Treatises on the Sacraments

by John Calvin

John Calvin was easily one of the most influential Christians of the 2nd millennium. A key figure in the Protestant Reformation, Calvin's legacy remains immensely strong, with hundreds of thousands gaining insight from his works of major doctrines such as the interaction between the Sovereignty of God and Man's Free Will. Countless analyses and critiques of Calvin's work have been released over the centuries, and a huge number of Churches and denominations hold to Calvin's teaching to varying degrees. Calvin's name is thrown about in theological discussions that cover a broad spectrum. This unedited collection of sermons allows you to read John Calvin's own ideas on issues relating to the sacraments, catechisms, forms of prayer and confessions of faith. One of the key issues that led to the Reformation and the birth of Protestantism was Rome's treatment of the Lord's Supper. Calvin and the Reformers believed the Catholic Mass was founded on a grave error that needed to be corrected. The majority of this collection majors on this key doctrine that still divides the church.

Genres: Theology, Prayer, Faith, Church History, Ecclesiology

598 pages, Hardcover

First published November 21, 2002

About the author

French-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.

Reviews

[Taylor Fernandez]

Only read a few of the treatises: the short treatise, the agreement between the Genevan and Zurich churches, and the exposition of the agreement.

Calvin’s species of “real presence” is theologically rich, historically rooted, and exegetically satisfactory. In sum, in the Supper Christ’s body and blood are signified by means of the bread and wine (yet not bare symbols) and the benefits of his body and blood are truly communicated to the faithful in order to seal/confirm the promises, nourish/strengthen faith, and excite piety in the faithful. The sign (bread & wine) and the thing signified (Christ’s body and blood) are “conjoined” by the operation of the Spirit in such a way that the sign leads to the thing signified when received in faith. All that the Word presents, the sacraments do likewise (i.e., the sacraments are a visible Word). It is not a better Christ offered and communicated in the sacraments, but Christ is often times received better. As Christ and his saving benefits are presented to the ears when the Word is preached, so Christ and his benefits are presented to the other senses in the sacraments.

[Joseph Wolcott]

First off, the title is a little misleading. The vast majority of this book is about the Lord's Supper, while baptism is barely touched on. Bear this in mind if you are reading this expecting to understand Calvin's view of both sacraments. That said, the content of the book is excellent. Calvin clearly articulates his position and how he differs from other popular views of the Lord's Supper. He extensively argues against the local presence of Christ's body (as believed by Roman Catholics and Lutherans), and yet he also explains why a mere memorial view is inconsistent with scripture. He shows on several fronts why his position is the best. As a slight negative, the latter half of the book is somewhat repetitive. It's understandable why. The book is a collection of different treatises Calvin wrote throughout his life and several of the ones collected at the end (in which he answers objections to his position) end up treading the same arguments because the objections remained essentially the same. Even if you don't agree with Calvin or are biased against Calvin, you should read this book. It gives great insights from one of history's great theologians, it helps you understand a position that might not be your own, and it is one of the many evidences that anyone who wants to condense Calvin to being primarily focused on the doctrine of predestination and election are really doing the man a disservice.

[Aaron Cummings]

Read the Geneva Catechism. Solid stuff here. I'd quibble over words, but the substance of it is good stuff. It would be tough to teach a child using this catechism, but a group of adults might enjoy the conversational nature of it.