Institutes of the Christian Religion (2 Volume Set)

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Institutes of the Christian Religion (2 Volume Set)

by John Calvin, John Thomas McNeill (Editor)

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 2,422 ratings · 152 reviews

This is the definitive English-language edition of one of the monumental works of the Christian church. All previous editions--in Latin, French, German, and English--have been collated; references and notes have been verified, corrected, and expanded; and new bibliographies have been added.The translation preserves the rugged strength and vividness of Calvin's writing, but...more

Hardcover, 1800 pages

Published January 1st 1960 by Westminster John Knox Press (first published December 28th 1953)

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Mar 12, 2013 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianity, reformation, reviewed

Years ago I took a course in Reformation Theology for which this book was a required text. It was a good course, taught by a knowledgeable professor, who did not force us to read the entire book. After the course was over I determined to read the entire book, but abandoned it in frustration when I got to about p. 250. Finally last year, I had to use it for work and decided that, since that was the case, I was going to conquer it finally.

The book is a long treatise on systematic theology, meant t...more Years ago I took a course in Reformation Theology for which this book was a required text. It was a good course, taught by a knowledgeable professor, who did not force us to read the entire book. After the course was over I determined to read the entire book, but abandoned it in frustration when I got to about p. 250. Finally last year, I had to use it for work and decided that, since that was the case, I was going to conquer it finally.

The book is a long treatise on systematic theology, meant to provide basic but thorough instruction in the Protestant faith. It has an obviously trinitarian structure, devoting three large sections to the work of the three Persons of the Christian Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, with a fourth section on the Christian Church. Along the way it discusses many things found in traditional Christian catechisms, such as the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, faith, prayer, and the importance of the Word (i.e. the Bible) and the sacraments.

The style of Calvin takes getting used to. Before he became a theologian, he was a lawyer, and it shows both in his style and in his manner of argumentation. He can write in long convoluted sentences that rival those of Proust himself. But when he is arguing a point about which he feels strongly, he can be not only lively but vitriolic. This can be startling, and even offensive by today's standards of political correctness, especially when he lets his theological opponents have it with both barrels.

But his argumentation, and the facts and research with which he backs it up, are staggering. One need only scan the footnotes and the indices to realize how much he quotes the Church Fathers, especially St. Augustine. In this he is obviously part of the Renaissance movement which aimed to go back to the sources of Christianity.

But he is also good at taking a point and looking at it from all sides. For example, when he discusses the Ten Commandments, he talks not only about how to obey a particular commandment, but how to avoid its opposite. And later when he discusses the sacraments, he defines very carefully what they are; this will influence his later discussion of whether it is proper to call various practices sacraments or not. He looks at what the Bible says, but also what was practiced in the early church, and what is done in his own time. Moreover, most often, he knows his opponents' opinions thoroughly, and seems to relish lining up the arguments and shooting them down one by one.

One thing that surprised me was his treatment of predestination, which is supposed, still today, to be something with which Calvinists are eternally obsessed. Even as he was writing about it, Calvin realized that this issue was a "hot potato," and he treats it carefully but not fearfully. The point he emphasizes is this: the fact that God chose beforehand those who would be saved (election) is meant to reassure us of salvation, not to make us full of doubt.

Another thing that surprised me was that Calvin's vehemence was not directed solely at Catholics in general and the unfortunate non-trinitarian Michael Servetus in particular. There were others as well. The targets of his rhetoric are not always mentioned by name, but they include Lutherans, Zwinglians and Anabaptists. This is the aspect of Calvin's work that makes me squirm the most, because I believe that if Christians hold differing opinions, the best way to handle it is respectful discussion. But Calvin was from a time when fervour burned bright and tempers and tongues waxed hot. When one takes this into consideration, he is quite cool-headed--most of the time!(less)

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Jul 18, 2009 Douglas Wilson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Just finished Volume 1. The first time I read this I was still an Arminian, and I appreciated it then. Now I am simply amazed. What a treasure this is.

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Dec 27, 2007 justin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

if i ever finish this, i will immediately begin it again

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Oct 02, 2012 Janet rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-theology, favorites

John Calvin's Institutes of Christian Religion provide a Scripture-based manifesto for Reform Christianity. Calvin revised and expanded it several times as his objectives for The Institutes changed from functioning like a small catechism to, ultimately, a guide to studying the Bible. One must rely on the framework conveyed by The Institutes almost like a rubric to correctly understand Calvin's Commentaries and other work.

Tony Lane and Hilary Osborne strove to make The Institutes, which consist...more

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Sep 10, 2011 David rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: theology

This is a book in four volumes, representing nearly 4,000 pages written in the mid-sixteenth century in French and Latin, translated into English in the mid-19th century. The purpose of which is to provide guidance and direction in the study of the Holy Scriptures through a topical organization so that all may more fully understand the philosophy and teaching of the Christian religion. My notes are based upon the translation by Henry Beverage from 1845 and are limited to volume 1 only. Book one...more This is a book in four volumes, representing nearly 4,000 pages written in the mid-sixteenth century in French and Latin, translated into English in the mid-19th century. The purpose of which is to provide guidance and direction in the study of the Holy Scriptures through a topical organization so that all may more fully understand the philosophy and teaching of the Christian religion. My notes are based upon the translation by Henry Beverage from 1845 and are limited to volume 1 only. Book one is primarily focused on the knowledge and nature of God, in the words of Gaspar Olevian:

[T]he First Book of the Institutes treats of the knowledge of God, considered as the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of the world, and of every thing contained in it.

This first volume goes into a great deal of detail on the nature of and sovereignty of God, the authority of scripture, the nature of the Trinity and concludes with a discussion on free will and providence. Modern churches seldom teach on the doctrine of the trinity to the level presented by Calvin. This section provides a valuable reference for the modern Bible student on the complex subject of a God with one divine essence revealed in three persons. The final section explains that nothing happens by chance, by probability or by nature, yet everything is guided and governed by the supreme God who actively directs the actions of the world. In this tough subject, Calvin explains that God even directs the sinful or evil actions of non-believers in such a way that works toward His own glory while preventing Him from being the author of evil.

This was the first original work by Calvin that I have read and I was impressed with the degree and nature of the organization of his work. He has a very analytical mind and thinks much like an engineer or scientist breaking complex pieces down into well-organized component parts. He frequently makes numbered lists and uses multiple levels of the outline to organize the material. The antiquity of the original material and the translation from more than 160 years ago from the French add some difficulties to the readability of the material, but for anyone who has read classics from these time periods it should not be a struggle. With free ebook versions widely available as well as audiobook versions, there is no longer any reason to settle for opinions or third-party explanations of Calvin's work - now anyone can read it directly.
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Sep 11, 2011 Ian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: society, religion, politics, history, essays-and-autobiographies, classics

Well, he's certainly...pedantic? I find that Calvin somehow manages to approach a religion grounded in love, mercy, compassion, purity and fidelity as though it were a cold, joyless intellectual exercise. He lacks the zeal of Luther, the passion of Augustine, the skill of Aquinas, and even the intellectualism of Evagrius... Were he alive today I somehow think he would be busy working for the IRS or writing the fine print in legal documents. It amazes me that my ancestors were so passionate about...more Well, he's certainly...pedantic? I find that Calvin somehow manages to approach a religion grounded in love, mercy, compassion, purity and fidelity as though it were a cold, joyless intellectual exercise. He lacks the zeal of Luther, the passion of Augustine, the skill of Aquinas, and even the intellectualism of Evagrius... Were he alive today I somehow think he would be busy working for the IRS or writing the fine print in legal documents. It amazes me that my ancestors were so passionate about his theology.

UPDATE: Book 4 is, by far, the best of the volumes. His arguments about the Roman Catholic Church's claim to authority (pointing out that their claims of unbroken succession are insufficient to prove themselves the "true" church since the Greek churches could claim the same, yet the Romans considered the Greeks heretics and schismatics) and his arguments about the ways in which pride and hatred towards authority (since justly-used authority is usually exercised to correct and to prevent us from indulging our whims) are the true motivations behind the rejection of communal Christianity in favor of strictly individual worship and meditation (cf. today's "don't-believe-in-organized-religion" assertions) -- these are legitimately compelling.

UPDATE 2: What the...? Abruptly, and without any proof, he begins claiming that the Pope and all cardinals secretly don't believe in God, Jesus, the after-life or the Bible AT ALL! And that they secretly conspired to punish anyone who believes otherwise! Suddenly the origin of European conspiracy theories is laid bare before me...

UPDATE 3: He keeps alternating between excellent points and bizarre, labored interpretations of the Bible motivated (rather obviously) by a desperate desire to justify his own a priori conclusions. One of the silliest is his conclusion that the dietary prohibitions given to Gentiles in Acts were actually part of a commandment to be more charitable.

UPDATE 4: His arguments in favor of paedobaptism are remarkably weak. Their weakness is only exceeded by his vehemence in asserting them. (less)

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Aug 09, 2008 Husseyhousehold rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone alive today, wondering what God's Word teaches is necessary for our salvation.

Recommended to Husseyhousehold by: Dr. Frank Walker

I read Book One of the Four volumes in this edition, and learned that all the caricatures of Calvin and Calvinism are as far off the mark as equating a Christian with a Muslim terrorist of 9/11.

What most people call "hypercalvinism" is more often than not simply "Calvinism," or "biblical." The doctrine of election, far from being called "Calvinism," ought to be reclaimed as simply "truth." What is properly hypercalvinism, however, (i.e.: prayer and evangelism are unnecessary due to God being sov...more I read Book One of the Four volumes in this edition, and learned that all the caricatures of Calvin and Calvinism are as far off the mark as equating a Christian with a Muslim terrorist of 9/11.

What most people call "hypercalvinism" is more often than not simply "Calvinism," or "biblical." The doctrine of election, far from being called "Calvinism," ought to be reclaimed as simply "truth." What is properly hypercalvinism, however, (i.e.: prayer and evangelism are unnecessary due to God being sovereign) has NOTHING to do with what Calvin taught or believed.

The beauty of this book is that every truth is exegeted (taken out of) the Scripture. Most people speaking against the doctrine of election usually rest on a few verses that don't speak to the issue of election at all. C.S. Lewis, in his "Mere Chritianity," for instance, rests his argument for the presence of evil on the Arminian view of man's "free will," a fiction of imagination that neither Lewis nor other believers of free will support from Scripture.

Calvin shows that the sovereignty of God is merciful, not monstrous. Providence is treated as majestic, not cosmic puppetry or pernicious error. The presence of evil is explained in a humble view of what the Bible says on the subject, and the answer surprised me (though mostly because the Bible verses used were unfamiliar to me).

All in all, Calvin was a genius and is careful to explain the fact that we don't have the "freedom" to simply believe what is comfortable, but our beliefs must come from the Scripture. He is careful to show what the Church Fathers believed on subjects, and is not afraid to show the reader that even these respected teachers contradict Scripture to their shame. In other words: "Let God be true, and every man a liar."

If you want your faith to be stretched, Calvin's first book is a roadmap through the Bible on the fundamentals of a robust and biblical worldview.

Calvin, though a man, has written on the difficult teachings of the Scriptures by beginning exactly there: at the Scriptures(less)

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Sep 02, 2007 Greg rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lifetime_recommended_list

Once I became a Christian, this book was immensely helpful in teaching me to think carefully and thoroughly about the Christian faith, instead of being satisfied with a few platitudes, some assumed familial traditions, and a load of cultural baggage.

This book is the foundation of what is referred to as the Reformed branch of the church. It convinced me that Scripture reveals a view of the church that is well described by so-called Reformed doctrine. After encountering this book, I can say that b...more

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Nov 15, 2007 Max Benfer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am currently going through this work for the second time, and find Calvin's prodigious mind and precocious arguments to be very encouraging and enlightening. In an age when many in the church are abandoning the authority of Scripture, it is refreshing to read, from the pen of this great theologian, "Let this point therefore stand: that those whom the Holy Spirit has inwardly taught truly rest upon Scripture, and that Scripture indeed is self-authenticated...therefore, illumined by his power, w...more

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May 11, 2013 Matthew Cserhati rated it 5 of 5 stars

Calvin is a true master of theology. Calvin's Institutes shaped Western thought and culture in many different profound ways. Even modern spiritual ideas and thought scan derive themselves from the thoughts of Calvin written down in his Institutes, which I read in archaic Hungarian; you might want to add this to the list of existing translations. Calvin is an extremely learned and accomplished intellect, with his long, long sentences spilling over many rows. Historians claim that he was capable o...more

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Apr 19, 2012 The Men's Ministry of Denton Bible Church rated it 5 of 5 stars

The first edition, written in Latin and published in Basel, where Calvin was in exile, included a dedication to the French King Francis I. Calvin intended his work to be a statement of French Protestant beliefs that would refute the king, who was persecuting French Protestants and incorrectly calling them Anabaptists (radical Reformers who wished to separate the church from the state). It consisted of six chapters that discussed the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the s...more

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Jan 15, 2010 pchan rated it 5 of 5 stars

It goes without saying that John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is a classic.

But what of the translation? Which English translation is "best"? As far as I can tell, the two most frequently suggested English translations are the older Henry Beveridge translation and the newer John McNeill-Ford Lewis Battles translation. But does older imply outdated? Or is newer necessarily always better?

I'm not competent enough to decide. For one thing, I don't know Latin or French. For another, I...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Jesse rated it 5 of 5 stars

Eye opening. Reading Calvin helped me to see why my understanding of the Bible had so many extra parts laying around after I had assembled it. I hope he can do the same for others.

I would recommend starting with the section on the differences/similarities of the old and new testaments in vol. 1

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May 08, 2013 Kelly Kramer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Calvin is really passionate about what he is writing about, and, while his prose can often be really dry and boring, ultimately his enthusiasm shows through.

For Calvin, every doctrine he teaches is important insofar as it allows one to better worship God. For example, rightly understanding the nature of the Bible allows one to comprehend its message: to provide “the proper doctrine of faith and repentance by which Christ is set forth as a Mediator,” and also, “to distinguish the only wise and tr...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Joe rated it 5 of 5 stars

The basics and glories of the Christian faith are clearly stated in this book by the man who has had much evil spoken about him, John Calvin. Isn't it just like the devil to destroy the reputation of a man of God. In a day when doctrine is looked at as something to be ignored because it divided, this book brings the truth to light that every Christian should rally around the Gospel.

For Nine hundred years the Gospel was walled up inside the Catholic church, behind teachings like the treasury of...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Peter B. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: theology

I am reading it for the second time (the first was in 2009). A classic work of Christianity, and one that I enjoy reading. Not merely is it a systematic theology, but it is also concerned with real practice and piety.

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Jul 17, 2012 Alfred rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read most of it the first time for Theology II and Theology III with Glen Scorgie at Canadian Bible College, and a second time for a seminar class on the Institutes with J.I. Packer at Regent College. I loved it both times, but got a lot more out of it the second time, obviously because of the narrow focus of the seminar and the nature of the interaction of seminar classes. I am particularly impressed by the mind of Calvin. I am not sure that he was a Calvinist as some would define a Calvinist...more

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Oct 18, 2012 G Walker rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sets-works, dogmatics, paying-my-dues, trinity

Overall, very edifying an immanently practical. I believe that Calvin misses the point, more than once (actually quite often), but in the end, this work (along with his commentaries) should not be neglected by anyone - regardless of their tradition. Calvin, unlike many of his heirs, clearly loved Christ, his church and longed for genuine (and needed) reformation - NOT restoration - in the West. For this he is surely blessed. Overall, a great read. I have re-read this at various points in my life...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Vanessa Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion

John Calvin is a genius and his 1541 Institutio is an incredibly engaging read (yeah, believe it or not). His theology is well explained and founded soundly on scripture. I real joy to read alongside Luther's writings. They thought so much alike (all humanity is depraved). Calvin often gets a bad rap as being harsh and stoic, but in reading the Institutio I don't get that impression at all. His writing is very passionate and his instruction for Christian living is actually approachable. A must-r...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Matt rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Calvin did not shy away from a fight. In the early years of the Reformation, he contributed with this defiant tome. Chapters with titles such as Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and His Adherents, in This Respect, in Tyrannically Oppressing and Destroying Souls clearly show to what Calvin is reacting. At a time when the Church’s power, though waning, was still monumentally influential, it is no small feat for a man to defy centuries of established authority.

However, the work...more Calvin did not shy away from a fight. In the early years of the Reformation, he contributed with this defiant tome. Chapters with titles such as Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and His Adherents, in This Respect, in Tyrannically Oppressing and Destroying Souls clearly show to what Calvin is reacting. At a time when the Church’s power, though waning, was still monumentally influential, it is no small feat for a man to defy centuries of established authority.

However, the work itself is a dry and intellectually barren read. Nearly 1,000 pages, The Institutes mines the Bible for almost all authority. There a few passing, superficial, references to other classical thinkers, but other than Augustine and Chrysostom, there is little reliance placed on them. Even Augustine is taken at face value without acknowledging the Platonic thought that so influenced him. Instead, Calvin copiously cites from Biblical references as he dismantles the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church and lays the foundation for his own doctrine.

Calvin’s goal is to understand the word of God as expressed through the Bible. Faith requires “not merely the knowledge that God is, but also, no chiefly, a perception of his will towards us.” Bk. III, Ch. 2 pg. 359. He alternating attacks the symbolism and literal interpretations the Church. Is he effective? Of course. It’s not hard to attack positions based on Biblical authority because it’s all inconsistent. Likewise, Calvin’s doctrine is just as vulnerable though he chooses not to engage in the same analysis of his own conclusions. Unsurprisingly, logical absurdities are dealt by Calvin with the stand-by defense that though we can know God's will, we cannot understand God’s will. Calvin even goes a step further to reprimand those that question these absurdities for their all too human arrogance. Of course, he’s only referring to those who question his interpretation, not the Church’s.

The first book of The Institutes contains an excellent example of how Calvin deals with those who dispute his premises:

I am aware of what is muttered in corners by certain miscreants, when they would display their acuteness in assailing divine truth. They ask, how do we know that Moses and the prophets wrote the books which now bear their names? No, they even dare to question whether there ever was a Moses. Were any one to question whether there ever was a Plato, or an Aristotle, or a Cicero, would not the rod or whip be deemed the fit chastisement of such folly?” Bk. I, Ch. 8, pg. 40.

If you find such arguments persuasive, you’ll enjoy this book.

Calvin’s interpretation most notably speaks on the lack of free will. God has his elect and there‘s nothing we can do to change who he has chosen, but we don’t know who is actually chosen, so we should all continue to follow God’s decrees. It doesn't change anything, but it's what God wants. To his credit, Calvin is thorough. He cites his positions to biblical passages with the zeal one expects from a zealot.

Unlike classical religious writers such as Augustine and Aquinas, it’s depressing that Calvin lacks intellectual curiosity beyond scripture. He is clearly well-educated and makes compelling attacks against Church authority. However, a fantastic tradition of Western thought is dispensed with in his all consuming quest to decipher the will of God from a book pieced together centuries earlier.
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Aug 11, 2011 Kyle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The 1536 edition of John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion or his “little book” as he calls it is an excellent introduction to Calvin’s thought in its earliest form as well as a nice alternative for those who find the much thicker 1559 edition to large and daunting of a prospect.

The structure of the book is simple: it is divided into six chapters with an epistle dedicatory to Francis, the King of France. The opening epistle serves as both an apologetic defending the bourgeoning Prote...more

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Oct 24, 2012 John Caneday rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, homeschool-books

John Calvin is likely one of the most vilified, misunderstood, and unread men still discussed today. His influence is remarkable, and his most famous work, Institutes, is his crowning achievement. This is an ambitious and towering work that attempts to set forth a systematic understanding of Scripture and a defense of Reformed doctrine against the apostate Catholic church.

What Calvin has given us, as Abraham Kuyper says, "Calvinism means the completed evolution of Protestantism, resulting in a b...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Jacob Aitken rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: church-history, covenant, epistemology, historical-theology, reformed-stuff, soteriology, the-western-canon

I actually finished this a long time ago. Finished it several times, actually. If people read Calvin, they will soon learn that all their stereotypes of him are wrong. He said nothing on predestination that Aquinas didn't say, for example. Most adherents outside the tradition, if honest, must confess that they have not read calvin all the way through.

Even if one rejects Calvin's theology, one must still come to grips with his breakthroughs in epistemology. A head-in-the-sand approach is no longe...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Philip rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An apologetic systematic theology. The book was a fascinating look at the genesis of modern conservative systematic theology. It is truly amazing to see how little modern systematics vary from the argumentation that Calvin utilized. Although some of my arguments would vary from some of those used by Calvin, I still have come to study this work with a great sense of admiration. One of the greatest gifts that this work provides is Calvin's strong focus and use of Scripture. Moving away from the me...more

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Nov 19, 2011 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: theology, church-history, christian-classics

My big reading goal for 2011, finished!

The first thing to say is that I am not a Reformed Calvinist. If I were to theologically qualify myself, "Wesleyan" and/or "Anabaptist" would be the terms I would choose. Thus, I came to Calvin with a bit of trepidation. That said, I actually enjoyed (maybe "enjoyed" is a bit of an exaggeration) the Institutes. I realized as I read that even where I disagree with Calvin, even the times I wanted to chuck the book across the room, I was engaged. So many new...more My big reading goal for 2011, finished!

The first thing to say is that I am not a Reformed Calvinist. If I were to theologically qualify myself, "Wesleyan" and/or "Anabaptist" would be the terms I would choose. Thus, I came to Calvin with a bit of trepidation. That said, I actually enjoyed (maybe "enjoyed" is a bit of an exaggeration) the Institutes. I realized as I read that even where I disagree with Calvin, even the times I wanted to chuck the book across the room, I was engaged. So many new titles in the Christian bubble appear boring, mundane or inane. I would rather read a dead Calvinist. As a sidenote, I think this is why I have recently been attracted to the medieval mystics (Theresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich).

I was also struck by how easy the Institutes is to read. Not easy in that it lacks substance, but easy in terms of writing style. Much old writing, Christian or otherwise, is in a difficult style for the modern reader (not to mention, paragraphs that last pages and sentences that never seem to end). The Institutes should be approachable for any Christian pastor, which makes sense as Calvin wrote it as a training manual for pastors.

All that said, I am no closer to being a Calvinist than I was in January when I began. I still think that Calvinism leads to determinism and thus makes God the author of evil (obviously, and just to make sure it is said, Calvinists do not believe that). Much is made of the fact that Calvin does not discuss election until late in book three, so to make election (predestination) central to Calvinism is to be un-Calvin-like. But in book one when he discusses the nature of God he basically says all that happens, down to the smallest thing, is due to God's choosing (I think the word for this is meticulous providence). So if a man is hiking in the woods and gets eaten by a bear it is not that God allowed this to happen, but rather God ordained that (I recall Calvin used a similar analogy). I do not see how this can mean anything but God ordained the Holocaust. God did not just allow Hitler to act on his own ideas, rather God put the idea into Hitler's head.

I recall at one point writing in the margin something along the lines of everyone eventually, in studying theology, runs up to the place where they say "I can't explain any more here, chalk this one up to the mystery of God". I think that the difference between me and Calvin (haha, how arrogant does that sound!) is that I appeal to the mystery of God sooner. Calvin attempts to explain in more detail how God's sovereignty relates to human choice; when I read scripture I think there is tension there and we should just live with it (it is both election/predestination AND human freedom...somehow).

It is also clear how different at time Calvin writes from. He is so confident on what many Christians today would say are peripheral issues (baptism, Lord's Supper). I mean that in those days to agree on everything but what the Lord's Supper meant led to huge divisions in the church. Today I can't imagine people caring that much. But I think the reason is that in a world (Christendon) where everyone is Christian you argue about different things than in the world today that is much more pluralistic. It seems the most radical people Calvin met were anti-trinitarians (Servetus), Anabaptists and Catholics. Today most people (in America, that is) would struggle to even see a difference, they'd just say we're all Christian. Most people in America personally know atheists, agnostics, Muslims and all kinds of diversity Calvin never experienced. My point is simply, this causes arguments about different things.

In the end, I found Calvin thought-provoking and enriching. I think people of all theological persuasions should read this book. I am sure I will return to it one day.
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Aug 21, 2010 Coyle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow, well, after a year and a half (and a false start somewhere a couple of years ago), I've finally finished Calvin's tome. A series of questions:
Was it worth it? Yes.
Why? (Besides bragging rights, which isn't the best reason to read a book.) To get the full blast of the most important single work of the "Second Generation" Reformers. To be fair, I agree with a friend of mine who points out that Calvin's commentaries are both better and more useful than the Institutes, but these are worth a sl...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Trice marked it as to-read

Shelves: theology-and-faith-studies, list-rpts

I borrowed (with permission!) one of my dad's 2 2-volume copies (the paperback one) of Calvin's Institutes on my trip to the US in the summer of 2010 and with glee brought them back to join the population of my bookshelves. I have been doing lots of reading in the 2 and a half years since from those shelves (along with the shelves of others' - the wonder of having so many options!), but these 2 have not yet been opened. I did migrate Volume 1 to the cupboard of my night table, but it too has rem...more

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May 27, 2012 Mary-Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

I found it helpful to go directly to the source of Calvinism, rather than to the interpretations of others and Calvinist church tradition.

I have found a few refreshing surprises along the way regarding "The Law" (the 10 commandments). The point of the Law is to show our need for salvation (Jesus). The Law illustrates the extreme outcomes of sin, not a checklist to pride oneself in. (For example, lust is the sin and the worst case scenario is adultery). The purpose of the Sabbath is to rest in G...more I found it helpful to go directly to the source of Calvinism, rather than to the interpretations of others and Calvinist church tradition.

I have found a few refreshing surprises along the way regarding "The Law" (the 10 commandments). The point of the Law is to show our need for salvation (Jesus). The Law illustrates the extreme outcomes of sin, not a checklist to pride oneself in. (For example, lust is the sin and the worst case scenario is adultery). The purpose of the Sabbath is to rest in God and focus on God rather than indulge in our life of sin, and that is to become our whole life in Christ. It is dumb to have little rules on what you can and can't do on the Sabbath as those generally have nothing to do with instead focussing on God. Sunday is the Lord's Day, not the continuation of the Sabbath tradition.

Calvin extensively quotes St. Augustine in the section on predestination. Consequently, I am surprised that the doctrine of predestination is associated with Calvin rather than Augustine.

An irritant to me was the pervasiveness of comments like the following directed towards those with different viewpoints, heretic or Catholic or Anabaptist: "Had these men the least particle of soundness in their brain, would they be thus blind as to a matter so very clear and obvious?" (Book IV, Chapter XVI, point 31). Calvin's manner in this regard is not so diplomatic or gracious.

An inconsistency that I could not reconcile was a section in which he argues that in spite of the wickedness of the Israelite people and kings in the Old Testament, God was still accessed by the prophets within that system in spite of its corruption. However, he tries to argue that state of the Catholic Church in his day was so flawed as to necessitate the start of a new (Protestant) church rather than to reform from within.

The funniest section is in Book III, Chapter VI, point 1, about the midway point of his very long book: "I shall one day possibly find time for more ample discourse.... I have a natural love of brevity,...".

(less)

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May 12, 2009 Sean Higgins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Calvin is one of my theological/pastoral heroes. His Institutes still resonate 500 years after his birth, and I cannot think of many 1500 page systematic theologies I would so eagerly consume line by line.

That said, I don't love everything on every page. Book IV in particular seems excessive in its arguments against Catholicism, at least to my Protestant self. But, even that attention to detail demonstrates Calvin's love for sound doctrine that defines the true church. I also don't agree with h...more

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Apr 06, 2013 David Parker rated it 5 of 5 stars

After so many years of being told how intense, over-bearing and dictatorial Calvin was, I found these books to read like a contemporary legal brief written by someone whom I would love to know and talk with. Although a lot of the tone may be because of the comfortably American translation, the character and wit of Calvin came through clearly along with the constant genius of thinking and presentation. It led me to decide to read Augustine's Confessions to get to Calvin's inspiration.

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About John Calvin

John Calvin (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564), né Jean Cauvin, was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530. After religious tensions provoked a violent uprising against...more John Calvin (10 July 1509 – 27 May 1564), né Jean Cauvin, was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530. After religious tensions provoked a violent uprising against Protestants in France, Calvin fled to Basel, Switzerland, where in 1536 he published the first edition of his seminal work Institutes of the Christian Religion.

In that year, Calvin was invited by William Farel to help reform the church in Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of Calvin and Farel's ideas, and both men were expelled. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg, where he became the minister of a church of French refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and was eventually invited back to lead its church. Following his return, he introduced new forms of church government and liturgy. Following an influx of supportive refugees and new elections to the city council, Calvin's opponents were forced out. Calvin spent his final years promoting the Reformation both in Geneva and throughout Europe.

Calvin was a tireless polemic and apologetic writer. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition to the Institutes, he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible as well as theological treatises and confessional documents, and he regularly gave sermons throughout the week in Geneva. Calvin was influenced by the Augustinian tradition, which led him to expound the doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation.

Calvin's writing and preaching provided the seeds for the branch of theology that bears his name. The Presbyterian and other Reformed churches, which look to Calvin as a chief expositor of their beliefs, have spread throughout the world. Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over major religious figures and entire religious movements, such as Puritanism, and some have argued that his ideas have contributed to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the West.(less)

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“Those who set up a fictitious worship, merely worship and adore their own delirious fancies; indeed, they would never dare so to trifle with God, had they not previously fashioned him after their own childish conceits.” — 11 people liked it

“Without the fear of God, men do not even observe justice and charity among themselves.” — 10 people liked it

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