Suk Yu Chan, Heavenly Providence: A Historical Exploration of the Development of Calvin's Biblical Doctrine of Divine Providence (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2022), pp. 209. €130.00/$163.00.

Abstract

This book is an historical study of John Calvin ’ s interpretation of the doctrine of divine providence. It explores Calvin ’ s works from 1534 to 1559 and contends that from 1534 to 1541, Calvin ’ s dominant image for providence is that of a ‘ fountain ’ , which conveys God as the source of everything. God ’ s power gives life and preserves all earthly crea-tures. Then, from Calvin ’ s Latin edition of his 1539 Institutes and its French translation (1541), Calvin is more vague – indecisive – about the definition of God ’ s special provi-dence, as he explored the relation of providence and soteriology. Calvin ’ s doctrine from 1534 onward thus ‘ displays a development rather than a fixed doctrine ’ (p. 56). The fountain image dropped out after 1552. Chan notes that ‘ Calvin gradually moves away from portraying God ’ s providence as a fountain because God ’ s providence is more than what can be illustrated by the image of a fountain … . God ’ s action is not passive as a fountain implies. In addition, God ’ s providence does not imply passivity in the role of believers ’ (p. 179). Instead, three definitions of providence emerged. Chan explains that in Calvin ’ s De aeterna Dei praedestinatione (1552), providentia Dei is: first, ‘ a general providence of the world so that everything is kept in its proper and natural state ’ ; second, there is a ‘ special government of particular parts of the world, but this care is especially for humans ’ ; third is a ‘ providentia “ praesentissima Dei ”’ , in which God protects and guides the church by his fatherly care ’ (p. 178). This clarification of the providentia Dei is what Calvin used ‘ to preach, to write commentaries and to finish his definitive edition of the Institutes ’ (p. 56).