Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion

By Jean Calvin, John Calvin, John Allen, et al.

Book Overview

This is the definitive English-language edition of one of the monumental works of the Christian church. All previous editions--in Latin, French, German, and English--have been collated; references and notes have been verified, corrected, and expanded; and new bibliographies have been added.The translation preserves the rugged strength and vividness of Calvin's writing, but also conforms to modern English and renders heavy theological terms in simple language. The result is a translation that achieves a high degree of accuracy and at the same time is eminently readable. Long recognized for the quality of its translations, introductions, explanatory notes, and indexes, the Library of Christian Classics provides scholars and students with modern English translations of some of the most significant Christian theological texts in history. Through these works--each written prior to the end of the sixteenth century--contemporary readers are able to engage the ideas that have shaped Christian theology and the church through the centuries.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0664239110
• ISBN13: 9780664239114
• Release Date: January 1960
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Length: 1822 Pages
• Weight: 2.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 4.2" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Misleading advertising

The copy I bought was shown as a single volume book, but I was sent volume 2/2 of a very old copy of this book. It was disappointing because this print is so old I can’t buy a matching volume 1, and it’s not very helpful if it’s only the second half :/

Shepherd's Guide to Calvin

Shepherd's Notes on Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is a condensed summary of John Calvin's two volume work. For a layman who may not have the time nor the inclination to purchase and enjoy the theolocical logic of John Calvin and his musings on the depths of Almighty God's magnificent designs for mankind this is a "godsend" if you will excuse the pun. One doctrine that comes across loud and clear is the total depravity of man which in relief shows the awesome character and love God has for his creatures. Ron Houser

Readable, understandable -- almost devotional

There's so much here, it's difficult to write a review of it. Perhaps my main recommendation of this book is that it presents such a clear, organized outline of the "basics" of the Christian faith. Regardless of one's position on the man or his theology, one cannot escape the fact that this man's faith was obviously vital to him, and he passionately describes his beliefs in these volumes.Reading Calvin's Institutes was, for me, quite valuable in finally being able to separate John Calvin and his theology from later "Calvinism" that followed, including some of its excesses. I found John Calvin's Institutes to be a balanced, easily understood outline of biblical Christianity. My final commendation would address the organization of the work. The fact that Calvin has provided the reader with a clear outline and direction in his writing, and addressed each point of his outline in concise, manageable units makes the reading of this immense work much more approachable; the brief readings on each topic, with the saturation of biblical references throughout, makes the reading of the Institutes almost a devotional experience.