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John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion": A Biography
John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion" is a defining book of the Reformation and a pillar of Protestant theology. First published in Latin in 1536 and in Calvin's native French in 1541, the "Institutes" argues for the majesty of God and for justification by faith alone. The book decisively shaped Calvinism as a major religious and intellectual force in Europe and throughout the world. Here, Bruce Gordon provides an essential biography of Calvin's influential and enduring theological masterpiece, tracing the diverse ways it has been read and interpreted from Calvin's time to today.
Gordon explores the origins and character of the "Institutes," looking closely at its theological and historical roots, and explaining how it evolved through numerous editions to become a complete summary of Reformation doctrine. He shows how the development of the book reflected the evolving thought of Calvin, who instilled in the work a restlessness that reflected his understanding of the Christian life as a journey to God. Following Calvin's death in 1564, the "Institutes" continued to be reprinted, reedited, and reworked through the centuries. Gordon describes how it has been used in radically different ways, such as in South Africa, where it was invoked both to defend and attack the horror of apartheid. He examines its vexed relationship with the historical Calvin--a figure both revered and despised--and charts its robust and contentious reception history, taking readers from the Puritans and Voltaire to YouTube, the novels of Marilynne Robinson, and to China and Africa, where the "Institutes" continues to find new audiences today.
Gordon explores the origins and character of the "Institutes," looking closely at its theological and historical roots, and explaining how it evolved through numerous editions to become a complete summary of Reformation doctrine. He shows how the development of the book reflected the evolving thought of Calvin, who instilled in the work a restlessness that reflected his understanding of the Christian life as a journey to God. Following Calvin's death in 1564, the "Institutes" continued to be reprinted, reedited, and reworked through the centuries. Gordon describes how it has been used in radically different ways, such as in South Africa, where it was invoked both to defend and attack the horror of apartheid. He examines its vexed relationship with the historical Calvin--a figure both revered and despised--and charts its robust and contentious reception history, taking readers from the Puritans and Voltaire to YouTube, the novels of Marilynne Robinson, and to China and Africa, where the "Institutes" continues to find new audiences today.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2016
8 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Gordon
146 books28 followersTitus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History
http://divinity.yale.edu/gordon
bruce.gordon@yale.edu
Denomination: Presbyterian
A native of Canada, Bruce Gordon taught from 1994 to 2008 at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, where he was professor of modern history and deputy director of the St Andrews Reformation Studies Institute. His research focuses on European religious cultures of the late-medieval and early modern periods, with a particular interest in the Reformation in German-speaking lands. He is the author of Calvin (Yale University Press, 2009), a biography that seeks to put the life of the influential reformer in the context of the sixteenth-century world. It is a study of Calvin’s character, his extensive network of personal contacts and of the complexities of church reform and theological exchange in the Reformation. The Swiss Reformation (Manchester University Press, 2002) (an “Outstanding Publication” for 2003 by Choice Magazine) studies the emergence of the Reformation n the multi-lingual world of the Swiss Confederation and its influence across Europe in the sixteenth century. His book Clerical Reformation and the Rural Reformation (1992) examined the creation of the first Protestant ministry, which took place in the Swiss city of Zurich and its numerous country parishes. In addition, he has edited books on the development of Protestant historical writing, the relationships between the dead and the living in late-medieval and early modern society, the Swiss reformer Heinrich Bullinger, and, most recently, on biblical culture in the sixteenth century. He was the principal investigator of a major grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom on Protestant Latin Bibles of the Sixteenth Century. The project explores the new translations of the Old and New Testaments by Protestant scholars into Latin during the Reformation and the questions posed by these extraordinary works for our understanding of translation, authority, material culture, confessional identity and theological formulation. The monograph is currently being completed. He has started work for Princeton University Press on a study of the reception of Calvin’s Institutes from the Reformation to the modern world. His teaching includes a lecture course on Western Christianity from the early church to the scientific revolution, and seminars on the culture of death, sources and methods of religious history, the Reformation, Calvinism, and the Reformed tradition from Zwingli to postmodernism. He teaches in the Department of History and in Renaissance Studies and works with graduate students on a wide range of topics in early modern religious history. He is on the board of various publishing series: St Andrews Studies in Reformation History (Ashgate), Zürcher Beiträge zur Reformationsgeschichte (Theologischer Verlag Zürich), and Refo500 Academic Studies (Vandenhoeck &Ruprecht). He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and in 2012 received an honorary doctorate from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. (Presbyterian)
Read a feature article about Professor Gordon.
Education
B.A. (Hons) King’s College
M.A. Dalhousie University
Ph.D University of St. Andrews
Books
1. Shaping the Bible in the Reformation. Books, Scholars and Their Readers in the Sixteenth Century, ed with Matthew McLean (Brill, 2012).
2. Calvin. 1509‐1564 (Yale University Press, 2009)
3. Architect of Reformation. An Introduction to Heinrich Bullinger, 1504‐1575, co-ed. (Baker Academic, 2004)
4. Translation and Edition of Hans R. Guggisberg, Sebastian Castellio. Defender of Religious Toleration (Ashgate Press, 2003)
5. The Swiss Reformation (Manchester University Press, 2002)
6. The Place of the Dead in Late Mediaeval and Early Modern Europe, ed. with Peter Marshall (Cambridge University Press, 2000)
7. Protestant History and Identity in Sixteenth‐Century Europe, 2 vols., ed. (Scolar Press,
http://divinity.yale.edu/gordon
bruce.gordon@yale.edu
Denomination: Presbyterian
A native of Canada, Bruce Gordon taught from 1994 to 2008 at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, where he was professor of modern history and deputy director of the St Andrews Reformation Studies Institute. His research focuses on European religious cultures of the late-medieval and early modern periods, with a particular interest in the Reformation in German-speaking lands. He is the author of Calvin (Yale University Press, 2009), a biography that seeks to put the life of the influential reformer in the context of the sixteenth-century world. It is a study of Calvin’s character, his extensive network of personal contacts and of the complexities of church reform and theological exchange in the Reformation. The Swiss Reformation (Manchester University Press, 2002) (an “Outstanding Publication” for 2003 by Choice Magazine) studies the emergence of the Reformation n the multi-lingual world of the Swiss Confederation and its influence across Europe in the sixteenth century. His book Clerical Reformation and the Rural Reformation (1992) examined the creation of the first Protestant ministry, which took place in the Swiss city of Zurich and its numerous country parishes. In addition, he has edited books on the development of Protestant historical writing, the relationships between the dead and the living in late-medieval and early modern society, the Swiss reformer Heinrich Bullinger, and, most recently, on biblical culture in the sixteenth century. He was the principal investigator of a major grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom on Protestant Latin Bibles of the Sixteenth Century. The project explores the new translations of the Old and New Testaments by Protestant scholars into Latin during the Reformation and the questions posed by these extraordinary works for our understanding of translation, authority, material culture, confessional identity and theological formulation. The monograph is currently being completed. He has started work for Princeton University Press on a study of the reception of Calvin’s Institutes from the Reformation to the modern world. His teaching includes a lecture course on Western Christianity from the early church to the scientific revolution, and seminars on the culture of death, sources and methods of religious history, the Reformation, Calvinism, and the Reformed tradition from Zwingli to postmodernism. He teaches in the Department of History and in Renaissance Studies and works with graduate students on a wide range of topics in early modern religious history. He is on the board of various publishing series: St Andrews Studies in Reformation History (Ashgate), Zürcher Beiträge zur Reformationsgeschichte (Theologischer Verlag Zürich), and Refo500 Academic Studies (Vandenhoeck &Ruprecht). He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and in 2012 received an honorary doctorate from the University of Zurich, Switzerland. (Presbyterian)
Read a feature article about Professor Gordon.
Education
B.A. (Hons) King’s College
M.A. Dalhousie University
Ph.D University of St. Andrews
Books
1. Shaping the Bible in the Reformation. Books, Scholars and Their Readers in the Sixteenth Century, ed with Matthew McLean (Brill, 2012).
2. Calvin. 1509‐1564 (Yale University Press, 2009)
3. Architect of Reformation. An Introduction to Heinrich Bullinger, 1504‐1575, co-ed. (Baker Academic, 2004)
4. Translation and Edition of Hans R. Guggisberg, Sebastian Castellio. Defender of Religious Toleration (Ashgate Press, 2003)
5. The Swiss Reformation (Manchester University Press, 2002)
6. The Place of the Dead in Late Mediaeval and Early Modern Europe, ed. with Peter Marshall (Cambridge University Press, 2000)
7. Protestant History and Identity in Sixteenth‐Century Europe, 2 vols., ed. (Scolar Press,
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 17, 2024
A very good intellectual history of the influences of Calvin’s Institutes.
November 15, 2017
I enjoyed Gordon's biography on the Institutes more than I enjoyed his biography on Calvin himself. Both books are clearly well researched, but I found his biography on Calvin thorough but uninspiring especially when compared to the joy of reading Calvin himself.
He kept me much more interested in this book, but each chapter left me wanting more. I suppose that's a good thing (better to be left desiring more than to be glad the chapter is over!) but in this case it had more to do with the fact that I felt I was lacking important information. I assume this has more to do with my own limits since I am not a historian. More informed and perceptive readers were probably much more in tune with Gordon's claims and conclusions. Partly as a result I felt I was unable to judge the validity of Gordon's claims. However, I suppose that if Gordon provided grater context and more detail I might have found it boring.
I'm glad I read the book, but I wish I was smarter and better read so as to enjoy it more fully!
He kept me much more interested in this book, but each chapter left me wanting more. I suppose that's a good thing (better to be left desiring more than to be glad the chapter is over!) but in this case it had more to do with the fact that I felt I was lacking important information. I assume this has more to do with my own limits since I am not a historian. More informed and perceptive readers were probably much more in tune with Gordon's claims and conclusions. Partly as a result I felt I was unable to judge the validity of Gordon's claims. However, I suppose that if Gordon provided grater context and more detail I might have found it boring.
I'm glad I read the book, but I wish I was smarter and better read so as to enjoy it more fully!
January 5, 2026
A nice workman-like volume on the Institutes and its reception. Truthfully, I found this volume more engaging than Gordon’s biography of Calvin. It also offers a good call to take up and read the book itself—something that, as Gordon describes, has sometimes been overlooked by those appealing to a nebulously defined “Calvin.” Will 2026 be the year for me to make my way through the tome? 🤷🏻♂️
June 9, 2017
Really great book, thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 13, 2018
Bruce Gordon authored a much celebrated biography of Calvin published in 2009, the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birth, which made him a natural choice to contribute the volume of Calvin’s Institutes in the Lives of Great Religious Books series published by Princeton Press. Let’s start with the fact that the books in the series are beautifully produced and that the idea of writing books about the lives of great books is a brilliant one. These books are written and produced for booklovers, and that makes this booklover happy.
Gordon’s contribution to this series is a fine one. Though no one could exhaust the impact the of the Institutes, he is to be credited for traversing not only the debate between Barth and Brunner or the reception of the Institutes in Dutch Calvinism, but also its complicated history in South Africa and China as well as its popularity among young Calvinists in North America thanks to the influence of men like John Piper and Tim Keller. His interests are nothing if not wide-ranging.
Gordon does not appear to be as sympathetic toward Calvin as I anticipated. He comes across as more sympathetic toward those who see Calvin and therefore his work as problematic. He mentions double predestination and Michael Servetus so often that the reader begins to feel that those are not only the most common objections raised against Calvin and his work but that they also loom large for the writer (though the appendix on Calvin and Servetus paints Calvin in a more sympathetic light than the rest of the book).
On the whole, this is an interesting read and a worthy contribution to an excellent series. This reader wishes, however, that the writer was more sympathetic toward the author of his subject.
Gordon’s contribution to this series is a fine one. Though no one could exhaust the impact the of the Institutes, he is to be credited for traversing not only the debate between Barth and Brunner or the reception of the Institutes in Dutch Calvinism, but also its complicated history in South Africa and China as well as its popularity among young Calvinists in North America thanks to the influence of men like John Piper and Tim Keller. His interests are nothing if not wide-ranging.
Gordon does not appear to be as sympathetic toward Calvin as I anticipated. He comes across as more sympathetic toward those who see Calvin and therefore his work as problematic. He mentions double predestination and Michael Servetus so often that the reader begins to feel that those are not only the most common objections raised against Calvin and his work but that they also loom large for the writer (though the appendix on Calvin and Servetus paints Calvin in a more sympathetic light than the rest of the book).
On the whole, this is an interesting read and a worthy contribution to an excellent series. This reader wishes, however, that the writer was more sympathetic toward the author of his subject.
June 22, 2019
One of the more enjoyable books I've read in some time. Gordon's prose is engaging and his handle of Calvin and his legacy is learned. I recommend this book to anyone who has the slightest interest in theology, history, Calvin, Christianity, or the West for that matter.
To offer a bit of critique: Gordon's (along with others' for that matter) of various terms such as, "Reformed," "evangelical," "Calvinism," "liberal" etc., are unclear at times and makes it difficult for the reader to know exactly who the party in question is (a title, or a system of thought). Further, and this is owing to the scope and genre of the book, Gordon never offer his take on Calvin aright. One can make guesses here and there by reading between the lines, but alas it remains a mystery.
To offer a bit of critique: Gordon's (along with others' for that matter) of various terms such as, "Reformed," "evangelical," "Calvinism," "liberal" etc., are unclear at times and makes it difficult for the reader to know exactly who the party in question is (a title, or a system of thought). Further, and this is owing to the scope and genre of the book, Gordon never offer his take on Calvin aright. One can make guesses here and there by reading between the lines, but alas it remains a mystery.
October 19, 2017
For fans of Calvin, this is a wonderful book. For those who vilify him, it is still a good book. Bruce Gordon's prose is a delight and his sweep of history is broad and deep. I thought Gordon over did it mentioning the Servetus case -- but it is a black mark on Calvin's record and character. Check out the index and Servetus has one of the longest listing of references. Nevertheless, I particularly appreciated the chapter on Allan Boesak and apartheid. And the references to 20th century literary figures such as John Updike who understood Reformed theology and Marilynn Robinson who has adopted Calvin's metaphysical outlook.
March 14, 2019
This book is more about the reception of the Institutes than about it's contents. My favorite chapters include those on the Institutes among Barth and Brunner, and their reception and use among South African churches to combat apartheid.
June 16, 2023
Fascinating in places, rather dry in others. Overall, a solid work of scholarship showing both Calvin's intentions with his Institutes and how the book has been used and regarded in various times and places since it came into its final form in 1559.
November 20, 2020
A must for those who wants to understand the historical context of the Institutes.
November 8, 2022
Should be given to everyone who signs a contract to write one of these biographies of religious books. *This* is how you do it. Great stuff.
July 29, 2017
Exactly what it claims to be: a brief biography of a book, tracing its origin, life, and influence through history right down to the present with John Updike and Marilynne Robinson. Unfortunately what I was looking for was explanation of Calvin's thought, but this was not the place. The author, though (along with Robinson) has made me want to take a shot at reading Calvin himself.
August 16, 2023
Reformation historian and Calvin biographer Bruce Gordon writes the “biography” of Calvin’s Institutes. He documents the history of the writing of the book and its continued legacy from its contemporary reception to its interpretation in the modern era. The historical theme I found from this book is that Calvin (and his Institutes) is a wax nose. Depending on the era it is received, everyone shapes Calvin into their Calvin and claims legitimate interpretation. This ranges from figures such as Schleiermacher to Barth, seminaries such as the Hegelian Mercersburg Seminary (Nevin and Schaff) to Princeton Seminary (Hodge & Warfield), and political movements of opposite goals like the pro-apartheid theologians and anti-apartheid theologians of South Africa.
Writing the book:
“Calvin didn’t create the book ex nihilo”..Several books served as models for the Institutes: Lactantius’ Institutes, Melanchthon's Loci Communes, & Lombard’s Sentences (Page 19)
Themes of the Institutes:
The Institutes is a book of Knowledge: knowledge of God, Christ, and self. (36)
Twofold Knowledge-- Calvin: “Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” (38)
Predestination: “the doctrine of predestination simply flowed from Romans, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and Luther; he (Calvin) never saw himself saying anything new.” (42)
Enlightenment response:
Similarity between Calvin & Kant--Both spoke of knowledge, in different ways, in order to save religion. They sought truth by dispelling false speculation and error. “For Kant, religious belief could be called knowledge, because it is true only subjectively…Religious belief is not false, but should be understood as falling between knowledge and opinion.” (71)
State of Geneva during the Enlightenment--Catholic visitor to Geneva in 1728: “Of the thirty-three theology students bound for the ministry, I met only five or six who were true Calvinists. The others were Socinian, Arminian, or Pelagian and I could name a few who thumbed their nose at everything religious.” (73)
The Curious Case of Jacobus Capitein (1717-1747): a slave from Ghana who was brought to the Netherlands, educated at the University of Leiden, and returned home as a missionary.
His dissertation defended the idea that Christian liberty and slavery were not at odds with one another. Calvin’s treatment of slavery and his opinions on Scripture were the “final authority for Capitein” (74-77)
19th century Reception:
There was a revival in the thought and popularity of Calvin in the 19th Century, primarily led by Friedrich Schleiermacher (92)
South African reception:
Calvin (& Kuyper’s interpretation) became an underlying foundation for South African apartheid.
Meanwhile Barth, Naude, & Niesel’s reading supported equal rights and the anti-apartheid movement.
Calvin “was not a defender of the status quo…he was a champion of the refugees and the weak and poor” (173)
4/5 Very interesting and insightful book
Writing the book:
“Calvin didn’t create the book ex nihilo”..Several books served as models for the Institutes: Lactantius’ Institutes, Melanchthon's Loci Communes, & Lombard’s Sentences (Page 19)
Themes of the Institutes:
The Institutes is a book of Knowledge: knowledge of God, Christ, and self. (36)
Twofold Knowledge-- Calvin: “Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” (38)
Predestination: “the doctrine of predestination simply flowed from Romans, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and Luther; he (Calvin) never saw himself saying anything new.” (42)
Enlightenment response:
Similarity between Calvin & Kant--Both spoke of knowledge, in different ways, in order to save religion. They sought truth by dispelling false speculation and error. “For Kant, religious belief could be called knowledge, because it is true only subjectively…Religious belief is not false, but should be understood as falling between knowledge and opinion.” (71)
State of Geneva during the Enlightenment--Catholic visitor to Geneva in 1728: “Of the thirty-three theology students bound for the ministry, I met only five or six who were true Calvinists. The others were Socinian, Arminian, or Pelagian and I could name a few who thumbed their nose at everything religious.” (73)
The Curious Case of Jacobus Capitein (1717-1747): a slave from Ghana who was brought to the Netherlands, educated at the University of Leiden, and returned home as a missionary.
His dissertation defended the idea that Christian liberty and slavery were not at odds with one another. Calvin’s treatment of slavery and his opinions on Scripture were the “final authority for Capitein” (74-77)
19th century Reception:
There was a revival in the thought and popularity of Calvin in the 19th Century, primarily led by Friedrich Schleiermacher (92)
South African reception:
Calvin (& Kuyper’s interpretation) became an underlying foundation for South African apartheid.
Meanwhile Barth, Naude, & Niesel’s reading supported equal rights and the anti-apartheid movement.
Calvin “was not a defender of the status quo…he was a champion of the refugees and the weak and poor” (173)
4/5 Very interesting and insightful book
November 23, 2016
A top notch work on the influence of Calvin's Institutes. Gordon chronicles the development of the Institutes to the 1559 edition. He then takes us on a tour of various regions of the globe where the Institutes have had no small influence. He references theologians as diverse as Barth, Brunner, Piper and Keller.
I was particularly struck by his chapters on South Africa and China.
This is a must read for those who follow Calvin.
I was particularly struck by his chapters on South Africa and China.
This is a must read for those who follow Calvin.
May 24, 2016
3 1/2. This book really takes off toward the end when Gordon talks about Calvin in the context of African apartheid.
April 5, 2017
A bit on the hagiographic (is that a word? Probably not) side when it comes to Calvin himself. I was not surprised to look up the author and find that he had written a biography of John Calvin which was highly acclaimed in modern Calvinist circles. This offering was not a biography of John Calvin- rather it was a history of the influence of his most famous book, The Institutes of the Christian Religion.
The history of the Institutes is really fascinating. The book didn't dwell over-long on the actual writing of the various editions which was a pleasant surprise. The discussion of John Calvin's ideological reception in 19th Century South Africa alone is worth the first half of the book and I was humbled to realize how little I knew about the background of one of my favorite (dead) theological writers, Andrew Murray. The chapter about modern readings is interesting, but I'm biased because he spends a considerable number of words on one of my favorite authors, Marilynne Robinson, who should (IMHO) be much more avidly read in the aforementioned reformed circles than she is. Sadly the young, restless, and reformed types are much too serious to read fiction. Alas!
This book is for serious readers. It assumes a very wide swath of background knowledge not only about the reformation and the politico/social structures of the 16th century, but also about general European (and African) history. I was OK on the European stuff but I'm not ashamed to confess that I had wikipedia open for the African chapter. Having read the Institutes in it's entirety is not essential to enjoy the book but certainly helps. This would not be a good first entry into the world of John Calvin but if you've done some wading in those waters this is a great read.
The history of the Institutes is really fascinating. The book didn't dwell over-long on the actual writing of the various editions which was a pleasant surprise. The discussion of John Calvin's ideological reception in 19th Century South Africa alone is worth the first half of the book and I was humbled to realize how little I knew about the background of one of my favorite (dead) theological writers, Andrew Murray. The chapter about modern readings is interesting, but I'm biased because he spends a considerable number of words on one of my favorite authors, Marilynne Robinson, who should (IMHO) be much more avidly read in the aforementioned reformed circles than she is. Sadly the young, restless, and reformed types are much too serious to read fiction. Alas!
This book is for serious readers. It assumes a very wide swath of background knowledge not only about the reformation and the politico/social structures of the 16th century, but also about general European (and African) history. I was OK on the European stuff but I'm not ashamed to confess that I had wikipedia open for the African chapter. Having read the Institutes in it's entirety is not essential to enjoy the book but certainly helps. This would not be a good first entry into the world of John Calvin but if you've done some wading in those waters this is a great read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews