Calvin - Jesus' Corporeal Death = Nothing
In the following we find one of many heretical teachings of John Calvin in his Institutes of the Christian Religion. In this chapter we will see that he teaches Jesus’s death on the cross was insufficient and that “Nothing had been done if Christ had only endured corporeal death”. Let me make this clear that he claimed “Nothing had been done”.
Calvin's reasoning for coming to the conclussion is based off of the Apostles Creed line 4 states where Jesus "Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:"
Apostles' Creed
Note: The first mention of the expression "Apostles' Creed" occurs in a letter of 390 from a synod in Milan and this may not have been the exact Creed for which Calvin came to his conclussions.
https://www.ccel.org/creeds/apostles.creed.html
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
1l. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.
Calvin starts off with "But, apart from the Creed, we must seek for a surer exposition of Christ's descent to hell"
In the Creed he descended into Hell after he was dead and buried, and Calvin adds that "Whence also it was necessary that he should engage, as it were, at close quarters with the powers of hell and the horrors of eternal death." Please note this concept is totally unscriptural.
He continues to explain that Jesus' body suffered on the Cross, but came to his conclussion that his soul suffered after his death in hell based on the Creed. He states "But after explaining what Christ endured in the sight of man, the Creed appropriately adds the invisible and incomprehensible judgment which he endured before God, to teach us that not only was the body of Christ given up as the price of redemption, but that there was a greater and more excellent price--that he bore in his soul the tortures of condemned and ruined man."
Once again the above statements are also totally unscriptural and here we can read the chapter in full context.
John Calvin [a.d. 1509-1564]
Institutes of the Christian Religion - - Chapter 16 - Section 10
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.iv.xvii.html
10. But, apart from the Creed, we must seek for a surer exposition of Christ's descent to hell: and the word of God furnishes us with one not only pious and holy, but replete with excellent consolation. Nothing had been done if Christ had only endured corporeal death. In order to interpose between us and God's anger, and satisfy his righteous judgment, it was necessary that he should feel the weight of divine vengeance. Whence also it was necessary that he should engage, as it were, at close quarters with the powers of hell and the horrors of eternal death. We lately quoted from the Prophet, that the "chastisement of our peace was laid upon him" that he "was bruised for our iniquities" that he "bore our infirmities;" expressions which intimate, that, like a sponsor and surety for the guilty, and, as it were, subjected to condemnation, he undertook and paid all the penalties which must have been exacted from them, the only exception being, that the pains of death could not hold him. Hence there is nothing strange in its being said that he descended to hell, seeing he endured the death which is inflicted on the wicked by an angry God. It is frivolous and ridiculous to object that in this way the order is perverted, it being absurd that an event which preceded burial should be placed after it. But after explaining what Christ endured in the sight of man, the Creed appropriately adds the invisible and incomprehensible judgment which he endured before God, to teach us that not only was the body of Christ given up as the price of redemption, but that there was a greater and more excellent price--that he bore in his soul the tortures of condemned and ruined man.
Note: This payment in hell "was a greater and more excellent price--that he bore in his soul the tortures of condemned and ruined man".
This is totally contrary to the scriptures for we find in the Gospel of John that Jesus' final words on the cross were "It is Finished" using the Greek word TETELESTAI which means Paid in Full.
John 19:28-30
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
As the scriptures show "JESUS, KNOWING THAT ALL THINGS HAD ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED" verifiies that there was no need for him to also pay further in Hell.
This is one of the most evil and dangerous teachings of John Calvin. The Scriptures warn us that we would have enemies and specifically they would be enemies of the Cross.