Post-Reformation Reformed exegesis: Continuity or discontinuity of John Calvin?

Abstract

Although the Post-Reformation Reformed theologian, philosopher and Hebraist Petrus van Mastricht (1630–1706) praises John Calvin (1509–1564) as one of the best commentators of Scripture, he rarely refers to Calvin’s work in his Theoretico-practica theologia and, if he does, he either takes issue or concurs with it. This contribution explores the reception of Calvin’s work by Mastricht, focusing on exegetical continuities and discontinuities in their comments on the psalms. It concludes that Mastricht gives more attention to etymological and philological issues of the Hebrew text than Calvin does, and emphasises more than the Genevan Scripture commentator does the doctrine of divine immensity and the Reformed concept of the covenant.