John Calvin the Ascension and the Papacy

John Calvin’s criticisms of the Roman Papacy which take place in the context of his overall ecclesiology are basically correct. Calvin’s view of the marks of the church provides us a dynamic conception of the body of Christ as a creation of the Spirit of the ascended Lord. In the context of his polemic with Rome we examine his ecclesiology especially his conception of the ministry the marks ecclesial doctrine and jurisdiction. We show that with respect to the apostolate and the subsequent ministry of the church as well as the keys and marks of the church Calvin’s arguments can be greatly strengthened by a full appreciation of the ascension of Jesus Christ and the eschatological situation created thereby. We seek thus to extend Calvin’s views of the church and the ministry of the Spirit in a fully temporal direction which takes into account the eschatological “already not yet” tension. We apply these insights specifically to the claims of the Roman papacy.