That is a very difficult question for me to answer. I voted Calvin, but Owen or Edwards are right up there as well. I think what swayed me to Calvin is that generally I find him deep and still understandable for most people.
At the risk of looking like a copycat, I'd go for Calvin as well!!
Owen has blessed me richly, but as rileysowner says - Calvin has the edge in terms of depth and accessability. I love the fact the the Institutes are readable to all, and the logical progression that employs to lead the reader to the truth.
My only caveat in registering a preference is that I haven't actually read extended studies by Luther, Zwingli, or Hodge - so I might be a bit of lame duck voter. In the case of Luther and Zwingli, I have been more inspired by their lives and impact than by their writings (much to my shame), and I haven't gotten round to Hodge yet (to my even greater shame).
Happily I'm only 29 and if I live, and the Lord tarries, I may have time to get round to them eventually.
I've gone for Owen. (Note to Michael Jensen, "One man's ceiling is another man's floor").
I know that historically he is a consolidator rather than a pioneer but for such an astonishing exposition and defense of Reformed theology he gets my vote. And he was Welsh, well sort of.
I have to go with Luther, because of his primary emphasis on God's grace. Calvin emphasied God's sovreignty. Luther assumed it. The greatest gift is grace, which permits us to have faith in the first place in all of the manifestations of that grace.
That is a very difficult question for me to answer. I voted Calvin, but Owen or Edwards are right up there as well. I think what swayed me to Calvin is that generally I find him deep and still understandable for most people.
ReplyDeleteI, too, voted Calvin. And as far as I'm concerned, it is no contest.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of looking like a copycat, I'd go for Calvin as well!!
ReplyDeleteOwen has blessed me richly, but as rileysowner says - Calvin has the edge in terms of depth and accessability. I love the fact the the Institutes are readable to all, and the logical progression that employs to lead the reader to the truth.
My only caveat in registering a preference is that I haven't actually read extended studies by Luther, Zwingli, or Hodge - so I might be a bit of lame duck voter. In the case of Luther and Zwingli, I have been more inspired by their lives and impact than by their writings (much to my shame), and I haven't gotten round to Hodge yet (to my even greater shame).
Happily I'm only 29 and if I live, and the Lord tarries, I may have time to get round to them eventually.
Sorry, another Calvin. He takes such a pounding everywhere else I thought it would be good to see him win for once!
ReplyDeleteAnd John Owen: puhlease... he'd be down the end of my list.
Much more difficult than the last poll.
ReplyDeleteI've gone for Owen. (Note to Michael Jensen, "One man's ceiling is another man's floor").
I know that historically he is a consolidator rather than a pioneer but for such an astonishing exposition and defense of Reformed theology he gets my vote. And he was Welsh, well sort of.
Yet another Calvin, sorry. I have been reading a lot of Owen, though, and have found him to be a great blessing.
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Luther, because of his primary emphasis on God's grace. Calvin emphasied God's sovreignty. Luther assumed it. The greatest gift is grace, which permits us to have faith in the first place in all of the manifestations of that grace.
ReplyDelete