedbyFordLewisBattles.Philadelphia:WestminsterPress, n.d.

Dussel,Enrique.Ethics and Community.TranslatedbyRobertR.Barr.New York:OrbisBooks,1988.

Jones,L.Gregory.Transformed Judgment: Toward a Trinitarian Account of the Moral Life.London:UniversityofNotreDamePress,1990.

Migliore,DanielL.Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology.GrandRapids:EerdmansPublishingC.,1991.

Wallace,RonaldS.Calvin’s Doctrine of the Word and Sacrament.GrandRapids: EerdmansPublishingCo.,1957.

21）L.GregoryJones,Transformed Judgment: Toward a Trinitarian Account of the Moral Life（London:UniversityofNotreDamePress,1990）,p.147.