Calvin continues to assert the primacy of Scripture over human reason. Some rational considerations are offered to bolster the divine origin of Scripture: the antiquity of the writings; how Moses does not write in a positive way about his family, but instead negatively. Yet Calvin does not go deeply into this.
Instead he makes much of Scripture’s self-authentication by its effect on the reader. He admits that other great writings may move us. But
…so deeply will [Scripture] affect you, so penetrate your heart, so fix itself in your very marrow, that, compared with its deep impression, such vigor as the orators and philosophers have will nearly vanish. (I.VIII.1)
At issue is the degree of the effect it has on the reader. This is a challenge to my naturally rationalistic way of thinking. I, like many others I suppose, would like some kind of external authentication – a kind of divine certificate of approval – to go with Scripture. But Calvin’s argument is that Scripture with the internal witness of the Spirit is the required certificate. This makes sense on further thought. Any other certificate would only be subjected to the same inquiry as Scripture by the human mind.
I liked this statement: speaking of the tasty variety of style used to convey divine thought, he says
…those for whom prophetic doctrine is tasteless ought to be thought of as lacking taste buds. (I.VIII.2)
Scripture should never be cabbage soup day by day!
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