John Calvin

The true story of John Calvin and the Reformation
What do you do when you want find out if something is true or not? Is there someone you can trust to tell you the truth?
When John Calvin was a young boy he was taught many things that weren't true, but when he discovered the truth about Jesus Christ it was a very exciting time for him. It was so exciting he just had to tell other people.
God helped John Calvin to teach the truth. He was one of the men who started what we now call the Reformation.

John Calvin, the famous reformer, took the Reformed message and taught it to the world through his preaching in Geneva as well as his letters and writings. Building upon the teachings of Martin Luther, Calvin's message would influence centuries of Christian thought. This trailblazers children's church history biography is perfect for ages 8-9 or independent readers grades 9-14. "Thinking Further" questions are included. 159 pages, softcover.

This richly illustrated book is the perfect introduction to John Calvin's life, work, and legacy. Detailed chapters show how Calvin listened to God's call throughout his life, risking much, living in poverty, and making difficult decisions for the sake of the Gospel he so dearly loved. Children will also gain an understanding of the struggles of the early Reformed church as they struggled to survive the attacks of the Roman Catholic Church and achieve a clear identity and a united doctrine. A timeline and "did you know" section complete the book. 63 pages, hardcover.

This introduction to the life, leadership, and thought of John Calvin presents the Geneva Reformer in his own words, unedited by the selective biases of hostile---and customarily uninformed---critics. In the process, it gives a fair and honest hearing to one of the most significant shapers of modern culture.

Few today realize that John Calvin led pioneering efforts to decentralize government by calling for checks and balances against the rule of the few or the king. Equally unknown are his efforts to establish a productive social safety-net for immigrants, create educational models that were far ahead of his time, and instill a sense of self-worth in all citizens (regardless of their occupations or class). He was also known for his support of free markets, the rise of private enterprise, and the advancement of publishing and knowledge beyond its medieval confines. The result of his efforts was an explosion of culture and liberty--a story that often is lost or ignored in the rush to offer criticism of the man.

A Heart Promptly Offered presents the basic story of Calvin's life, along with numerous excerpts from his own pen---writings from his letters, commentaries, and sermons. In addition to summarizing the main topics of Calvin's Institutes, it lays out his ground-breaking political theory, which is an unparalleled contribution to human freedom.

In addition to glimpses into his personal life, it also includes much about his friendships, his struggles, and his literary interests. The result is a nontechnical volume that introduces the life, character, and legacy of John Calvin---one of the most significant figures in history.

In celebration of the five hundredth anniversary of John Calvin's birth (2009), Burk Parsons, editor of Tabletalk magazine and associate minister at St. Andrew's in Sanford, Fla., has brought together an impressive group of pastors and scholars to reconsider Calvin's life and legacy. In twenty succinct chapters, these men examine Calvin the man; his work (as a Reformer, a churchman, a preacher, a counselor, and a writer); and his teachings (on subjects as diverse as the Holy Spirit and prayer). What emerges is a multifaceted portrait of a man whose contributions to Christian thought and Christian living were significant indeed, a man whose life, work, and teachings are worthy to be remembered and studied even in the twenty-first century.

The three years that Calvin spent in Strasbourg are often considered a simple gap between his two periods in Geneva (1536-1538 and 1541-1564). However, this period has been shown to be extremely fertile for Calvin in literary, theological, and pastoral fields, not forgetting his marriage to Idelette de Bure. It was in Strasbourg that Calvin published the second Latin edition, greatly increased, of his ""Institution,"" and where he wrote the first French version of this summary of the reformed religion. There he lectured on ""Romans,"" replied to Cardinal Sadolet, and wrote his ""Little Treatise on Holy Communion,"" intended to reconcile Protestants. There he became familiar with Martin Bucer's catechetical practice and with the songs of the Strasbourg parishes, which inspired his ""Some Psalms and Canticles put into Song,"" and there he gained the friendship of Philippe Melanchthon and the respect of other Reformers. 264 pages. H ardcover.

This unique book is an introductory guide to the life and theology of John Calvin (1509-64). Calvin's theology has been highly significant as a major expression of Protestant theology. Reformed churches throughout the world appropriate Calvin's theological understandings and find his work provides important insights into Scripture and communicates a vibrant Christian faith. The first part of this book describes events in Calvin's life that helped shape his major work, the Institutes of the Christian Religion. The second part follows the flow of the Institutes and provides a narrative exposition of this major work, with numerous quotations of Calvin's own words. This enables readers to hear Calvin's voice as his views are explained. This close reading of Calvin opens the door to further, more thorough Calvin studies.

Written specifically for younger children, this biography focuses on Calvin's youth, his time at the university, and the circumstances of his conversation. Learn about his early leadership of the Protestants in France, and his flight to Basel, Strassburg, and Geneva when King Francis I began executing Protestants. A warm and affectionate picture of the leader of the second generation of the Protestant Reformation, this book is perfect for independent reading or reading aloud. 159 pages, softcover. Ages 9-12.

In this revised edition of his definitive biography, Parker explores Calvin's achievements against the backdrop of the turbulent times in which he lived. Clear explanations of the reformer's theology, critical analyses of his major works, and insights into his preaching bring to life the quiet "timid scholar" whose ideas took Europe by storm. 224 pages, softcover from Westminster/John Knox.

His critics link his name with an attitude of judgment and joylessness, while his admirers celebrate him as the principal theologian of Reformed Christianity. Who was John Calvin really---and what made his impact on history so great and so controversial? You'll be fascinated by Godfrey's thoughtful portrait of the 16th-century Reformer. 192 pages, softcover from Crossway.

If you're not familiar with the main contours of Calvin's life, you may be surprised by Herman Selderhuis's unusual perspective. He clarifies each stage of Calvin's development under a different role: orphan, pilgrim, stranger, refugee, preacher, victim, widower, patient, sailor, and soldier. Selderhuis shatters static, one-dimensional images of Calvin as a somber academic, revealing instead Calvin's complexities and depth.

An international array of major Calvin scholars considers aspects of Calvin's theological thought and influence. Historians as well as theologians present the major themes in his writings in addition to discussing the ways in which his thought spread and has increasing importance today.

Contents

Introduction; Part I. Calvin's Life and Context:
1. Calvin's life Alexandre Ganoczy, translated by David L. Foxgrover and James Schmitt
2. Calvin's Geneva William G. Naphy
Part II. Calvin's Work:
3. Calvin's writings Wulfert de Greef
4. Calvin as a biblical interpreter John L. Thompson
5. Calvin's theology I. John Hesselink
6. Calvin's ethics Guenther H. Haas
7. Calvin's preaching Dawn De Vries
8. Calvin on Piety Joel R. Beeke
9. Calvin and social-ethical issues Jeannine E. Olson
10. Calvin and political issues William R. Stevenson, Jr.
11. Calvin's controversies Richard C. Gamble
Part III. After Calvin:
12. The spread of Calvin's thought Andrew Pettegree
13. Calvin and Calvinism Carl R. Trueman
14. Calvin's heritage R. Ward Holder

Part IV. Calvin Today:
15. Calvin's role in church history David F. Wright
16. The place of Calvin in Christian theology B. A. Gerris
17. Calvin in ecumenical context Jane Dempsey Douglass
18. Calvin in context: current resources Karin Maag and Paul Fields

Many would argue that a true understanding of contemporary Christian thought is impossible without a basic understanding of John Calvin's contributions. Now, just in time for the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth, William Stacy Johnson, a leading theologian, offers this clear and fundamental study of Calvin's insights as a primer for those with little or no knowledge of his work.

Calvin is more than just a figure from history. His life and work-both infused with his passion for the reform of the church-had a continuing impact through the centuries, not only on the church but on society in general. Enhanced with questions for discussion and a handy glossary, this volume is sure to be an invaluable resource for those who seek an accessible way into a deeper understanding of Calvin's role in the development of today's Christian faith.

Readers of John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion often regard this masterwork of doctrine as a cold, sterile, and merely intellectual project. But Matthew Myer Boulton reads it very differently. In Life in God: John Calvin, Practical Formation, and the Future of Protestant Theology Matthew Myer Boulton argues that for Calvin, Christian doctrine is properly conceived and articulated primarily for the sake of practical Christian formation--the immersive, restorative training for wholeness and holiness embodied in the church's disciplinary treasury.

Although Calvin famously opposed the cloister, Boulton shows that his purpose was not the eradication but the democratization of monastic spiritual disciplines. Just as Calvin endorsed the "priesthood of all believers," so too did he envision that ordinary disciples could live with God daily, consecrate themselves to the art of knowing God, and embrace spiritually formative practices including scriptural and theological study, daily prayer and worship, regular Psalm singing, frequent reception of the Lord's Supper, renunciation of "the world," rigorous moral accountability, and the like.

The theology of John Calvin was given classic expression in his "Institutes of the Christian Religion ." In this definitive work, Calvin expert Charles Partee offers a careful exposition of Calvin's theology as it appears in the "Institutes," paying special attention to the relation of Calvin's theology to the history of Christian thought and to the questions of Calvin's own time. Partee also examines the development of later Calvinism and the adaptation of Calvin's thought by his later followers. As Partee shows, Calvin's theology provides a profound exposition of Christian faith and a magnificent resource for theology today.

Through the nearly 450 years since his death, John Calvin has been portrayed by his critics - Protestant as well as Catholic - as a cold, ruthless fanatic. This distorted characterization, for the most part, remains today. What was this man really like? An unfeeling, gloomy monster or a saint untouched by the common problems which beset lesser men? The author examines Calvin's personal correspondence and reveals him as a man capable of human mistakes and weaknesses, and yet, a deeply dedicated, sensitive individual undeserving of the years of vilification. This book, available here in English, for the first time in over 35 years, considers John Calvin from a personal standpoint. The excellent preface by Calvin-scholar John T. McNeill, carefully noted resources, brevity, readability, and human interest make this a biography for scholars and laymen alike.

(PUBOxford)Bouwsma has given us a biography that is different from most of its predecessors. here we meet a vulnerable, anxious Calvin; Calvin the Renaissance man; Calvin the evangelical apologist and systematizer. Bouwsma discovers themes and discontinuities never fully exposed before. ''Will require at least a decade to sort through Bouwsma's findings,''---Times Literary Supplement. 310 pages, paper.

History occasionally produces figures whose influence on their own and successive generations is immense. Marx, Freud and Lenin had such an influence, and so, Alister McGrath argues, does John Calvin. This book provides a fresh and lucid exploration of Calvin's life and influence, his theology and his political thought, and his determining of the course of European history. It traces Calvin's remarkable impact on the development of modern Western attitudes to work, wealth, civil rights, capitalism and the natural sciences.

John Calvin (1509-1564) was one of the main Protestant Reformers of the sixteenth century. His thought spread worldwide, and today he is still looked to for theological insights and as a guide to Christian faith by millions of people. In this book, one of the world's leading Calvin scholars, Willem van 't Spijker, provides a compact guide to Calvin's life and the main elements of his thought. Van 't Spijker, a respected Calvin researcher, bases this work on the best contemporary scholarship. By tracing Calvin's influence, he shows both the development of Calvin's thought and the ways in which it was important in his time and later. The book will be an excellent introduction to Calvin's life and thought for both beginning students and those already acquainted with Calvin's work. It will be a splendid resource for the 500th anniversary year of Calvin's birth (2009) and beyond.

During the glory days of the French Renaissance, young John Calvin (1509-1564) experienced a profoundbut enigmatic conversion to the faith of the Reformation. For the rest of his days he lived out the implications of that transformation--as an exile, inspired reformer, and ultimately the dominant figure of the Protestant Reformation.

Calvin's vision of the Christian religion has inspired many volumes of analysis, but this engaging biography examines a remarkable life. Bruce Gordon's Calvin presents the Genevan reformer as a human being, a man at once brilliant, charismatic, forgiving, tempermental, generous, graceful, and shrewd.

With aprticular insight Calvin explores with particular insight Calvin's self-conscious view of himself as prophet and apostle for his age and his struggle to tame a sense of his own superiority, perceived by others as arrogance.

Gordon looks at Calvin's character, his maturing vision of God and humanity, his personal tragedies and failures, his extensive relationships with others, and the context within which he wrote and taught. What emerges is a man who devoted himself to the Church, inspiring and transforming the lives of others, especially those who suffered persecution for their religious beliefs.

The influence of John Calvin reaches from the Reformation to Karl Barth and beyond. This book is a comprehensive introduction to the whole range of Calvin's theology. Concentrating on Calvin's major work, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, the author explains its relevance to Christians of all times. This volume will give readers a full and serious sense of Calvin both as a Christian and as a thinker.

Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage." John Calvin would agree! Exploring Calvin's view that this world is God's theater where his glory is played out, Douglas Wilson, John Piper, and other contributors examine the Christian meaning of public service, sin and suffering, joy of the last resurrection, and Jesus as the culmination of God's story. 192 pages, softcover from Crossway.

Honoring the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Christopher Elwood offers an insightful and accessible overview of John Calvin's theological ideas within their historical context. A Brief Introduction to John Calvin discusses the trials and tribulations Calvin encountered as he ministered and taught in Geneva, paying special attention to the theological controversies associated with the Trinity and predestination. In this concise introduction, Elwood explores the development of Calvinism and its influence in today's world.

John Calvin, a man adored by some and maligned by others, stands as a legendary figure in Christian history. In Calvin on the Christian Life, professor Michael Horton offers us fresh insights into the Reformer's personal piety and practical theology by allowing Calvin to speak in his own words.

Drawing not only from his Institutes and biblical commentaries, but also from lesser-known tracts, treatises, and letters, this book will deepen your understanding of Calvin's theology and ministry by exploring the heart of his spiritual life: confident trust and unwavering joy in the sovereign grace of God.