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The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians
The power of John Calvin's study of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians is masterfully captured in this superb translation by T. H. L. Parker. Precise and authoritative, yet lucid and very readable, this volume will enrich all who are interested in understanding the full breadth and depth of these three important sections of Scripture.
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About the author
John Calvin
1,754 books546 followersFrench-Swiss theologian John Calvin broke with the Roman Catholic Church in 1533 and as Protestant set forth his tenets, known today, in
Institutes of the Christian Religion
(1536).
The religious doctrines of John Calvin emphasize the omnipotence of God, whose grace alone saves the elect.
* Jehan Cauvin
* Iohannes Calvinus (Latin)
* Jean Calvin (French)
Originally trained as a humanist lawyer around 1530, he went on to serve as a principal figure in the Reformation. He developed the system later called Calvinism.
After tensions provoked a violent uprising, Calvin fled to Basel and published the first edition of his seminal work. In that year of 1536, William Farel invited Calvin to help reform in Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of ideas of Calvin and Farel and expelled both men. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg as the minister of refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and people eventually invited him back to lead. Following return, he introduced new forms of government and liturgy. Following an influx of supportive refugees, new elections to the city council forced out opponents of Calvin. Calvin spent his final years, promoting the Reformation in Geneva and throughout Europe.
Calvin tirelessly wrote polemics and apologia. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition, he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible as well as treatises and confessional documents and regularly gave sermons throughout the week in Geneva. The Augustinian tradition influenced and led Calvin 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 Protestantism that bears his name. His views live on chiefly in Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, which have spread throughout the world. Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over major figures and entire movements, such as Puritanism, and some scholars argue that his ideas contributed to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the west.
The religious doctrines of John Calvin emphasize the omnipotence of God, whose grace alone saves the elect.
* Jehan Cauvin
* Iohannes Calvinus (Latin)
* Jean Calvin (French)
Originally trained as a humanist lawyer around 1530, he went on to serve as a principal figure in the Reformation. He developed the system later called Calvinism.
After tensions provoked a violent uprising, Calvin fled to Basel and published the first edition of his seminal work. In that year of 1536, William Farel invited Calvin to help reform in Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of ideas of Calvin and Farel and expelled both men. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg as the minister of refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and people eventually invited him back to lead. Following return, he introduced new forms of government and liturgy. Following an influx of supportive refugees, new elections to the city council forced out opponents of Calvin. Calvin spent his final years, promoting the Reformation in Geneva and throughout Europe.
Calvin tirelessly wrote polemics and apologia. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition, he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible as well as treatises and confessional documents and regularly gave sermons throughout the week in Geneva. The Augustinian tradition influenced and led Calvin 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 Protestantism that bears his name. His views live on chiefly in Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, which have spread throughout the world. Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over major figures and entire movements, such as Puritanism, and some scholars argue that his ideas contributed to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the west.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 22, 2024
THE ELEVENTH VOLUME OF THIS EDITION OF CALVIN'S COMMENTARIES
Reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) provides a detailed, verse-by-verse commentary throughout the New Testament (except for 2 & 3 John, and the Book of Revelation).
He advises "It is not enough to regard Christ as having died for the salvation of the world; each man must claim the effect and possession of this grace for himself personally." (Pg. 44) He interprets the statement in Phil 2:13 ("work out your own salvation") thusly: "this term includes all things by which God accomplishes that perfection, to which He has determined us by His free election... It is God who calls us and offers us salvation; it is our part to embrace by faith what He gives, and by obedience to respond to His calling. But we have neither from ourselves." (Pg. 256)
He discusses various Church offices: "(Apostles) had no churches of their own committed to them; but they had a common mandate to preach the Gospel wherever they went"; "evangelists ... held a kindred office, but of an inferior rank"; "Prophets... (were) outstanding interpreters of prophecies... but I do not exclude the gift of foretelling"; "Pastors... are those to whom is committed the charge of a particular flock... (a doctor) superintends both the education of pastors and the instruction of the whole church" (pg. 179).
He argues that "philosophy will only be a corruption of spiritual doctrine if it is mixed up with Christ... under the term philosophy (in Col 2:8) Paul has only condemned all spurious doctrines which spring from man's head..." (Pg. 329-330)
His anti-"Papist" sentiments are on display throughout: e.g., "since (Papists) are obviously the enemies of Christ, how absurd that they should steal the feathers of the servants of Christ and advertise themselves as His!" (Pg. 80) "Now let the Papists go and try to break their way into heaven by the merit of works!" (Pg. 114) "What, then, is the Papacy but a deformed hump which destroys the whole symmetry of the Church..." (Pg. 184); "How wonderful is the acuteness of the Papists, who conclude from the word 'mystery' that marriage is one of the seven sacraments, as if they could change water into wine" (Pg. 210).
Calvin's commentaries are an important resource, particular for modern Reformed expositors.
Reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) provides a detailed, verse-by-verse commentary throughout the New Testament (except for 2 & 3 John, and the Book of Revelation).
He advises "It is not enough to regard Christ as having died for the salvation of the world; each man must claim the effect and possession of this grace for himself personally." (Pg. 44) He interprets the statement in Phil 2:13 ("work out your own salvation") thusly: "this term includes all things by which God accomplishes that perfection, to which He has determined us by His free election... It is God who calls us and offers us salvation; it is our part to embrace by faith what He gives, and by obedience to respond to His calling. But we have neither from ourselves." (Pg. 256)
He discusses various Church offices: "(Apostles) had no churches of their own committed to them; but they had a common mandate to preach the Gospel wherever they went"; "evangelists ... held a kindred office, but of an inferior rank"; "Prophets... (were) outstanding interpreters of prophecies... but I do not exclude the gift of foretelling"; "Pastors... are those to whom is committed the charge of a particular flock... (a doctor) superintends both the education of pastors and the instruction of the whole church" (pg. 179).
He argues that "philosophy will only be a corruption of spiritual doctrine if it is mixed up with Christ... under the term philosophy (in Col 2:8) Paul has only condemned all spurious doctrines which spring from man's head..." (Pg. 329-330)
His anti-"Papist" sentiments are on display throughout: e.g., "since (Papists) are obviously the enemies of Christ, how absurd that they should steal the feathers of the servants of Christ and advertise themselves as His!" (Pg. 80) "Now let the Papists go and try to break their way into heaven by the merit of works!" (Pg. 114) "What, then, is the Papacy but a deformed hump which destroys the whole symmetry of the Church..." (Pg. 184); "How wonderful is the acuteness of the Papists, who conclude from the word 'mystery' that marriage is one of the seven sacraments, as if they could change water into wine" (Pg. 210).
Calvin's commentaries are an important resource, particular for modern Reformed expositors.
June 22, 2019
Lucid Brevity
October 12, 2012
This is an abridged version of Calvin's commentaries on these books so I'm waffling between 3 and 4 stars, nearly always preferring a complete and unabridged version of anything (unless I just want to know what the English Puritans thought on something without having to read 19 volumes...then an abridgement serves a good purpose). I found this to be a well done abridgement. One feels the spirit of Calvin's handling of the text and it never feels chopped or hacked. That said, one does get the sense that there are treasures where he must of elaborated on portions of the text which have been removed to keep things brief.
December 19, 2017
Read the Ephesians commentary about ten years ago, the Colossians commentary in 2013, and Galatians this year. Brief, lucid, practical. Still relevant to current debates on justification and the meaning of “works of the law.”
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews