这个神学体系冠以宗教改革家加尔文（John Calvin）之名，但加尔文本人是否属于加尔文主义呢？我们就以“有限代赎”为例，作点简单的说明。
定义：“有限代赎”（Limited Atonement），又称为“特定救赎”（Particular Redemption），是加尔文主义五要点（通常简称为 TULIP）的第三点。意思是“主耶稣在十字架上的死，虽然足以（sufficient）拯救所有人，但只是对蒙拣选的人有效（efficient）。”或者说，十字架的死虽然足以使所有人都得着救恩的益处，但神却定意只给祂所拣选的人。
摘录自加尔文（
John Calvin
）
著
，
《以赛亚书注释》, 五十三12
祂卻擔當多人的罪
⋯⋯因為當祂如此蒙羞受辱, 丟臉到極致, 為要叫
我們這些已經被宣判為永久滅亡的人
可以與祂一同享受不朽的榮耀, 我們就在祂身上見到神的愛的一個驚人而值得紀念的證據。
⋯⋯祂孤身一人承擔多人的刑罰, 因為
整個世界的罪
都歸在祂身上。從其他經文--尤其從羅馬書第五章--可以明顯看見:
"多人" 有時是指 "所有人"
。
He bore the sin of many. This is added by way of correction, that, when we hear of the shame of Christ’s death, we may not think that it was a blot on the character of Christ, and that our minds may not, by being prejudiced in that manner, be prevented from receiving the victory which he obtained for us, that is, the fruit of his death. He shews, therefore, that this was done in order that he might take our sins upon him; and his object is, that, whenever the death of Christ shall be mentioned, we may at the same time remember the atonement made for us. And this fruit swallows up all the shame of the death of Christ, that his majesty and glory may be more clearly seen than if we only beheld him sitting in heaven;
for we have in him a striking and memorable proof of the love of God, when he is so insulted, degraded, and loaded with the utmost disgrace, in order that we, on whom had been pronounced a sentence of everlasting destruction, may enjoy along with him immortal glory.
I have followed the ordinary interpretation, that “he bore the sin of many,” though we might without impropriety consider the Hebrew word רבים (răbbīm) to denote “Great and Noble.” And thus the contrast would be more complete, that Christ, while “he was ranked among transgressors,” became surety for every one of the most excellent of the earth, and suffered in the room of those who hold the highest rank in the world. I leave this to the judgment of my readers. Yet I approve of the ordinary reading,
that he alone bore the punishment of many, because on him was laid the guilt of the whole world. It is evident from other passages, and especially from the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, that “many” sometimes denotes “all.”
And prayed for the transgressors. Because the ratification of the atonement, with which Christ has washed us by his death, implies that he pleaded with the Father on our behalf, it was proper that this should be added. For, as in the ancient Law the priest, who “never entered without blood,” at the same time interceded for the people; so what was there shadowed out is fulfilled in Christ. (Ex. 30:10; Heb. 9:7.) First, he offered the sacrifice of his body, and shed his blood, that he might endure the punishment which was due to us; and secondly, in order that the atonement might take effect, he performed the office of an advocate, and interceded for all who embraced this sacrifice by faith; as is evident from that prayer which he left to us, written by the hand of John, “I pray not for these only, but for all who shall believe on me through their word.” (John 17:20.) If we then belong to their number, let us be fully persuaded that Christ hath suffered for us, that we may now enjoy the benefit of his death.
