Calvin’s use of the Scholastic Method from his Vision of the Church as Mother and School

Abstract

John Calvin’s philosophy of education exhibits a nuanced relationship with the scholastic method, characterized by both critique and adaptation. While Calvin was critical of the speculative tendencies of scholastic thinkers, he creatively employed and reformed elements of the scholastic method to articulate his vision of the church as both mother and school. This vision highlighted the church’s dual role in nurturing believers and serving as a lifelong school of spiritual formation. Calvin’s systematic and logical approach, seen in especially his Institutes, demonstrates his selective use of scholastic techniques to clarify and defend Reformed doctrine.

This study explores Calvin’s educational philosophy, emphasizing his integration of the scholastic method within a Humanist framework. By focusing on Scripture and practical application, Calvin’s teaching style differed significantly from traditional Scholasticism, prioritizing accessibility and transformative impact over speculative reasoning. Despite these differences, his adaptations laid a foundation for Reformed Scholasticism, which further systematized and defended Reformed theology in subsequent generations. This interplay between Calvin’s humanistic reforms and scholastic structures challenges the notion of opposition between Calvin and Reformed Scholastics, instead suggesting a continuity in their theological and educational objectives.

Despite Calvin’s critical stance toward scholastic thinkers, he creatively and eclectically adapted the scholastic method to advance his vision of the church as mother and school. Calvin’s educational approach should not be set in opposition to Reformed Scholasticism but rather be seen as foundational to the systematic development of Reformed confessions.