Calvin and the Sabbath: The Controversy of Applying the Fourth Commandment

by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

Calvin's views on the Sabbath are the subject of claim and counterclaim. This book brings together two controversial themes: Calvin's ideas on Church/state relationships, and on the sabbath. Richard Gaffin traces the development of the beliefs of Calvin through his comments and writings, and also helps us to understand the relationship between the ten commandments and the New Testament. Calvin's conclusions have a much wider implication than just what you do on Sunday! You might also be surprised by Griffin's analysis!

Genres: Theology, Christian

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. is a Calvinist theologian, Presbyterian minister, and was the Charles Krahe Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1999 to 2008. He became the Professor Emeritus, Biblical and Systematic Theology in 2008.

Reviews

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaffin, Richard. Calvin on the Sabbath: The Controversy of applying the Fourth Commandment. Mentor Publishing, 1998.

This book tangentially deals with what we call modern Sabbatarian controversies. Gaffin isn’t so much concerned with whether we can go to our kid’s soccer game on Sunday as he is with whether Calvin was consistent in seeing the Lord’s Day as a creation ordinance, typical ordinance, or elements of both. Therefore, Gaffin (or Gaffin’s Calvin) will not help either the latitudinarian nor the Midrashim who wants to make up lists of what we are or are not allowed to do on the Sabbath. If Gaffin has an agenda, it’s hard to see. This book is just scholarship.

I am going to lay out several theses on what Calvin taught on the Sabbath. This isn’t Gaffin’s method, but it’s easier to make sense of:

(1) When tied with the creational element, the Sabbath has an eschatological thrust where we fully rest from sin (32).

(2) Resting from our labors on the Sabbath allows for the public worship of God (37). This raises another question, though: is Sunday rooted in mere convenience or in God’s law? There really isn’t an easy answer to this.

(3) Calvin doesn’t really contradict himself between the Institutes and the Commentaries. The differences can be accounted for by different opponents.

(4) WIth Christ the Sabbath ceased to function as a type. The spiritual rest is now a full reality (48).

(5) The Sabbath is still binding in the sense of our servants need rest and we need to worship unencumbered.

(6) It’s not immediately clear how to harmonize (4) and (5). What in the typical Sabbath did Christ fulfill and bring to an end? I think Calvin’s answer is, “Rest from sin.” Certainly, as Christ’s death points to that. But we aren’t fully resting from sin in this mortal coil. Further, although we should rest from our labors as a type of resting from sin on the Sabbath, we should be resting from sin on each day, anyway.

Mind you, I am not disagreeing with Calvin, but I think this point needs to be developed.

Gaffin ends with a survey of Reformation teaching on the Lord’s Day. This is a useful guide to Calvin’s teaching on the Lord’s Day. I appreciated how Gaffin (or Gaffin’s Calvin) drew notice to the keeping of the Lord’s Day as a sanctifying experience.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the doctoral dissertation of perhaps my favorite living theologian, on a topic that is vastly under-appreciated by today's church. He exhaustively studies Calvin's writings concerning the sabbath in his institutes, sermons, and commentaries. Calvin understands Christians, strictly speaking, to no longer be obligated to keep a weekly day of rest. However, this does not abrogate the fourth commandment, but rather intensifies and elevates it, as in one sense the sabbath is fulfilled as we rest in Christ and enjoy freedom from sin. This is not limited to one day a week. However, because believers are still sinners, a "practical necessity exists" for setting aside a day of rest and worship. The physical rest prescribed by the sabbath command is still binding, particularly for masters, employers, and others who must provide it those under their charge.

Gaffin's only criticism of Calvin--and one with which I concur--is that Calvin understands the spiritual aspect of the sabbath solely in terms of rest from sin. But sabbath is a creation ordinance, and was there no spiritual aspect of the observance even before the fall? There was. Adam was to seek the eternal rest still to come, promised in the tree of life. Gaffin brought in 1 Cor. 15:45-46 here, which I found very interesting. I'd never read Paul as discussing pre-fall humanity there, but the Genesis quote seems to imply that he is. If so, this directly relates to the "covenant of works," of which a pre-fall spiritual element of spiritual sabbath-still-to-come was clearly a part.

[Ryan Jankowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a much better appreciation for Gaffin's analysis of Calvin the second time around. He is absolutely correct to conclude Calvin was not a Sabbatarian.

[Taylor Bradbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful examination and critique of Calvin on the fourth commandment (and all related passages). Though at times repetitive in examining Calvin’s views, Gaffin provides a thorough study of the topic. I think Gaffin’s 19-point summary of Calvin’s understanding, and the author’s subsequent critique are worth the cost of the book.

Conclusion: just be reformed. Westminster Standards for the win. (Three Forms of Unity are great too).

3.75/5

[Rusten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done coverage of Calvin and the reformers view of the Sabbath. Found myself disagreeing with Calvin throughout the book. In the last chapter, Gaffin shares his own analysis and evaluation and I found that Gaffin gave a good critique of the same areas I disagreed with but provided complete reasons as to why. Overall a good book and Gaffins analysis is superb.

[Pete Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Gaffin does a great job taking Calvin at his word and not shoehorning him into either side of the contemporary debate. The conclusion of the book is worth the price of the whole book.

[Todd Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The point to be drawn from Calvin's view of the Decalogue pertinent to our study is this: any remarks he makes regarding the meaning and present obligation of the Sabbath can be understood and properly evaluated only within the scope of his firm conviction that the fourth commandment, as an element of the Decalogue, applies to all people in every age. There is not the slightest indication that he had the remotest sympathy for the view, though subsequently it has often appealed to him in support, that the Sabbath no longer exists, on the basis either that the Decalogue is not valid for the Christian era or that the fourth commandment alone has been abolished while the other nine are still in force. Rather, he plainly opposes any view of the Sabbath question based on the notion of the abrogation of all or even one of the ten commandments."

-page 47

[WH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaffin's treatment of Calvin was very thorough (maybe at times too thorough!), quite fair, and incredibly detailed. But the best part of the book for me wasn't that. It was, rather, Gaffin's own presentation of the significance of the Sabbath institution for believers today. What was wspecially helpful was understanding the Sabbath not just as a post-fall type given to Israel (which has now been abrogated by the coming of Christ), but also more fundamentally as a creation ordinance, and therefore a pre-fall type or symbol of an eschatalogical or heavenly reality, which the church still has the obligation and privilege to observe today.

[Chris Comis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I ever read on the Sabbath that made me want to delight in the Sabbath. Gaffin does a great job of laying out Calvin's views on the Sabbath. I think the only downfall to his treatment of Calvin is that he tends to overspiritualize both Calvin and the Sabbath. At the same time he does a good job of explaining the eternal nature of our Sabbath rest in Christ. I recommend it highly.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful in looking at Calvin's perspective on the Sabbath from his "Institutes",Creedal statement, catechism, teaching commentaries,and sermons; and also other reformers and reformation creeds. For my limited knowledge though, the last chapter, "Summary and Evaluation" provided the most benefit.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still have to think about this. Gaffin didn't appeal to the Scriptures routinely, as Calvin obviously did; so it's possible for me to say that Calvin works harder to follow the Scriptures than does Gaffin. Gaffin has important systematic thoughts to consider, of course.

[Justin Woodall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very mechanical in its style. Not very readable.

[Eric Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! I found Gaffin's last chapter, where he makes his case for the continuation of the creationall Sabbath, very helpful.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very in-depth study and evaluation of Calvin's understanding of the Sabbath after the coming of Christ. I was glad to be able to get an understanding of Calvin's view.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good historical summary, but goes off he rails in the last chapter.