Calvin's Political Theology and the Public Engagement of the Church

Matthew J. Tuininga gained his Ph.D. in Religion, Ethics and Society from Emory University, Atlanta and is the Assistant Professor of Moral Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary, Michigan. He formerly taught politics and core studies at Oglethorpe University, Georgia, and he has also taught at Emory University and at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. He previously worked as a congressional aide in Washington DC and as a counterterrorism intelligence analyst for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

'… a superb piece of work, an important contribution and lucidly written. My guess is that this will become the gold standard in the field. Tuininga's line of interpretation will be much discussed.' Nicholas Wolterstorff, Yale University, Connecticut

• Introduction; 1. Two swords, two powers, or two kingdoms: spiritual and political authority in Early Modern Europe; 2. Calvin, Geneva, and the French Reformed Churches; 3. The Kingdom of Christ; 4. Two kingdoms; 5. Christ's spiritual government; 6. Christ's political government: early formulations; 7. Covenant and law; 8. The magistrate's care of religion; 9. Law, democracy and resistance to tyranny; Conclusion. Calvin's two kingdoms and liberal democracy.