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Sermons on Titus
Calvin's expository sermons to the great congregation of St Peter's, Geneva, taken down in shorthand and then published across Europe, were among the most sought-after volumes of the sixteenth century.
For the first time in more than 450 years, Calvin's Sermons on Titus have been translated afresh into English. These sermons are not merely an updating of the language of Laurence Thomson's 1579 English translation (which, along with Calvin's Sermons on 1 and 2 Timothy, was previously reprinted in facsimile by the Trust in 1983). Robert White's new translation goes back to Calvin's original French, and the result is a fine modern English translation that will make the reader feel something of the excitement of those Elizabethan Christians who so prized their own contemporary English version of Calvin's sermons on this pastoral epistle.
For the first time in more than 450 years, Calvin's Sermons on Titus have been translated afresh into English. These sermons are not merely an updating of the language of Laurence Thomson's 1579 English translation (which, along with Calvin's Sermons on 1 and 2 Timothy, was previously reprinted in facsimile by the Trust in 1983). Robert White's new translation goes back to Calvin's original French, and the result is a fine modern English translation that will make the reader feel something of the excitement of those Elizabethan Christians who so prized their own contemporary English version of Calvin's sermons on this pastoral epistle.
- GenresTheology
312 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1574
17 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
John Calvin
1,708 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 2, 2019
Calvino não foi apenas o exegeta da Reforma, mas um dos grandes pregadores daquele período. Que sermões!
August 5, 2025
Calvin's Sermons on Titus are rich in doctrinal exposition and application for Christian living. Pastors, too, will benefit from reading these sermons not only because they model good preaching but also because they are full of instructions for pastors in how to shepherd the sheep.
April 6, 2018
Banner of Truth is the home of many of John Calvin’s writings. This gorgeous volume includes a fresh translation from the French by Robert White of all of Calvin’s sermons on Titus. We have a perfect blending of outstanding sermons and sterling translation between the covers of this expertly produced book. I’m convinced that if you started reading this volume to someone they would easily believe it was from our day. To say that this book is up-to-date would not be trite in this case.
There’s a short introduction by Mr. White. He puts the Book of Titus in context in a few beautiful paragraphs. The balance of the introduction explains where the sermons fall in Calvin’s life. Don’t miss it. There’s also Calvin’s outline of Paul’s letter to Titus that gets us going. What follows is 17 wonderful sermons that cover the entire Book of Titus. Mr. White adds titles, uses modern punctuation, and has done a service to us all.
Some of the sermons about leadership in the church are a great challenge to preachers. Families will also find blessing in the sermons where Titus touches upon the family. Though it’s quite out of date in our day, Calvin is not afraid to expound God’s wisdom for the traditional home. Still, there’s plenty of balance to keep those in authority in check. No matter where you fall on the theological spectrum, you will admire and respect this book of sermons for its faithfulness to the text.
At the end of the book there’s a pleasant edition of the prayers prayed before and after these sermons. It’s a prayer for illumination as well as one of intercession. There’s both an index of Scripture references and one of subjects to conclude this book.
This book will be a blessing in your studies of the Book of Titus. The icing on the cake is that it’s a beautiful edition that will look graceful on your shelves for decades to come. Since this volume was released, Banner has also published the companion volume on 1 Timothy. Now we only await 2 Timothy in the treasure of Calvin’s sermons on the pastoral epistles for its completion. This book succeeds on every possible level and I highly recommend it!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
There’s a short introduction by Mr. White. He puts the Book of Titus in context in a few beautiful paragraphs. The balance of the introduction explains where the sermons fall in Calvin’s life. Don’t miss it. There’s also Calvin’s outline of Paul’s letter to Titus that gets us going. What follows is 17 wonderful sermons that cover the entire Book of Titus. Mr. White adds titles, uses modern punctuation, and has done a service to us all.
Some of the sermons about leadership in the church are a great challenge to preachers. Families will also find blessing in the sermons where Titus touches upon the family. Though it’s quite out of date in our day, Calvin is not afraid to expound God’s wisdom for the traditional home. Still, there’s plenty of balance to keep those in authority in check. No matter where you fall on the theological spectrum, you will admire and respect this book of sermons for its faithfulness to the text.
At the end of the book there’s a pleasant edition of the prayers prayed before and after these sermons. It’s a prayer for illumination as well as one of intercession. There’s both an index of Scripture references and one of subjects to conclude this book.
This book will be a blessing in your studies of the Book of Titus. The icing on the cake is that it’s a beautiful edition that will look graceful on your shelves for decades to come. Since this volume was released, Banner has also published the companion volume on 1 Timothy. Now we only await 2 Timothy in the treasure of Calvin’s sermons on the pastoral epistles for its completion. This book succeeds on every possible level and I highly recommend it!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
September 8, 2023
Somehow, this was my first time reading John Calvin. I’d only read about him or read him quoted in other works. Just from these 17 sermons, a relatively small sample of his vast ministry, I now know him as a man bold in proclamation, tender in shepherding, and discerning in doctrine.
Calvin draws out of Titus a clear connection between the word of God and the work of pastoring. He is quick to rebuke the Roman Catholic Church in his day of speculative “teaching” and clever ideas void of the saving power of God’s word. Mustn’t those entrusted to care for God’s sheep give them what feeds them, the bread of heaven, the very word that saved them?
Also from Titus, Calvin highlights the importance of obedience in the lives of Christians. Good works, obedience—these grow over time as God’s Spirit washes us and builds us up and sustains us while we wait for Christ.
Most centrally, Calvin points to Christ as the all-sufficient source and head of our faith. Arguably the most beautiful and gospel-rich passage comes on page 24, in Calvin’s second sermon on Titus 1:1-4:
“Nothing could be clearer, for our Lord Jesus Christ has perfectly fulfilled all that was necessary for our salvation. Are we afraid, then, because we are sinners? We find righteousness in the Son of God. Does our ignorance distress us? He is given to all for wisdom. Are we captives and slaves to Satan? He is the one who ransoms us. Are we corrupt and defiled? He sanctifies us. Are we weak? He is God’s power to strengthen us. Do we see only filth in ourselves? He is the source of all purity. Have we nothing but death in us? He is life, and lord over death for he has vanquished it. The fathers waited for these things in hope; today they are given to us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reading these sermons dispelled my inherited image of Calvin as severe academic in his ivory tower. In this updated English translation from the original French, words like “pimp,” “punk,” “stubborn ass,” and street-level analogies from manual labor, house construction, and physical health all appear. This was a shepherd who smelled like sheep.
I’d recommend this volume for pastors and regular teachers who might need a wake up call, a defibrillator for their pastoral hearts. If you’re feeling worn down, the work seems to have no end in sight, and God seems absent in ministry—this sermon series is for you.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book: https://swfknecht.com/tag/calvin+titus/
Calvin draws out of Titus a clear connection between the word of God and the work of pastoring. He is quick to rebuke the Roman Catholic Church in his day of speculative “teaching” and clever ideas void of the saving power of God’s word. Mustn’t those entrusted to care for God’s sheep give them what feeds them, the bread of heaven, the very word that saved them?
Also from Titus, Calvin highlights the importance of obedience in the lives of Christians. Good works, obedience—these grow over time as God’s Spirit washes us and builds us up and sustains us while we wait for Christ.
Most centrally, Calvin points to Christ as the all-sufficient source and head of our faith. Arguably the most beautiful and gospel-rich passage comes on page 24, in Calvin’s second sermon on Titus 1:1-4:
“Nothing could be clearer, for our Lord Jesus Christ has perfectly fulfilled all that was necessary for our salvation. Are we afraid, then, because we are sinners? We find righteousness in the Son of God. Does our ignorance distress us? He is given to all for wisdom. Are we captives and slaves to Satan? He is the one who ransoms us. Are we corrupt and defiled? He sanctifies us. Are we weak? He is God’s power to strengthen us. Do we see only filth in ourselves? He is the source of all purity. Have we nothing but death in us? He is life, and lord over death for he has vanquished it. The fathers waited for these things in hope; today they are given to us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Reading these sermons dispelled my inherited image of Calvin as severe academic in his ivory tower. In this updated English translation from the original French, words like “pimp,” “punk,” “stubborn ass,” and street-level analogies from manual labor, house construction, and physical health all appear. This was a shepherd who smelled like sheep.
I’d recommend this volume for pastors and regular teachers who might need a wake up call, a defibrillator for their pastoral hearts. If you’re feeling worn down, the work seems to have no end in sight, and God seems absent in ministry—this sermon series is for you.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book: https://swfknecht.com/tag/calvin+titus/
December 16, 2024
Really good.
Calvin's sermons in Titus left me eager to be more self-controlled and to be bridled by God's Word. The pastoral prayers at the end of each sermon were excellent. Another fun part of this book was to hear Calvin's views on gender roles, polygamy, marriage, pastoral practice, and more.
I regularly asked myself throughout the book if I would preach that paragraph or sentence in the same way Calvin did-and why? or why not? I usually found that my answer was "Calvin's a punk" or "I have too much fear of man."
A weakness of Calvin's sermon's was his lack of exultation. He hyper focused on obedience (which is a big part of Titus) but even when he got to more God exalting texts, he seemed to lack the ability to exult. I did notice that his prayers made up for it, so maybe it's tied to his philosophy of preaching.
Calvin's sermons in Titus left me eager to be more self-controlled and to be bridled by God's Word. The pastoral prayers at the end of each sermon were excellent. Another fun part of this book was to hear Calvin's views on gender roles, polygamy, marriage, pastoral practice, and more.
I regularly asked myself throughout the book if I would preach that paragraph or sentence in the same way Calvin did-and why? or why not? I usually found that my answer was "Calvin's a punk" or "I have too much fear of man."
A weakness of Calvin's sermon's was his lack of exultation. He hyper focused on obedience (which is a big part of Titus) but even when he got to more God exalting texts, he seemed to lack the ability to exult. I did notice that his prayers made up for it, so maybe it's tied to his philosophy of preaching.
March 12, 2021
This was a very edifying book, thoroughly enjoyed his sermons on Christian character (Titus 2:1-13).
March 30, 2015
Calvin's sermons are really superb. This collection is from the Banner of Truth 1574 facsimile, which I retyped (for consistent spelling) and republished. These are much more accessible than the facsimile and still very easy to understand despite the outdated language. This was my project for the last few weeks, instead of reading :)
The sermons themselves are imminently applicable and excellent. Highly recommended.
The sermons themselves are imminently applicable and excellent. Highly recommended.
August 16, 2023
Anyone who has the impression that Calvin was cold and distant should read his sermons. There they will find the true Calvin who was a pastor above all and cared deeply that his flock know intimately the love of God for his people as revealed in Christ Jesus. For anyone interested in witnessing Calvin's passion for the gospel on full display, you may want to read his sermons on Titus.
There are insights into Calvin's theology that we see from his study of Titus; especially his understanding of ecclesiology and ordination. While Calvin is quick to apply most of the text to non-elders, one sees his high view of ordination in this Pauline epistle written to an elder in a hostile land. But the attentive reader will also find Calvin's thoughts on government, epistemology, and sacraments scattered throughout the sermons as well.
I see this being a central resource for the day I preach this text, and something equally useful for a layman's daily devotional through this short but insightful biblical text.
There are insights into Calvin's theology that we see from his study of Titus; especially his understanding of ecclesiology and ordination. While Calvin is quick to apply most of the text to non-elders, one sees his high view of ordination in this Pauline epistle written to an elder in a hostile land. But the attentive reader will also find Calvin's thoughts on government, epistemology, and sacraments scattered throughout the sermons as well.
I see this being a central resource for the day I preach this text, and something equally useful for a layman's daily devotional through this short but insightful biblical text.
November 27, 2024
I really enjoy Calvin's sermons. They give a lot of insight into how he instructed and shepherded the regular folks at Geneva. His preaching is rich with certain themes, but also tied closely to the text. In Titus he has many good insights for pastors and how they should shepherd the flock and avoid needless controversy. I am grateful for all the men working to translate his sermons. I read his sermons as devotional reading.
July 10, 2022
Classic Calvin with his usual brevity, precision, and pastoral heart: “The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both.” Read with an eye on the context of Reformation history.
June 2, 2014
Calvin's sermons are really superb. This collection is from the Banner of Truth 1574 facsimile, which I retyped (for consistent spelling) and republished. These are much more accessible than the facsimile and still very easy to understand despite the outdated language. This was my project for the last few weeks, instead of reading :)
The sermons themselves are imminently applicable and excellent. Highly recommended.
The sermons themselves are imminently applicable and excellent. Highly recommended.
April 24, 2016
A very good translation of some fine sermons; both Calvin's doctrine and application is excellent. The sermons are also very easy to read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews