Calvin on Scripture and Divine Sovereignty

by John Murray

The three chapters of this book have their origin in a series of lectures on certain aspects of Calvin’s theology, delivered by John Murray, professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. These lectures were given in the Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan, before large audiences of ministers, professors, students, and interested laymen. The occasion was the 450th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin and the 400th anniversary of the appearance of the final edition of Calvin’s immortal work, The Institutes of the Christian Religion. 

Genres: Theology

66 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

John Murray was a Scottish-born Calvinist theologian who taught at Princeton Seminary and then left to help found Westminster Theological Seminary, where he taught for many years.

Murray was born in the croft of Badbea, near Bonar Bridge, in Sutherland county, Scotland. Following service in the British Army in the First World War (during which he lost an eye, serving in the famous Black Watch regiment) he studied at the University of Glasgow. Following his acceptance as a theological student of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland he pursued further studies at Princeton Theological Seminary under J. Gresham Machen and Geerhardus Vos, but broke with the Free Presbyterian Church in 1930 over that Church's treatment of the Chesley, Ontario congregation. He taught at Princeton for a year and then lectured in systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary to generations of students from 1930 to 1966, and was an early trustee of the Banner of Truth Trust. Besides the material in the four-volume Collected Writings, his primary published works are a commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (previously included in the New International Commentary on the New Testament series but now superseded by Douglas J. Moo's commentary), Redemption Accomplished and Applied, Principles of Conduct, The Imputation of Adam's Sin, Baptism, and Divorce.

Murray preached at Chesley and Lochalsh from time to time until his retirement from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1968. He married Valerie Knowlton 7 December 1967 and retired to Scotland where he was connected with the Free Church of Scotland. Writing after a communion season at Lochalsh, Murray said, “I think I feel most at home here and at Chesley of all the places I visit.” There had been some consideration that upon leaving the seminary, Murray might take a pastorate in the newly formed Presbyterian Reformed Church, but the infirmity of his aged sisters at the home place necessitated his return to Ross-shire, Scotland.

Reviews

[Gwilym Tudur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A splendid introduction to three key doctrines in Calvin's theology: the nature of scripture, the authority of scripture, and the sovereignty of God. I particularly enjoyed Murray's exposition of Calvin's understanding of the verbal inspiration of the Bible and of predestination in the context of salvation and damnation.

[Manuel Marbun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like many Reformed books, there's no simple wording in the spirit of making the readers understand Calvin's or Reformed's position. I dare not claim I understand what I read because often Reformed says "that's not our position" when I simply recited what I got from Reformed theologians.

[Jess Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un travail sérieux