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Calvin's Calvinism: Treatises on The Eternal Predestination of God/The Secret Providence of God
Book by Calvin, John
354 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
7 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
John Calvin
1,701 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 19, 2013
Unreliable translations of books that are thankfully coming available in scholarly editions.
May 26, 2025
It would be an understatement to say that this is an important book. This review will be structured into four parts: Background, Significance, Aesthetics, and Content.
The background is wonderfully and helpfully documented in Russell J. Dykstra’s brief historical introduction. I’ll give the SparkNotes version. Calvin had previously clashed with Albert Pighius on the subject of predestination and free will, for which many people may know Calvin’s treatise “The Bondage and Liberation of the Will.” Pighius responded, but he died before Calvin could write a further response. Because of this, Calvin didn’t publish his further response. Fast forward a few years, and a man named Jerome Bolsec was causing a stir in Geneva with essentially the same things Pighius argued. In response, Calvin published his response to Pighius, seen in this present volume. Bolsec goes unnamed in the treatise, with it instead addressed against Pighius and one Georgius of Sicily. If you want to know more of the finer details of the situation or learn about its impact on the wider Reformed world, you’ll have to read Dykstra’s introduction.
The significance of this work can’t be understated. So-called “Calvinism” is a hotly contested and much misunderstood subject. Because of this, I have insisted that anyone who wants to seriously engage in this debate and be taken seriously needs to read (in this order) 1) the Canons of Dort and (https://threeforms.org/canons-of-dort/) and 2) “The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination” by Loraine Boettner (https://www.prpbooks.com/.../reformed......). After reading this book, I enthusiastically add it to this short list. Too many people are content to make pronouncements about Calvin and Calvinism without knowing what Calvin actually taught. Others try to paint this false narrative of “Calvin vs. the Calvinists”. The honest reader must go ad fontes, “to the sources”, and there’s no finer presentation of Calvin’s mature thought than this book. Critics of Calvin will be rapidly humbled in reading this book. As an aside, this is the only work of Calvin that I’m aware of that is committed entirely to the doctrine of predestination (and therefore it’s a horrible presentation of Calvin to make him “the predestination guy”). In other words, this is a monumental worth that will profit Calvinist and non-Calvinist alike.
The content of this book is valuable enough as is, but the whole thing is heightened by a wonderful presentation. It’s a brown hardcover with a wonderful texture to it that feels good in the hand. The spine is simple, yet it sticks out on the shelf. The cover has a black and gold space for RFPA’s title as well as the original title of the treatise. Altogether, this is another aesthetic win for RFPA.
Regarding the content, this book is divided into two parts. Part one is the main event, Calvin’s treatise on Predestination and Providence. Calvin is at the top of his game here with the quality of his arguments. He also takes lengthy sections of the treatise to address the false arguments of Pighius and Gregorius (and implicitly Bolsec). It’s difficult to read those arguments and not see the same folly in modern critics. I would have been happy with just part 1, but part 2 is also a valuable addition. The last 100 pages or so of the book are two replies that Calvin wrote in response to lesser-known treatises published against him. It’s relevant to include in this present volume because it’s on the same topic, and even expands on certain points in part 1.
“Calvin’s Calvinism” is a masterful and essential contribution to Calvin’s works that are accessible to the English-speaking reader. RFPA is to be highly commended for this contribution and the work they’ve put into creating such a quality product. I encourage you to add this book to your library.
The background is wonderfully and helpfully documented in Russell J. Dykstra’s brief historical introduction. I’ll give the SparkNotes version. Calvin had previously clashed with Albert Pighius on the subject of predestination and free will, for which many people may know Calvin’s treatise “The Bondage and Liberation of the Will.” Pighius responded, but he died before Calvin could write a further response. Because of this, Calvin didn’t publish his further response. Fast forward a few years, and a man named Jerome Bolsec was causing a stir in Geneva with essentially the same things Pighius argued. In response, Calvin published his response to Pighius, seen in this present volume. Bolsec goes unnamed in the treatise, with it instead addressed against Pighius and one Georgius of Sicily. If you want to know more of the finer details of the situation or learn about its impact on the wider Reformed world, you’ll have to read Dykstra’s introduction.
The significance of this work can’t be understated. So-called “Calvinism” is a hotly contested and much misunderstood subject. Because of this, I have insisted that anyone who wants to seriously engage in this debate and be taken seriously needs to read (in this order) 1) the Canons of Dort and (https://threeforms.org/canons-of-dort/) and 2) “The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination” by Loraine Boettner (https://www.prpbooks.com/.../reformed......). After reading this book, I enthusiastically add it to this short list. Too many people are content to make pronouncements about Calvin and Calvinism without knowing what Calvin actually taught. Others try to paint this false narrative of “Calvin vs. the Calvinists”. The honest reader must go ad fontes, “to the sources”, and there’s no finer presentation of Calvin’s mature thought than this book. Critics of Calvin will be rapidly humbled in reading this book. As an aside, this is the only work of Calvin that I’m aware of that is committed entirely to the doctrine of predestination (and therefore it’s a horrible presentation of Calvin to make him “the predestination guy”). In other words, this is a monumental worth that will profit Calvinist and non-Calvinist alike.
The content of this book is valuable enough as is, but the whole thing is heightened by a wonderful presentation. It’s a brown hardcover with a wonderful texture to it that feels good in the hand. The spine is simple, yet it sticks out on the shelf. The cover has a black and gold space for RFPA’s title as well as the original title of the treatise. Altogether, this is another aesthetic win for RFPA.
Regarding the content, this book is divided into two parts. Part one is the main event, Calvin’s treatise on Predestination and Providence. Calvin is at the top of his game here with the quality of his arguments. He also takes lengthy sections of the treatise to address the false arguments of Pighius and Gregorius (and implicitly Bolsec). It’s difficult to read those arguments and not see the same folly in modern critics. I would have been happy with just part 1, but part 2 is also a valuable addition. The last 100 pages or so of the book are two replies that Calvin wrote in response to lesser-known treatises published against him. It’s relevant to include in this present volume because it’s on the same topic, and even expands on certain points in part 1.
“Calvin’s Calvinism” is a masterful and essential contribution to Calvin’s works that are accessible to the English-speaking reader. RFPA is to be highly commended for this contribution and the work they’ve put into creating such a quality product. I encourage you to add this book to your library.
August 28, 2025
The only reason to read this book is if you want to spend hours of your life reading Calvin act as a mouthpiece for Augustine, try to support indefensible views, and insult brothers in Christ who disagree with him,
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews