Investigation of factors influencing John Calvin's use of the linguistic and historical principals of Biblical exegesis

Having seen something of. the importance of the general area of theological thought to be considered by this study. attention should be given to the particular aspect of this area of theological thought to be investigated. In this thesis a study is to be made of the factors which influenced John Calvin's use of the two fundamental principles of biblical exegesis -- the linguistic and the. historical. In seeking to achieve this suggested purpose, attention. will be given in Chapter II to the arrangement of exegetical principles under four general headings -- the linguistic, historical, theological, and homiletical. Next, a study will be made, of Calvin's recognition of these principles of exegesis. Consideration will then be given to the extent to which Calvin's exegesis was historically conditioned. Following this, a study will be made, in a general way, of some of the factors which influenced Calvin's use of the theological and homiletical principles of exegesis. Primary attention will be reserved, however, for the two other principles which were probably conditioned the most by his historical background -- the linguistic and historical. In Chapter III a study will be made of three factors influencing Calvin's use of the linguistic principle. In Chapter IV, attention - will be given to a study of the factor. which influenced Calvin's use of the historical principle. The three factors suggested are considered under the general heading 'of religious authority. This chapter involves a study of the influence of Calvin's, controversies with the Roman Catholics, radical sects, and heretics on his use of the, historical principle of exegesis. An attempt will be made to discover, on the basis of the study which has been outlined, that part of Calvin's exegesis which is historically conditioned and that part which is of universal and permanent value