<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Although there are many studies on John Calvin’s teaching on natural law, the relation between natural law and Roman law has received relatively less attention. This essay examines the relation between natural law and Roman law in Calvin’s exegetical writing on the Mosaic law. I argue that Calvin regarded Roman law as an exemplary, albeit imperfect, witness to the natural law, and he used Roman law to aid in his interpretation of the Mosaic law. Since he assumed that Roman law embodies principles of natural law, Calvin drew on Roman law as an aid in order to distinguish natural from positive law within the Mosaic law. He also broadened the scope of commandments in the second table of the Decalogue by comparison with natural and Roman law. Yet although Calvin drew many continuities between Mosaic and Roman laws, he remained critical of the Roman system due to various failings in comparison with Scripture and principles of natural law.</p>
</abstract>

Although there are many studies on John Calvin’s teaching on natural law, the relation between natural law and Roman law has received relatively less attention. This essay examines the relation between natural law and Roman law in Calvin’s exegetical writing on the Mosaic law. I argue that Calvin regarded Roman law as an exemplary, albeit imperfect, witness to the natural law, and he used Roman law to aid in his interpretation of the Mosaic law. Since he assumed that Roman law embodies principles of natural law, Calvin drew on Roman law as an aid in order to distinguish natural from positive law within the Mosaic law. He also broadened the scope of commandments in the second table of the Decalogue by comparison with natural and Roman law. Yet although Calvin drew many continuities between Mosaic and Roman laws, he remained critical of the Roman system due to various failings in comparison with Scripture and principles of natural law.

John Calvin on the Intersection of Natural, Roman, and Mosaic Law

Perichoresis

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"John Calvin on the Intersection of Natural, Roman, and Mosaic Law"}

Although there are many studies on John Calvin’s teaching on natural law, the relation between natural law and Roman law has received relatively less...

John Calvin on the Intersection of Natural, Roman, and Mosaic Law

Published Online: May 09, 2022

Page range: 19 - 41

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2022-0008

Keywords
John Calvin, natural law, Roman law, Mosaic law, Decalogue

© 2022 David S. Sytsma, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

John Calvin on the Intersection of Natural, Roman, and Mosaic Law

Published Online: May 09, 2022

Page range: 19 - 41

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2022-0008

KeywordsJohn Calvin, natural law, Roman law, Mosaic law, Decalogue

© 2022 David S. Sytsma, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
John Calvin, natural law, Roman law, Mosaic law, Decalogue