The importance of education in the early stages of the church: John Calvin as catechist in his commentary on the Acts of the apostles
Die belang van onderrig in die beginfase van die kerk: Johannes Calvyn as kategeet in sy kommentaar op die Handelinge van die apostels
Departement Ekklesiologie, Universiteit van die Vrystaat, Bloemfontein. E-pos: hhvanalten@vgkmaranata.org.za
Deel van Calvyn se ontwikkeling as kategeet is sy stryd teen die Roomse sakrament van die vormsel (confirmatio; "Inst." 4.19.4-13). Laasgenoemde word deur Rome as noodsaaklike aanvulling by die doop beskou. Vir Calvyn is hierdie sakrament egter 'n mensgemaakte ritueel wat nie as die Skriftuurlike Complement tot die doop kan funksioneer nie. Vir Calvyn is kategese die mees Skriftuurlike komplement tot die doop. In die doop ontvang die dopeling immers Christus en al sy beloftes. Hierop is geen aanvulling nodig nie en die dopeling is daarom ook nie 'n halwe Christen sonder die vormsel nie ("Inst." 4.19.8). Wat wel nodig is, is dat die dopeling Christus en sy beloftes sal leer ken en glo. Daarvoor is kategese (Christelike onderwys) nodig waardeur kinders en jongelinge tot rekenskap van hulle geloof voor die kerk kan kom ("Inst." 4.19.13).
Sowel Calvyn se stryd teen die Roomse vormsel, as sy gepaardgaande beklemtoning van die Christelike onderwys word op verskeie plekke in sy kommentaar op die Handelinge van die apostels breedvoerig bespreek. Veral op twee plekke (Hand. 8:15-17 en 19:6) kritiseer hy die Roomse vormsel as 'n versinsel van mense. Daarteenoor beklemtoon Calvyn op verskeie plekke in sy kommentaar die belang van die kategese - enersyds as taak van die ampsdraers, andersyds as opdrag vir individuele gelowiges en hulle gesinne.
Kernbegrippe: Calvyn; Handelinge, kommentaar op; kategeet/kategese; onderrig; vormsel
Part of Calvin's development as a catechist is his struggle against the Roman Catholic sacrament of confirmation ("Inst." 4.19.4-13). Confirmation is seen by Rome as the necessary addition to baptism. For Calvin, however, this sacrament is a man-made ritual that can not function as the Scriptural complement to baptism. According to him, catechesis is the most Scriptural complement to baptism. Indeed, in baptism one receives Christ and all his promises. No addition is needed, and therefore one is not half a Christian without the confirmation ("Inst." 4.19.8). What is needed, is that a person will get to know Christ and his promises. For that purpose catechesis (Christian education) is necessary, whereby children and young people are brought to confession of faith before the church ("Inst." 4.19.13).
Both Calvin's struggle against the Roman Catholic confirmation, and his accompanying emphasis on Christian education are discussed in several places in his commentary on the Acts of the apostles. Especially in two places (Acts 8:15-17 and 19:6) Calvin criticises the Roman Catholic confirmation as an invention of men. Against this he emphasises in his commentary the importance of catechesis - on the one hand as the task of the officebearers, on the other hand as the task of individual believers and their families.
Key concepts: Acts, commentary on; Calvin; catechist/catechesis; confirmation; teaching
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COR kyk CALVIN, J. 2001 [1552/1554]
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