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The Registers of the Consistory of Geneva at the Time of Calvin: Volume 1: 1542-1544
This critical edition of the Registers of the Consistory of Geneva in the time of Calvin reveals what life was like during the Protestant Reformation in a city where ecclesiastical discipline affected many. These valuable primary source documents- the great bulk of which have remained unknown to most modern researchers- are of capital importance for study of this seminal period in church history. Volume 1 records the activity of the Consistory between 1542 and 1544. Arbitration of disputes, surveillance of morals, repression of the vestiges of the Catholic cult, promotion of the Reformed mode of living, resolution of matrimonial cases- this is a general sketch of the Consistory's work during its earliest days. Rich in details pertaining to daily life and piety in Geneva, these noteworthy historical documents testify to the immense role played by the church in society at the beginning of the Reformation.
- GenresChurch History
522 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 26, 2019
Extremely helpful for research into Calvin’s Geneva, and an interesting window into the social and religious life of the Genovese in the 1540s. Excellent introductory matter, indexing, annotations, and appendices.
March 4, 2022
Really insightful look into how Protestants applied regeneration to the hearts of their city. These minutes show a level of expectation among Geneva that where God gives his new birth, he produces holy living.
February 7, 2008
During seminary at Princeton there was a big set of matching blue volumes in the reference collection that really fascinated me. Bound typescripts of the consistory minutes of Calvin's church in Geneva. I believe these were the only copies in the Western Hemisphere. Unfortunately they were in French -- and Old (16th century) French at that. Not real accessible, even for those on campus. Completely so for those not.
This series of published English translations promised to open this up to a much wider audience. Unfortunately, I think this is the only of the projected 21 volumes (covering 1542-64, with just three lacunae) that has appeared after eight years. I wonder if there have been funding or copyright problems.
In any case, we can take what we get. This volume, covering 1542-4, is wonderful. No, it will not satisfy modern expectations for session/consistory/elder minutes. It is spotty at best, and assumes some knowledge of local circumstances that most readers will not have. But it is a great window into the most significant church of the Reformation.
While the editors do add some critical notes, obsessive readers will desire alot more.
The meetings seem to have happened every Thursday. The consistory seemed to convene very frequently for lots of small and big issues. While they exercised pretty frequent and proactive discipline, the penalties are often surprisingly mild. Spousal abuse, crimes, etc. often resulted in admonishment only for first offenses. Many people are required to learn the Ten Commandments or other creedal or Biblical texts. But the pastoral concern and even tenderness often emerges from even these rather sparse notes.
I highly commend this volume to students of Calvin, historians, but also church leaders and laity.
This series of published English translations promised to open this up to a much wider audience. Unfortunately, I think this is the only of the projected 21 volumes (covering 1542-64, with just three lacunae) that has appeared after eight years. I wonder if there have been funding or copyright problems.
In any case, we can take what we get. This volume, covering 1542-4, is wonderful. No, it will not satisfy modern expectations for session/consistory/elder minutes. It is spotty at best, and assumes some knowledge of local circumstances that most readers will not have. But it is a great window into the most significant church of the Reformation.
While the editors do add some critical notes, obsessive readers will desire alot more.
The meetings seem to have happened every Thursday. The consistory seemed to convene very frequently for lots of small and big issues. While they exercised pretty frequent and proactive discipline, the penalties are often surprisingly mild. Spousal abuse, crimes, etc. often resulted in admonishment only for first offenses. Many people are required to learn the Ten Commandments or other creedal or Biblical texts. But the pastoral concern and even tenderness often emerges from even these rather sparse notes.
I highly commend this volume to students of Calvin, historians, but also church leaders and laity.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews