Instruis-moi dans ta vérité: Brève instruction chrétienne

by Jean Calvin

'This simplest of summaries of the Christian Faith is a kind of Institutes in miniature ... It covers all the fundamental points and reveals Calvin's passionate and practical devotion to God' (Peace and Truth).

Genres: Theology, Christian, Religion, Christianity, Christian Living, Evangelism, Nonfiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1537

About the author

John Calvin, João Calvino, Iohanes Calvinus, Jehan Cauvin.

1509-1564

Reviews

[Stephen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent little booklet, and a really helpful way to be introduced to Calvin's thought. This would serve well as a model for evangelism and discipleship. The book is brief, but not too brief, and it covers a lot of territory in a small space.

Above all, I love Calvin's relentless focus on the Word. Every blessing we receive comes by the Word and promise, and everything we do, from exercising authority to receiving the Sacraments, is to be done in the context of a submission and receptiveness to the Word. It is the Word, and not anything of man, that has eternal effect in God's world.

[evelyn siegel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars- Calvin is solid as always just not my favorite.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calvin always gets 5 stars.

[Alex Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall it was an awesome and simple overview of the Christian faith. There were tiny portions that depended upon varying interpretation, but all in all it was a great read and all around good for conversation/discussion. Only thing I would have added to every page would have been the verses that coincided with his thoughts. Foreknowledge of the biblical texts he referenced made it more legitimate to read and receive as true, but it would have been nice to have had the explicit citing of his biblical references.

[Adam T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work provides a light and fundamental overview of some of the central doctrines of Christianity. Using the Apostle's Creed as this outline for the majority of the book, Calvin gives a brief insight concerning each of the truth claims found within the creed. This would probably be a good foray into the writing of Calvin for someone who is not quite ready to dive into the Institutes just yet. All in all this is a solid work and worth the time for someone who is looking to begin the process of studying theology.

[Morgan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read! Simply describes the basic beliefs of the Christian faith so that we may have a better understanding of what we believe, yet it's simplicity does not diminish the glory of these truths. Rather, it accentuates them. A quick read that serves well as a daily devotional.

[Israel Mock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book by Calvin that’s easy to read as well as very small which makes reading it on the go very convenient!

[Claudia Valdivieso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha gustado mucho este librito, súper conciso y con mucha mucha verdad, verdad simplificada para ser entendida por todos. Lo recomiendo mucho.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calvin’s Heart for Holy Living

Truth for All Time: A Brief Outline of the Christian Faith is exactly what it’s title claims. A brief outline of Calvin’s much larger Institutes of the Christian Religion. This edition is no larger than the palm of your hand and comes in a navy blue tru-tone cover that is a joy to handle as you read. In a mere 135-pages, Calvin covers:

1. Knowing God and Knowing Ourselves
2. The Law of the Lord (including the Ten Commandments)
3. Faith (including the Apostle’s Creed)
4. Prayer (including the Lord’s Prayer)
5. The Sacraments
6. Order Church and State

Since Calvin is a man and a sinner saved by grace, he is not without error in what he presents. He would be the first to encourage his readers to check his teaching against the final authority of the inerrant, inspired Scriptures (Sola Scriptura). People will disagree on a few of his interpretations that are common to the theology of the Magisterial Reformers (e.g., infant baptism, mixing church and state). But anyone familiar with church history and Protestant theology is already aware of these areas.

But these interpretations are not the emphasis in what translator Scott Olyott calls in his Preface “a small but priceless jewel” (ix). Instead, what you have is a young Calvin briefly and simply outlining the basics of the Christian faith for the common man. As Olyott explains in his Preface:

John Calvin knew that if the biblical truths rediscovered at the Reformation were to spread throughout the world, they would have to be presented in a form which ordinary people could understand.

So, during the winter of 1536-1537, the 29-year-old Calvin wrote, in French, his Brief Outline of the Christian Faith. This short book is, in fact, a resume of the first edition of his Institutes of the Christian Religion and many pages are taken word-for-word from that earlier work.

Along the way the reader will be impacted by Calvin’s ability to sum up the meaning of faith or prayer or pastoral authority in a few simple sentences that penetrate to the heart of the matter. This handy little book will travel well, providing encouragement on the go. Portions could also be read for family devotions or utilized by preachers and teachers in messages. Calvin and others have produced longer and more in depth catechisms, but his Truth for All Time is like having the famous Reformer walk you through the basics of the Christian faith over a cup of coffee.

If you want to feel Calvin's spiritual pulse, then purchase this little devotional gem and prayerfully read it.

[Coyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're too busy/lazy to actually read the 1200 page Institutes of the Christian Religion, this is a perfectly acceptable substitute (but you should still read the Institutes). And really, I think the best way to recommend this book is to quote a bit of it (but not too much, since Calvin's text is only about 50 pages long):

One must not imagine that the Christian faith is a bare and mere knowledge of God or an understanding of the Scripture which flutters in the brain without touching the heart... faith is a firm and solid confidence of the heart, by means of which we rest surely in the mercy of God which is promised to us through the Gospel. For thus the definition of faith must be taken from the substance of the promise. Faith rests so much on this foundation that, if the latter be taken away, faith would collapse at once, or rather vanish away. (39-40)

Since it is clear that Christ is the perpetual object of faith, we cannot know what we receive through faith except by looking to him. For truly he has been given to us by the Father in order that we may obtain in him life eternal; as he says (John 17:3), life eternal is to know one God the Father and Jesus Christ whom he has sent... Yet, in order that this might be done, it is necessary that we, who are contaminated by stains of sin, be cleansed in him, because nothing defiled shall enter the kingdom of God. Christ, therefore, makes us thus participants in himself in order that we, who are in ourselves sinners, may be, through Christ's righteousness, considered just before the throne of God. And in this manner being stripped of our own righteousness, we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ; and, being unjust by our own deeds, we are justified through the faith of Christ. (41-42)

Seriously, this book is worth your while, especially if it's still on sale at bargain prices...

[Joseph Rizzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short but great read. A small book packed full of valuable basic instruction in the Christian faith. It focuses on things like the 10 commandment, the Lord's prayer, the Apostles Creed, prayer, faith, the church, civil government, and really just lays out what it means to be a believer and to live a life that glorifies our Lord Jesus.

[Denise Kettering · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book serves as a quick introduction to the key points of Calvin's theology. As this was intended for use in catechesis it quickly gets to the point that he wants to make in each section. As this was an early exposition of Calvin's theology, we do not always get the well-developed thought that appears in the final version of the Institutes, but many of the basic tenets expressed here do not differ significantly. You really see in this work some of the key Reformed and Protestant ideas being explained in a concise way. A good introduction to Calvin and his reformation ideas.

[Jesse Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Regardless of the subject, this is one of the most beautiful, clear and concise pieces of literature I have read. This is also a wonderfully efficient statement of Christian beliefs.

Somehow, Calvin has become the namesake of the theology that was communicated by the Protestant reformers in the 16th century, and further defined by later adherents. People seem to fall into three general camps today, "anti-Calvinist," "Calvinist," and ignorant. All three camps would be enriched by reading what John Calvin actually wrote, and this very short book would be the perfect place to start.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick overview on the thoughts of John Calvin, but perhaps too quick. There are places that he spent time and others that he breezed through. I realize that this was meant by Calvin to be a "catechism in narrative form" to introduce the basics of Christian thought and life, but I found this as a weakness. As a Baptist, his one long sentence on "baptizing" children was not convincing; he obviously took the practice for granted and made no attempt to explain its so-called necessity. With this reservation, I can still recommend it for general reading.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

“To know that God is the Lord, to know that everything good comes from him, to know that he invites us to ask him for what we need, and yet not to call on him and pray to him, is like knowing of a treasure hidden in the earth and, through indifference, to leave it there, without taking the trouble to dig it up.”

Really good little book on the basics of Christianity! I especially liked the chapters on prayer, the sacraments, and the church and state!

[Joseph Abudar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic short explanation of the Christian faith, outside of the issue of baptism , I find myself agreeing with Calvin and being reproved, encouraged and overall, Edified. This book and The Little book on Christian Life, places John in the light by which I'd think he'd most wish to seen, as a PASTOR to the people.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little intro to both Calvin and the Christian faith.

[Calvert Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a beneficial work even though he gets squishy when he writes about Baptism and the Supper.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful in simplicity. Clear in faithfulness to the Scriptures. Powerful in conviction on the heart and mind of the believer.

[Angela Priebbenow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really helpful summary of the meaning behind the 10 Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Sacraments.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad little work. Brief, but not Calvin at his best.

[Aaron Hand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. This was a brief booklet that is said to be like an outline of his famous Institutes. Nice little book, easy to read.

[Richard Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the preface, Stuart Olyott, the translator of this text, described this book as “a small but priceless jewel”—and I wholeheartedly agree!

[Abram Siegel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great little synopsis of the Faith and a Christian’s duty from Calvin’s point of view.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple little book that I would even venture to call a catechism of sorts. Evidentially it was a draft of what would later become the monstrous and monumental "Institutes". A book you can read in an afternoon, yet chew on for a lifetime.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by John Calvin could be considered a good book to cut one’s teeth on. It isn’t long, less than 100 pages. Each subject is succinct. And it instructs believers on topics they would be interested in, such as prayer, faith and hope.

[Andrew S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good nuggets of information. I wish it was a little more in depth, but then again the subtitle says it’s supposed to be only a “Brief Outline of the Christian Faith.” Probably give it 3.5 stars. But don’t be fooled by my rating. This is my first book by Calvin, and it has intrigued me enough to start thinking about reading his “Institutes of the Christian Religion” sometime soon

[Joshua Reitano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Calvin. I not only think the Institutes of the Christian Religion has stood the test of time, but is one of the most accessible systematic theologies available. Instruction in Faith, however, is not nearly as useful. Written as a short, summary of the faith (33 short chapters, 90 pages) I'm sure this was extremely useful in the 16th century when there hadn't been many Protestant faith summaries circulated. But since then, there have been many, and I'm not sure this is one worth reprinting.

The best parts are that Calvin is succinct and tends to do a good job of pressing the reader to think about Christian doctrine as it applies to both head and heart. It may be a bit weaker when it comes to Christian living (much better in the Institutes). For my money, the reformed catechisms are more useful (esp Heidelberg and Westminster, and even Luther's shorter catechism). More recently, Berkhof's Summary of Christian Doctrine or Packer's Concise Theology are more helpful.

Not a waste of time (because it's so short), but this book has generally outlived it's usefulness. Read it if you are interested in the development of Calvin's thought.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Calvin has been regarded by some as one of the greatest theologians of all time. His approach to Scripture has produced some excellent works that are challenging, Biblical, and thought provoking.

In the book Truth for All Time, Calvin gives the foundational truths of Scripture so that anyone can understand the key tenets of the faith and why each is necessary. Calvin discusses faith, salvation, the Law, the sacraments, and prayer to name a few. Each section has Scriptural foundation and Calvin’s thoughts on the matter for a well articulated understanding of each tenet discussed.

I really appreciate this little book and the information contained therein. To reach such a breadth of knowledge and wisdom about such key areas of Christianity does my heart and mind well. This book should be read by as can read it for the gold that lies within the pages should enrichen many a soul of Christ’s.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a little introduction Calvin did for the common man, before he wrote his Institutes. As such it is brief, yet simple and packed with a lot of doctrinal truth written in a way to encourage devotion in the heart.

Contents:
Preface
1. Knowing God and Knowing Ourselves
2. The Law of the Lord
3. Faith
4. Prayer
5. The Sacraments
6. Order In Church and State