Romans: Commentary and Translation

Série Comentários Bíblicos João Calvino

by John Calvin

Calvin’s Commentaries are classics of the first order, essential reading for anyone studying a Bible text. Reading Calvin nearly always leads to new insights on a passage. Philip Schaff said of Calvin that he “was an exegetical genius of the first order. His commentaries are unsurpassed for originality, depth, perspicuity, soundness and permanent value. He combined in a very rare degree all the essential qualities of an exegete—grammatical knowledge, spiritual insight, acute perception, sound judgment, and practical tact.”

Based on the Calvin Translation Society edition, this version of the Commentaries is optimized for use on a Kindle. Links to commentary on passages are represented compactly in the Table of Contents so you can find commentary on a passage with minimal paging.

This edition features an artistic cover, a new promotional introduction, an index of scripture references, links for scripture references to the appropriate passages, and a hierarchical table of contents which makes it possible to navigate to any part of the book with a minimum of page turns.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Reference

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1540

About the author

French-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.

Reviews

[Michael Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calvin is always worth consulting, as one will often find good exposition and nuggets of truth. His commentaries were written for pastors, and while anyone can find help here, this volume will best serve those digging into the exegesis of the text and reading multiple commentaries (pastors and bible teachers.)

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sandwich Calvinist.

For sure, Calvin's commentary on Romans is instructive. I learned quite a bit from one of history's greatest minds. I don’t think he makes his case on many of the "points of Calvinism", but this is mostly due to the theological progress we've made over the last 500 years. Here's where I differ:

I can go along with Total depravity. I don’t think people are as bad as they can get, but I do agree that there is nothing in us that merits salvation.

I also don't buy Unconditional election, one of the more famous elements of Calvinism. I think Molinism as advanced by William Lane Craig (see my review of his book The Only Wise God for more details) accounts nicely for passages like Romans 9 and Ephesians 1 without having to do acrobats around passages where God holds people responsible for their actions or invites them to salvation.

Further, I don't agree with Calvin's teaching on a Limited atonement. While I haven’t explored this as much as some of the other doctrines, it seems to me that Christ's blood is sufficient for everyone.

Again, I need more convincing that grace is Irresistible. Can we really not deny the calling to salvation? Meaning, everyone who is offered salvation will necessarily accept? I realize that Calvinists side-step difficult passages like 2Peter 3:9 by dividing God's grace into two parts: common grace which is enjoyed by all, and special grace only recieved by the elect. Kinda makes the teaching fool proof. You can always say the recipient had only common grace if things don't work out.

So I guess I'm a sandwich Calvinist, because I do believe in Perseverance of the saints. So, I'll go along with the first and final points of Calvinism, the two hills of the loaf. Also, roast beef is delicious.

[Dick Cardin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative but a tough read

[Michael Schmid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might be doing Calvin's commentary on Romans some injustice by only giving it a 3-star rating, but it was difficult reading for me which made it less enjoyable. Certainly a good reference for serious Bible study, which admittedly was not my highest aim while reading through the commentary. Complex sentence structures, elevated thoughts, and old language (English translation) made this book quite difficult to read. Nevertheless the content is excellent - I just couldn't get the most out of it.

[Lynda Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read this as a book, hard going!