…in the sixteenth century it took enormous ingenuity to pioneer a political-ecclesiastical system that preserved the independence of clerical authority and still garnered the support of the magistrates.
I am hearing about the Reformed 2 kingdoms concept currently. My understanding of the concept is basically what you are describing about Bucer's and Calvin's views. There are 2 distinct kingdoms of God. One is is civil and one is ecclesiastical. There have separate spheres of authority, but from people I have heard describe it, the civil many times encroaches on the ecclesiastical.
I think the Reformers had to do this unfortunately in order to get protection from different noblemen. They developed a theology which did not put them at odds with civil magistrates as Catholic political theory did. It held that papal or church authority was a rival to the civil magistrate. I don't think the church should have armies or jails. But I do think they should be a rival to civil authority because we have seen the problem that 2 kingdoms theory has produced.
I am hearing about the Reformed 2 kingdoms concept currently. My understanding of the concept is basically what you are describing about Bucer's and Calvin's views. There are 2 distinct kingdoms of God. One is is civil and one is ecclesiastical. There have separate spheres of authority, but from people I have heard describe it, the civil many times encroaches on the ecclesiastical.
I think the Reformers had to do this unfortunately in order to get protection from different noblemen. They developed a theology which did not put them at odds with civil magistrates as Catholic political theory did. It held that papal or church authority was a rival to the civil magistrate. I don't think the church should have armies or jails. But I do think they should be a rival to civil authority because we have seen the problem that 2 kingdoms theory has produced.
https://thecrosssectionrmb.blogspot.com/
https://libertarianchristians.com/author/rhesabrowning/