John Calvin and the Grounding of Interpretation: Calvin’s First Commentaries

Sola Scriptura and Calvin’s Appeal to Chrysostom’s Exegesis

“…28 That Calvin's reference to Chrysostom as an authority to criticize Paul is not only delicate in light of sola scriptura, but also remarkable, because generally speaking Calvin's concept of allegory is more in line with the ancient literature than with the patristic or medieval writings. 29 Calvin prefers the word anagoge (higher meaning), as somewhat closer to the literal meaning than allegory. The higher meaning is the miserable condition of the slaves who are under the law, whereas God desires to make them free.…”