John Calvin’s Illustrated Institutes, Book 1: Knowing God and Knowing Ourselves: Chapters 1–5

by Martin Patrick Williams

Genres: Comics, Nonfiction, Theology, Religion

80 pages, Paperback

Published June 4, 2025

Reviews

[Alex McEwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful pick from the PCPC bookstore.

“John Calvin’s Illustrated Institutes” by Martin Patrick Williams is a delightful way to introduce kids (and beginners of any age!!) to the deep theology of Calvin. Williams takes the big, sometimes intimidating ideas of Calvin and puts the cookies on the bottom shelf, making them accessible without ever watering them down.

The comic format is playful and engaging, but the content is serious and faithful. It invites readers to wrestle with the glory of God, human sinfulness, and the joy of resting in Christ in a way that feels tangible and alive. The illustrations and storytelling give theology a face and a heartbeat, showing that even complex doctrines can be encountered with curiosity and wonder.

I’ve been reading a lot about early theological formation, and I’m beginning to realize that Presbyterianism doesn’t have to be dusty or dry. It can be a tangible union with a living God. It can be the thunder of an organ in a grand cathedral. Or a silly little comic about John Calvin and an orange cat with a penchant for catechisms.

This little comic equips young hearts to see God’s majesty. And wait there’s more! Adults can benefit from it too. For parents, youth leaders, or anyone who wants to make Calvin approachable, this book is a gem.

May it spark curiosity, wonder, and worship in readers of all ages. And may a day come when Lochlan delights in the majesty of the high things of God. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and come specifically to the young hearts and minds of covenant children.

[Daniel Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Calvin, the immensely influential Christian Reformer, first published The Institutes of the Christian Religion—a summary of Protestant beliefs—in the 1530s. He would expand it over time, publishing four more editions (the last came in 1559). Now cherished as one of the classic works of Christian faith, today's review is of a graphic novel adaptation for children, covering chapters 1-5 of Book 1 of the Institutes.

Here, Calvin covers:
- True Wisdom
- Knowing God
- The Seed of Religion
- The Corrupted Seed
- Creation and Providence

I have yet to read Institutes, but this version is excellent. I know it covers only five chapters of the work, but it presents the material with clarity and power.

[Dillon Bullard]

Excellently done, illustrations are amazing and take you on a very colorful journey through the beginning of Calvin's Institute's.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant idea! Loved the first book in this new series on Calvin’s Institutes!

[Emily Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’ll read Calvin’s Institutes... when they make a comic book version." 🤨💥

Well, guess what? They did.

Mention "The Institutes" and most people imagine a heavy, 1,500-page mountain of 16th-century logic. The stereotype is that it’s dry, intimidating, and strictly for people with several PhDs.

But Martin and Joy Williams have officially broken the mold. 🎨📖

The Synopsis
In John Calvin’s Illustrated Institutes (published by P&R Publishing), the Reformation’s most famous work gets a high-energy graphic novel makeover. The story follows two kids, Theo and Geneva, as they travel through time with "Teacher Calvin." Together, they explore the "Knowledge of God the Creator" through vibrant adventures and clever visual analogies.

Why It’s a Game-Changer
What makes this more than just a "kids' book" is how brilliantly it’s organized for actual learning:
• The Adventure: Paul Cox’s illustrations turn dense theology into a cinematic journey.
• Chapter Summaries: Every chapter wraps up with a clear, concise recap of the core doctrine.
• Discussion Questions: It includes thoughtful questions at the end of each section, making it perfect for family devotions or classroom use.
• The Bridge to the Original: Best of all, it includes direct references to the original Institutes, so you can easily look up the full text to see exactly where the ideas came from.

Whether you have a kid who’s visual learner, or just wants to better understand the Reformation without the "theology headache," this is the perfect entry point.

[Dogeared Wanderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic novels are a great way to get both kids and adults to read, and what a great way to introduce the fundamentals of theology! This is a GREAT book that covers Chapters 1-5 of Calvin's Institutes (with more coming in the series, I hope!):
🐾Knowing God and Knowing Ourselves
🐾Knowing God and True Piety
🐾The Seed of Religion in Every Heart
🐾The Corrupted Seed of Religion
🐾Knowing God Through Creation & Providence

💙 Each section ends with a chapter summary and discussion questions for those who want to use this as a discipleship tool.

🐕Personal opinion: The graphics are well-done and creative. The text is engaging and leads well into each page without being too wordy. And it answers hard questions that young people often ask!

[Noah Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful representation of Calvin’s Institutes. Martin and Joy Williams are faithful in their abridgment and interpretation of Calvin’s thought for modern readers. And Paul Cox’s illustrations bring the whole thing to life. This work is successful on two fronts: first, it is informative and devotional in its own right, making it a joy to read; second, it drives the reader back to the primary source, creating a desire to dig into the Institutes for oneself. Can’t wait for the next installments!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! I’m really looking forward to the rest of this series. I heard through the grapevine that a total of 16 volumes are planned, aiming for 2 a year, until the entirety of the Institutes is covered.

I thought the illustrations were fun and supported the text, and the ideas presented were accessible and understandable. This is not light theology but it’s presented effectively for older children or younger teens.

[Allie Fullerton (thelightfilledreader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully clear, convicting, and hopeful theology written in a way that engages kids (and adults). All who read will be entertained, but more importantly have so much more insight into rich, theological truths and the glory of God.
Highly recommend for families, but also anyone who wants to learn more theology but hasn't yet because they find it intimidating.
So excited for more!

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great idea! Having read the Institutes, I can submit that they are both complex and wonderful. This book is a summary of the most important parts and a most enjoyable way to read them! Highly recommended.

[Stephen Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best renditions of one of the biggest impact books, great for adults and teenagers alike at explaining very large concepts, looking forward to the rest in this series but this is a fantastic start

[Keller (Author Charles Hack) Hackbusch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so cool. I loved it. Calvin's Institutes is a spectacular book and some how Reftoons managed to grasp some of the weight and seriousness and pastoral woship quality while also being so much fun. Can't wait to read #2. Highly Recommended.

[Jason Whitaker]

An excellent summary of a great book.

[Simon Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animated Calvin- expertly done. Very much looking forward to the rest of this series

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written very quick read good explanation

[Gailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

God Bless RefToons. The Reformed can be creative too, believe it or not!

[Travis Daggett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful introduction to Calvin’s works (Institutes) for children and adults alike. I may be biased as my brother-in-law, Paul Cox (RefToons) beautifully illustrated this project, but this graphic novel is much needed. Wonderful, Biblical truths emblazoned on every page. The story is super fun and yet challenging. There are excellent chapter summaries and deeply meaningful questions of reflection causing children and adults to engage with the truths they just read. Would work well for family worship. There will be many more books to come.