Sermons on the Beatitudes

by John Calvin

Among the many activities which claimed Calvin's attention during his long ministry in Geneva, preaching was the most public and perhaps the most influential. Public because, for many years, twice on Sundays and daily in alternate weeks, the Reformer stodd before a congregation of townsfolk, refugees and visitors to teach, warn, appeal, counsel, admonish, and encourage. influential because, vital as the Institutes, commentarie and treatises were to the defence and propagation of Christian doctrine, it was the Word preached and applied from the pulpit which above all fashioned Geneva's evangelical culture and made it the nerve-centre of Reformed Protestantism. This volume presents readers with a short series of sermons on the Beatitudes, translated for the first time into English by Robert White. They comprise Calvin's exposition of Matthew 5:1-12, Mark 3:13-19 and Luke 6:12-26. Five sermons were preached on the Beatitudes in the course of an extended treatment of the Synoptic Gospels. Begun in July 1559, this series had still not been completed by February 1564, when ill health forced the Reformer's retirement from the pulpit. His absence was to be he died three months later, in May 1564. The late date of these sermons, therefore, marks them out as a definitive example of the Reformer's mature pulpit style. They represent his very last effort to elucidate a New Testament text in the context of regular public worship. Translated into a modern idiom, this book will transport the reader back into sixteenth-century Geneva, where he can hear the Reformer preach on issued of perennial Christian concern.

Genres: Theology, Christian

128 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2006

About the author

French-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.

Reviews

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert White has produced a wonderful translation of these five sermons on the Beatitudes (Matthean and Lukan), delivered by John Calvin in Geneva in 1560 (late in his ministry). Though over 470 years separate us from the original composition and delivery of these sermons, they are perennially relevant. My only gripe is that I prefer footnotes to endnotes. But that isn’t enough of a problem to dock the 5-star rating! :-)

[Peter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am beginning to like Calvin's sermons more and more. Food for the soul.

[Daniel Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calvin is more often seen as a theologian than a pastor.

But here we can see insights into his sermons.
They are so practical, clear and simple.

[Lerato Ramotsamai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful and pastoral exposition of the beatitudes. The book also includes a sample of the beautiful and Scripturally rich prayers he prayed before and after a sermon.

I didn't expect the strongly worded sentiments against Catholics but they make sense given Calvin's context and the persecution the reformers faced from the Catholic Church.

[richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sermons on the Beatitudes: Five Sermons from the Gospel Harmony, Delivered in Geneva in 1560 ~ John Calvin

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

John Calvin preached on the beatitudes. These sermons are excellent and beneficial to the hearer. I have to say John Calvin was an excellent expositor of the bible and his sermons have so much application that his hearers cannot help but to be blessed by his sermons. Never have I heard sermons with so much application which I have to say is wonderful and refreshing. How does the word of God impact my life? John takes bible passages and expounds them so that you know the true meaning of them and also how it should impact you as a believer in Christ.

[Tony Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book if you want to get into the mind of John Calvin as a pastor. You see his heart and his flaws. Easy to read quick little book. Made me dig a little deeper into who he is as a preacher and theologian in the 1500's.

[Roy Bartle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent edited series of sermons with much practical application to the 21st century, and nicely typeset.

[Rusten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never tire of Calvin's sermons

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Calvin's sermons are satisfyingly pastoral.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever read anything by Calvin that I didn't like, however I do think it is quite interesting that Calvin does not preach through each of the Synoptics independently, but works through the Gospels as a Harmony. It would be too much to ask of the early Reformers that they would have the same literary understanding of each Gospel which we now recognize and love. They were men before their time.

That said, these are still great sermons on the Beatitudes. I haven't read enough of Calvin to determine his eschatology, but I found the following statement at odds with the current Post-Millenial thoughts of many modern reformed men:

We would soon drift into indifference if we thought the world was getting better and better: we would cease to value prayer or to look to God for aid. (Page 13)

It's also interesting to see Calvin using the same kind of logic that many anti-Calvinists use to contradict Calvinism, namely that Calvinism itself would lead to indifference and prayerlessness.

I appreciate the translators use of footnotes in his own introduction, though I wish he would have continued the practice in the body of the text, instead of switching to endnotes there. I understand this is a sermon and so I image the translator wishes to keep as many encumbrances away from the reader as possible, but a written sermon is not a sermon, and so footnotes would be just fine.

Over all, excellent book, if not too short. Well worth a read.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider this a must read for the Christian warrior bent on engaging in the cosmic battle as he presses on toward the goal of which he has been called heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Years ago, I was turned off by the mention of John Calvin. The reason was simple: I evaluated the man by the behavior of those who pushed "his" doctrine on others. Sadly, I now realize I missed out on some of the greatest teaching the world has ever known--teaching that has to this day, influenced the direction of the world.

In this book, one gets a glimpse into the pastoral heart of John Calvin. Although one of the greatest academics in history, he speaks to the man who has to deal with every day spiritual battles--battles that take place in the work place, societies and nations.

Although his words can be understood by the janitor, the depths of this rich truth from Scripture has equal the power for the intellectual elite. In fact, he does not hold back when it comes to exposing just who it is that oppresses God's people, i.e. the rich. He also lets those without the power, that is the poor, know that their hearts too are equally as wicked only they just don't have the means to carry out the oppression as do the rich.

In unwavering proof from Scripture, Calvin pulls apart human nature and explains its outworking in everyday life.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh inestimable Calvin! This was a really good set of sermons, nicely done and footnoted. Coming from reading the 1579 translation of Calvin's sermons to Titus I found this to have much of the same flavor but with more modern English, so I was impressed.

Calvin's sermons on the Beatitudes are extremely applicable and heart-warming. I have begun more and more to appreciate them and have been trying to acquire as many as I can.

[David Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, sermons are a helpful description of the Christian life according to Jesus. Read this book and you won't find a cold theologian, but a pastor well acquainted with the suffering that the Beatitudes describe.

[Michael Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edifying. Good to hear (read) solid truth preached faithfully. Nothing struck me as particularly mind-blowing or profound. Just the simple truth, presented humbly.