Calvyn en die eenheid van die kerk

The subject of church unity remains one of the most relevant and most important subjects that Reformed churches have to deal with. We believe the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. But we also experience the tragic disunity of the church. Church unity therefore is not only a gift but also a...

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Main Author: C. F. C. Coetzee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2006-06-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2104
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author C. F. C. Coetzee
author_facet C. F. C. Coetzee
author_sort C. F. C. Coetzee
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description The subject of church unity remains one of the most relevant and most important subjects that Reformed churches have to deal with. We believe the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. But we also experience the tragic disunity of the church. Church unity therefore is not only a gift but also a calling. From a reformed perspective it is always important to take note of the viewpoint of John Calvin. He was called a “champion of church unity” (Wendel). For Calvin, the primacy of the Word of God and therefore the emphasis on the truth of the doctrine was not negotiable. But he distinguished between fundamental and mediocre matters. He was also willing to accept differences in liturgy and church order provided that there was unity in doctrine. The viewpoint of Calvin can definitely benefit the striving for unity amongst the different Reformed church communities in South Africa.
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spelling doaj-art-7c16728c67034342a0316995bc07a2602025-02-11T12:13:48ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892006-06-0126110.38140/at.v26i1.2104Calvyn en die eenheid van die kerkC. F. C. Coetzee0North-West University The subject of church unity remains one of the most relevant and most important subjects that Reformed churches have to deal with. We believe the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. But we also experience the tragic disunity of the church. Church unity therefore is not only a gift but also a calling. From a reformed perspective it is always important to take note of the viewpoint of John Calvin. He was called a “champion of church unity” (Wendel). For Calvin, the primacy of the Word of God and therefore the emphasis on the truth of the doctrine was not negotiable. But he distinguished between fundamental and mediocre matters. He was also willing to accept differences in liturgy and church order provided that there was unity in doctrine. The viewpoint of Calvin can definitely benefit the striving for unity amongst the different Reformed church communities in South Africa. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2104
spellingShingle C. F. C. Coetzee
Calvyn en die eenheid van die kerk
Acta Theologica
title Calvyn en die eenheid van die kerk
title_full Calvyn en die eenheid van die kerk
title_fullStr Calvyn en die eenheid van die kerk
title_full_unstemmed Calvyn en die eenheid van die kerk
title_short Calvyn en die eenheid van die kerk
title_sort calvyn en die eenheid van die kerk
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2104
work_keys_str_mv AT cfccoetzee calvynendieeenheidvandiekerk