Calvijn en het debat over de toerekening van Christus’ dadelijke gehoorzaamheid

Samenvatting

Since 1564, Protestant theology has debated whether Christ’s active obedience is imputed, including the question of Calvin’s view of Christ’s active obedience of Christ (IAOC), especially because both proponents and opponents of IAOC appeal to him. Analysis of Calvin’s view concludes that he defines imputation in such a way that it can only lead to the annulment of a debt, not to cause a positive balance. Because Calvin locates imputation in the theological space between guilt and guiltlessness, and not between that of guiltlessness and eternal life, it’s impossible to regard Calvin as a proponent of IAOC. Nor can his view refer to a latent or incipient form of IAOC. Given IAOC’s influence on the concept of justification, on the relationships between justification and works, that between law and gospel and on the covenant of works, this conclusion has important implications for central aspects of Calvin’s theology.