44 - Calvin's Proverbs

Calvin's Proverbs
By William F. Keesecker

JOHN CALVIN did not write a commentary on the book of Proverbs, but he did refer to many non - biblical sayings, adages, maxims, and axioms - all of which make up an impressive collection of proverbs. What significance, if any, attaches to this kind of literary reference? It can be suggested that his proverbs and sayings simply reflect the lingering vestiges of his humanist tradition. There is little question that Calvin was influenced throughout his life by his early training in literary history, philology, rhetoric, philosophy, law, and politics. He was familiar with the classical writers of antiquity, such as Horace, Ovid, Livy, Plutarch, lacerates, and others, whom he frequently quoted.

It could be argued, perhaps, that Calvin's proverbs and sayings evidence his finely tuned, perceptive legal mind at work, turning bits and pieces of ancient and common wisdom into binding moral strictures. Little that went on in sixteenth century Geneva escaped his scrutinizing gaze, as his allusions to farm, home, marketplace, as well as the law court, show. Some might hint that his proverbs provide early clues of that later legalistic Puritanism and its blue laws for which he is often accused.

Of course, Calvin's sayings were directly related to his homiletical style, for his commentaries usually grew out of his sermons, and whatever he did, Calvin was always preaching and teaching. Salty sayings and pithy proverbs would make good homiletical and didactic illustrative material.

It could also be said, as I would myself urge, that Calvin's proverbs serve a doctrinal and theological purpose. We must remember that in the commentaries, Calvin is not only the biblical scholar, examining the text. He is the believer, interpreting the Word of God, from faith to faith. In this process of faith - full exegesis, Calvin combined the roles of linguist, preacher, reformer, and evangelist.

William F. Keesecker is the senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City. He served as a Navy Chaplain in WW II, and has been the pastor of churches in Kansas and Iowa. In 1975 he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church. A life - long student of Calvin, Dr. Keesecker has published two books on the Genevan Reformer, and he here shares a hobby, tracking down the innumerable proverbs and sayings in Calvin's commentaries.

45 - Calvin's Proverbs

I

Before turning to what can clearly be defined as Calvin's proverbs, let us look at a miscellaneous selection of what might be termed adages, maxims, axioms, and sayings. We will identify the passages with reference only to the biblical text, and occasional authors. The most comprehensive, available edition of Calvin's commentaries in English is published by Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, and citations in what follows are from that edition. It is necessary to note that for further study and interpretation, Calvin's proverbs must be read and consulted in their specific scriptural context.

"We must hold fast the axiom that no work is accounted righteous before God, unless it proceeds from a man of purity and integrity" (Ex. 22:15). "Men are so greatly given to ostentation, and therefore in testifying their piety - 'whitewash two walls,' as the saying is, 'out of the same pot' (Lev. 27:26). "It is a common saying that the law makes no provision for those things which rarely occur" (Num. 36:1). 'Nought for mortals is too high/Our folly reaches to the sky' - (Horace; Deut. 29:29). "The old adage holds true: that the covetous wants that which he has, as well as that which he has not; because he is master of nothing, and is the slave of his own wealth" (Ps. 112:2). "The old adage that a man's life is as it were at the point where two ways meet refers not simply to the general tenor of human life but to every particular action of it" (Ps. 119:30). "One has said: 'It is no less an achievement to keep possession than to acquire it' "(Ps. 135: 10). 'The best gift of God is success, and the best gift from ourselves is prudence' lacerates, Isa. 19:2). "Language is the expression of the mind, as it is commonly said" (Jer. 5:15). "The tongue ought to be the representative of the mind, according to the old saying" (ibid.). 'Nights and love and wine ... have no moderation in them' - (Ovid; Dan. 5:2). "According to the common saying, this is like a drowning man catching at a straw" (Dan. 9.9). "The stomach has no ears" (Zech. 13:5).

"The saying was common among the people that a man would be condemned or absolved by his own confession" (Matt. 12:37)." 'Envy! You hate the worth you have;, when it leaves your sight, you want it' "(Horace; ibid.). 'Fraud wins men's confidence in little things so that, when it is worth the candle, the big deal can be brought off '" (Livy; Lk. 16:10). "For the truth, as has been said, can look after itself well enough" (Jn. 10:20). "Therefore, there is truth in the common saying that 'they build for hell, who build against their conscience'" (I Cor. 8:7). "As the writer says, 'To keep safe what you have gained needs as much ability as to gain it' "(I Tim. 1:3)." 'Shun an inquisitive man, for he always talks too much' "(Horace; I Tim. 5:13). "No trust is to be placed in inquisitive people, says Plutarch, for as soon as they have heard anything, they are never at rest till they have blurted it out" (ibid.). "He

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who wishes to be rich also wishes to be rich quickly" (I Tim. 6:19). "Speed itself is delay to desire" (Heb. 10:37).

II

Proverbs, ancient and commonplace, provided a mode of expression congenial to Calvin's temperament, humanistic training, legal bent, and, perhaps, theology. The proverb for him became a succinct, homely illustration of a generally accepted and popularly held truth; one with which his readers could readily identifv. There are at least seventy - eight proverbs in the commentaries, and possibly more. Some of these appear only once; others are repeated with slight variation in wording. We will list, first, a selection of those appearing only once.

"Great kingdoms are great robberies" (Gen. 10:8 - 9). "The edicts of kings are monosyllables" (Ex. 5:6 - 7). "Mercy is the virtue most suitable for kings" (Ps. 4:3). "The wolf, desirous of making a prey of the lambs ... accused them of troubling the waters" (Ps. 28:4). "There is no theatre more beautiful than a good conscience" (Ps. 35:11 "It is better to live under a prince who gives no allowance, than under one who imposes no restraint" (Ps. 45:6 - 7). "There is nothing in which men approach nearer to God than by their beneficence" (Ps. 72:12). "A king must be born either a king or a fool" (Ps. 101:2). "Every man carries within him the heart of a king" (Isa. 2:2). "If justice ought to be violated, it ought to beviolated for the sake of feigning" (Isa. 37:10). "If it is well with us today, it shall be well with us tomorrow. Let us not be miserable before the time" (Isa. 46:12). "I hate the wise who is not wise for himself" (Jer. 8:9). "No one can give what he has not" (Jer. 16:20). "It is solace to the miserable to see many like them" (ibid.). "He perceived himself beating the air" (Ezek. 2:2).

"Another old proverb calls the tongue the expression [character] of the mind" (Matt. 12:34). "Those who are not preeminent in excellent gifts are nowhere so unappreciated as in their own country" (Matt. 13:57). "For desire, even speed seems slow" (Matt. 16:28, cf. Heb. 10:37). "There is a proverb which tells us not to go to war until we are provoked" (Mk. 9:38 - 39). "The doctor should begin with himself, and his own circle, before demonstrating his skill in treatment upon others" (Lk. 4:23). "All things are common among friends" (Acts 2:44 - 45). To catch a weasel asleep, as the old proverb says" (Acts 5:3). "The best is not to be born; the next best is surely to die as soon as possible" (Acts 14:21 - 22). "Do not speak with just a half of mouth, as the common proverb goes" (Acts 18:9). "Let the shoemaker stick to his last" (I Cor. 7:20). "Nothing is so arrogant as arrogance" (I Cor. 8:1). "We must not live to eat, but we must eat to live" (I Cor. 10:31). "Life is not only to live but to live well" (II Cor. 4:12). "The riches you give away are the only ones that you will always have" (II Cor. 8:10). "He who comes first has the best right" (Gal. 2:5). "Night has no shame" (Eph. 5:12).

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III

Five proverbs are quoted three or more times in Calvin's commentaries. The one used most frequently advises how fools become wise. "Even fools become wise by suffering evil" (Gen. 20:2). The patriarch Abraham's subterfuge in calling Sarah his sister, to deceive Abimelech and so protect himself, provides an object lesson in the folly of deceit. In the context of the proverb, Calvin observes how easily the oblivion, both of the chastisements and favors of God, steals over us."

The foolish person may be one who trusts inordinately in wealth, expecting to "remain here always, and will live as if ... never to quit with this world" (Ps. 49: 10). But "experience teaches fools ... to lay to heart their mortality ... and observe how often it happens that wealth passes into the hands of strangers" (ibid., cf. Ex. 5:13, Acts 13:41 ).

In Jeremiah's day, fools had "such a perverse disposition that even scourges did not lead to repentance" (Jer. 5:3). This is "an evidence of extreme wickedness," for "it is an old proverb, that fools, when corrected, become wise." Without repentance, "fools become wise too late" (Jer. 39:3 - 4).

Calvin harshly says of King Nebuchadnezzar, "he ought to [have been] beaten with stripes to render him submissive to God, as he never profited by any holy admonition or any heavenly oracle." Yet, "God mitigates the bitterness of the penalty by making it temporary.... He proposed this end to induce Nebuchadnezzar to repent ... according to the old proverb about the fool who can never be restored to a sound mind without suffering calamity" (Dan. 4:32, cf. 9:13).

The image of the stern Reformer as judgmental and authoritarian appears in his indictment of all fools who "grow wise only by the rod" (Ezek. 16:27). Yet, the severity of the image is somewhat softened by this observation: "Whenever God even raises his finger and threatens us, let us know that he is anxious for our safety; hence in our turn, let us rouse ourselves and implore his pity, and especially let us repent of our sins by which we see his anger to have been enflamed" (ibid.).

Next in importance, judging by its appearance five times in a variety of forms, is the ancient proverb that might have appealed to the lawyer in Calvin, "bad customs give rise to good laws" (Acts 6: 1; cf. Lev. 18:24 "good laws have sprung from evil habits", Lev. 24: 10 "good laws spring from bad habits"; I Cor. 11:13 "good laws are born of bad manners"; I Tim. 1:8 - 9 "good laws spring from bad morals").

Two proverbs, each employed four times, attest to their common use in Calvin's time. First, "we shall have to howl among wolves" or "they are foolish who are like sheep exposing themselves to wolves to be devoured" (I Pet. 5:5 - 7 - . cf. Gen. 6:9 "we must howl when we are among the wolves"; Isa. 49:15 "among wolves we must howl; but he who wishes to live innocently shall be torn by wolves"; Matt. 5:5 "you must howl with the wolves, for whoever makes himself a sheep will soon come to be eaten by wolves").

Calvin calls this a "diabolic" or "devilish" proverb, for those who

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adhere to it "judge everything to be lawful which is generally received" and condoned by common practice (Gen. 6:9). To follow the "wolves" who advocate taking the line of least resistance is to court disaster. "Yes, we must be sheep if we wish to be counted in his flock. If one objects that what is said here contradicts experience, I would have him first consider how the violent are so unquiet that they are at odds with themselves.... In possessing all things, they yet possess nothing... God's children, though they never find a place of their own to put their foot, they enjoy their residence on earth with quietness and their possession is not illusory, for the earth which they inhabit they know to be granted them by God" (Matt. 5:5).

The second proverb to appear four times reads: "Satiety begets disgust" (Gen. 41:46 - 48; cf. Deut. 32:15 "satiety breeds violence"; Dan. 4:4 "fullness is the parent of ferocity"; Hos. 5:5 "satiety begets ferocity"). While the wording of each varies slightly, the point remains the same. When persons are "filled with delicacies, they begin to wax wanton against God," rather than "be inclined to humility and gentleness by the loving - kindness of God" (Deut. 32:15). Thus, "abundance is commonly the mother of license" (Gen. 41:46 - 48).

In three passages, Calvin uses a proverb that would be familiar perhaps only to those who cut their own firewood, namely, "A tough knot requires a stout wedge" (Ps. 18:26; cf. Jer. 2:22 "apply a hard wedge to a hard knot"; Ex. 16:48 "a hard wedge must be formed for a hard knot"). The meaning, as Calvin interprets it, is that "the people [Israelites] were become so refractory that they would not willingly give way to any reproofs; for they were almost all of such a hard front, and so obdurate in their wickedness that they ... were like knotty wood, [and] it was necessary to strike at their obstinacy" (Jer. 2:22). The moral lesson of this proverb, as Calvin sees it, is "that hypocrites gain nothing by setting up their pretenses" (ibid.).

IV

Calvin's proverbs and sayings provide evidence that the Christian Reformer and theologian did not completely abandon his humanist and classical training. Apparently he felt that wisdom, ancient and commonplace, could still be employed to build a new understanding of the life to be lived in the light of God's supreme disclosure in Jesus Christ.

It should be remembered that Calvin warned against making proverbs into ironclad rules. "But we know that in parables, examples, and comparisons, all things ought not to be exacted with utmost nicety" (Ex. 16:44 - 46). "Proverbial statements ought not to be taken as a constant norm, since they only teach what generally happens" (Matt. 12:34). "Proverbs ... are not always true, but only on the whole" (ibid.).

Nevertheless, proverbial wisdom is not to be ignored because "if anyone surpass all others in cruelty, avarice, lust, and other vices, his disgrace will be notorious, and he will be pointed at by vulgar proverbs" (Ezek. 16:44 - 46).