John Calvin Commentary Daniel 12:3

"And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." — Daniel 12:3 (ASV)

The word “prudent” means endowed with intellect. Some take it transitively, and in this passage their opinion is probably correct, because the office of justifying will soon be assigned to these prudent ones. But the former meaning suits chapter 11 better, and in verse 10 it will be used absolutely.

Therefore, it means those who are endowed with understanding. The angel here confirms what I have recently expressed concerning the final resurrection, and shows how we will enjoy its fruits, because eternal glory is laid up for us in heaven. We should not complain of being treated unworthily whenever we seem to suffer harshness at God’s hands, because we should be satisfied with the glory of heaven and with the perpetual existence of that life which has been promised to us.

Then he says, the teachers, or those who excel in understanding, shall shine forth as the light of heaven. If the word “teachers” is considered preferable, there will be a figure of speech, a part being put for the whole; therefore, I follow the usual explanation.

He applies the phrase “endowed with understanding” to those who do not depart from the true and pure knowledge of God, as will be explained more fully later. For the angel contrasts the profane, who proudly and contemptuously rage against God, with the faithful, whose whole wisdom is to submit themselves to God and to worship Him with the purest affection of their minds.

We will say more on this subject tomorrow. But he now says, those who retained sincere piety should be like the light of the firmament; meaning, they will be heirs of the kingdom of heaven, where they will enjoy that glory which surpasses all the splendor of the world. No doubt, the angel here uses figures of speech to explain what is incomprehensible. This implies that nothing can possibly be found in the world that corresponds to the glory of the elect people.

And those who will justify many will be like stars, he says. He repeats the same thing in other words, and now speaks of stars, having previously used the phrase the brightness of the firmament in the same sense; and instead of “those who are endowed with understanding,” he says, those who will have justified. Without doubt, the angel here especially refers to the teachers of the truth, but in my opinion, he also includes all the pious worshippers of God.

No one of God’s children should confine their attention privately to themselves but, as far as possible, everyone should concern themselves with the welfare of their brothers and sisters. God has entrusted the teaching of His salvation to us, not so that we would privately keep it to ourselves, but so that we would point out the way of salvation to all humankind.

This, therefore, is the common duty of the children of God: to promote the salvation of their brothers and sisters. By this word “justifying,” the angel means not that it is in the power of one person to justify another, but that an attribute of God is here transferred to His ministers.

Meanwhile, we are as clearly justified by any teaching that brings faith within our reach as we are by the faith that springs from that teaching. Why is our justification ever ascribed to faith? Because our faith directs us to Christ, in whom is the complete perfection of justification. Thus, our justification may be ascribed equally to the faith taught and the doctrine that teaches it.

And those who bring this teaching before us are the ministers of our justification. The assertion of the angel, in other words, is this: the children of God, who, being devoted entirely to God and ruled by the spirit of prudence, point out the way of life to others, will not only be saved themselves but will also possess surpassing glory far beyond anything that exists in this world.

This is the complete explanation. Thus, we understand that the nature of true prudence consists in submitting ourselves to God in simple teachableness, and in manifesting the additional quality of carefully promoting the salvation of our brothers and sisters.

The effect of this labor of ours should increase our courage and alacrity. For how great is the honor conferred upon us by our Heavenly Father when He desires us to be the ministers of His righteousness?

As James says, We preserve those about to perish if we bring them back into the right way (James 5:19). James calls us preservers, just as the angel calls us justifiers. Neither the angel nor the apostle wishes to detract from the glory of God, but by these forms of speech, the Spirit represents us as ministers of justification and salvation when we unite with ourselves, in the same bonds, all those who need our assistance and efforts.

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