The book is now in the bookstore. You can order your copy from The Bookstore at WSC. If you have been wondering what all the discussion about “two kingdoms” and “natural law” is about, here’s the book for you.
To accompany the release of the book, we’ve produced a special edition of Office Hours that lets you hear David explain why he wrote the book and about the two main themes of this survey of the history of Reformed social thought. Follow the Office Hours link above to find the interview. You can subscribe to Office Hours in iTunes or via RSS.
If these things interest you, then be sure to find your way to the campus of WSC for the upcoming faculty conference, Christ, Kingdom, and Culture or to a computer near you to watch the live, streaming video.
UPDATE: Here are some additional resources on these questions:
- Godfrey and VanDrunen discuss the upcoming WSC faculty conference, Christ, Kingdom, and Culture.
- Once More: Resources on the Two Kingdoms
- Mike Horton on the Two Kingdoms
- The Distinction Between BBQ and the KOG
- Jack and the KOG
- Common is Not Neutral
- Calvin on the Two Kingdoms
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.
More by R. Scott Clark ›
I read VanDrunen’s A Biblical Case for Natural Law a while ago. It was very helpful and I recommend it as a primer to this larger work.
Thanks Rich!
Indeed. As He mentioned in the interview (done last week — we were surprised to see the books arrive in the bookstore yesterday!) the new volume is historical in nature. I’ve got my copy right here.
I ordered a review copy from Eerdmans last night. Can’t wait to read it!
Not from the bookstore at WSC?
Will then send it grata? 🙂
No, but they have a below-Amazon price and $5.00 shipping. Eerdmans price is $35.00. The WSC Bookstore price is $22.00 plus $5.00 shipping. Further, when you go to the Bookstore at WSC through the HB it helps me. How much more incentive does one need?
Well, Eerdmaans sends them grata to me. I am no expert in math, but I think I can see what deal is best in this case – at least best for ME. 🙂
Nice. Got it.
Sent from my iPhone
“The radical two kingdom approach within the Reformed world represents a fundamental capitulation to one of the central tenets of the Anabaptist project.” -Doug Wilson
Frank,
This comment by the Mullah of Moscow once again demonstrates his near complete ignorance of and indifference to the actual history of Reformed theology. Just as he did not understand the doctrine of justification or covenant theology before he started fiddling with them so this comment is evidence that he doesn’t understand the first thing about the history of Reformed social thought.
Frank,
Where did you get this quote?
Once more, here’s that Anabaptist Calvin on the 2 kingdoms From the 1559 Institutes 3.19.15 (Battles edition):
Of course ironically if one looks at Calvin’s thoughts on the powers and rights of the civil kingdom in his commentaries and sermons when it comes to the State’s responsibility in governing I would dare some here would find them barbaric and evil.
For starters see what Calvin thinks the State ought to do with those caught in adultery. (cf: Calvin’s commentary on John 8:11 on Page 209 of the Eerdman’s edition of his commentary on John’s Gospel).
Here it is from CCEL.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom34.xiv.i.html
But, Benjamin, like Kuyper said in his efforts to revise Belgic 36, “We do not at all hide the fact that we disagree with Calvin, our Confessions, and our Reformed theologians.”
http://sb.rfpa.org/index.cfm?mode=narrow&volume=62&issue=457&article=4393&book=0&search=&page=1&chapter=0&text_search=0
The kingdom of man always seems to drift towards a politics of power. Power struggles take place in the various political parties which kind of negates and diminishes a man with a conscience to rise to a status of political influence and authority. It is almost similar to a mafia type style of leadership in the political realm. This seems to be a matter of indifference to those who hold a two-kingdom theology position and one in which many critics of two-kingdom theology hold. How would you answer this criticism? I am almost to the point of not even concerning myself with politics and the legal system any more? I know that is not the proper route to go either. The kingdom of God should be our top priority and concern but we are still deeply influenced in the here and now by the kingdom of man. How much time should we be devoting to understanding the issues and concerns of the kingdom of man?
Here’s another interesting resource I’ve found on natural law and Calvinism:
http://books.google.com/books?id=2SI0I4t9roEC&printsec=frontcover#
Thank you so much for your interesting blog, Mr Clark. As a young and rather isolated Christian, a Calvinist-turned former Evangelical in a predominantly Roman Catholic country, I have found your blog to be very helpful in developing a Reformed worldview. I am also planning on reading the RRC in the near future.
Keep up the good work!
Rev. Matthew Winzer of the Australian Free Church is in the process of writing a review of this book which should appear this fall.
Does anyone know what postion he is taking?
I would encourage anyone who is interested in knowing more about how best to interact with this subject to read VanDrunen”s book before this review comes out.
IMO, his book provides a good overview of the history of social thought concerning this subject. There seems to be many views to consider but generally it always seems to conclude with “what to do with the first table of the law” being moral.”