“Not content with this, Paul heightens the criminality of their conduct, by saying, that he who forgets his own is worse than an infidel. This is true for two reasons. First, the further advanced anyone is in the knowledge of God, the less is he excused; and therefore, they who shut their eyes against the clear light of God are worse than infidels. Secondly, this is a kind of duty which nature itself teaches; for they are (storgai< fusikai>) natural affections. And if, by the mere guidance of nature, infidels are so prone to love their own, what must we think of those who are not moved by any such feeling? Do they not go even beyond the ungodly in brutality? If it be objected, that, among unbelievers, there are also many parents that are cruel and savage; the explanation is easy, that Paul is not speaking of any parents but those who, by the guidance and instruction of nature, take care of their own offspring; for, if anyone have degenerated from that which is so perfectly natural, he ought to be regarded as a monster.
It is asked, Why does the Apostle prefer the members of the household to the children? I answer, when he speaks of his own and especially those of his household, by both expressions he denotes the children and grandchildren. For, although children may have been transferred, or may have passed into a different family by marriage, or in any way may have left the house of the parents; yet the right of nature is not altogether extinguished, so as to destroy the obligation of the older to govern the younger as committed to them by God, or at least to take care of them as far as they can. Towards domestics, the obligation is more strict; for they ought to take care of them for two reasons, both because they are their own blood, and because they are a part of the family which they govern.”
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Note, that Calvin explicitly teaches that I Timothy 5:8 refers to extended family (Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews, Grandchildren, i.e. Clan) and that the failure to uniquely love one’s own extended family has gone beyond the ungodly in brutality so that one is to be regarded as a MONSTER.
Secondly, notice that Calvin says that those who oppose kinism have denied “the clear light of God,” and following the Apostle, are worst than infidels.
Third, do not miss that Calvin speaks of “blood” relations. There is a priority we are to have to our own blood.
Fourthly, let us note here that when one makes all men equal in terms of our obligations to them then one has at that point forgotten their own.
