John Calvin Commentary Psalms 8:6

"Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet:" — Psalms 8:6 (ASV)

You have set him over. David now comes to the second point, which I have just now spoken of: namely, that from the dominion over all things which God has conferred on mankind, it is evident how great is the love He has had for them, and how highly He has valued them.

As He Himself does not need anything, He has destined all the riches, both of heaven and earth, for their use. It is certainly a unique honor, and one that cannot be fully appreciated, that mortal man, as God's representative, has dominion over the world, as if it belonged to him by right, and that wherever he turns his eyes, he sees nothing lacking that may contribute to the convenience and happiness of his life.

As this passage is quoted by Paul in his First Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:27), where he speaks about the spiritual kingdom of Christ, some may object and say that the meaning he assigns to it is very different from the sense I have given. But it is easy to answer this objection, and the answer I give is this: that generally, the whole order of this world is arranged and established for the purpose of contributing to the comfort and happiness of mankind.

In what way the passage may properly apply to Christ alone, I have already explained a little earlier. The only thing that now remains to be considered is how far this declaration extends—that all things are subjected to mankind. Now, there is no doubt that if there is anything in heaven or on earth that is opposed to mankind, the beautiful order which God had established in the world at the beginning is now thrown into confusion.

The consequence of this is that mankind, after they were ruined by the fall of Adam, were not only deprived of so distinguished and honorable a status and dispossessed of their former dominion, but are also held captive under a degrading and ignominious bondage. Christ, it is true, is the lawful heir of heaven and earth, by whom the faithful recover what they had lost in Adam; but He has not yet actually entered into the full possession of His empire and dominion.

Therefore, the apostle concludes that what David says here will not be perfectly accomplished until death is abolished. Accordingly, the apostle reasons in this manner: “If all things are subdued to Christ, nothing ought to stand in opposition to His people. But we see death still exercising its tyranny against them.

It follows then, that there remains the hope of a better state than the present.” Now, this flows from the principle I have spoken of: that the world was originally created for this purpose, that every part of it should contribute to the happiness of mankind as its primary goal.

In another part of his writings, the apostle argues on the same principle when, to prove that we must all stand at the last day before the judgment seat of Christ, he brings forward the following passage: Unto me every knee shall bow (Romans 14:10). In this syllogism, what logicians call the minor proposition must be supplied: namely, that there are still too many who proudly and obstinately cast off His yoke and are averse to bowing the knee as a sign of their submission to Him.