This fine primer in what could be an unwieldy volume with disparate threads is divided into three parts, roughly theorizing on the political, the familial, and the social. It is an important topic and one that deserves the growing attention it is receiving. Addressed are subjects such as the role of government, abortion and contraception, just war, work, property, and social ethics.
Part 1’s maiden chapter is an introduction to several strands of Protestantism, primarily Lutheranism, as that tradition articulates the role of law. Most helpful are the distillations on the law’s character (focusing on Martin Chemnitz) as well as summaries of other intellectual definitions. Melanchthon is correctly noted as affirming a proper third use of the law (the teaching role for believers) in early Lutheranism similar to Calvin’s view. Calvin and the Puritans are not as prominent as some might expect. What might be helpful is an additional charting of the consensus between all Protestant traditions (including Anglican, independent, Methodists, and others) on the uses of the law.
The second chapter on the civil ruler recognizes that early Protestant reformers set forth a coherent political vision, albeit one that is noticeably unmodern. If the opening chapter did not focus much on other aspects of the reformed tradition, this chapter is filled with Calvin’s thought on the role of the civil ruler. The governor’s duty, according to this Protestant theorizing, is to assist the church’s diaconal ministry, advance the common good through education, and ensure societal peace and protection of property. The author asserts that this is no mere “libertarian minimalism.” Giving “the great Johannes Althusius” his due, the desacralizing of the ruler, the growth of the rule of law over the rule of person, and a decentralized set of spheres not only advanced the common good but also are seen as the last best hope for governance today.
A fine chapter on the role of civil resistance and rebellion seeks to identify the who, what, when, and why of resistance. Glenn Moots seeks to locate Reformation articulations as flowing from earlier Medieval and Conciliarist thought. Surveying the contributions of Calvin and Luther to the topic at hand, this chapter also draws on some of the magisterial reformers’ disciples to address the question of when and why rebellion is appropriate. This discussion demonstrates a nuanced understanding of other key sixteenth-century contributors (e.g., a helpful digesting of John Ponet and others). Some inclusion of other Huguenot theory (although the Vindiciae is mentioned) could have been a bit more prominent to round out this helpful discussion. Moots’ definition herein defines the title of the book as by a Protestant to a Protestant defending Protestantism. Of course, Calvin’s Preface to his Institutes is certainly not restricted to Protestants, and other treatises do not uniformly present themselves as speaking only to a Protestant family. Read more»
David Hall | “Protestant Social Teaching” | August 25, 2025
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David Hall
Reverend David W. Hall is married to Ann, and they are parents of three grown children and grandparents of eight grandchildren. He has served as the Senior Pastor of Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA) since 2003. Previously, he served as Pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (1984–2003) and as Associate Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Rome, Georgia (1980–1984). He was ordained to pastoral ministry in 1980. He was educated at Covenant Theological Seminary and is the editor and author of several volumes.
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