Doctrinal Structure of Freedom in Calvin's Theology

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The dialectical structure of Calvin's theology is well-known. It does not look difficult to apply this dialectical structure to his doctrine of freedom.
It seems to me that there is a twofold structure of freedom in Calvin's Institutes: both a formal and a systematic one. Formally, we see only one chapter (III, xix) about freedom, entitled De libertate christiana. But systematically, we can find everywhere other various freedoms which concern the freedom of God, human freedom, political freedom, religious freedom and other freedoms.
The contrast between God's freedom and the human freedom is easily recognizable. But the problem is how we categorize the rest of the freedoms. I think there would be the only way to solve this problem in distinguishing internal freedom from the external freedom. Thus I could make a schema of freedom according to Calvin.
Christian freedom constructs the center of all freedoms which are divided into the form of cross. Vertically, there are divine and human freedoms and horizontally, internal and external freedoms.
Thus, Calvin's concept of the freedom appears well level-headed and capable of governing the spiritual life and the corporal life. One can say that besides "a modem Calvin", there is also "an introspective Calvin".

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Introduction: Making a schema of the freedom
• I. God's freedom and the human freedom
• II. De libertate christiana and modified elements in the definitive Institutes
• III. The internal and external freedoms
• Conclusion