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With Calvin in the Theater of God: The Glory of Christ and Everyday Life
John Calvin saw this world as God’s theater where his glory is always on display. Just as “day and night pour forth speech,” the universe and history are not silent either; they tell the glory of God. Reflecting on over 500 years of Calvin’s legacy, John Piper and this book’s other contributors invite us to join Calvin in the theater of God. Stemming from the Desiring God 2009 National Conference, this volume includes chapters by Julius Kim, Douglas Wilson, Marvin Olasky, Mark Talbot, Sam Storms, and John Piper. It touches on topics such as Calvin’s life, the Christian meaning of public life, sin and suffering, the joy of the last resurrection, and Jesus Christ as the dénouement of God’s story. Editors John Piper and David Mathis, along with the contributors, make John Calvin’s Christ-exalting perspective on the glory of God accessible to today’s readers. Both Calvinists and other evangelicals interested in the life and work of Calvin will find these essays refreshing and instructive, leading to a robust understanding of the world as the theater of God.
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
About the author
John Piper
604 books4,782 followersJohn Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 13, 2015
Excellent book. Perfect introduction to Calvin's life and doctrine.
The most important things I gleaned from these pages -the ones that challenged me- are 1) How much Calvin loved the Word of God, the principle of Sola Scriptura, which governed every aspect of his life, and 2) His understanding of the Providence of God.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
David Mathis in the introduction: "...Scripture as the only ultimate authority -changed everything for Calvin. It captured him as a reality so massive that it would take more than a few weeks and a quiet place of study to work out its implications. It was a whole-life project for the everyday."
Julius J. Kim (ch. 1) wrote, "As a life long student of Holy Scripture, Calvin committed himself to the daily and diligent study of the Word of God, and it was in this Word that he came to know the depths of his own sin and the power of Christ for his salvation and how to live as a pilgrim in this sin-cursed world."
"For Calvin the truth of providence is not simple an abstract or speculative idea about the sovereignty of God but a very practical reality that every Christian needs to understand and embrace." Godfrey (quoted by J.J. Kim on p.44)
"He [Calvin] enjoyed good wine, good conversation with friends, good music, and good art. But he never trusted in them." Sam storms (p.130)
"Calvin summarizes his thoughts this way."Gratitude of mind for the favorable outcomes of things, patience in adversity, and also incredible freedom from worry about the future all necessarily follow upon this knowledge." Quoted by J.J. Kim p. 45
The most important things I gleaned from these pages -the ones that challenged me- are 1) How much Calvin loved the Word of God, the principle of Sola Scriptura, which governed every aspect of his life, and 2) His understanding of the Providence of God.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
David Mathis in the introduction: "...Scripture as the only ultimate authority -changed everything for Calvin. It captured him as a reality so massive that it would take more than a few weeks and a quiet place of study to work out its implications. It was a whole-life project for the everyday."
Julius J. Kim (ch. 1) wrote, "As a life long student of Holy Scripture, Calvin committed himself to the daily and diligent study of the Word of God, and it was in this Word that he came to know the depths of his own sin and the power of Christ for his salvation and how to live as a pilgrim in this sin-cursed world."
"For Calvin the truth of providence is not simple an abstract or speculative idea about the sovereignty of God but a very practical reality that every Christian needs to understand and embrace." Godfrey (quoted by J.J. Kim on p.44)
"He [Calvin] enjoyed good wine, good conversation with friends, good music, and good art. But he never trusted in them." Sam storms (p.130)
"Calvin summarizes his thoughts this way."Gratitude of mind for the favorable outcomes of things, patience in adversity, and also incredible freedom from worry about the future all necessarily follow upon this knowledge." Quoted by J.J. Kim p. 45
June 9, 2012
A great read. Very profitable. I liked Talbot's chapter on sin and suffering and Wilson's chapter on the bible and the western world the best.
Calvin is a cataract,
a primeval forest,
a demonic power,
something directly down from the Himalayas,
absolutely Chinese,
strange,
mythological;
I lack completely the means,
the suction cups,
even to assimilate this phenomenon,
not to speak of presenting it adequately. . . .
I could gladly and profitably set myself down
and spend all the rest of my life just with Calvin.
Karl Barth
to Eduard Thurneysen, 8 June 1922;
in Revolutionary Theology in the Making: Barth-Thurneysen
Correspondence, 1914–1925
(Richmond: John Knox Press, 1964), 101
Calvin is a cataract,
a primeval forest,
a demonic power,
something directly down from the Himalayas,
absolutely Chinese,
strange,
mythological;
I lack completely the means,
the suction cups,
even to assimilate this phenomenon,
not to speak of presenting it adequately. . . .
I could gladly and profitably set myself down
and spend all the rest of my life just with Calvin.
Karl Barth
to Eduard Thurneysen, 8 June 1922;
in Revolutionary Theology in the Making: Barth-Thurneysen
Correspondence, 1914–1925
(Richmond: John Knox Press, 1964), 101
April 10, 2021
I admire Calvin which I have never acknowledge until now. He believes in the scripture alone as a foundation for all he believes to be true. This book mostly talks about how Calvin's ideologies about God and a rendition of His book "Institutes" applied through our lives today. It was written by a different writer on each topic.
The first chapter is written by Julius Kim, who told the story of Calvin pilgrims by connecting it with his personal life. I think it's the best chapter.
The book also talks about our position as a bad actor on a broken stage. Do we human consign to perdition?. The author put it in this way:
In the end, it all goes to the sovereignty and the providence of God who acknowledges what is best for us. Another thing that I found intriguing is how God's grace alone is sufficient in our weakness.
With this suffering, how do we supposed to live? It would be explained in this book for about four chapters and I'm really glad to read this book.
If you want to read this book, you can read it for free here:
With Calvin in The Theater of God
The first chapter is written by Julius Kim, who told the story of Calvin pilgrims by connecting it with his personal life. I think it's the best chapter.
However fitting it may be for man seriously to turn his eyes to
contemplate God’s works, since he has been placed in this most
glorious theater to be a spectator of them, it is fitting that he
prick up his ears to the Word, the better to profit.
Institutes 1.6.2
The book also talks about our position as a bad actor on a broken stage. Do we human consign to perdition?. The author put it in this way:
To put this into recent pop-psychology language, each of us carries
our own baggage, our own personal and specific weight of damage and
sin, and this makes us not only ill-equipped to react well to the difficulties
and dangers we encounter on the broken stage, but it also means that
our acting may be compromised at any moment by the spiritual, moral,
cognitive, and aesthetic evils that tend to spring out of us. We are bad
actors, not only in the sense that sometimes we act or react badly, but also in the sense that rather consistently we mean to act badly.
In the end, it all goes to the sovereignty and the providence of God who acknowledges what is best for us. Another thing that I found intriguing is how God's grace alone is sufficient in our weakness.
If we had quiet and composed minds ready to learn, [then] the final outcome
[of even these situations] would show that God always has the best
reason for his plan: either to instruct his own people in patience, or to
correct their wicked affections and tame their lust or to subjugate them
to self-denial, or to arouse them from sluggishness. (1.17.1)
With this suffering, how do we supposed to live? It would be explained in this book for about four chapters and I'm really glad to read this book.
But Calvin’s emphasis on providence meant that daily
events give us some indication of God’s mind at work and play. “If God
does nothing random, there must always be something to learn,”
If you want to read this book, you can read it for free here:
With Calvin in The Theater of God
April 3, 2021
Produced from a series of (edited) lectures given at the 2009 Desiring God National Conference on the God-glorifying life, ministry, theology and praxis of John Calvin, this book provides an invaluable insight into one of the most influential pastor/theologians the world has ever seen.
Calvin himself uses the metaphor of the theater of God being the stage upon which all of history plays out, and each of the authors of this book’s chapters tackles, with an appreciative but fair hand, as aspect of the Christian life as it is rightly lived – in a manner that makes little of self, much of God and, specifically, most of his glorious grace to us in Jesus Christ.
While each of the contributing authors does a fantastic job, chapters by Julius Kim, Douglas Wilson, Sam Storms and John Piper stood out to me as particularly helpful, covering:
- At Work and Worship in the Theater of God: Calvin the Man and Why I Care – Julius Kim
- The Sacred Script in the Theater of God: Calvin, the Bible and the Western World – Douglas Wilson
- Living with One Foot Raised: Calvin on the Glory of the Final Resurrection and Heaven – Sam Storms
- Jesus Christ as Denouement in the Theater of God: Calvin and the Supremacy of Christ in All Things - John Piper
In addition, the appendices on Calvin’s involvement in the matter with Servetus (which ultimately ended with Servetus’s death as a heretic) and a brief biography of his life, written by Mark R. Talbot and David Mathis respectively, were very helpful in understanding some of Calvin’s shortcomings, but also the incredible way he was used by God throughout his life, despite many very serious challenges and difficulties. The appendix on Servetus in particular also brings much needed perspective to this often talked about issue, and while it does not whitewash Calvin’s part, it does show that his part was very much as a background character in an issue that was much larger and more removed from Calvin than many of his critics would have people believe.
My wife and I are attempting to read through Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion together across the course of a year, and I must admit that, having only read one other of Calvin’s works, I have found this volume to be very helpful in filling in some of the details of Calvin’s life and ministry from a range of angles in a concise and engaging way.
This book has made me even more thankful for John Calvin, for the way God used him greatly in 1500s Geneva, and for the flow-on effect of his ministry which continues to benefit believers to this day.
If you are looking for a relatively short overview of Calvin, with elements of biography (not mere hagiography), but focussing on how his faith and ministry worked out in everyday life, I would definitely recommend this book. A digital copy can be accessed over at DesiringGod.org
Calvin himself uses the metaphor of the theater of God being the stage upon which all of history plays out, and each of the authors of this book’s chapters tackles, with an appreciative but fair hand, as aspect of the Christian life as it is rightly lived – in a manner that makes little of self, much of God and, specifically, most of his glorious grace to us in Jesus Christ.
While each of the contributing authors does a fantastic job, chapters by Julius Kim, Douglas Wilson, Sam Storms and John Piper stood out to me as particularly helpful, covering:
- At Work and Worship in the Theater of God: Calvin the Man and Why I Care – Julius Kim
- The Sacred Script in the Theater of God: Calvin, the Bible and the Western World – Douglas Wilson
- Living with One Foot Raised: Calvin on the Glory of the Final Resurrection and Heaven – Sam Storms
- Jesus Christ as Denouement in the Theater of God: Calvin and the Supremacy of Christ in All Things - John Piper
In addition, the appendices on Calvin’s involvement in the matter with Servetus (which ultimately ended with Servetus’s death as a heretic) and a brief biography of his life, written by Mark R. Talbot and David Mathis respectively, were very helpful in understanding some of Calvin’s shortcomings, but also the incredible way he was used by God throughout his life, despite many very serious challenges and difficulties. The appendix on Servetus in particular also brings much needed perspective to this often talked about issue, and while it does not whitewash Calvin’s part, it does show that his part was very much as a background character in an issue that was much larger and more removed from Calvin than many of his critics would have people believe.
My wife and I are attempting to read through Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion together across the course of a year, and I must admit that, having only read one other of Calvin’s works, I have found this volume to be very helpful in filling in some of the details of Calvin’s life and ministry from a range of angles in a concise and engaging way.
This book has made me even more thankful for John Calvin, for the way God used him greatly in 1500s Geneva, and for the flow-on effect of his ministry which continues to benefit believers to this day.
If you are looking for a relatively short overview of Calvin, with elements of biography (not mere hagiography), but focussing on how his faith and ministry worked out in everyday life, I would definitely recommend this book. A digital copy can be accessed over at DesiringGod.org
February 5, 2018
A good introduction to the life and teachings of John Calvin. I learned quite a bit I hadn't know about his life, though there was not that much that was new to me in his teachings. I was particularly interested in the idea of the "theater of God" referred to in the title, and I had thought it would be a major focus of the book. It was discussed, but it seemed more like a framing device than the subject of the book itself. It also seemed in many ways to be an overview, giving summaries or examples without getting into much depth. I suppose that was the purpose of the book, to introduce people to Calvin and leave it to them to learn more elsewhere, though in that case it would have been helpful to have an appendix giving suggestions for further reading.
June 27, 2020
I found this book hard to read simply because each chapter was written by different authors.
I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of Calvin’s life, but the choppy nature of it, due to each author’s different writing style, made it a bit hard to follow.
I appreciated the focus on his physical and spiritual trials, which humanized him for me, but I wish they went into more detail about his marriage and family life.
It does make me want to read the Institutes.
I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of Calvin’s life, but the choppy nature of it, due to each author’s different writing style, made it a bit hard to follow.
I appreciated the focus on his physical and spiritual trials, which humanized him for me, but I wish they went into more detail about his marriage and family life.
It does make me want to read the Institutes.
February 8, 2024
Interesting, but imperfect. Many or all of the chapters could have been books in and of themselves. I learned things about Calvin. Christ was exalted. It was good.
Also, I have more qualms with Douglas Wilson than I have layers of skin (that is to say, I have at least four qualms), but the man can write.
Marvin Olasky's contribution seemed out of place.
Also, I have more qualms with Douglas Wilson than I have layers of skin (that is to say, I have at least four qualms), but the man can write.
Marvin Olasky's contribution seemed out of place.
November 30, 2017
Very readable, very inspiring and very interesting book on this great reformer. It magnifies God and his saving work and awakens a passion for His glory.
April 23, 2025
All I can say is that this book is Absolutely Chinese.
January 1, 2013
We're all broken actors on a broken stage & God, in His providential goodness, is redeeming both--ultimately, so "that the glory of his grace be praised by innumerable redeemed human beings."
In chapter 1, Julius Kim writes about Calvin's beginnings & creatively weaves his own story of God's providence in the life of his father. Great read overall, capturing Calvin's prime motive for living: "zeal to show forth the glory of God."
My favorite chapter is probably chapter 2: Bad Actors on a Broken Stage: Sin & Suffering in Calvin's World & Ours. Calvin wrote & revised his Institutes from the battlefield as a pastor, not as a mere intellectual exercise but with a wholehearted conviction of the guiding light of Scripture in the everyday, ordinary life of a Christian.
Living with One Foot Raised (ch.5) was most encouraging, directing my attention towards resurrection & heaven. To have heaven is to have Christ--our ultimate prize.
John Piper in his last chapter points us to the overarching supremacy of Christ in all, the "denouement" in the Theater of God. Really enjoyed this chapter - it contains many scripture references for further meditation.
Since, after all, as Calvinists who believe in total depravity, it was only right & fair that the book cast Calvin as a flawed sinner just like us, despite his enormous contribution to Christianity. The treatment of Servetus scandal was balanced & informative, especially in the appendix.
Great introduction to Calvin's life & ministry – serves well as a warm up for reading Calvin's Institutes.
In chapter 1, Julius Kim writes about Calvin's beginnings & creatively weaves his own story of God's providence in the life of his father. Great read overall, capturing Calvin's prime motive for living: "zeal to show forth the glory of God."
My favorite chapter is probably chapter 2: Bad Actors on a Broken Stage: Sin & Suffering in Calvin's World & Ours. Calvin wrote & revised his Institutes from the battlefield as a pastor, not as a mere intellectual exercise but with a wholehearted conviction of the guiding light of Scripture in the everyday, ordinary life of a Christian.
Living with One Foot Raised (ch.5) was most encouraging, directing my attention towards resurrection & heaven. To have heaven is to have Christ--our ultimate prize.
John Piper in his last chapter points us to the overarching supremacy of Christ in all, the "denouement" in the Theater of God. Really enjoyed this chapter - it contains many scripture references for further meditation.
Since, after all, as Calvinists who believe in total depravity, it was only right & fair that the book cast Calvin as a flawed sinner just like us, despite his enormous contribution to Christianity. The treatment of Servetus scandal was balanced & informative, especially in the appendix.
Great introduction to Calvin's life & ministry – serves well as a warm up for reading Calvin's Institutes.
December 6, 2012
Really enjoyed this one, especially the chapter "Living With One Foot Raised: Calvin on the Glory of the Final Resurrection and Heaven" by Sam Storms.
The chapter by Marvin Olasky was also very good and provided some insight to the Calvinistic thought of America's founding fathers.
The chapter by Marvin Olasky was also very good and provided some insight to the Calvinistic thought of America's founding fathers.
December 20, 2016
I loved reading these essays on the life, teachings, and relevance of John Calvin. This is a great introduction for those who don't know much about Calvin himself or the impact he's had on the church worldwide. The beginning chapter and appendixes give a good overview of Calvin's life, while the chapters in between touch on various subjects (such as the power of the Word, the Christian's duty in the "secular" realm, and the sweetness of Heaven) to which Calvin powerfully spoke. The chapters by Wilson, Storms, and Olasky were particular highlights in an overall very enjoyable read.
July 23, 2013
I started reading this book on John Calvin's 504th birthday (July 10th). July 13th, so far I am really enjoying this book and loving it every moment as I have a chance to read it. Looking forward to get to know John Calvin all the more and thankful for his love for His Word and Christ all the more. I finish it today and looking forward to know more about John Calvin and his book.
A lot of footnote at the end of each chapter which is also very educational too. I wouldn't skip the footnote.
A lot of footnote at the end of each chapter which is also very educational too. I wouldn't skip the footnote.
September 28, 2012
Excellent guide to Calvin. Book is particularly strong in the chapters by Olasky and Talbot. Doug Wilson's chapter also very helpful on the authority of scripture.
Also if you want a good and short overview of the servetus affair then definitely read the appendix by Talbot.
Highly recommended.
Also if you want a good and short overview of the servetus affair then definitely read the appendix by Talbot.
Highly recommended.
November 27, 2012
This short book contains many reflections on the life and work of Calvin. It centres around the idea of the universe as a theatre in which the drama of redemption is being played out. It then looks at various aspects of life (politically, religiously, occupationally, etc.) and shows how Calvin saw them as integral to God's great drama in which he is glorified. Well worth reading.
January 2, 2011
Really great book on suffering, thinking about death and about life in the context of a broken world, and the relationship between the written Word, theology and preaching. This is the best book I've read this year, oh and most of last year too.
December 16, 2011
A good read on how Calvin viewed our life in this fallen world. Suffering, death, sin, Servetus and preaching the Word are all addressed. All the essays gave some good insight, but I found Julius' Kim's and Marvin Olasky's particularly insightful.
December 11, 2012
Very good, and Gospel-saturated. Brought a lot of things together for me on Calvin's life and influence. Appendices are great also - on the Servetus incident, and a helpful concise bio of Calvin's life.
March 29, 2015
This is a good read. As with many multi-author books, the quality is a bit varied. Nonetheless, the presentation of Calvin's view on living in this world is very encouraging and, if considered well, should help readers see this great saint as more than the source of an -ism.
July 18, 2012
First book I've read on Calvin. Amazing how influential he's been for most Christians even if we haven't realized his influence.
March 12, 2013
A fine primer on Calvin's life and ministry with an emphasis on the drama of redemption and the glory of the grace of God in Christ.
August 11, 2013
The second chapter on sin and suffering by Mark Talbot is not only the best thing in this collection it is one of the best essays on suffering I've ever read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews