What do you think?
Rate this book
John Calvin and his passion for the majesty of God
John Piper fires readers' passion for the centrality and supremacy of God by unfolding Calvin's exemplary zeal for the glory of God.John Calvin's aim, he wrote, was to 'set before, as the prime motive of his existence, zeal to illustrate the glory of God' - a fitting banner over all of the great Reformer's life and work. 'The essential meaning of Calvin's life and preaching,' writes John Piper, 'is that he recovered and embodied a passion for the absolute reality and majesty of God. Such is the aim and burden of this book as well.'As Piper concisely unfolds this predominant theme in Calvin's life, he seeks to fire every Christian's passion for the centrality and supremacy of God, so that God's self-identification in Exodus 3 as 'I am who I am' becomes the sun in our solar system too.
Audio
First published December 30, 2008
8 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
John Piper
609 books4,582 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 30, 2019
Piper chooses very well how to get across the essence of John Calvin's passion for God and His Word in a few pages.
August 30, 2014
I really liked everything I had read by John Piper in the past, and when I was looking for a bio on John Calvin, I picked this one first. As far as a biography goes, this book does not go into a ton of detail on Calvin's life, but it does focus heavily on Calvin's theology--which is even more important than his life.
Piper has a direct and concise style of writing, and he is very Christ-focused. I will need to read another Calvin bio, but as an intro to the man and his beliefs, this was awesome.
Piper has a direct and concise style of writing, and he is very Christ-focused. I will need to read another Calvin bio, but as an intro to the man and his beliefs, this was awesome.
February 25, 2023
Shallow and superficial.
It's not awful; there's just not much here to recommend. It's a cursory glance at a fascinating life, but what's here is so superficial that it just raises more questions about Calvin than it answers. Consider this intriguing passage, as an example: "Easter day of 1538 after preaching, he left the pulpit of St. Peters, banished by the city council. He returned in September of 1541, over three years later, and picked up the exposition in the next verse." I have questions, don't you? Banished, you say! On EASTER DAY? Why banishment? Why that particular day? Piper doesn't care, but I do. This kind of teasing ambiguity is dispersed throughout the book. I suppose one could argue that it doesn't fit the thesis (Calvin's passion for the majesty of God) but, truthfully, I didn't get much of a sense of that, either.
Some of it, particularly the section dealing with Calvin's sermons, feels like a Wikipedia entry: dull, lifeless lists of facts devoid of personality or insight roll past as if trying to fill the page. There is a bit of social commentary in the conclusion reminding us not to judge our forebearers for some of the things they did (as they most certainly would have looked down their noses at our behavior), which might have been developed into something meatier and more interesting, but Piper keeps it, like the rest of the book, shallow. This comes off as an extremely light biography, and there is little information presented on Calvin's spiritual practices (other than that he preached scripture a lot and in succession, but so did a lot of others. I wanted to know why he stands out for having done so.). I am unfamiliar with Piper's written work, so I had a neutral approach to the material and relatively low expectations. I did, however, expect more than this.
It's not awful; there's just not much here to recommend. It's a cursory glance at a fascinating life, but what's here is so superficial that it just raises more questions about Calvin than it answers. Consider this intriguing passage, as an example: "Easter day of 1538 after preaching, he left the pulpit of St. Peters, banished by the city council. He returned in September of 1541, over three years later, and picked up the exposition in the next verse." I have questions, don't you? Banished, you say! On EASTER DAY? Why banishment? Why that particular day? Piper doesn't care, but I do. This kind of teasing ambiguity is dispersed throughout the book. I suppose one could argue that it doesn't fit the thesis (Calvin's passion for the majesty of God) but, truthfully, I didn't get much of a sense of that, either.
Some of it, particularly the section dealing with Calvin's sermons, feels like a Wikipedia entry: dull, lifeless lists of facts devoid of personality or insight roll past as if trying to fill the page. There is a bit of social commentary in the conclusion reminding us not to judge our forebearers for some of the things they did (as they most certainly would have looked down their noses at our behavior), which might have been developed into something meatier and more interesting, but Piper keeps it, like the rest of the book, shallow. This comes off as an extremely light biography, and there is little information presented on Calvin's spiritual practices (other than that he preached scripture a lot and in succession, but so did a lot of others. I wanted to know why he stands out for having done so.). I am unfamiliar with Piper's written work, so I had a neutral approach to the material and relatively low expectations. I did, however, expect more than this.
August 10, 2024
This book perfectly paints the picture of every Christian that believes Calvin theology is rooted in T.U.L.I.P. Well, they’re wrong. Calvin’s theology is so much deeper than that and much less rigid than that. The sole desire of Calvin was to make the Word of God glorified and primary in the Church at a time and place where the Church had abandoned the word. Calvin forewent health, rest, and comfort to pour himself into the labor of theology. Calvin cared so much for the lay people of the Church and whether he knew it or not, the Church that would precede him. If you think Calvinism is T.U.L.I.P then you better read this book and be ready to discover the true heart behind his theology and complete and utter reverence for God and His Word.
September 2, 2024
This was a really good book to listen to. Such a barbaric time to live. In the 1500s. John was in opposition to the Catholic Churches teachings. Many people were burned at the stake for this opposition. He might not have gotten it all right but he honored God and preached many sermons to help others. I recommend this book.
July 5, 2020
I realized with this book how little I know of Calvin's atual life, while I know much more of what he has written. Great introduction.
August 15, 2024
Since John Piper is a Calvinist, I would've expected more than a Wikipedia reading of John Calvin.
June 10, 2024
This book by John Piper was very short read. From the beginning to the end of the book, Piper kept emphasizing the centrality of the word of God through the practical example of John Calvin.
April 26, 2023
It’s a quick read. Piper keeps it short and sweet. It’s a solid book and I would recommend if you haven’t had any introduction to Calvin yet. If you’ve taken a class on him and his works… it’s not any additional information.
February 7, 2016
A decent overview on the life of Calvin and the focus of his life. I appreciated that the issue with Servetus (Not sure if that's the right spelling of the name). Overall, at 59 pages, I would say this is good for someone who is interested in Calvin but does not want to read a whole book on him.
March 30, 2013
Good, but short.
January 22, 2018
I wish we had more men today in the church who were as immovable and courageous in serving God faithfully as Calvin. Can’t wait to meet him in heaven.
November 11, 2020
Thoughtful, inspiring, and easy to read. A wonderful piece of lay Church history.
March 13, 2023
The central points of this short and concise overview of John Calvin focuses on his 1) grand God-centeredness, 2) biblical allegiance, and 3) iron constancy in preaching the Word. As the author explores these themes throughout Calvin’s life, Piper summarizes such things as what brought Calvin to Christ, what brought him to reformed theology, the hardships of the time period he had to endure (mentioned several times as “barbarity”), and yet the utter devotion to his calling. It’s a very short read, the audiobook took me less than an hour to get through, so I imagine a lot is left out and what is included is not covered in exhaustive detail.
The author selects excerpts from Calvin’s life to focus on, such as the impetus to join the reformation (i.e. Rome’s self-centeredness in biblical teachings), the oppression of the times, his many works in and out of the pulpit, and his life’s work in the Institutes of the Christian Religion.
One excerpt that I found particularly inspirational is as follows:
“On May 1, 1541, the City Council in Geneva rescinded the ban against Calvin and even held him up as a man of God, inviting him back to his offices. Though he preferred not to go back, knowing all the controversy and danger that awaited his return, Calvin is quoted: “Yet because I know that I am not my own master, I offer my heart as a true sacrifice to the Lord.” This became Calvin’s motto and the picture on his Emblem including a hand holding out a heart to God, the inscription “Prompte et Sincere!” (promptly and sincerely).”
When the author speculates on why Calvin’s remarkable commitment to the centrality of sequential expository preaching, he proffers 3 reasons that are supported by Calvin’s teaching:
1) Calvin believed that the Word of God was a lamp that had been taken from the churches. Continuous exposition on the books of the Bible was the best way to overcome the fearful abandonment of God’s Word.
2) Calvin had a horror of those who preached their own ideas in the pulpit. He believed that by expounding on scriptures as a whole, he would be forced to deal with all that God wanted to say, not just what he might want to say.
3) Where Calvin saw the Majesty of God in His Word, he believed with all his heart that the Word of God was indeed the Word of God, and that all of it was inspired and profitable and radiant with the Light of the Glory of God.
In the appendix, John Piper succinctly summarizes the greatest and worst moments of Calvin’s life, both stemming from the barbarity of the time period.
The greatest: the writing of the Institutes of the Christian Religion (first published in March of 1536). Soon after Calvin was driven from France and safely hiding in Basel, he was quoted as saying this in regard to writing the Institutes: “Though lo, whilst a lay hidden in Basel, unless I oppose of my perpetrators to the utmost of my ability My silence could not be vindicated from the charge of cowardice and treachery. This was the consideration which induced me to publish my Institutes of the Christian Religion. It was published with no other design then that men might know what was the faith held by those whom I saw basely and wickedly defamed.”
The worst: his joining of the condemnation of the heretic Michael Servitus to burn at the stake in Geneva.
All in all, a quick read that left me wanting to read more into the life of Calvin.
The author selects excerpts from Calvin’s life to focus on, such as the impetus to join the reformation (i.e. Rome’s self-centeredness in biblical teachings), the oppression of the times, his many works in and out of the pulpit, and his life’s work in the Institutes of the Christian Religion.
One excerpt that I found particularly inspirational is as follows:
“On May 1, 1541, the City Council in Geneva rescinded the ban against Calvin and even held him up as a man of God, inviting him back to his offices. Though he preferred not to go back, knowing all the controversy and danger that awaited his return, Calvin is quoted: “Yet because I know that I am not my own master, I offer my heart as a true sacrifice to the Lord.” This became Calvin’s motto and the picture on his Emblem including a hand holding out a heart to God, the inscription “Prompte et Sincere!” (promptly and sincerely).”
When the author speculates on why Calvin’s remarkable commitment to the centrality of sequential expository preaching, he proffers 3 reasons that are supported by Calvin’s teaching:
1) Calvin believed that the Word of God was a lamp that had been taken from the churches. Continuous exposition on the books of the Bible was the best way to overcome the fearful abandonment of God’s Word.
2) Calvin had a horror of those who preached their own ideas in the pulpit. He believed that by expounding on scriptures as a whole, he would be forced to deal with all that God wanted to say, not just what he might want to say.
3) Where Calvin saw the Majesty of God in His Word, he believed with all his heart that the Word of God was indeed the Word of God, and that all of it was inspired and profitable and radiant with the Light of the Glory of God.
In the appendix, John Piper succinctly summarizes the greatest and worst moments of Calvin’s life, both stemming from the barbarity of the time period.
The greatest: the writing of the Institutes of the Christian Religion (first published in March of 1536). Soon after Calvin was driven from France and safely hiding in Basel, he was quoted as saying this in regard to writing the Institutes: “Though lo, whilst a lay hidden in Basel, unless I oppose of my perpetrators to the utmost of my ability My silence could not be vindicated from the charge of cowardice and treachery. This was the consideration which induced me to publish my Institutes of the Christian Religion. It was published with no other design then that men might know what was the faith held by those whom I saw basely and wickedly defamed.”
The worst: his joining of the condemnation of the heretic Michael Servitus to burn at the stake in Geneva.
All in all, a quick read that left me wanting to read more into the life of Calvin.
June 10, 2022
He made God and the expanding the kingdom his priority in life and lived it out well.
_______________
The work of Grace in the sinner is a mirror for the glory of God.
We can see what is fundamental:
-Justification by faith is crucial
(The Glory of Christ is at stake)
-What truth and what behavior will always display the glory of God?
Wherever the knowledge of justification is taken away, the glory of Christ is extinguished.
Q. How comes it that we are carried about by so many strange doctrines? Heb 13:9
A. Because the excellance of Christ is not perceived by us.
Where the center shifts from God, everything begins to shift everywhere.
What was the foundation of Calvins faith?
Calvin says: saw and tasted in scripture the majesty of God. And in that moment, both God and the Word of God, were so powerfully and unquestionably authenicated to his soul, that he became a servant of God the rest of his life.
He preferred not to go (to Geneva) but he said:
"Yet because I know that I am not my own master, I offer my heart as a true sacrifice to the Lord"
This became Calvins Motto. And the picture on his emblam including a hand holding out a heart to God with the inscription:
"Pronte and sincere"
"Promtly and Sincerely"
"The Lord has certainly inflicted a severe and bitter wound in the death of our baby son.
But He is himself a Father and knows best what is good for His children."
^^^
This is the kind of submission to the sovereign hand of God that Calvin rendered in all of his countless trials.
What kind of ministry did his commitment to thr Majesty of God produce?
-A ministry of incredible steadfastness.
-In Calvins words a ministry of "invincible constancey" (faithful ministers of the Word)
Ch.7- Constancy in Expounding the Word of God
Calvin had seen the majesty of God in the scriptures.
This pursuaded him that the scripture was the very Word of God.
He said: "We owe to the scripture the reverance to which we owe God. Because it is preceeded from Him alone and has nothing of man mixed with it.
The scriptures has as their self-authenicating theme: The Glory and Majesty of God
Calvin reckoned that the continueous exposition of books of the Bible was the best way to overcome the fearful abandonment of Gods word.
Calvin had a horror of those who preached their own ideas in the pulpit.
"When we enter the pulpit, it is not so that we may bring our own dreams and fancies with us."
He believed that by expounding the scriptures as a whole, he would be forced to deal with all that God wanted to say, not just what he wanted might want to say.
Gods word is about the Glory and Majesty of God.
_______________
The work of Grace in the sinner is a mirror for the glory of God.
We can see what is fundamental:
-Justification by faith is crucial
(The Glory of Christ is at stake)
-What truth and what behavior will always display the glory of God?
Wherever the knowledge of justification is taken away, the glory of Christ is extinguished.
Q. How comes it that we are carried about by so many strange doctrines? Heb 13:9
A. Because the excellance of Christ is not perceived by us.
Where the center shifts from God, everything begins to shift everywhere.
What was the foundation of Calvins faith?
Calvin says: saw and tasted in scripture the majesty of God. And in that moment, both God and the Word of God, were so powerfully and unquestionably authenicated to his soul, that he became a servant of God the rest of his life.
He preferred not to go (to Geneva) but he said:
"Yet because I know that I am not my own master, I offer my heart as a true sacrifice to the Lord"
This became Calvins Motto. And the picture on his emblam including a hand holding out a heart to God with the inscription:
"Pronte and sincere"
"Promtly and Sincerely"
"The Lord has certainly inflicted a severe and bitter wound in the death of our baby son.
But He is himself a Father and knows best what is good for His children."
^^^
This is the kind of submission to the sovereign hand of God that Calvin rendered in all of his countless trials.
What kind of ministry did his commitment to thr Majesty of God produce?
-A ministry of incredible steadfastness.
-In Calvins words a ministry of "invincible constancey" (faithful ministers of the Word)
Ch.7- Constancy in Expounding the Word of God
Calvin had seen the majesty of God in the scriptures.
This pursuaded him that the scripture was the very Word of God.
He said: "We owe to the scripture the reverance to which we owe God. Because it is preceeded from Him alone and has nothing of man mixed with it.
The scriptures has as their self-authenicating theme: The Glory and Majesty of God
Calvin reckoned that the continueous exposition of books of the Bible was the best way to overcome the fearful abandonment of Gods word.
Calvin had a horror of those who preached their own ideas in the pulpit.
"When we enter the pulpit, it is not so that we may bring our own dreams and fancies with us."
He believed that by expounding the scriptures as a whole, he would be forced to deal with all that God wanted to say, not just what he wanted might want to say.
Gods word is about the Glory and Majesty of God.
January 2, 2019
I was quite amazed at this little book and how much Piper was able to cover in it. It's a great little introductory book to the life of John Calvin!
Despite where one might land on the theological spectrum of Evangelicalism - Calvin's influence on Protestant Christianity cannot be underestimated and thus, it is profitable for those who find themselves within varying streams of Protestantism to at least be familiar with John Calvin and his work... but beyond that, hearing a little of his life and ministry is a great inspiration to readers and encouragement for all of us to deepen our passion for the centrality and supremacy of God in all areas of life which was the chief passion of Calvin. His zeal for the glory of God drove his whole life's work.
In today's Christianity, too often, God's glory is too little on our minds. Our culture pushes us to self-focus and thus the brilliance of the majesty God can become side-lined. However, this is where the life of Calvin - even if one may disagree with the theological camp he comes out of - can be a real encouragement and helpful refocusing of what is our main priority in ministry. Nothing mattered more to Calvin than the centrality, supremacy, and majesty of the glory of God. His aim, he wrote, was to 'set before [man], as the prime motive of his existence, zeal to illustrate the glory of God,' a fitting banner over all of the great Reformer's life and work.
This book is a short read - clearly and compellingly written, and is not an idealized version of Calvin either (as he had his own marks and failures as a sinner saved by grace). Piper seeks to fire every Christian's passion for the centrality and supremacy of God in their own lives so that He would be the sun around which all of life revolves.
I'd highly recommend this book to everyone who hasn't read anything about John Calvin or even just to any Christian who needs a good reminder of the glory of God as our fuel for zeal and passion in this Christian life.
Despite where one might land on the theological spectrum of Evangelicalism - Calvin's influence on Protestant Christianity cannot be underestimated and thus, it is profitable for those who find themselves within varying streams of Protestantism to at least be familiar with John Calvin and his work... but beyond that, hearing a little of his life and ministry is a great inspiration to readers and encouragement for all of us to deepen our passion for the centrality and supremacy of God in all areas of life which was the chief passion of Calvin. His zeal for the glory of God drove his whole life's work.
In today's Christianity, too often, God's glory is too little on our minds. Our culture pushes us to self-focus and thus the brilliance of the majesty God can become side-lined. However, this is where the life of Calvin - even if one may disagree with the theological camp he comes out of - can be a real encouragement and helpful refocusing of what is our main priority in ministry. Nothing mattered more to Calvin than the centrality, supremacy, and majesty of the glory of God. His aim, he wrote, was to 'set before [man], as the prime motive of his existence, zeal to illustrate the glory of God,' a fitting banner over all of the great Reformer's life and work.
This book is a short read - clearly and compellingly written, and is not an idealized version of Calvin either (as he had his own marks and failures as a sinner saved by grace). Piper seeks to fire every Christian's passion for the centrality and supremacy of God in their own lives so that He would be the sun around which all of life revolves.
I'd highly recommend this book to everyone who hasn't read anything about John Calvin or even just to any Christian who needs a good reminder of the glory of God as our fuel for zeal and passion in this Christian life.
May 26, 2023
I listened to this on my way home. It is a short but powerful book that introduces us to the life and ideas of one of Christianity's most important figures. Piper does a fantastic job of showing how Calvin's love for God's greatness shaped everything about him – from what he believed, to how he preached, to how he cared for people.
One thing I really liked about Piper's book is how he explains Calvin's ideas in a way that anyone can understand. Even if you're not familiar with fancy theological terms, Piper breaks it down and makes it interesting. It's a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about Calvin's beliefs but doesn't want to get lost in complicated language.
Piper also shows us how Calvin's passion for God's greatness affected the way he preached and helped people. He was always focused on showing how amazing God is, and his preaching encouraged people to worship and follow God. Piper also reminds us that Calvin was a caring and effective minister who genuinely loved the people he served.
Overall, I highly recommend "John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God" by John Piper. It's a well-written and informative book that gives you a great introduction to one of Christianity's most important figures. Whether you're interested in Calvin or just looking for a book that will challenge and inspire you, this is a book you should check out.
Here are a few things I really liked about the book:
Piper explains Calvin's ideas in a way that anyone can understand.
He focuses on Calvin's love for God's greatness.
Piper shows how Calvin's beliefs influenced the way he preached and cared for people.
If you want to learn more about John Calvin, I definitely recommend giving this book a read.
One thing I really liked about Piper's book is how he explains Calvin's ideas in a way that anyone can understand. Even if you're not familiar with fancy theological terms, Piper breaks it down and makes it interesting. It's a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about Calvin's beliefs but doesn't want to get lost in complicated language.
Piper also shows us how Calvin's passion for God's greatness affected the way he preached and helped people. He was always focused on showing how amazing God is, and his preaching encouraged people to worship and follow God. Piper also reminds us that Calvin was a caring and effective minister who genuinely loved the people he served.
Overall, I highly recommend "John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God" by John Piper. It's a well-written and informative book that gives you a great introduction to one of Christianity's most important figures. Whether you're interested in Calvin or just looking for a book that will challenge and inspire you, this is a book you should check out.
Here are a few things I really liked about the book:
Piper explains Calvin's ideas in a way that anyone can understand.
He focuses on Calvin's love for God's greatness.
Piper shows how Calvin's beliefs influenced the way he preached and cared for people.
If you want to learn more about John Calvin, I definitely recommend giving this book a read.
September 10, 2015
I read the book in a single sitting on an airplane flight. The overall theme of the book is captured well in short excerpts from the Forward and the Appendix: “Calvin was a man possessed by the Holy Spirit...he understood that to know God is to step into another world, to be born again into a relationship with the One who made and governs all things, and who had called a people, who did not deserve it, to rule that creation at his side...Fundamental to [his] theology was the Word of God...Everything hung together because there was only one God and one eternal mind at work, undergirding it all. It is this knowledge that gave Calvin’s work its strength...There was in the life and ministry of John Calvin a grand God-centeredness, Bible-allegiance, and iron constancy. Under the banner of God’s mercy to miserable sinners, we would do well to listen and learn."
I found the book's short chapters to be packed with interesting reading and, embarrassingly for someone who has followed Christ for 45 years, enlightening about fundamental truths that are neglected or missing from today's "Bible-believing" churches. In particular, these key themes seem so foundational to what it means to be a Christian, yet they are short-changed or even contradicted in today's sometimes skewed emphasis on evangelism as the ultimate purpose of God in our lives:
1. An appreciation of God Himself - chapter 1: “Nothing mattered more to Calvin than the supremacy of God over all things...The absoluteness of God’s existence enthralls the mind: God’s never beginning, never ending, never becoming, never improving, simply and absolutely there—to be dealt with on his terms or not at all...one thing remains absolutely unassailed: God is. He was there before we came. He will be there after we are gone. And therefore what matters in life above all things is this God.”
2. Commitment to the glory of God above all else (even salvation for sinners) - chapter 2: “God rests lightly on the church in our time, and John Calvin saw the same thing in his own day...even precious truth about eternal life can be so skewed as to displace God as the center and goal...the great guardian of biblical orthodoxy throughout the centuries is a passion for the glory and the excellency of God in Christ. Where the center shifts from God, everything begins to shift everywhere—a fact which does not bode well for doctrinal faithfulness in our own non-God-centered day.”
3. A passion and reverence for the word of God used by the Holy Spirit as the means of salvation - chapters 3 & 7: “So two things came together for Calvin to give him a “saving knowledge of God”: Scripture and the “inward persuasion of the Holy Spirit.” Neither alone suffices to save...What does the Spirit do? The answer is not that the Spirit gives us added revelation to what is in Scripture, but that he awakens us, as from the dead, to see and taste the divine reality of God in Scripture, which authenticates it as God’s own Word...God witnesses to us of his reality and the reality of his Son and his Word by giving us life from the dead so that we come alive. His witness is the gift of spiritual life. His witness is that we come alive to his majesty and see him for who he is in his Word. In that instant, we do not reason from premises to conclusions—we see that we are awake, and there is not even a prior human judgment about it to lean on...The Scriptures were absolutely central because they were absolutely the Word of God and had as their self-authenticating theme the majesty and glory of God...God’s Word is mainly about the majesty of God and the glory of God. That is the main issue in ministry.”
4. The harsh, difficult, and barbaric era in which he lived - Appendix: “The Europe that John Calvin was born into on July 10, 1509, was a harsh and immoral and even barbaric place to live...and had a contaminating effect on everyone, just as we are all contaminated today by the evils of our time. Their blind spots and evils may be different from ours. And it may be that the very things they saw clearly are the things we are blind to. It would be foolhardy to say that we would have never done what they did under their circumstances, and thus draw the conclusion that they have nothing to teach us. In fact, what we probably need to say is that some of our evils are such that we are blind to them, just as they were blind to many of theirs, and the virtues they manifested in those times are the very ones that we probably need in ours.”
I read the book in a single sitting on an airplane flight. The overall theme of the book is captured well in short excerpts from the Forward and the Appendix: “Calvin was a man possessed by the Holy Spirit...he understood that to know God is to step into another world, to be born again into a relationship with the One who made and governs all things, and who had called a people, who did not deserve it, to rule that creation at his side...Fundamental to [his] theology was the Word of God...Everything hung together because there was only one God and one eternal mind at work, undergirding it all. It is this knowledge that gave Calvin’s work its strength...There was in the life and ministry of John Calvin a grand God-centeredness, Bible-allegiance, and iron constancy. Under the banner of God’s mercy to miserable sinners, we would do well to listen and learn."
Implications:
• Oh that I would appreciate and be enthralled by God Himself
• We will stop arguing with the word of God, stop treating it as secondary to good works, and reverence it as God Himself because it is from God Himself
God is absolutely sovereign over everything, including salvation
• No one can understand the scripture and be saved unless the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to see, understand, and believe
• No one can be saved without the Spirit of God using the word of God
• Our primary focus must be to glorify God, even above evangelism or holiness - any other action will flow from true salvation, and if it does not, then it is dead works
• Salvation is not about making a decision or changing our lifestyle or agreeing with certain doctrines but about an inward change by God using His word that produces all of these behaviors as a result
I found the book's short chapters to be packed with interesting reading and, embarrassingly for someone who has followed Christ for 45 years, enlightening about fundamental truths that are neglected or missing from today's "Bible-believing" churches. In particular, these key themes seem so foundational to what it means to be a Christian, yet they are short-changed or even contradicted in today's sometimes skewed emphasis on evangelism as the ultimate purpose of God in our lives:
1. An appreciation of God Himself - chapter 1: “Nothing mattered more to Calvin than the supremacy of God over all things...The absoluteness of God’s existence enthralls the mind: God’s never beginning, never ending, never becoming, never improving, simply and absolutely there—to be dealt with on his terms or not at all...one thing remains absolutely unassailed: God is. He was there before we came. He will be there after we are gone. And therefore what matters in life above all things is this God.”
2. Commitment to the glory of God above all else (even salvation for sinners) - chapter 2: “God rests lightly on the church in our time, and John Calvin saw the same thing in his own day...even precious truth about eternal life can be so skewed as to displace God as the center and goal...the great guardian of biblical orthodoxy throughout the centuries is a passion for the glory and the excellency of God in Christ. Where the center shifts from God, everything begins to shift everywhere—a fact which does not bode well for doctrinal faithfulness in our own non-God-centered day.”
3. A passion and reverence for the word of God used by the Holy Spirit as the means of salvation - chapters 3 & 7: “So two things came together for Calvin to give him a “saving knowledge of God”: Scripture and the “inward persuasion of the Holy Spirit.” Neither alone suffices to save...What does the Spirit do? The answer is not that the Spirit gives us added revelation to what is in Scripture, but that he awakens us, as from the dead, to see and taste the divine reality of God in Scripture, which authenticates it as God’s own Word...God witnesses to us of his reality and the reality of his Son and his Word by giving us life from the dead so that we come alive. His witness is the gift of spiritual life. His witness is that we come alive to his majesty and see him for who he is in his Word. In that instant, we do not reason from premises to conclusions—we see that we are awake, and there is not even a prior human judgment about it to lean on...The Scriptures were absolutely central because they were absolutely the Word of God and had as their self-authenticating theme the majesty and glory of God...God’s Word is mainly about the majesty of God and the glory of God. That is the main issue in ministry.”
4. The harsh, difficult, and barbaric era in which he lived - Appendix: “The Europe that John Calvin was born into on July 10, 1509, was a harsh and immoral and even barbaric place to live...and had a contaminating effect on everyone, just as we are all contaminated today by the evils of our time. Their blind spots and evils may be different from ours. And it may be that the very things they saw clearly are the things we are blind to. It would be foolhardy to say that we would have never done what they did under their circumstances, and thus draw the conclusion that they have nothing to teach us. In fact, what we probably need to say is that some of our evils are such that we are blind to them, just as they were blind to many of theirs, and the virtues they manifested in those times are the very ones that we probably need in ours.”
I read the book in a single sitting on an airplane flight. The overall theme of the book is captured well in short excerpts from the Forward and the Appendix: “Calvin was a man possessed by the Holy Spirit...he understood that to know God is to step into another world, to be born again into a relationship with the One who made and governs all things, and who had called a people, who did not deserve it, to rule that creation at his side...Fundamental to [his] theology was the Word of God...Everything hung together because there was only one God and one eternal mind at work, undergirding it all. It is this knowledge that gave Calvin’s work its strength...There was in the life and ministry of John Calvin a grand God-centeredness, Bible-allegiance, and iron constancy. Under the banner of God’s mercy to miserable sinners, we would do well to listen and learn."
Implications:
• Oh that I would appreciate and be enthralled by God Himself
• We will stop arguing with the word of God, stop treating it as secondary to good works, and reverence it as God Himself because it is from God Himself
God is absolutely sovereign over everything, including salvation
• No one can understand the scripture and be saved unless the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to see, understand, and believe
• No one can be saved without the Spirit of God using the word of God
• Our primary focus must be to glorify God, even above evangelism or holiness - any other action will flow from true salvation, and if it does not, then it is dead works
• Salvation is not about making a decision or changing our lifestyle or agreeing with certain doctrines but about an inward change by God using His word that produces all of these behaviors as a result
January 29, 2023
I enjoyed this book while I knew most of the facts . It was a good reminder that man isn't who we follow but that was can look back at the faithful to learn. It's a reminder that judging certain actions from the past is easy from the future. However there are many blind spots in our own lives. John Calvin was a man who loved the Lord . And there is a lot his teachings have to offer us as Christians. Long as we keep in view he was also a sinful imperfect person just like the rest of us. I always enjoy how understandable Johns Pipers books are.
April 10, 2025
Calvin seemed to have lived in a harsh environment and yet his passion for the Word of God was great and constant. He was in the Word and preaching the Word, for God’s majesty and glory to be shown and experienced- which seemed to be the very goal of his life.
Short read, and John Piper did warn us there were so little known about Calvin’s life hence not much to take away from, but cool to see what kind of pursuits he had before God.
Short read, and John Piper did warn us there were so little known about Calvin’s life hence not much to take away from, but cool to see what kind of pursuits he had before God.
August 23, 2025
This is a really short book, designed to give a brief overview of the life and beliefs of John Calvin, 16th century European Christian reformer. While I did feel like I understood more about Calvin through it, I thought the flow was a little disjointed, beginning with too much assumption of previous knowledge of the reader, and zigzagging between theological debate and patchy biographical material.
October 5, 2017
This is an engaging overview of Calvin's vigorous passion for the glory of Christ. It reveals his concern for the majesty of God by his commitment to rightly grasping the Word of God. A short and informative read meant to fire up our passion for God's majesty!
May 28, 2018
This book can be best described as a rudimentary introduction to the life and principles of John Calvin. With that in mind, it is good and useful as far as it goes. Hopefully, it will whet the appetite for further research of the greatest of the Reformers by readers of it.
February 20, 2019
Very short book on John Calvin. It was probably hard to choose what to all to put in.
Calvin was an impressive person who thoroughly studied the Bible and loved the Lord.
Calvin was an impressive person who thoroughly studied the Bible and loved the Lord.
March 12, 2019
Great summary of John Calvin's life.
October 22, 2019
Not great but not bad either.
September 10, 2020
I appreciated the insights into the life of John Calvin provided by this short volume. It whetted my appetite for more biographical background into the life of this beloved theologian.
April 22, 2021
Hitting the highlights of Calvin's life, giving an excellent and encouraging sketch of this dear man's life
April 26, 2021
A very brief view into the life of John Calvin.
May 23, 2021
Good quick introduction to Calvin. Maybe best if your looking for a short bio/history before working on some of Calvin’s writings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews