Christian Spirituality and Ethical Life: Calvin's View on the Spirit in Ecumenical Context

Christian Spirituality and Ethical Life offers a helpful study of the place of the Spirit in John Calvins theology. It also discovers a notion of the spiritual life in connection with ethical life. It thus overcomes the prevailing popular pictures about the theology of John Calvin in several significant ways providing a refreshing alternative to the anemic spirituality so prevalent today. It can be stated confidently that Calvin was a theologian of the Holy Spirit in solidarity with the poor standing in openness to others. Very favorably impressed by this book I believe that it is original and important contribution to the study of John Calvin in an ecumenical context. It promises to be the starting point for a whole new set of approaches to Calvin. _William J. Bouwsma Sather Professor of History Emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley. Well-conceived and amply documented Dr. Chungs contribution lies in opening up John Calvin as a theologian of the third article which has been long neglected in the reformed tradition. -Martin Anton Schmidt Professor Emeritus of Theology and Church history at the University of Basel Switzerland. Chungs meticulous and detailed inquiry into the pneumatology of Calvin brings to light an exciting largely unknown facet of the Reformed theologian namely a holistic socially-oriented doctrine of the Spirit and spirituality. Chungs study is a masterful blend of historical Reformation studies dialogue with the most recent systematic theologies-especially views of Barth and Moltmann-systematic analysis and creative constructive proposals. -Veli-Matti Karkkainen Professor of Systematic Theology Fuller Theological Seminary Docent of Ecumenics University of Helsinki Paul S. Chung is Associate Professor at Luther Seminary St. Paul MN. His books include Martin Luther and Buddhism: Aesthetics of Suffering (2007) and Karl Barth: Gods Word in Action (2008).