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Songs Of The Nativity: Selected Sermons on Luke 1 & 2
All four Gospels bear witness to the supernatural person and work of Jesus Christ, but only the first and third testify explicitly to his supernatural conception and birth. The accounts given in Matthew and Luke are clearly independent of each other, but both unambiguously affirm that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, through the direct action of the Holy Spirit and without the intervention of a human father.
Luke's Gospel is notable for its distinctive songs, strikingly reminiscent of the Psalms. Chief among these are Mary's song, the Magnificat, Zechariah's song, the Benedictus, the Angels song, the Gloria in excelsis, and Simeon's song, the Nunc dimittis. Together, they have nourished the prayer and meditation of countless Christians, and enriched the churchs worship. They are full of prophetic hope, eager expectation, and joyful thanksgiving. God's great redemptive work is moving to its climax with the birth of the Saviour, Jesus, Son of the Most High. Luke's gospel of the incarnation was good news to all who, like the representatives of the old Israel, looked for Messiah's first advent; it is good news to all who, today, look for his second.
Preached in Geneva between October 1559 and March 1560, Calvin's sermons on the nativity story are the fruit of almost twenty-five years of gospel ministry. Here we see Calvin the faithful pastor expounding the text and applying it with passion and vigour to his congregation by means of persuasion, exhortation, admonition and rebuke. Robert White's excellent translation transports the reader back to St Peter's Cathedral, Geneva, where Calvin can be heard or overheard preaching on issues of perennial importance to all Christian men and women.
Luke's Gospel is notable for its distinctive songs, strikingly reminiscent of the Psalms. Chief among these are Mary's song, the Magnificat, Zechariah's song, the Benedictus, the Angels song, the Gloria in excelsis, and Simeon's song, the Nunc dimittis. Together, they have nourished the prayer and meditation of countless Christians, and enriched the churchs worship. They are full of prophetic hope, eager expectation, and joyful thanksgiving. God's great redemptive work is moving to its climax with the birth of the Saviour, Jesus, Son of the Most High. Luke's gospel of the incarnation was good news to all who, like the representatives of the old Israel, looked for Messiah's first advent; it is good news to all who, today, look for his second.
Preached in Geneva between October 1559 and March 1560, Calvin's sermons on the nativity story are the fruit of almost twenty-five years of gospel ministry. Here we see Calvin the faithful pastor expounding the text and applying it with passion and vigour to his congregation by means of persuasion, exhortation, admonition and rebuke. Robert White's excellent translation transports the reader back to St Peter's Cathedral, Geneva, where Calvin can be heard or overheard preaching on issues of perennial importance to all Christian men and women.
258 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
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About the author
John Calvin
1,740 books541 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 23, 2019
Excelentes sermões do Reformador. Coletânea fantástica!
February 19, 2023
Much to contemplate. Much to be thankful for.
January 2, 2019
Calvin's expositions of the 'songs' of Elizabeth, Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon make good devotional readings for the Christmas season, or any time. "And when we see around us so much turmoil and tribulation, such a variety of opinions, when, on the one hand, we are confronted by heresies, errors, and persecutions, and on the other by deceits and frauds, which aim to pervert God's truth, we should not be troubled or surprised, for that is how scripture is fulfilled. The words of Simeon (Luke 2:34), who was the Spirit's mouthpiece, are proved true: Jesus Christ is the sign which is spoken against."
January 1, 2014
Soul food.
January 5, 2022
A wonderful selection of Calvin's sermons, particularly suited for Advent.
December 25, 2020
Great and simple sermons from Calvin. He was an outstanding preacher! Very relatable man and was always drawing his audience to deep reverence and humility.
February 13, 2023
Wonderful. The last 3 sermons were pure gold
January 4, 2013
This is a beautiful volume of sermons Calvin preached on the texts of the Magnificat, the song of Zechariah, and the song of Simeon. It serves as a nice abstract of Calvinistic pastoral themes, such as the importance of faith in God's covenant promises and the consolation which every believer ought to find in Christ. It's good for devotional reading, and it also contains some choice historical nuggets for anyone interested in the polemical context in which Calvin was preaching (some very interesting material on Mary, for instance).
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews