

Presbyterianism class May 2014
The establishment of the Asian Institute of Calvin Studies (AICS) was approved by the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore in March 2014 to promote the study of John Calvin’s theology in Singapore and in the region. This would contribute to the strengthening of the reformed heritage among the churches in Asia.
Aim
- Training: For Presbyterian ministers, church leaders, and youth on the theology of John Calvin.
- Research: For Presbyterian ministers to do research on the theology of John Calvin, hermeneutics, homiletics, pastoral care, church management and others.
Vision

Strategy

AICS Committee

Task Force for Presbyterian Curriculum

Board of Governors
To be established in future, for better planning, strategizing and supervision of this research institution set up by Presbyterian Church.
Partners
Trinity Theological College
The Institute offers graduate-level research programmes in partnership with Trinity Theological College (TTC), leading to the award of the MTh (Master of Theology) and DTh (Doctor of Theology) degrees by TTC.

Rev Dr Edwin Tay
Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia
The Institute would be setting up scholarship/bursary as financial aids to GPM students studying in Singapore.


Lectures

1. Ministerial training
Postgraduate studies in five areas:
- The theology of John Calvin
- The pastoral ministry of John Calvin
- The life of John Calvin
- The spirituality of John Calvin
- The biblical hermeneutics of John Calvin
2. Leadership training
Provides elders and deacons training program, to enhance the Presbyterian belief in the lay leaders on Presbyterian heritage and tradition.
3. Youth training
Youth leaders training program is to be organised by the Synod Youth Council. The aim is to lay the foundation of faith for the future generation and to facilitate the nurturing of church leaders.
AICS Major Events





AICS Publication: Occasional Paper Series

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Synopsis Reacting against such a tradition, John Calvin rejects the traditional practice of “spiritual” exegesis, especially that of allegorical interpretation. He reserves his harshest comments for those who do “violence” to the literal meaning of the text. Yet, there are some who think that Calvin himself uses such methods in his exegetical works. Does he or does he not? This paper examines some key passages where Calvin could have adopted a non-literal approach to biblical interpretation, and explores the possibility that perhaps the great Reformer’s approach to interpreting Scripture is more than meets the eye. |

Synopsis Furthermore, these questions: “Does baptism save? Why should infants be baptised? What are sacraments and how do they work?” are so common among Christians that we should try to give the best answers to them. Calvin and Luther gave similar and yet slightly different answers. Their perspectives especially to the relationship between faith and the sacraments, in particular, baptism, will hopefully shed more light on us as we consider these questions anew today. |

Synopsis Conscious of Calvin’s primary concern for faith formation, this paper serves as an introduction to Calvin’s theology and method for nurturing Christian piety as seen in the Institutes of the Christian Religion (1559). It explores Calvin’s explication of regeneration and its progress in the Christian life. The paper will draw especially from Book 3:6-10 of the Institutes and will examine, for example, the relationship between the Word and the Holy Spirit, the roles of the heart and mind in Christian formation, and a rule of life that is patterned after Christ’s. It concludes with reflections on its ramifications for our practice of Christian nurture today. |