Day 2 — Institutes, Book 1, Ch. 1, §2

"THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF OURSELVES MUTUALLY CONNECTED" Source: source/Institutes_Beveridge_FULL.txt (Beveridge, public domain) · verified · SCHEDULE.md Day 2 (All commentary in English — immersion.)

PART 1 — The Text (Reading)

§2. On the other hand, it is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself. For (such is our innate pride) we always seem to ourselves just, and upright, and wise, and holy, until we are convinced, by clear evidence, of our injustice, vileness, folly, and impurity. Convinced, however, we are not, if we look to ourselves only, and not to the Lord also —He being the only standard by the application of which this conviction can be produced. For, since we are all naturally prone to hypocrisy, any empty semblance of righteousness is quite enough to satisfy us instead of righteousness itself. And since nothing appears within us or around us that is not tainted with very great impurity, so long as we keep our mind within the confines of human pollution, anything which is in some small degree less defiled delights us as if it were most pure just as an eye, to which nothing but black had been previously presented, deems an object of a whitish, or even of a brownish hue, to be perfectly white. Nay, the bodily sense may furnish a still stronger illustration of the extent to which we are deluded in estimating the powers of the mind. If, at mid-day, we either look down to the ground, or on the surrounding objects which lie open to our view, we think ourselves endued with a very strong and piercing eyesight; but when we look up to the sun, and gaze at it unveiled, the sight which did excellently well for the earth is instantly so dazzled and confounded by the refulgence, as to oblige us to confess that our acuteness in discerning terrestrial objects is mere dimness when applied to the sun. Thus too, it happens in estimating our spiritual qualities. So long as we do not look beyond the earth, we are quite pleased with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address ourselves in the most flattering terms, and seem only less than demigods. But should we once begin to raise our thoughts to God, and reflect what kind of Being he is, and how absolute the perfection of that righteousness, and wisdom, and virtue, to which, as a standard, we are bound to be conformed, what formerly delighted us by its false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest iniquity; what strangely imposed upon us under the name of wisdom will disgust by its extreme folly; and what presented the appearance of virtuous energy will be condemned as the most miserable impotence. So far are those qualities in us, which seem most perfect, from corresponding to the divine purity.

(Reading time: 4–5 min.)

PART 2 — Argument Map

• Counter-thesis (the ordering): real self-knowledge comes only after we have first looked at God ("On the other hand" turns §1's open question into a settled sequence: God first).
• Cause: innate pride keeps us feeling righteous until clear evidence convicts us.
• The standard: that conviction is impossible if we measure ourselves by ourselves; God alone is the measuring rod.
• Two analogies of distorted perception: (1) the eye habituated to black calls grey "white"; (2) at noon our sight seems sharp, but facing the sun proves it dim.
• Conclusion: confined to earth we feel like demigods; turned to God, our "righteousness/wisdom/virtue" are exposed as iniquity/folly/impotence.

PART 3 — Sentence-by-Sentence Deep Analysis ⭐

[S1] "On the other hand, it is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself." - Syntax: Anticipatory it + that-clause: it is evident [that man never attains … until …]. Inside: [S] man [V] attains to + adverbial until-clause containing two coordinated verbs (has contemplated … and come down … to look into himself). - Grammar: never … until = "not until X does Y happen" (X is the precondition). attains to (intransitive + to). previously fixes sequence. The perfect has … contemplated marks a completed prior act; come down shares the auxiliary has (… and [has] come down). - Vocabulary: attain to (reach); contemplate (gaze on deeply; L templum); the face of God (God's presence/self-disclosure). - Plain English: On the other hand, clearly no one reaches true self-knowledge until he has first gazed on God's face and only then comes back down to examine himself. - Style: On the other hand signals Calvin tipping §1's balance toward "God first."

[S2] "For (such is our innate pride) we always seem to ourselves just, and upright, and wise, and holy, until we are convinced, by clear evidence, of our injustice, vileness, folly, and impurity." - Syntax: Main clause we … seem … just, and upright, and wise, and holy + until-clause we are convinced … of …. A parenthetical (such is our innate pride) is inserted. - Grammar: The parenthesis uses inversion for emphasis: such is our innate pride (= "our innate pride is such [that…]"). seem to ourselves [to be] just… — predicate adjectives in a four-term list, mirrored by the four vices later (injustice, vileness, folly, impurity) — deliberate antithesis. - Vocabulary: upright (morally straight); vileness (baseness); folly (foolishness). - Plain English: For — so great is our inborn pride — we always think ourselves just, upright, wise, and holy, until clear proof convinces us of our injustice, baseness, folly, and impurity. - Style: The paired four-item lists (virtues vs vices) stage the reversal pride must undergo.

[S3] "Convinced, however, we are not, if we look to ourselves only, and not to the Lord also —He being the only standard by the application of which this conviction can be produced." - Syntax: Fronting/inversion for emphasis: Convinced … we are not (= "we are not convinced"). Conditional if we look to ourselves only…. Then an absolute participial phrase: He being the only standard [by the application of which this conviction can be produced]. - Grammar: The fronted complement Convinced throws stress on the key word. The relative by the application of which (pied-piped preposition) modifies standard. - Vocabulary: standard (norm, measuring rod; Latin norma); conviction (being proven guilty/persuaded). - Plain English: But convinced we will not be, if we look only at ourselves and not also at the Lord — since He is the only standard whose application can produce that conviction. - Style: The inversion (Convinced … we are not) is emphatic, almost confrontational.

[S4] "For, since we are all naturally prone to hypocrisy, any empty semblance of righteousness is quite enough to satisfy us instead of righteousness itself." - Syntax: Causal since-clause + main clause [S] any empty semblance of righteousness [V] is [C] enough to satisfy us. - Grammar: prone to + noun = "inclined toward." enough to satisfy (adjective + infinitive of result). instead of (in place of). - Vocabulary: prone to (inclined to); semblance (outward appearance, mere look). - Plain English: For, since we are all naturally inclined to hypocrisy, a hollow appearance of righteousness is quite enough to content us in place of real righteousness. - Style: Crisp maxim that diagnoses self-deception.

[S5] "And since nothing appears within us or around us that is not tainted with very great impurity, so long as we keep our mind within the confines of human pollution, anything which is in some small degree less defiled delights us as if it were most pure — just as an eye, to which nothing but black had been previously presented, deems an object of a whitish, or even of a brownish hue, to be perfectly white." - Syntax: Causal since-clause (nothing appears … that is not tainted…) + temporal so long as-clause + main clause [S] anything [which is … less defiled] [V] delights [O] us + comparison as if it were most pure; then a simile just as an eye … deems an object … to be perfectly white. - Grammar: Double negative nothing … that is not tainted = "everything is tainted." Counterfactual as if it were (past subjunctive). deems … to be = "judges … to be." Relative to which nothing but black had been presented (pluperfect) modifies an eye. - Vocabulary: tainted (contaminated); defiled (made impure); hue (shade of colour); deem (judge). - Plain English: And since everything in us and around us is deeply impure, as long as we keep our mind within the limits of human corruption, anything even slightly less filthy delights us as if it were perfectly pure — just as an eye shown nothing but black takes a whitish or even brownish thing to be pure white. - Style: First perceptual analogy (relative comparison): with no clean reference, "less dirty" passes for "clean."

[S6] "Nay, the bodily sense may furnish a still stronger illustration of the extent to which we are deluded in estimating the powers of the mind." - Syntax: [S] the bodily sense [V] may furnish [O] a still stronger illustration + post-modifier of the extent [to which we are deluded …]. - Grammar: nay escalates ("indeed, even"). a still stronger = comparative intensified by still ("even stronger"). the extent to which (relative). - Vocabulary: furnish (provide); deluded (deceived); estimating (judging the value of). - Plain English: Indeed, physical eyesight gives an even stronger illustration of how deceived we are when we judge our mental powers. - Style: Transition raising the stakes from the first analogy to the sharper sun-analogy.

[S7] "If, at mid-day, we either look down to the ground, or on the surrounding objects which lie open to our view, we think ourselves endued with a very strong and piercing eyesight; but when we look up to the sun, and gaze at it unveiled, the sight which did excellently well for the earth is instantly so dazzled and confounded by the refulgence, as to oblige us to confess that our acuteness in discerning terrestrial objects is mere dimness when applied to the sun." - Syntax: Conditional If … we think ourselves endued with … eyesight; contrast but when … the sight … is so dazzled … as to oblige us to confess [that …]. - Grammar: think ourselves [to be] endued with (reflexive + predicate). so … as to = result ("so dazzled … that it forces…"). oblige us to confess (causative). Embedded that-clause: our acuteness … is mere dimness when applied to the sun. - Vocabulary: endued with (endowed with); piercing (sharp); gaze at (look long at); refulgence (radiance — archaic); acuteness (sharpness); terrestrial (earthly); dimness (faintness of sight). - Plain English: At noon, looking at the ground or nearby objects, we think our eyesight strong and sharp; but the moment we look straight at the sun, the sight that worked so well on earth is so dazzled that we must admit our sharpness on earthly things is mere dimness against the sun. - Style: The sun analogy — Calvin's signature figure; the brighter the light (God), the more our "strength" shows as weakness.

[S8] "Thus too, it happens in estimating our spiritual qualities." - Syntax: [S] it [V] happens + adverbial in estimating our spiritual qualities. Thus too = "in the same way." - Grammar: Light, hinge sentence applying the analogy. it happens (impersonal). - Plain English: The same thing happens when we judge our spiritual qualities. - Style: A brief pivot from image to application.

[S9] "So long as we do not look beyond the earth, we are quite pleased with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address ourselves in the most flattering terms, and seem only less than demigods." - Syntax: Temporal so long as-clause + main clause(s): we are pleased with…; we address ourselves…; and seem only less than demigods. - Grammar: so long as = "as long as." address ourselves in flattering terms = "speak to/of ourselves flatteringly." only less than demigods = "almost gods." - Vocabulary: flattering (excessively complimentary); demigods (half-gods — archaic, vivid). - Plain English: As long as we never look beyond the earth, we are quite pleased with our righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we flatter ourselves and feel little less than gods. - Style: Irony — self-deification as the symptom of not looking up.

[S10] "But should we once begin to raise our thoughts to God, and reflect what kind of Being he is, … what formerly delighted us by its false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest iniquity; what … under the name of wisdom will disgust by its extreme folly; and what presented the appearance of virtuous energy will be condemned as the most miserable impotence." - Syntax: Inverted conditional should we once begin … (= "if we once begin…"). Then a triadic parallel of three subject-clauses (what … righteousness / what … wisdom / what … virtuous energy), each with its reversal (iniquity / folly / impotence). - Grammar: should we begin = formal/literary conditional (inversion replaces "if"). what = the free relative ("that which"). bound to be conformed (passive of obligation). The three "what…will…" clauses are rigorously parallel — tricolon. - Vocabulary: false show (deceptive display); iniquity (wickedness); disgust (revolt); impotence (powerlessness). - Plain English: But the moment we lift our thoughts to God and consider what He is — the absolute perfection of righteousness, wisdom, and virtue we are bound to match — what once pleased us as righteousness turns out to be foul iniquity; what passed for wisdom, sheer folly; what looked like virtuous energy, wretched impotence. - Style: A tricolon of reversals — the rhetorical climax of the section.

[S11] "So far are those qualities in us, which seem most perfect, from corresponding to the divine purity." - Syntax: Inversion of the so … from construction: normal order = "those qualities in us … are so far from corresponding to the divine purity." Fronting So far throws the stress forward. - Grammar: be far from + -ing = "be nowhere near doing." Relative which seem most perfect is parenthetical. - Plain English: So far are even our seemingly most perfect qualities from matching God's purity. - Style: A clinching, inverted summary — the gap between us and God is the last word.

PART 4 — Vocabulary

PART 5 — 🏛 Theology (deep)

1. Order settled: God first. §1 left the priority open; §2's "On the other hand" fixes it — true self-knowledge presupposes the prior vision of God. This protects Calvin from grounding theology in anthropology: the self is read in the light of God, never the reverse.
2. God as norma of self-knowledge. "He being the only standard…" Apart from the divine measure we cannot be convicted; sin is exposed only against God's holiness. This is the epistemic form of total depravity — corruption so pervasive it even corrupts our self-assessment (the noetic effects of sin).
3. The optics of grace and light. The sun-analogy enacts Calvin's recurring light motif (cf. Ps 36:9, "in thy light shall we see light"): the nearer the divine light, the more our self-rated "powers" register as darkness. It also anticipates Calvin's doctrine of accommodation — we see only as God condescends to be seen.
4. What Calvin opposes: classical/Stoic self-knowledge that breeds self-admiration, and any anthropocentric optimism ("less than demigods"). True self-knowledge is doxological humility, not introspective self-esteem.

PART 6 — 📖 Biblical Studies (deep)

• Isaiah 6:5 — Isaiah, seeing the LORD, cries "Woe is me… I am undone" (Heb. nidmêtî, "I am ruined/silenced"). This is the prophetic archetype behind §2's logic and its sun-imagery: exposure to God's holiness collapses self-righteousness.
• Job 42:5–6 — "now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself" — the "contemplate God, then look down at yourself" sequence of S1 in narrative form.
• Luke 18:9–14 — the Pharisee vs the tax-collector dramatizes S2/S4: self-measured "righteousness" (semblance) versus conviction before God.
• 1 Corinthians 4:3–4 — "he that judgeth me is the Lord" — Paul refuses self-assessment as the standard, exactly Calvin's point in S3 (God alone is the norma).
• Psalm 36:9 — "in thy light shall we see light" — the theological root of the sun/eye analogy (S7).

PART 7 — 🔁 Translation Comparison (Beveridge vs Battles)

Here the two versions agree in substance; what dates Beveridge is diction: refulgence (radiance), demigods, endued (endowed). Battles (1960) modernizes such words. (1) No semantic difference. (2) Beveridge keeps a Latinate, Victorian register; Battles renders the 1559 critical text for plain modern reading. (3) Stylistic, not theological — so today's gain is acclimating to Beveridge's archaic vocabulary.

PART 8 — ✅ Check yourself (multiple choice)

Q1 (theology/comprehension). According to §2, true self-knowledge is reached only when we: A. introspect harder on our own B. first contemplate God and measure ourselves by Him C. compare ourselves with other people D. acquire more education

Q2 (grammar). "Convinced, however, we are not, if we look to ourselves only…" — the opening Convinced … we are not is an example of: A. the passive voice misused B. fronting/inversion for emphasis (= "we are not convinced") C. the imperative mood D. a conditional clause

Q3 (comprehension). The image of an eye, to which nothing but black had been previously presented, calling grey "white" illustrates that: A. people are colour-blind B. without a pure standard, the "less defiled" passes for pure C. optimism is healthy D. the senses are always reliable

Q4 (vocabulary). "…so dazzled and confounded by the refulgence…" — refulgence means: A. refusal B. reflection C. radiance / blazing brightness D. confusion

Q5 (grammar/style). "So far are those qualities in us … from corresponding to the divine purity." This uses the pattern: A. be far from + -ing (= nowhere near doing), with inversion for emphasis B. comparative of distance C. a rhetorical question D. the subjunctive

Answer Key: Q1 B — God is the norma; self-knowledge presupposes the vision of God. Q2 B — fronted complement Convinced = emphatic "we are not convinced." Q3 B — with no pure reference, relative cleanness looks absolute. Q4 C — refulgence = brilliance (archaic). Q5 A — be far from + -ing, here inverted (So far are … from corresponding).

Where we stopped: Book 1, Ch. 1 §2 끝. 다음은 Ch. 1 §3 (Day 3).