In addition to the basic Lutheran two kingdoms doctrine, which Calvin articulated in the 1536 edition of the Institutes, Calvin gradually articulated an understanding of the spiritual government of the church in distinction from the political government of this world. It was Luther who said that a Christian prince is a rare bird in heaven.Īlthough the two kingdoms doctrine is often associated with Lutheranism, it actually played a crucial role in Calvin's thought as well. He believed that believers are to live in love to their neighbors as servants of Christ, though in a manner compatible with their earthly vocations. To be sure, contrary to popular impressions, Luther did not believe Christians could live and act as if they were not Christians in the affairs of this world. Third, Luther often spoke of two realms, by which he meant the outward realm of the body and life in this world, and the inward realm of the eternal soul. Second, he spoke of two governments appointed by God to govern the world in which these two groups of people are mixed together: coercive government by the sword to maintain peace and basic justice in the world, and spiritual government by the word and Spirit to gather men and women into Christ's kingdom. First, building on Augustine's two cities doctrine, he distinguished between those who serve God and those who serve the devil. Luther tended to talk about the two kingdoms doctrine in three different ways.
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