What do you think?
Rate this book
On God and Political Duty
Comprised of selections from Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans, and Commentaries on the Book of the Prophet Daniel, this volume reflects Calvin's view that man is not less but rather more political when he is motivated by religion.
Calvin is repelled, and even appalled by the type of sectarian spirituality that would desert the sphere of politics as beneath the spiritual man's plane of living. More emphatically than most theologians, he calls for active and positive political behavior.
Calvin is repelled, and even appalled by the type of sectarian spirituality that would desert the sphere of politics as beneath the spiritual man's plane of living. More emphatically than most theologians, he calls for active and positive political behavior.
102 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
2 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
John Calvin
1,746 books543 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 13, 2021
It is extremely difficult to give this book a rating. In the first part, it is a great book. It's Calvin. Calvin is an incisive writer, a first-rate thinker, and committed to the glory of God. The substance is quite good, even if it's not a subject Calvin dedicated much time to writing on over the course of his life.
Yet the volume itself leaves much to be desired. In the first part, large sections (particularly in the selections from "On Christian Liberty" in the Institutes & parts of the selections from the commentary on Daniel) do not deal much with political duty in the first place. While interesting and useful in themselves, someone eager to read on the relationship between God & political duty is bound to be a bit frustrated. Additionally we are given nothing but the text, so do not expect helpful explanations of the relationship between Calvin's thinking & his predecessors or contemporaries. Not a terrible thing, but it would have been a nice value-add for a volume with so little subject matter relating directly to the notional subject.
All the same, any Calvin is good Calvin. This reading is particularly a healthy antidote to two groups common in so-called "Calvinist" circles today. First, Calvin does directly address the relationship between divine law & civil law in a helpful way. In doing so he clarifies helpfully the way divine law as instantiated in the Mosaic code relates to present-day magistrates & we find a useful proleptic refutation of modern Theonomists of the stricter kind. Second, Calvin's view decisively excludes any kind of libertarianism. He even spends a significant amount of time refuting the idea that wicked rulers cease to wield legitimate authority, a common fig leaf for the more anarchic among Calvinist circles.
All in all—it's fine. Calvin is great. The compilation is so-so.
Yet the volume itself leaves much to be desired. In the first part, large sections (particularly in the selections from "On Christian Liberty" in the Institutes & parts of the selections from the commentary on Daniel) do not deal much with political duty in the first place. While interesting and useful in themselves, someone eager to read on the relationship between God & political duty is bound to be a bit frustrated. Additionally we are given nothing but the text, so do not expect helpful explanations of the relationship between Calvin's thinking & his predecessors or contemporaries. Not a terrible thing, but it would have been a nice value-add for a volume with so little subject matter relating directly to the notional subject.
All the same, any Calvin is good Calvin. This reading is particularly a healthy antidote to two groups common in so-called "Calvinist" circles today. First, Calvin does directly address the relationship between divine law & civil law in a helpful way. In doing so he clarifies helpfully the way divine law as instantiated in the Mosaic code relates to present-day magistrates & we find a useful proleptic refutation of modern Theonomists of the stricter kind. Second, Calvin's view decisively excludes any kind of libertarianism. He even spends a significant amount of time refuting the idea that wicked rulers cease to wield legitimate authority, a common fig leaf for the more anarchic among Calvinist circles.
All in all—it's fine. Calvin is great. The compilation is so-so.
August 7, 2020
Rated: C-
Based on existing underlines and marginal notes, I must have read this volume years ago -- perhaps even in college which would have been before my profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Even then, the Holy Spirit must have been working on me.
Based on existing underlines and marginal notes, I must have read this volume years ago -- perhaps even in college which would have been before my profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Even then, the Holy Spirit must have been working on me.
July 18, 2021
This translation is clunky to say the least, hence the reason it took me so long to finish. The content however, is pretty good.
May 5, 2015
This had gathered dust for many years. It was however surprisingly readable. It is dedicated to his King (of France) Francis I, though Calvin exiled himself to Switzerland.
'Calvinism' for me, prior to reading this, was the creed of the fanatic and fundamentalist. The selections here - from his Institutes of Christian Religion and commentaries on Romans and Daniel - seemed reasoned and reasonable. Far from being the revolutionary firebrand I had thought of him, Calvin the canon lawyer, calmly argues that rulers/magistrates' powers are God given and must therefore be obeyed by their subject peoples. Rulers should take their powers seriously, reflecting upon the fact that they are entrusted with these by God. Even the wicked ruler must be obeyed, quotes from scriptures throughout to justify this viewpoint.
I will now shelve this volume next to Machiavelli.
'Calvinism' for me, prior to reading this, was the creed of the fanatic and fundamentalist. The selections here - from his Institutes of Christian Religion and commentaries on Romans and Daniel - seemed reasoned and reasonable. Far from being the revolutionary firebrand I had thought of him, Calvin the canon lawyer, calmly argues that rulers/magistrates' powers are God given and must therefore be obeyed by their subject peoples. Rulers should take their powers seriously, reflecting upon the fact that they are entrusted with these by God. Even the wicked ruler must be obeyed, quotes from scriptures throughout to justify this viewpoint.
I will now shelve this volume next to Machiavelli.
July 29, 2012
Aristotle: Man is a political animal.
Calvin: Man is more political when religious.
"When the glo0ry of God is not the end of government there is no legitimate sovereignty, but usurpation.
Selections from the Institutes of the Christian Religion and Commentaries on the Romans and on Daniel.
Dedication to Francis I:
March 13, 2015
I basically read most of what's in this book on March 5-6, 2015 (that's when I read the sections in Calvin's Institutes and commentaries).
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews