<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Amidst a growing renewal of interest in Calvinism and Calvin scholarship
throughout the globe in the wake of John Calvin’s 500th anniversary of his birth (1509-2009),
this article focuses on John Calvin’s early ecclesiological development. In contrast to advancing
theories that Calvin developed his ecclesiological understanding of church discipline from earlier
Anabaptist doctrines and leaders which he would have been exposed to intimately during
his exile in Strasbourg (1538-1541), this article argues that Calvin had already determined and
articulated a well-balanced and detailed understanding of the ban (church discipline) before
his arrival in the protestant refuge city of Strasbourg. Further, this article argues that Calvin’s
sojourn and interaction with Anabaptists in Strasbourg cannot adequately explain Calvin’s ecclesiological
understanding or increasing practice of Church discipline in Strasbourg or Geneva,
but rather displays a vivid disparity between Calvin and the Anabaptist position on the ban
which Calvin denounces as false perfectionism.</p></abstract>

Amidst a growing renewal of interest in Calvinism and Calvin scholarship
throughout the globe in the wake of John Calvin’s 500th anniversary of his birth (1509-2009),
this article focuses on John Calvin’s early ecclesiological development. In contrast to advancing
theories that Calvin developed his ecclesiological understanding of church discipline from earlier
Anabaptist doctrines and leaders which he would have been exposed to intimately during
his exile in Strasbourg (1538-1541), this article argues that Calvin had already determined and
articulated a well-balanced and detailed understanding of the ban (church discipline) before
his arrival in the protestant refuge city of Strasbourg. Further, this article argues that Calvin’s
sojourn and interaction with Anabaptists in Strasbourg cannot adequately explain Calvin’s ecclesiological
understanding or increasing practice of Church discipline in Strasbourg or Geneva,
but rather displays a vivid disparity between Calvin and the Anabaptist position on the ban
which Calvin denounces as false perfectionism.

A Calvinist and Anabaptist Understanding of the Ban

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Perichoresis

{"article-title":"A Calvinist and Anabaptist Understanding of the Ban"}

Amidst a growing renewal of interest in Calvinism and Calvin scholarship
throughout the globe in the wake of John Calvin’s 500th anniversary of his birth...

A Calvinist and Anabaptist Understanding of the Ban

Published Online: Sep 20, 2012

Page range: 165 - 193

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10297-012-0008-2

Keywords
John Calvin, Anabaptists, Church Discipline, the Ban, Perfectionism

This content is open access.

A Calvinist and Anabaptist Understanding of the Ban

Published Online: Sep 20, 2012

Page range: 165 - 193

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10297-012-0008-2

KeywordsJohn Calvin, Anabaptists, Church Discipline, the Ban, Perfectionism

This content is open access.

Keywords
John Calvin, Anabaptists, Church Discipline, the Ban, Perfectionism