System of Sacred Theology · §1.8.1 · Ludwig Crocius

Chapter 8: On Sacred Scripture's efficacy

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CHAPTER EIGHT On Sacred Scripture's efficacy

So far concerning Sacred Scripture's interpretation: Efficacy is its property by which it is apt by nature to illuminate, move, mortify, vivify, and perfect the man of God who hears or reads decently, by way of an instrument and of a light kindled and elevated by the Holy Spirit — so that he is thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Apostles magnificently exalt this property of God's word (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Peter 1:19; 2 Timothy 3:16–2 Timothy 3:17) — a property flowing from the Holy Spirit as principal cause, elevating that word as its organ by its own power (John 6:63; 1 Peter 1:23, where toward the chapter's end it is also called immortal seed). That Spirit kills the impure spirit, conquers evil, removes Antichrist from the midst, renews all things under heaven, frees the creature from sin, vanity, and curse, illuminates our darkness with its light, and fills the earth with the knowledge of God (Zechariah 13:2; Revelation 12:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Isaiah 11:4; Joel 2:28; Ezekiel 36:25; Isaiah 32:15; Romans 8:21; Revelation 18:1; Isaiah 11:9).

This efficacy differs from Sacred Scripture's perspicuity, by which it comes about that not only people of sound mind but even evil spirits clearly understand those senses of it needful to know for salvation — without the Holy Spirit's inward illumination — even though they cannot believe or obey them, but rather dissuade faith and obedience. See Whitaker, chapter 1 On Scripture's perspicuity, and Dr. Festus Hommius, Disputation 62 On faith, thesis 5.

Latin

CAPUT OCTAVUM. De sacrae Scripturae efficacia. Haec de sacrae Scripturae interpretatione: Efficacia est illius proprietas, qua apta nata est hominem Dei decenter audientem aut legentem per modum instrumenti ac luminis a Spiritu sancto accensi & elevati illuminare, movere, mortificare, vivificare ac perficere, ut ad omne bonum opus perfecte instructus sit. Apostoli hanc verbi Dei proprietatem magnifice extollunt, Rom. 1.v.16. Hebr. 4.v.12. 2. Cor. 3.v.6. 2. Petri 1.v.19. 2. Tim. 3.v.16.17. fluentem a Spiritu sancto, ut causa principe illud tanquam organum sua virtute elevante, Joh. 6.v.63. 1. Petri 1. ubi & sub finem capitis semen immortale dicitur: qui spiritus interficit spiritum impurum, vincit malum, e medio tollit Antichristum, renovat omnia sub coelo, liberat creaturam a peccato, vanitate, maledictione, illuminat luce sua tenebras nostras & implet terram cognitione Dei, Zach. 13.v.2. Apoc. 12.v.11. 1. Thess. 2.v.13. Esa. 11.v.4. Joel 2.v.28. Ezech. 36.v.25. Esa. 32.v.15. Rom. 8.v.21. Apoc. 18.v.1. Esa. 11.v.9. Haec efficacia differt a perspicuitate sacrae Scripturae, qua efficitur, ut non solum homines sanae mentis, sed & cacodaemones sensus illius cognitu ad salutem necessarios, sine interna Spiritus sancti illuminatione, clare intelligant, etsi eos credere, eisque obedire nequeant, sed fidem & obsequium dissuadeant. Videas Whitakerum cap. 1. de Scripturae perspicuitate & D. Festum Hommium disp. 62. de fide thes. 5.

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About this text

Ludwig Crocius's System of Sacred Theology (Bremen, 1636), all four books: theology and its rule in Scripture; man's last end, death and the resurrection; God, the Trinity, creation, providence and sin; and the grace of Christ, the Word and sacraments, faith, the Christian life and prayer.

Ludwig Crocius (1586–1655) taught theology and philosophy at Bremen and sat as a delegate at the Synod of Dort (1618–1619). A Calvinist of the irenic school, he spent his career seeking common ground between the Reformed and Lutheran churches.

His System of Sacred Theology (Bremen, 1636) is a full Reformed dogmatics in the high-orthodox style: precise definitions, ordered questions, objections raised and answered.

Date1636 AD (Bremen; Reformed professor)

EditionSyntagma sacrae theologiae (Bremen: Berthold Villerian, 1636)

English follows the 1636 Bremen Latin (Berthold Villerian), read chapter by chapter from the SLUB Dresden page images, with a machine reading of the same pages as a check. No modern English was copied. The author index at the end of the volume is not translated.

Reference

VD17 14:684303C. SLUB id335860389.

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