365 Days with Calvin: A Unique Collection of 365 Readings from the Writings of John Calvin

by John Calvin

A unique collection of 365 readings from the writings of John Calvin, selected and edited by Joel R Beeke. John Calvin exercised a profound ministry in Europe, and is probably one of the most seminal thinkers ever to have lived. A godly pastor, theologian and preacher, he led his flock by example and worked hard to establish consistent godliness in his city. A prolific writer, his sermons, letters, and, of course, his Christian Institutes have been published again and again. His writings once described as flowing prose are characterized by clarity, simplicity, and yet profoundness, too. In these heart-warming pieces, drawn from his commentaries and sermons, Calvin brings us to Christ, the glorious Savior of all his people.

Genres: Theology, Devotional, Religion, Christian

397 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2008

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

[Johnathan Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing this, I’m a little annoyed that I’d never read Calvin before, because he’s really good. Not sure how his full texts will read but he’s very digestible.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit, I did not read this over the span of a full year, but instead a week. This is a collection of snippets from Calvin's commentaries spinkled chrinologically upon the pages of this daily devotional. Each day beeke points out the text and the topic of the snippet of commentary from that text as well as an application of Calvin's thoughts at the end. As a huge fan of both beeke and Calvin and commentaries, this book warms my heart. I think this perhaps makes the commentaries of Calvin more accessible without watering them down. This is a fantastic way to enrich your life day by day though there is hardly a bad way to read Calvin's work, this is definitely an example of a great one.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a devotional I thought this did a solid job. I think a majority of the excerpts are from Calvin's commentaries or sermons, which is all fine and good. As an aspiring scholar, I was slightly annoyed at the paucity of references. Good luck if you want to look up where Calving wrote something so you can see the grander context of the excerpt.

That said, I enjoyed the concise nature of the thought/excerpt and the suggested further reading offered up a chance to widen the scriptural consideration of the day. Good little devotional. I may come back in a few years and re-read through it.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst there were many good devotional readings throughout this book, I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I did the many similar volumes of “365 days with Spurgeon”. Maybe I am too Lutheran these days to enjoy Calvin as much as I once did - don’t get me wrong, there is still much I appreciate in Calvin’s writing. However with this book I often found Beeke’s closing thoughts to be more “devotional” than I found the selection of Calvin that had been chosen.

Always good to have a daily dose of those who have gone before us :)

[Calvert Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the year invested.

[Eric Molicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful and rich devotional. Highly recommend it!