Until 1553 Knox was an agent of English Protestantism, like so many other
Reformed luminaries who lived in England during this period. He was influential
in the 2nd prayer book's insistence that there was no Real Presence in the
Lord's Supper. In many ways he became the model which English Puritans were to
follow for the next hundred years. But in 1553 when Bloody Mary came to the
throne, Knox fled England. He spent most of the following
years in Geneva, learning from John Calvin.
The Scots Confession
Written by John Knox and five other "Johns" (Willock,
Winram, Spottiswood, Row and Douglas), in 1560, at the conclusion of the
Scottish civil war in response to medieval catholicism and at the behest of the
Scottish Parliament in five days. Its central doctrines are those of
election and the Church. It was approved by the Reformation Parliament
and Church of Scotland, attaining full legal status with the departure of Mary,
Queen of Scots in 1567.
Since he quotes the Scots Confession, I would say his
understanding could be found
therein.
Judy:What is 'The Reformed Doctrine of
Election' as T. F. Torrance understands it (not as you understand
it)?
In his writing below about "existential decision" Torrance
confirms Calvin's doctrine of "Total Depravity" which teaches that fallen
mankind is akin to a literal corpse and unable to make a decision that is
anything but evil .. Unconditional Election follows along with Limited
Atonement. I figure his Limited Atonement would conflict violently with
the way you see the "incarnation" so possibly Torrance veers off here
a little but so far it sounds like Calvin's other points are in
place.
"But the Scots Confession laid the axe to
the root of any such movement when it insisted that we have to spoil
ourselves even of our own regeneration and sanctification as well as
justification. What is "axed" so radically was the notion of
"co-redemption" which in our day has again become so rampant, not only in
the Roman Church, but in Liberal and Evangelical Protestantism,
e.g., the emphasis upon
existential decision as the means whereby
we "make real" for ourselves the kerygma [proclamation] of the New
Testament, which means that in the last resort our salvation depends upon
our own personal or existential decision.
That is the exact antithesis of the Reformed doctrine of election,
which rests salvation upon the prior and objective decision of God in
Christ. It is Justification by Grace
alone that guards the Gospel from corruption by "Evangelicals,"
"Liberals," and Romans alike."
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