2: God and Humanity

Kate Kolmodin

Calvin speaks to the  interconnection of God and humanity in chapter 1. He states, “Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves”. He breaks this down though to show the importance of our knowledge of self already coming from God. Our knowledge cannot come from within, because we are a fallen and broken world, it can only come from God. The only way to attain full knowledge of self is to be in relationship with God. We are always looking outward and upward which will define and direct our very being, according to Calvin.

Chapter 2 is an attempt to inform the reader what it actually means to know God, not just an idea of God. The knowledge of God the Creator is defined by Calvin as the Being who has created all things including humans – and when we come to recognize this we come closer to understanding and comprehending the knowledge of God. He does not say these words, but it sounds like Calvin is trying to make a claim about the embodiment of God. When we believe that God has already made us to be who we are we can understand God better – and all honor and glory are directed toward God. The knowledge and awareness we receive constantly is turning us back to our Creator rather than ourselves. Calvin uses an illustration of the Epicureans by stating, “The effect of our knowledge rather out to be, first, to teach us reverence and fear; and, secondly, to induce us, under its guidance and teaching, to ask every good thing from him, and, when it is received, ascribe it to him”.