Читать книгу Calvin's Interpretation of 'The Lord's Prayer'. A Rhetorical Approach - Professor J.H. Mazaheri - Страница 16

Nous requérons donc ceste maiesté de Dieu reluisante en toutes ses vertus estre sanctifiée. Et estre sanctifiée non pas dedens Dieu mesme, lequel en soy ne peut avoir aucune augmentation ne diminution, mais à ce qu’elle soit estimée saincte, c’est à dire vrayement recongneue telle qu’elle est, et magnifiée comme elle appartient.1

Calvin is implicitly saying that God’s majesty is not recognized by people in general. So we pray that we might see that and love the heavenly Father. And firstly, “que son Nom soit selon ses œuvres, tellement que nulle œuvre de laquelle sa grandeur mérite d’estre exaltée, ne soit cachée ou obscurcie par ingratitude ou mescongnoissance des hommes”2 It is then through His Works that one may realize God’s greatness. Now some people intentionally hide the Father’s works, and others “obscure” them by ignorance. Therefore we pray for these people to convert, and we also pray for others not to be influenced by the evil doers or by the ignorant. In sum we pray to have faith in God, we pray for deserving His Grace.

Calvin focuses on God’s conspicuous works, insofar as they are concrete things anyone can see and feel, things whose beauty and magnificence are truly uplifting:

Davantage que quelque chose qu’on voye qu’il face, toutes ses œuvres apparoissent glorieuses, comme vrayement elles le sont, à fin que la sentence du Prophète soit pleinement accomplie, où il est dict: Seigneur, selon que tu es renommé, ta louënge est manifestée par toute la terre.3

The theologian refers to Psalm 48, which celebrates the beauty of Mount Zion, but the latter place is not mentioned in his text, because he sees it as a symbol. In fact, he praises the whole earth, even the whole universe, for his conception is that of a universal and not of a national religion. What matters most, anyway, is the fact that both the author of Psalm 48 and Calvin admire the beauty of our natural world, emphasize the concrete visible things surrounding us, and see God through it.4 The verse that has particularly inspired the Reformer is the one he quotes: “Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 48:10).5

The next point he makes is that whatever God does, whatever his work, we must consider it right and keep praising Him,

Tellement que s’il punit, il soit recongneu iuste, s’il pardonne, miséricordieux; s’il tient ce qu’il a promis, véritable. Brief, qu’il n’y ayt chose en laquelle sa gloire ne reluyse; et qu’ainsi ses louënges soient engravées en tous cœurs, et raisonnent en toutes langues.6

If one recognizes God’s holiness, in other words if one has faith in Him, one ought to praise him in everything He does, for He is always right and good. Furthermore, the prayer is said in behalf of everyone in the world. Calvin insists indeed on the universality of the Lord’s Prayer, underscored by the phrases “tous cœurs” (every heart) and “toutes langues” (every language). Nationalism has no place in the religion of Christ, according to Calvin.

The last point the theologian makes is that by saying “Hallowed be Thy Name”, we are praying for the destruction of impiety and immorality:

Finalement que toute impiété, laquelle pollue et déshonore ce sainct Nom, c’est à dire qui obscurcit ou diminue ceste sanctification, périsse et soit confondue; en laquelle confusion aussi de plus en plus la maiesté de Dieu soit esclarcie.7

I point out the fact that Calvin does not blame anyone in particular, but criticizes impiety in general. Every time one overcomes the latter, or whenever God punishes the impious, his glory becomes more visible. That is what we pray for. To conclude, this First Petition is not only a request, but also an act of praising the heavenly Father:

Ainsi en ceste pétition est contenue l’action de grâces. Car d’autant que nous requérons le Nom de Dieu estre sanctifié, nous luy attribuons la louënge de tous biens, advouons tout estre de luy, et recongnoissons ses grâces et bénéfices envers nous, par lesquelles il mérite d’estre estimé Sainct.8

To conclude, Calvin’s exegesis of the First Petition in all the editions of the Institutes prior to 1560 (1559 for the Latin edition) contains the following: 1) “Hallowed be Thy Name” is not only a word of request but also of praise; 2) We ask God to have mercy upon us and make us see Him in order to be happy; 3) We praise Him for everything we have; 4) Calvin, inspired by Pslam 48, puts the emphasis on the beauty that surrounds us; 5) We pray that the whole earth see the majesty of God;9 5) Finally, from a positive point of view, he stresses God’s greatness rather than Man’s sinfulness. Let us turn now to the revision of his text in the last edition.