In
Morality After Calvin, Kirk M. Summers examines the development of ethical thought in the Reformed Orthodox tradition immediately following the death of Calvin. Framed around a previously unstudied poetic work of French theologian Theodore Beza, the
Cato Censorius Christianus (1591), and read in conjunction with the works and correspondence of Beza and his colleagues, the book reveals the theoretical underpinnings of the disciplinary activity during the period. The poems of the
Cato show that the moral fervor of the latter half of the sixteenth century had its genesis in a well-formulated theology that viewed a Christian's sanctification as a process of restoration to an original order created by God. For Beza the Christian life does not end with grace and salvation, but begins there.
The principles of morality, in this theoretical framework, look back to the very moment of creation, when God structured human relationships, established a certain order in nature, and issued commands. The Mosaic Law and Christ himself embody these principles, which include an ethos of listening, sincerity of life, engagement with one's calling, love of neighbor, respect for divine order, and a desire for the purity of the flock.
With insight and dexterity, as well as the use of previously unavailable sources, Summers contributes this significant volume to the study of Beza and his place in the history of the Reformed Orthodoxy.
Industry Reviews
"A fine, sharp, intelligent, and engaging study of an important Reformation figure." --Jon Balserak, Sixteenth Century Journal
"Kirk M. Summers's study of Beza is a welcome contribution to a developing field."--Manfred Svensson, Journal of Markets & Morality
"[T]he work is a tour de force of classical scholarship, historical and social research, philology, and theological reflection. It is also very edifying Readers of this review will likely come away thinking that there is almost nothing but good to say about Summers's work and that they should promptly acquire a copy for themselves and read it. That is the correct conclusion."--David C. Noe, Ordained Servant
"Summers has done a great service in retrieving the Cato and contextualizing Beza's thought within the Reformation tradition. This book is written for scholars who want to have greater insight into the development of the Reformed ethical tradition. It is also a helpful aid for pastors and preachers as they work through cases of sin and encourage Christians in the pursuit of morality coram Deo The book is written in an engaging style so that a
layperson could also pick it up and be taught better how to live the Christian life."--Maarten Kuivenhoven, Calvin Theological Journal
"[T]he work is a tour de force of classical scholarship, historical and social research,
philology, and theological reflection. It is also very edifying."--David C. Noe, Ordained Servant Online
"Summers achieves a great accomplishment in the writing of this work. Those interested in the history of ethics, the history of discipline, or the pastoral theology of Theodore Beza will benefit as they read. For the church at large, this work assists our thinking in reminding us of the standards to which God is holding us in his Word, and how these principles were enacted in a specific historical context."--Jeremy M. Kimble, Criswell Theological Review
"The work offers an excellent understanding of sixteenth-century ethical thought and the relation of theology to church and civil life in Geneva. It is a welcome contribution to the growing literature on the important figure of Theodore Beza."--Michael Spangler, Reformation & Renaissance Review
"It is a book that fills a significant void in the study of historical ethics by analyzing the moral theology of Theodore Beza in light of the Consistory records of Geneva...This latest volume in the Oxford Studies in Historical Theology Series is an important piece of scholarship and a valuable addition to the library of Reformation scholars, ethicists, and theologians interested in the development of morality within the Reformed tradition."--Themelios
"Much more than a penetrating commentary on Theodore Beza's long-forgotten work Cato Censorius Christianus, Kirk Summers' monograph Morality After Calvin maps out the ethical principles and moral practices that animated Reformed Christians in the early modern period. This erudite and expansive study will be essential reading for all who want to understand John Calvin and his successors' moral vision for the Christian life and society."
--Scott Manetsch, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
"With Theodore Beza's poem Cato Censorius Christianus as his base, Kirk Summers has written an enthralling study of Reformed ideas on ethics in the generation following the death of John Calvin. Summers compellingly argues that Beza's poetic condemnations of specific sins mirrored the actions of Geneva's Consistory to rebuke, discipline, and exclude sinners in order to promote ethical living among Christians. A must read for anyone interested in
Reformation history." --Jeffrey R. Watt, Kelly Gene Cook, Jr. Professor of History, University of Mississippi
"Morality after Calvin offers fresh insights into the questions of sanctified life that most occupied post-Calvin Geneva. Kirk Summers situates Theodore Beza's Cato Censorius Christianus in its broader theological and social contexts, and teases out the work's significance for such important moral issues as usury, sex, and 'living sincerely.' Summers' adroit treatment of these little studied Latin poems represents a welcome contribution to
Reformation and Neo-Latin Studies." --Carl P.E. Springer, SunTrust Chair of Excellence in the Humanities Professor, Department of Modern and Classical Languages, University of Tennessee Chattanooga
