Aquinas and Calvin on Romans

Book excerpt: Aquinas and Calvin on Romans is a comparative analysis of John Calvin's and Thomas Aquinas's commentaries on Romans with a focus on our participation in God's work of salvation. The study accomplishes two principle goals: it demonstrates that Calvin's critiques of his "scholastic" opponents arising from his reading of Romans fail to find a target in Aquinas's interpretation while Calvin's principle positive assertions are upheld by Aquinas as well; and itillustrates the nonparticipatory dimensions of Calvin's thought and how those dimensions create difficulties in his reading of Romans--difficulties not found in Aquinas's more participatory reading. CharlesRaith further suggests how Calvin's interpretation, especially on the topics of justification and merit, should be augmented by Aquinas's thought. Raith then rereads Calvin's criticisms of the Council of Trent in light of these suggestions.