What do you think?
Rate this book
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, & Doxology
Meet the Man Behind the Myths
John Calvin s name evokes powerful images, most of them negative. In the minds of many, he is perceived as an ivory-tower theologian who was harsh and unreasonable, the driving force behind a dangerous theological system. In this volume, Burk Parsons and eighteen other leading Reformed pastors and scholars authoritatively reveal the truth about Calvin and his teaching that he was humble, caring, pious, Scripture-saturated, and, above all, passionate about upholding the glory of God. Published in conjunction with the five-hundredth anniversary of Calvin's birth (2009), John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology offers a highly readable portrait of a man whose example and teaching remain vitally relevant even in the twenty-first century.
John Calvin s name evokes powerful images, most of them negative. In the minds of many, he is perceived as an ivory-tower theologian who was harsh and unreasonable, the driving force behind a dangerous theological system. In this volume, Burk Parsons and eighteen other leading Reformed pastors and scholars authoritatively reveal the truth about Calvin and his teaching that he was humble, caring, pious, Scripture-saturated, and, above all, passionate about upholding the glory of God. Published in conjunction with the five-hundredth anniversary of Calvin's birth (2009), John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology offers a highly readable portrait of a man whose example and teaching remain vitally relevant even in the twenty-first century.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2008
115 people are currently reading
1352 people want to read
About the author
Burk Parsons
9 books26 followersBurk Parsons is copastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., editor of Tabletalk magazine, and vice president of publishing for Ligonier Ministries. He is author of Why Do We Have Creeds? and editor of John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology and Assured by God: Living in the Fullness of God’s Grace.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 28, 2019
Before I was exposed to reformed theology, my home churches rarely talked about church history. And if they did, only three topics always came up: how the KJV came to be the only preserved Word of God, the Anabaptist history and the man behind the false teachings of Calvinism. I grew up thinking John Calvin was a false teacher who didn’t believe in Evangelism, persecuted Christians, killed innocent people and was responsible for the heretical belief of election.
When I started attending a Reformed Baptistic church, where expository preaching was the norm, I was immediately hooked. I couldn’t get enough of the Bible and studied theology as much as I was able to do while also studying pre-med at a secular university. Despite my pursuit of the truth, one doctrine I couldn’t fully embrace was election, and I attribute that to years of bad teaching.
It was unacceptable to me until I heard a sermon on total depravity. When I finally understood my complete sinfulness, then it was almost like a lightbulb turned on in my head. I was speechless and in awe of God’s master plan and kindness toward undeserving people like me.
From then on, I studied Calvin’s system of beliefs, and how they are consistent with the Scriptures, every opportunity I got. And thanks to my faithful pastor and shepherds who made those deep doctrines of God understandable to me, I grew a greater love for Christ and His Word.
This book covers a short biography of John Calvin, to whom the Church owes much, and many aspects of the key doctrines he came to be known for. It gives as a glimpse of his life, his passion for the word, and zeal to make God known. It dispels many rumors I grew up hearing. I finished reading the book with, not just a greater appreciation for Calvin’s faithfulness and hard work, but for the God he devoted his life to proclaim.
I highly recommend it to everyone.
When I started attending a Reformed Baptistic church, where expository preaching was the norm, I was immediately hooked. I couldn’t get enough of the Bible and studied theology as much as I was able to do while also studying pre-med at a secular university. Despite my pursuit of the truth, one doctrine I couldn’t fully embrace was election, and I attribute that to years of bad teaching.
It was unacceptable to me until I heard a sermon on total depravity. When I finally understood my complete sinfulness, then it was almost like a lightbulb turned on in my head. I was speechless and in awe of God’s master plan and kindness toward undeserving people like me.
From then on, I studied Calvin’s system of beliefs, and how they are consistent with the Scriptures, every opportunity I got. And thanks to my faithful pastor and shepherds who made those deep doctrines of God understandable to me, I grew a greater love for Christ and His Word.
This book covers a short biography of John Calvin, to whom the Church owes much, and many aspects of the key doctrines he came to be known for. It gives as a glimpse of his life, his passion for the word, and zeal to make God known. It dispels many rumors I grew up hearing. I finished reading the book with, not just a greater appreciation for Calvin’s faithfulness and hard work, but for the God he devoted his life to proclaim.
I highly recommend it to everyone.
March 7, 2014
Many people only think of predestination, election, and God's sovereignty when John Calvin is mentioned. Though he did teach on those subjects, he also taught on so much more. This book is a compilation of essays about John Calvin, ranging from his personal life, to his preaching, to his overall influence on the Reformation. Whether or not you view Calvin (or Calvinism) as a negative thing, reading this book will prove to be a positive experience. This book shows the loving, compassionate drive of Calvin that is often overlooked in conversations about Calvin as a man. I highly recommend this book to all, not only as an introduction to Calvin's theology, but to the outworking of Calvin's theology in his love for God and his love for people.
April 23, 2024
This book was gifted by a beloved sister and I definitely enjoyed it! Though I was a little disappointed given the lineup of authors, I think this was inevitable due to how high the expectations were. I'd say that it lived up to 80% of my original expectations.
Many of the early chapters spoke extensively about the various ways John Calvin demonstrated his piety and how devoted he was to the Word, to the Church, and to Christ. John Calvin was a man totally mastered by Jesus Christ, which led to a deeply serious scrutiny over his own heart, and a passionate resolve to work diligently for His kingdom. Many different authors repeated the same facts about how many sermons Calvin would preach in a week, or how much reform he caused, or how he had published his first edition of his Institutes when he was only 27 years old. This challenged me to live with an increased zeal and earnestness for the kingdom of God. When extremely sick and asked to rest, he replied, "Would you that the Lord when He comes, should find me idle?" ouch.
God is my Maker. Christ is my Lord, and my Redeemer. He purchased me with His own blood. If all this is true, then I am not my own and I must live wholly to Him-- no reluctance, no grumbling, no hesitancy. May God's Spirit strengthen me to offer up to Him similar levels of radical, unreserved service and obedience. "I offer my heart to You, O Lord, promptly and sincerely."
A few highlight chapters include Beeke's chapter on prayer, which encouraged me to really pursue conscious, felt communion and intimacy with God in prayer, Horton's treatment on justification, Bridges' chapter on Christian living, and Iain Murray's foreword.
The only downside to this book is that it often repeats itself due to the fact that each chapter is written by a different author. However, I think this makes this book an excellent read to those who may be unfamiliar with Calvin as a man, or even a good introduction to Calvinism, because many of the same stories, facts, and truths are repeated throughout the book. It was a decent blend of a biography, systematic theology, and a Christian living book.
Many of the early chapters spoke extensively about the various ways John Calvin demonstrated his piety and how devoted he was to the Word, to the Church, and to Christ. John Calvin was a man totally mastered by Jesus Christ, which led to a deeply serious scrutiny over his own heart, and a passionate resolve to work diligently for His kingdom. Many different authors repeated the same facts about how many sermons Calvin would preach in a week, or how much reform he caused, or how he had published his first edition of his Institutes when he was only 27 years old. This challenged me to live with an increased zeal and earnestness for the kingdom of God. When extremely sick and asked to rest, he replied, "Would you that the Lord when He comes, should find me idle?" ouch.
God is my Maker. Christ is my Lord, and my Redeemer. He purchased me with His own blood. If all this is true, then I am not my own and I must live wholly to Him-- no reluctance, no grumbling, no hesitancy. May God's Spirit strengthen me to offer up to Him similar levels of radical, unreserved service and obedience. "I offer my heart to You, O Lord, promptly and sincerely."
A few highlight chapters include Beeke's chapter on prayer, which encouraged me to really pursue conscious, felt communion and intimacy with God in prayer, Horton's treatment on justification, Bridges' chapter on Christian living, and Iain Murray's foreword.
The only downside to this book is that it often repeats itself due to the fact that each chapter is written by a different author. However, I think this makes this book an excellent read to those who may be unfamiliar with Calvin as a man, or even a good introduction to Calvinism, because many of the same stories, facts, and truths are repeated throughout the book. It was a decent blend of a biography, systematic theology, and a Christian living book.
January 23, 2017
All of the content in this book was solid and helpful, but I struggled to get from it a cohesive and comprehensive sense of Calvin himself, likely a product of the book being a collection of contributions. The early chapters focused on his life and character, his pastoral and statesman qualities, which were most helpful for me in capturing this sense of Calvin the man (and which I knew little about), while the later chapters focused on doctrine. I expect these later chapters would be helpful to someone who is not familiar with Calvinism, but they mostly read more like a summary of doctrine and less like a glimpse into Calvin's heart and character. Several chapters were noteworthy and I would probably reread or recommend, but the presence of some weaker chapters and the lack of cohesive narrative make it hard for me to recommend the book as a whole.
March 8, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My favourite chapters were “The Believer’s Union with Christ” by Philip Graham Ryken and “The Communion of Men with God” by Joel R. Beeke. I do wish, however, that the book was less repetitive when it discussed the events of Calvin’s life.
April 26, 2024
This book was gifted by a generous sister to the praise team with the hopes that reading about John Calvin's life and teachings would challenge us. And challenge me it did! Prior to reading this book, I confess that all that I really knew of Calvin was that he was the guy from Geneva from whom we got TULIP from. Through this book I was exposed to much of the person and theology of Calvin, from whom I learned much from.
I thank God that I was able to gather with two other members of the praise team because of this book. We not only were able to share noteworthy aspects of the book but were also able to share how we were each deeply convicted. Although the beginning portions of the book started to get repetitive, (understandable due to each chapter being written by a different author) it served as crucial context to learning about the person of Calvin before being exposed to his theology.
Calvin's intentional manner of living was a natural outcome of his understanding of God's Word. Calvin's pursuit of deepening his knowledge of God's Word led to an active surrender in every aspect of his life. His deep knowledge of God's Word led to a life that was mindfully lived for the glory of God. The convictions that came with being exposed to how Calvin lived his life were deeply felt and frequently revisited as I found myself striving to go about my days with much intentionality, a practice that was often missing before reading this book.
As much as I enjoyed my time spent reading this book and meeting with the other brothers, I was forced to only give this book three stars due to the aforementioned repetitive nature of the book as well as my favorite parts being direct quotes from Calvin himself. While I appreciated the efforts of the different authors, I could not help but often think that I would have better been served reading Calvin's works directly. However I am grateful for this book, as it has pushed me to want to engage with more of his works. As I prepare for a month in Korea where I'll delve into his magnum opus, which was also gifted by the same generous sister, I am grateful for the timely introduction to the life and theology of John Calvin.
Praise God for my faithful brother, John Calvin!
I thank God that I was able to gather with two other members of the praise team because of this book. We not only were able to share noteworthy aspects of the book but were also able to share how we were each deeply convicted. Although the beginning portions of the book started to get repetitive, (understandable due to each chapter being written by a different author) it served as crucial context to learning about the person of Calvin before being exposed to his theology.
Calvin's intentional manner of living was a natural outcome of his understanding of God's Word. Calvin's pursuit of deepening his knowledge of God's Word led to an active surrender in every aspect of his life. His deep knowledge of God's Word led to a life that was mindfully lived for the glory of God. The convictions that came with being exposed to how Calvin lived his life were deeply felt and frequently revisited as I found myself striving to go about my days with much intentionality, a practice that was often missing before reading this book.
As much as I enjoyed my time spent reading this book and meeting with the other brothers, I was forced to only give this book three stars due to the aforementioned repetitive nature of the book as well as my favorite parts being direct quotes from Calvin himself. While I appreciated the efforts of the different authors, I could not help but often think that I would have better been served reading Calvin's works directly. However I am grateful for this book, as it has pushed me to want to engage with more of his works. As I prepare for a month in Korea where I'll delve into his magnum opus, which was also gifted by the same generous sister, I am grateful for the timely introduction to the life and theology of John Calvin.
Praise God for my faithful brother, John Calvin!
November 23, 2019
The name John Calvin often reminds people (especially the ones unfamiliar with him) of the doctrine of election and predestination. To some critics, it also reminds them of high mindedness, "dead theology and no love" etc. However this book clarifies all those misunderstandings that people have about this giant of the faith, who's perhaps also one of the greatest theologians to have walked on this earth.
We're all familiar with Calvin's theological stature, but this book reminds us that more than a theologian, Calvin was primarily had a pastoral heart. Someone who was deeply concerned about the spiritual well being of the people under him and moreover the whole body of believers. His love for them reflected in the way he poured out his life writing countless commentaries, letters and preaching countless, sequentially expository sermons, doing all this in the midst of tremendous suffering.
Apart from his personality, the book also talks about how profound his theology was(much beyond the confines of the tulip acrostic). It explores his beliefs on the Supremacy of Christ, the Holy Spirit, Prayer and other topics which are usually not spoken of in the same breath as Calvin.
Overall it was a great read, thoroughly encouraging and comforting. However, by no means is it an easy read or short. It's totally worth your time though.
We're all familiar with Calvin's theological stature, but this book reminds us that more than a theologian, Calvin was primarily had a pastoral heart. Someone who was deeply concerned about the spiritual well being of the people under him and moreover the whole body of believers. His love for them reflected in the way he poured out his life writing countless commentaries, letters and preaching countless, sequentially expository sermons, doing all this in the midst of tremendous suffering.
Apart from his personality, the book also talks about how profound his theology was(much beyond the confines of the tulip acrostic). It explores his beliefs on the Supremacy of Christ, the Holy Spirit, Prayer and other topics which are usually not spoken of in the same breath as Calvin.
Overall it was a great read, thoroughly encouraging and comforting. However, by no means is it an easy read or short. It's totally worth your time though.
September 10, 2021
This taste of Calvin makes me want to dive deeper into his works directly. Solid compilation.
October 13, 2013
This is a wonderful introduction to the life and ministry of John Calvin. It covers everything from his background and pastoral ministry to his theological works.
I especially appreciate the massive amount of scripture saturating this book. When doctrines are explained and discussed, the authors quote as much from scripture (if not more) than Calvin himself. I found myself diving deep into the gospel of Christ and loving Him more through the study of, ultimately, his Word.
I'm thankful for the Spirit-filled life and ministry of Calvin. I hope others will be aided through his works to better know and enjoy Christ.
I especially appreciate the massive amount of scripture saturating this book. When doctrines are explained and discussed, the authors quote as much from scripture (if not more) than Calvin himself. I found myself diving deep into the gospel of Christ and loving Him more through the study of, ultimately, his Word.
I'm thankful for the Spirit-filled life and ministry of Calvin. I hope others will be aided through his works to better know and enjoy Christ.
March 18, 2013
Boring. I like theology and church history but this is dry and overdone. Calvin is important and deserves books on him, but he's not the fourth member of the trinity. Disappointing, Reformer friends.
September 6, 2012
Helps you to see John Calvin for who he really was instead of through the lenses of bias, myth, and misunderstanding by which he is normally seen.
December 17, 2012
Typical ligonier ministry type stuff
July 8, 2021
"I offer you my heart, Lord, promptly and sincerely." - Calvin
This book is amazing. It does several things BUT firstly it inspires the reader to follow Calvin's example of serving God with all that you have.
It is exactly what the title says. This book gives you a taste for who Calvin was as a man devoted to Christ and devoted to serving God, as well as a taste of his teaching and work.
I picked this up from Christian Audio as it was in a sale, I hadn't heard of it before but I'm really surprised that I hadn't - it's top tier and deserves attention.
What is the book?
A collection of essays on the Devotion, Doctrine and Doxology of John Calvin. His love for Christ, his knowledge and teaching of Christ and his worship of Christ.
BUT these essays are not written to further an academic discourse BUT to teach ordinary Christians how the example of John Calvin can help us live for Christ.
Overview of the book
(See the contents I've included below for the contributors - you'll recognise some of the names)
Chapters 1-8 focus on different aspects of Calvin's life and devotion, there is a little overlap as some of the same events in his life are retold but that's a minor issue the perhaps of these chapters is not primarily to give you the history but the example of practising serious devotion to Christ through an extremely hard life. This material is inspiring and I expect to revisit it in the future.
Chapters 9 and 10 highlight two areas of emphasis in Calvin's teaching, the transformative work of the holy spirit and the supremacy of Christ; these excellent chapters are a challenge to have these same biblical focuses in our lives (and any service we're involved in)
Chapters 11 to 17 are introductions to the five points of calvinism, justification by faith and union with Christ; presented as summaries of what Calvin taught on these topics. I thought this was the weakest part of the book. These chapters were clearly aimed as an introduction to these topics and were somewhat basic, still good but if you've already read a book on the five points of calvinism don't expect anything surprising here.
Chapters 18 and 19 focus on christian living and prayer, they are brilliant but they are primarily summaries of the relevant sections in the Institutes. Similar to reading Calvin on these topics these chapters will convict you of sin and drive you to your knees in prayer - always the best place to be.
Concluding thoughts
I heartily reccomend this to all christians, particularly chapters 1-10, they will encourage you to "promptly and sincerely offer your heart" (i.e. your entire self) to the Lord. chapters 11-19 would serve as a good introduction to Calvin's teaching on various topics for someone who has not read the institutes or a good reminder/refresher, chapters 18 and 19 can also be useful refreshers on living wholly for Christ and practising prayer.
Contents
1. The Humility of Calvin’s Calvinism - Burk Parsons
2. Who was John Calvin? - Derek W. H. Thomas
3. Calvin’s Heart for God - Sinclair B. Ferguson
4. The Reformer of Faith and Life - D. G. Hart
5. The Churchman of the Reformation - Harry L. Reeder
6. The Preacher of God’s Word - Steven J. Lawson
7. The Counselor to the Afflicted - W. Robert Godfrey
8. The Writer for the People of God - Phillip R. Johnson
9. The Supremacy of Jesus Christ - Eric J. Alexander
10. The Transforming Work of the Spirit - Thabiti Anyabwile
11. Man’s Radical Corruption - John MacArthur
12. Election and Reprobation - Richard D. Phillips
13. Redemption Defined - Thomas K. Ascol
14. Transforming Grace - Keith A. Mathison
15. A Certain Inheritance - Jay E. Adams
16. The Believer’s Union with Christ - Philip Graham Ryken
17. The Principal Article of Salvation - Michael Horton
18. The True Christian Life - Jerry Bridges
19. The Communion of Men with God - Joel R. Beeke
This book is amazing. It does several things BUT firstly it inspires the reader to follow Calvin's example of serving God with all that you have.
It is exactly what the title says. This book gives you a taste for who Calvin was as a man devoted to Christ and devoted to serving God, as well as a taste of his teaching and work.
I picked this up from Christian Audio as it was in a sale, I hadn't heard of it before but I'm really surprised that I hadn't - it's top tier and deserves attention.
What is the book?
A collection of essays on the Devotion, Doctrine and Doxology of John Calvin. His love for Christ, his knowledge and teaching of Christ and his worship of Christ.
BUT these essays are not written to further an academic discourse BUT to teach ordinary Christians how the example of John Calvin can help us live for Christ.
Overview of the book
(See the contents I've included below for the contributors - you'll recognise some of the names)
Chapters 1-8 focus on different aspects of Calvin's life and devotion, there is a little overlap as some of the same events in his life are retold but that's a minor issue the perhaps of these chapters is not primarily to give you the history but the example of practising serious devotion to Christ through an extremely hard life. This material is inspiring and I expect to revisit it in the future.
Chapters 9 and 10 highlight two areas of emphasis in Calvin's teaching, the transformative work of the holy spirit and the supremacy of Christ; these excellent chapters are a challenge to have these same biblical focuses in our lives (and any service we're involved in)
Chapters 11 to 17 are introductions to the five points of calvinism, justification by faith and union with Christ; presented as summaries of what Calvin taught on these topics. I thought this was the weakest part of the book. These chapters were clearly aimed as an introduction to these topics and were somewhat basic, still good but if you've already read a book on the five points of calvinism don't expect anything surprising here.
Chapters 18 and 19 focus on christian living and prayer, they are brilliant but they are primarily summaries of the relevant sections in the Institutes. Similar to reading Calvin on these topics these chapters will convict you of sin and drive you to your knees in prayer - always the best place to be.
Concluding thoughts
I heartily reccomend this to all christians, particularly chapters 1-10, they will encourage you to "promptly and sincerely offer your heart" (i.e. your entire self) to the Lord. chapters 11-19 would serve as a good introduction to Calvin's teaching on various topics for someone who has not read the institutes or a good reminder/refresher, chapters 18 and 19 can also be useful refreshers on living wholly for Christ and practising prayer.
Contents
1. The Humility of Calvin’s Calvinism - Burk Parsons
2. Who was John Calvin? - Derek W. H. Thomas
3. Calvin’s Heart for God - Sinclair B. Ferguson
4. The Reformer of Faith and Life - D. G. Hart
5. The Churchman of the Reformation - Harry L. Reeder
6. The Preacher of God’s Word - Steven J. Lawson
7. The Counselor to the Afflicted - W. Robert Godfrey
8. The Writer for the People of God - Phillip R. Johnson
9. The Supremacy of Jesus Christ - Eric J. Alexander
10. The Transforming Work of the Spirit - Thabiti Anyabwile
11. Man’s Radical Corruption - John MacArthur
12. Election and Reprobation - Richard D. Phillips
13. Redemption Defined - Thomas K. Ascol
14. Transforming Grace - Keith A. Mathison
15. A Certain Inheritance - Jay E. Adams
16. The Believer’s Union with Christ - Philip Graham Ryken
17. The Principal Article of Salvation - Michael Horton
18. The True Christian Life - Jerry Bridges
19. The Communion of Men with God - Joel R. Beeke
September 28, 2017
Really nice collection of essays on the theology of John Calvin, by many of the bright lights of Reformed theology 'today' (the book was written in 2008 on the anniversary of Calvin's birth).
Various writers tackle parts of Calvin's theology. In that way it is a bit more like historical theology, but it is done with awareness and concern to show its value for today.
The essays are good. A little brief, but that's preferable than being too long, especially when the audience is non-specialists.
The one essay that irked me a bit was Jay Adams's essay on Calvin's doctrine if perseverance. Theologically it was fine, but it was out of step with the rest of the book because it really wasn't much of a study of Calvin's theology of perseverance; it was Jay Adams's theology of perseverance. It also grated on me due to a couple of unhelpfully barbed comments that he makes.
Example: "In [Jesus' High Priestly], He speaks of believers becoming 'one' so that 'the world may believe that you have sent me' (v21). This prayer has been consistently understood by liberals (and, sadly, of late by conservatives, as well), as teaching that organic union (or, at least, corporate expressions of unity) among Christians will lead the world to believe in Christ. If that were true, then Jesus' prayer has never been answered in the affirmative" (pg. 182).
1. This is really weak theological reflection. And it has some incorrect ideas about the nature of the church buried in it; Reformed Christianity does believe there is ONE church, and that Christ IS answering this prayer for unity in the church throughout this age.
2. Not to mention the needless suspicion Adams will put in the minds of readers towards any conservative author/preacher who says 17:21 is about the unity of the believers in the Gospel. It was a useless comment, and he could've made his point without all the unnecessary rhetorical baggage by saying, 'Some say this passage is about X, but I disagree because Y.'
Another Example: "When, for instance, preachers from the heretical denomination called the Church of Christ speak of..." (pg 184)
I, too, reject the Church of Christ's teaching that one cannot be saved apart from baptism, but Adams's manner of expression is poor form. I'm surprised that someone that has spent their whole career counseling others would think this is a good way to frame a criticism (especially written) of someone else, perhaps of even a reader!
I point those passages out to substantiate my criticism about the Adams chapter, but it is a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of things. The book overall is very good, and an excellent introduction to Calvin's theology.
Various writers tackle parts of Calvin's theology. In that way it is a bit more like historical theology, but it is done with awareness and concern to show its value for today.
The essays are good. A little brief, but that's preferable than being too long, especially when the audience is non-specialists.
The one essay that irked me a bit was Jay Adams's essay on Calvin's doctrine if perseverance. Theologically it was fine, but it was out of step with the rest of the book because it really wasn't much of a study of Calvin's theology of perseverance; it was Jay Adams's theology of perseverance. It also grated on me due to a couple of unhelpfully barbed comments that he makes.
Example: "In [Jesus' High Priestly], He speaks of believers becoming 'one' so that 'the world may believe that you have sent me' (v21). This prayer has been consistently understood by liberals (and, sadly, of late by conservatives, as well), as teaching that organic union (or, at least, corporate expressions of unity) among Christians will lead the world to believe in Christ. If that were true, then Jesus' prayer has never been answered in the affirmative" (pg. 182).
1. This is really weak theological reflection. And it has some incorrect ideas about the nature of the church buried in it; Reformed Christianity does believe there is ONE church, and that Christ IS answering this prayer for unity in the church throughout this age.
2. Not to mention the needless suspicion Adams will put in the minds of readers towards any conservative author/preacher who says 17:21 is about the unity of the believers in the Gospel. It was a useless comment, and he could've made his point without all the unnecessary rhetorical baggage by saying, 'Some say this passage is about X, but I disagree because Y.'
Another Example: "When, for instance, preachers from the heretical denomination called the Church of Christ speak of..." (pg 184)
I, too, reject the Church of Christ's teaching that one cannot be saved apart from baptism, but Adams's manner of expression is poor form. I'm surprised that someone that has spent their whole career counseling others would think this is a good way to frame a criticism (especially written) of someone else, perhaps of even a reader!
I point those passages out to substantiate my criticism about the Adams chapter, but it is a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of things. The book overall is very good, and an excellent introduction to Calvin's theology.
November 12, 2014
This is an exciting review for me for a few reasons. First, this is the first full length text I have read on John Calvin and was really looking forward to learning quite a bit. Secondly, this was the first full book I read on my Kindle(and I enjoyed that experience greatly). Finally, I was very excited about this book because the contributors are a virtual all-star team of current reformed thought. Burk Parsons, Derek Thomas, Sinclair Ferguson, Steve Lawson, Bob Godfrey, Thabiti Anyabwile, Macarthur, Ascol, Beeke, Ryken, Jerry Bridges, Michael Horton—this book was contributed to by a vast array of reformed thought.
The table of contents gives a good view of what is in store when you read this book:
1. The Humility of Calvin’s Calvinism Burk Parsons
2. Who was John Calvin? Derek W. H. Thomas
3. Calvin’s Heart for God Sinclair B. Ferguson
4. The Reformer of Faith and Life D. G. Hart
5. The Churchman of the Reformation Harry L. Reeder
6. The Preacher of God’s Word Steven J. Lawson
7. The Counselor to the Afflicted W. Robert Godfrey
8. The Writer for the People of God Phillip R. Johnson
9. The Supremacy of Jesus Christ Eric J. Alexander
10. The Transforming Work of the Spirit Thabiti Anyabwile
11. Man’s Radical Corruption John MacArthur
12. Election and Reprobation Richard D. Phillips
13. Redemption Defined Thomas K. Ascol
14. Transforming Grace Keith A. Mathison
15. A Certain Inheritance Jay E. Adams
16. The Believer’s Union with Christ Philip Graham Ryken
17. The Principal Article of Salvation Michael Horton
18. The True Christian Life Jerry Bridges
19. The Communion of Men with God Joel R. Beeke
When I began reading this book, I had one major reservation. I was concerned about how I was going to be presented with a fair and balanced view of Calvin historically from a group of men who have been so immensely blessed by his teaching and ministry. I was unsure of their ability or desire to be critical of this oft-maligned man of the faith. To this end, I would have to say that the text is definitely, and unabashedly, pro-Calvin. I feel that it is a fair text but it should be noted that this is a celebration of the life and ministry of John Calvin, not a critique.
Burk Parson’s take on the humility of Calvin in the first chapter was a good place to start, especially with the arrogance that is often associated with those who claim to be adherents to Calvin’s theology. Chapter 2 is a brilliant and brief history of John Calvin. Derek Thomas masterfully takes us through the major points of the historical Calvin in just 12 rich pages.
Harry Reeder in Chapter 5 takes us through the role Calvin filled as Pastor. The roles that he outlines Calvin filling made me all the more grateful for the work God did through Calvin, but more so it reminded me of the work that is done week in and week out by my pastors, and many like them. I praise God for the men God uses to care for me and others as my Pastor, leader, preacher, teacher, writer, shepherd, evangelist and pastor to pastors. Steve Lawson’s chapter on Calvin as preacher is an excellent summary of the topic and a great jumping off point to his wonderful book on Calvin the preacher.
Godfrey’s chapter on Calvin the counselor was the most eye-opening for me on Calvin the man. I was completely unaware of the pastoral care that Calvin showed his flock, not just from the pulpit but in their everyday life. It is completely against the caricature of Calvin that is so pervasive in popular thought. Erick Alexander summarizes the teaching of Calvin that Christ is revealed in Scripture as Prophet, Priest and King.
John Macarthur begins a five chapter section on the TULIP of Calvinistic theology. Macarthur takes us through the understanding Calvin had of the extent of human depravity and why this is as critical a doctrine as any to properly understand not only Calvin’s thought but Scripture as a whole. Richard Phillips tackles election and reprobation in a God-honoring yet gentle manner reflecting the humility that Calvin himself showed on the subject. Tom Ascol deals with the extent of the atonement in Calvin’s theology by first showing the need for the atonement. He then shows the nature of the atoning work of Christ, a work that saves those for whom it was intended.
Keith Mathison and Jay Adams present cases for irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints that was new for me. I believe these chapters are true to Calvin’s theology, but more importantly they seem Scripturally sound. To see these doctrines developed in a manner that was new to me, made my belief in them even more firm. Ryken’s chapter on the believer’s unity with Christ is key in truly understanding Calvin’s theology.
The book closes with chapters from Horton, Beeke, and Bridges that are understandably brilliant. Horton deals with Calvin’s view of justification and in many ways echoes Ryken’s chapter on unity. Horton hits on the biblical view of justification being forensic and the agreement between Calvin and Luther on this key issue.(Side-note: I am constantly encouraged by our leaders who join hands with brothers who hold to different views on secondary issues-Horton and the White Horse Inn guys, Together for the Gospel, Desiring God and their conferences—we are too quick to divide over non-essentials or inconsequentials).
Horton’s examination of justification is almost as appropriate as Jerry Bridges contributing on holy living. The book closes with a chapter from Joel Beeke on prayer in the life of John Calvin. One line that sums up the difference between the real John Calvin and the caricature that is often set forth is found in this chapter. “Calvin focused more on the practice of prayer than on its doctrine, which shows how practical his theology was. For Calvin, prayer is the essence of the Christian life; it is a precious gift, not an academic problem.” Calvin is often presented as this stoic, heartless academic who rarely engaged in anything with emotion or practicality. This view is completely fallacious. Knowing God was not an academic quest for Calvin, it was everything to him.
I do not have much negative to say about this book. At times it did seem redundant, but I did not find that negative as it allowed me two major benefits: memorization by repetition and seeing the same thought/event from multiple perspectives. For someone who, like me, is a relative newcomer to Calvin (and reformed theology as a whole) I would greatly recommend this book. If you are inclined to read and write a review, Reformation Trust Publishing will provide you with a copy of the book-like they graciously did for me. You can learn more about that on their website.
The table of contents gives a good view of what is in store when you read this book:
1. The Humility of Calvin’s Calvinism Burk Parsons
2. Who was John Calvin? Derek W. H. Thomas
3. Calvin’s Heart for God Sinclair B. Ferguson
4. The Reformer of Faith and Life D. G. Hart
5. The Churchman of the Reformation Harry L. Reeder
6. The Preacher of God’s Word Steven J. Lawson
7. The Counselor to the Afflicted W. Robert Godfrey
8. The Writer for the People of God Phillip R. Johnson
9. The Supremacy of Jesus Christ Eric J. Alexander
10. The Transforming Work of the Spirit Thabiti Anyabwile
11. Man’s Radical Corruption John MacArthur
12. Election and Reprobation Richard D. Phillips
13. Redemption Defined Thomas K. Ascol
14. Transforming Grace Keith A. Mathison
15. A Certain Inheritance Jay E. Adams
16. The Believer’s Union with Christ Philip Graham Ryken
17. The Principal Article of Salvation Michael Horton
18. The True Christian Life Jerry Bridges
19. The Communion of Men with God Joel R. Beeke
When I began reading this book, I had one major reservation. I was concerned about how I was going to be presented with a fair and balanced view of Calvin historically from a group of men who have been so immensely blessed by his teaching and ministry. I was unsure of their ability or desire to be critical of this oft-maligned man of the faith. To this end, I would have to say that the text is definitely, and unabashedly, pro-Calvin. I feel that it is a fair text but it should be noted that this is a celebration of the life and ministry of John Calvin, not a critique.
Burk Parson’s take on the humility of Calvin in the first chapter was a good place to start, especially with the arrogance that is often associated with those who claim to be adherents to Calvin’s theology. Chapter 2 is a brilliant and brief history of John Calvin. Derek Thomas masterfully takes us through the major points of the historical Calvin in just 12 rich pages.
Harry Reeder in Chapter 5 takes us through the role Calvin filled as Pastor. The roles that he outlines Calvin filling made me all the more grateful for the work God did through Calvin, but more so it reminded me of the work that is done week in and week out by my pastors, and many like them. I praise God for the men God uses to care for me and others as my Pastor, leader, preacher, teacher, writer, shepherd, evangelist and pastor to pastors. Steve Lawson’s chapter on Calvin as preacher is an excellent summary of the topic and a great jumping off point to his wonderful book on Calvin the preacher.
Godfrey’s chapter on Calvin the counselor was the most eye-opening for me on Calvin the man. I was completely unaware of the pastoral care that Calvin showed his flock, not just from the pulpit but in their everyday life. It is completely against the caricature of Calvin that is so pervasive in popular thought. Erick Alexander summarizes the teaching of Calvin that Christ is revealed in Scripture as Prophet, Priest and King.
John Macarthur begins a five chapter section on the TULIP of Calvinistic theology. Macarthur takes us through the understanding Calvin had of the extent of human depravity and why this is as critical a doctrine as any to properly understand not only Calvin’s thought but Scripture as a whole. Richard Phillips tackles election and reprobation in a God-honoring yet gentle manner reflecting the humility that Calvin himself showed on the subject. Tom Ascol deals with the extent of the atonement in Calvin’s theology by first showing the need for the atonement. He then shows the nature of the atoning work of Christ, a work that saves those for whom it was intended.
Keith Mathison and Jay Adams present cases for irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints that was new for me. I believe these chapters are true to Calvin’s theology, but more importantly they seem Scripturally sound. To see these doctrines developed in a manner that was new to me, made my belief in them even more firm. Ryken’s chapter on the believer’s unity with Christ is key in truly understanding Calvin’s theology.
The book closes with chapters from Horton, Beeke, and Bridges that are understandably brilliant. Horton deals with Calvin’s view of justification and in many ways echoes Ryken’s chapter on unity. Horton hits on the biblical view of justification being forensic and the agreement between Calvin and Luther on this key issue.(Side-note: I am constantly encouraged by our leaders who join hands with brothers who hold to different views on secondary issues-Horton and the White Horse Inn guys, Together for the Gospel, Desiring God and their conferences—we are too quick to divide over non-essentials or inconsequentials).
Horton’s examination of justification is almost as appropriate as Jerry Bridges contributing on holy living. The book closes with a chapter from Joel Beeke on prayer in the life of John Calvin. One line that sums up the difference between the real John Calvin and the caricature that is often set forth is found in this chapter. “Calvin focused more on the practice of prayer than on its doctrine, which shows how practical his theology was. For Calvin, prayer is the essence of the Christian life; it is a precious gift, not an academic problem.” Calvin is often presented as this stoic, heartless academic who rarely engaged in anything with emotion or practicality. This view is completely fallacious. Knowing God was not an academic quest for Calvin, it was everything to him.
I do not have much negative to say about this book. At times it did seem redundant, but I did not find that negative as it allowed me two major benefits: memorization by repetition and seeing the same thought/event from multiple perspectives. For someone who, like me, is a relative newcomer to Calvin (and reformed theology as a whole) I would greatly recommend this book. If you are inclined to read and write a review, Reformation Trust Publishing will provide you with a copy of the book-like they graciously did for me. You can learn more about that on their website.
September 5, 2014
Prior to recent reading, if someone asked what I thought about John Calvin I would have selected words like “scholarly,” “legalistic,” “stern,” and, becoming more charitable, “brilliant,” “sincere” and “brave,” before returning to words like “dour,” and “exacting.” Further, my answer to a question defining a Calvinist would no doubt rest on the Five Points of Calvinism, often rattled off by children using the acronym TULIP. I was wrong.
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology is an overview of Calvin and Calvinism for laypeople, written in bite-sized pieces. Published by Ligonier Ministries’ Reformation Trust Publishing and edited by Burk Parsons, the editor of Tabletalk Magazine, John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology is divided into two sections—one dedicated to history and the other doctrine—with topical essays submitted by Ligonier Ministries’ stable of Reform pastors and scholars.
Given that John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology is intended to introduce John Calvin to laypeople who likely carry my own, former ahistoric perspective, despite its technical accuracy I can’t imagine a worse title. The book is engaging, lively, thought-provoking and stereotype-busting, while, for me, the title is a dry deterrent that reinforced my misconceptions.
Before moving on to doctrine, essayists provide background to Calvin’s thought by covering biographical topics. I never before knew the degree to which John Calvin’s submission to authority, sometimes in contradiction to his desires at the moment of decision, fruitfully revolutionized both his life and ministry. Obedience to his father required him to leave home at approximately 11 for college then, after years of work, change his course of study from theology to law. This academic duality excellently prepared him to write The Institutes of Christian Religion. In adulthood, John Calvin longed for the quiet, scholarly life which his younger years had prepared him. Instead, upon forceful confrontation by a peer, he recognized the prompting of the Holy Spirit and became Geneva’s pastor in the center of significant theological and social conflict, buffeted by the issues of his parishioners and required to maintain a strenuous preaching schedule. Most of his published work we now enjoy is a result of transcribing Calvin’s sermons, which relied on easily understandable language that would spiritually nourish the range of Calvin’s parishioners. And, perhaps causing some smiles, the only reason John Calvin married in his 30s was to be a good Protestant example by creating distance from the Catholic tradition requiring priests to remain single. Calvin’s marriage was extremely successful in that he and his wife, Idelette, loved each other greatly. I suspect that for John Calvin, who lost his mother to death when he was a boy, spent his youth in exclusively male enclaves, and whose own plan was to be a bachelor scholar, the gift of loving and being loved in return was greater and more enlarging than he could imagine. Further topics include John Calvin as a preacher, reformer, churchman, counselor, author and more, painting a human picture of Calvin as a humble, compassionate, patient, and forgiving man who both loved and suffered much.
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology also introduces readers to Calvin’s doctrine. One of the book’s essayists, Eric J. Alexander, cites Stephen Edmondson as depicting Calvin’s doctrine as “Christocentric” and identifies it as allowing “…nothing and no one to displace the Lord Jesus Christ from His supreme place in every sphere.” (p. 109) Further, Alexander asserts it was absolutely submitted to “the final authority of Scripture.” (p. 110) Alexander additionally cites Paul Wells, “It was Calvin who developed the three-fold office of Christ as Prophet, Priest and King.” (p. 111)
Calvin’s doctrine was and continues to be both controversial and unappealing to some. Its Christocentric orientation excludes the possibility that man is innately or even minimally good, having an independent capacity to choose God. Its absolute submission to Scripture excludes the authority of a specific church, tradition or, as might be more common today, prophetic “revelation.” In John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology, essayists introduce and develop expected topics fundamental to Calvin’s doctrine, such as total depravity, election, redemption, atonement and grace, but also go further to include the role of the Holy Spirit, the believers’ union with Christ, justification and more. Looking at Calvin’s doctrine more broadly helps readers to understand that Calvin recognized the gap between God and man to be dramatically wider than many find comfortable, though consequently that gap also increases depth of God’s love and mercy towards men and women who deserve neither.
Readers already familiar with basics of John Calvin’s biography and doctrine may wonder whether John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology holds any value for them. Given that the intended audience for this book is laypeople, most of whom might share at elements of my own, ignorant starting point, I suspect Calvin and theological scholars might find reading John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology to be unnecessarily redundant. Nonetheless, I thought it interesting to view Calvin through the eyes of a variety of Reform leaders. Some of the essayists are well known, such as Jay Adams and John MacArthur, which might pique the interest of a few. However, I think it more likely that potential readers will be already acquainted merely with bits and pieces of Calvin and Calvinism. For them, John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology is a terrific, comprehensive introduction.
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology is an overview of Calvin and Calvinism for laypeople, written in bite-sized pieces. Published by Ligonier Ministries’ Reformation Trust Publishing and edited by Burk Parsons, the editor of Tabletalk Magazine, John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology is divided into two sections—one dedicated to history and the other doctrine—with topical essays submitted by Ligonier Ministries’ stable of Reform pastors and scholars.
Given that John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology is intended to introduce John Calvin to laypeople who likely carry my own, former ahistoric perspective, despite its technical accuracy I can’t imagine a worse title. The book is engaging, lively, thought-provoking and stereotype-busting, while, for me, the title is a dry deterrent that reinforced my misconceptions.
Before moving on to doctrine, essayists provide background to Calvin’s thought by covering biographical topics. I never before knew the degree to which John Calvin’s submission to authority, sometimes in contradiction to his desires at the moment of decision, fruitfully revolutionized both his life and ministry. Obedience to his father required him to leave home at approximately 11 for college then, after years of work, change his course of study from theology to law. This academic duality excellently prepared him to write The Institutes of Christian Religion. In adulthood, John Calvin longed for the quiet, scholarly life which his younger years had prepared him. Instead, upon forceful confrontation by a peer, he recognized the prompting of the Holy Spirit and became Geneva’s pastor in the center of significant theological and social conflict, buffeted by the issues of his parishioners and required to maintain a strenuous preaching schedule. Most of his published work we now enjoy is a result of transcribing Calvin’s sermons, which relied on easily understandable language that would spiritually nourish the range of Calvin’s parishioners. And, perhaps causing some smiles, the only reason John Calvin married in his 30s was to be a good Protestant example by creating distance from the Catholic tradition requiring priests to remain single. Calvin’s marriage was extremely successful in that he and his wife, Idelette, loved each other greatly. I suspect that for John Calvin, who lost his mother to death when he was a boy, spent his youth in exclusively male enclaves, and whose own plan was to be a bachelor scholar, the gift of loving and being loved in return was greater and more enlarging than he could imagine. Further topics include John Calvin as a preacher, reformer, churchman, counselor, author and more, painting a human picture of Calvin as a humble, compassionate, patient, and forgiving man who both loved and suffered much.
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology also introduces readers to Calvin’s doctrine. One of the book’s essayists, Eric J. Alexander, cites Stephen Edmondson as depicting Calvin’s doctrine as “Christocentric” and identifies it as allowing “…nothing and no one to displace the Lord Jesus Christ from His supreme place in every sphere.” (p. 109) Further, Alexander asserts it was absolutely submitted to “the final authority of Scripture.” (p. 110) Alexander additionally cites Paul Wells, “It was Calvin who developed the three-fold office of Christ as Prophet, Priest and King.” (p. 111)
Calvin’s doctrine was and continues to be both controversial and unappealing to some. Its Christocentric orientation excludes the possibility that man is innately or even minimally good, having an independent capacity to choose God. Its absolute submission to Scripture excludes the authority of a specific church, tradition or, as might be more common today, prophetic “revelation.” In John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology, essayists introduce and develop expected topics fundamental to Calvin’s doctrine, such as total depravity, election, redemption, atonement and grace, but also go further to include the role of the Holy Spirit, the believers’ union with Christ, justification and more. Looking at Calvin’s doctrine more broadly helps readers to understand that Calvin recognized the gap between God and man to be dramatically wider than many find comfortable, though consequently that gap also increases depth of God’s love and mercy towards men and women who deserve neither.
Readers already familiar with basics of John Calvin’s biography and doctrine may wonder whether John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology holds any value for them. Given that the intended audience for this book is laypeople, most of whom might share at elements of my own, ignorant starting point, I suspect Calvin and theological scholars might find reading John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology to be unnecessarily redundant. Nonetheless, I thought it interesting to view Calvin through the eyes of a variety of Reform leaders. Some of the essayists are well known, such as Jay Adams and John MacArthur, which might pique the interest of a few. However, I think it more likely that potential readers will be already acquainted merely with bits and pieces of Calvin and Calvinism. For them, John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology is a terrific, comprehensive introduction.
May 20, 2019
John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology is a series of chapters on different areas of Calvin's life and beliefs. Each chapter is written by a different pastor and there are 19 chapters in all, dealing with Calvin's view on prayer, works, predestination (of course), and more.
Each chapter is written well, and although it is easy to tell that each chapter is written by a different author, it does not seem to change the flow of the book. Each chapter is an encouragement to read, and each contains different theological applications and explanations. I read this as a precursor to Calvin's Institutes, and I am very glad I did. Calvin was a man of God who always remained humble, regardless of the fame that he had during the end of his time as a pastor. I recommend this book to any fan of Calvin or anyone who wants to understand a quick, easy to read summary of his beliefs.
Each chapter is written well, and although it is easy to tell that each chapter is written by a different author, it does not seem to change the flow of the book. Each chapter is an encouragement to read, and each contains different theological applications and explanations. I read this as a precursor to Calvin's Institutes, and I am very glad I did. Calvin was a man of God who always remained humble, regardless of the fame that he had during the end of his time as a pastor. I recommend this book to any fan of Calvin or anyone who wants to understand a quick, easy to read summary of his beliefs.
April 7, 2020
The danger of compilation of essays on a narrow topic is that they can become rather repetitive if the anthology editor isn't careful. Unfortunately, I found that this book fell into that category for the most part. The lack of space each essay had also kept each from being able to be terribly deep and do much more beyond giving a general scope of what Calvin said about the topic. A few of the articles, like Beeke's and Anyabwile's, were quite good. But as a whole, particularly after just finishing going through Institutes myself, I didn't find the book rather useful.
Rating: 2.5-3 Stars (Okay).
Rating: 2.5-3 Stars (Okay).
March 5, 2024
Having Calvin’s theology examined and explained by such robust contemporary theologians was exceedingly helpful. Each author expounds upon a different theological emphasis of Calvin, while writing in accessible language. The last two chapters especially help the believer in applying right doctrine to everyday living. I highly recommend this book for the person who has not read Calvin’s Institutes yet desires to know more about his theological positions. It serves as a great entry point before moving into his writings themselves.
February 18, 2017
Really enjoyed this fresh look at what happens when we are born again. These are some of my favorite quotes:
"many professing Christians are indeed ... not radically changed, to the conclusion that they are not born again"
Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true & sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God & of ourselves-John Calvin
Why Christmas? the Son of God became human-to take away sin, that is to destroy the works of the devil, namely sin.
"many professing Christians are indeed ... not radically changed, to the conclusion that they are not born again"
Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true & sound wisdom consists of two parts: the knowledge of God & of ourselves-John Calvin
Why Christmas? the Son of God became human-to take away sin, that is to destroy the works of the devil, namely sin.
February 13, 2019
Naturally, a work of collected essays like this is going to feel a bit disjointed. On that count, this book falls short. However, the content offered by the essayists is rock-solid. I found the second half of the book the most compelling, as it deals with specific doctrinal foci. The chapters on election/reprobation, union, and prayer were all particularly piercing summaries of Calvin’s teaching on those subjects.
December 13, 2016
This book is really a collection of essays of men who have dedicated their lives to study one of the most influential people in all of church history. Often times when we read about these historical figures we receive a one dimensional view of them but here we received a dimension for each reader and writer
October 14, 2017
Fantastic & enriching look at John Calvin's life, heart, and passion for Christ and His church. It resolves some of the criticisms/misunderstandings about the man and underscores His commitment to Scripture, the glory of God, and the practice of prayer. I highly recommend. I've underlined so much of this book and will surely read it again in the near future.
August 12, 2022
I enjoyed this book by and large although it felt repetitive at times, especially the first half, since one pastor wrote each chapter, but they often repeated themselves with redundant information. The last third finally delved into the world of 5-point Calvinism which is what drew me to the book. There were many memorable quotes. 4 stars.
July 28, 2019
Great insight into the work of Calvin, especially in explaining the more difficult doctrines that he had been well-known for. It shows that Calvin’s theology was one that was both practical and pastoral, rather than lofty or simply academic.
November 24, 2017
An excellent collection of quality essays meant to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Calvin. Not to be missed are the essays by MacArthur, Ferguson, Lawson, Horton, and Beeke.
March 12, 2018
Much more clear insights to who John Calvin was and his bold faith. A true pastor at heart.
October 29, 2018
An excellent preview of the teachings and doctrine of John Calvin. A good preface to an actual reading of the Institutes.
November 2, 2022
An excellent dip into the life and theology of Calvin. Very good.
October 27, 2016
Mention the name John Calvin and a few thoughts immediately come to mind.
Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion
Protestant Reformation
Apologist
Geneva
TULIP
All of these are valid and are a legacy to admire. But there is more to John Calvin that those descriptions. In John Calvin A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology the contributors give us a much bigger picture of the man and his ministry.
I probably learned most from the first part of the book that deals with John Calvin the man. Here we read of his youth, his education, his family and friends, his conversion and his call and his growth in grace. The book also gives us a look into Calvin’s ministry as a Pastor, counsellor, community leader, mentor and friend,
This book lets us see the man. His life as a child, a father and a husband. He was very much like all of us with the same challenges and aspirations. We also get a look at Pastor John Calvin. This was the eye opener for me. John Calvin was not just an educator, theologian and apologist, all of which are part of the pastorate. Calvin was man who had a heart for Jesus Christ. It seems everything he set out to do was to either know more of Jesus or make Jesus known.
It was enlightening to see Calvin in this way. It laid the groundwork for much of the latter part of the book dealing with Calvin the theologian. I do admit there were some aspects of his life that were repeated but I guess with multiple contributors you will get that.
Calvin had a love for his family, friends, congregation and community. Calvin did not seem to set himself out to be a famous author, build a platform or pastor a mega church. Calvin’s heart was to minister to the heart and soul of people. Whether in his sermons, his politics, his personal correspondence and dealings with his opponents, Calvin wanted more of Christ to be evident and not himself.
This is not a book to make Calvin look like a saint. There is no glossing over the sins and struggles of Calvin. And to his credit even Calvin saw his sins and sought to repent of them as often as necessary.
The latter part of the book laid out some basic beliefs and teachings of John Calvin. Contrary to what some would have us believe Calvin was not all about TULIPS’s and just 5 points. Calvin’s theology was much broader than that. The truth I saw was that Calvin’s theology was not just an academic exercise but the tool that shaped his life and ministry. What we learn from this book is that for Calvin theology and doctrine were completely biblical, purposeful and practical.
Anything Calvin taught had to have its basis on Scripture. He was not out to present something new, but to proclaim something eternal and true. His teaching had to point to the Trinitarian God. There was no effort to promote himself, his ministry or his ideals. It was all to point to the redeeming work of our God. And finally, it had to be life shaping. Calvin wanted first for his heart to be shaped by the Spirit and the Word and then to be able to help his family, friends, congregation and anyone else he encountered meet the risen Christ and be shaped by His word.
This book is aptly titled and I would encourage anyone wanting to know more about the real John Calvin to take a look.
Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion
Protestant Reformation
Apologist
Geneva
TULIP
All of these are valid and are a legacy to admire. But there is more to John Calvin that those descriptions. In John Calvin A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology the contributors give us a much bigger picture of the man and his ministry.
I probably learned most from the first part of the book that deals with John Calvin the man. Here we read of his youth, his education, his family and friends, his conversion and his call and his growth in grace. The book also gives us a look into Calvin’s ministry as a Pastor, counsellor, community leader, mentor and friend,
This book lets us see the man. His life as a child, a father and a husband. He was very much like all of us with the same challenges and aspirations. We also get a look at Pastor John Calvin. This was the eye opener for me. John Calvin was not just an educator, theologian and apologist, all of which are part of the pastorate. Calvin was man who had a heart for Jesus Christ. It seems everything he set out to do was to either know more of Jesus or make Jesus known.
It was enlightening to see Calvin in this way. It laid the groundwork for much of the latter part of the book dealing with Calvin the theologian. I do admit there were some aspects of his life that were repeated but I guess with multiple contributors you will get that.
Calvin had a love for his family, friends, congregation and community. Calvin did not seem to set himself out to be a famous author, build a platform or pastor a mega church. Calvin’s heart was to minister to the heart and soul of people. Whether in his sermons, his politics, his personal correspondence and dealings with his opponents, Calvin wanted more of Christ to be evident and not himself.
This is not a book to make Calvin look like a saint. There is no glossing over the sins and struggles of Calvin. And to his credit even Calvin saw his sins and sought to repent of them as often as necessary.
The latter part of the book laid out some basic beliefs and teachings of John Calvin. Contrary to what some would have us believe Calvin was not all about TULIPS’s and just 5 points. Calvin’s theology was much broader than that. The truth I saw was that Calvin’s theology was not just an academic exercise but the tool that shaped his life and ministry. What we learn from this book is that for Calvin theology and doctrine were completely biblical, purposeful and practical.
Anything Calvin taught had to have its basis on Scripture. He was not out to present something new, but to proclaim something eternal and true. His teaching had to point to the Trinitarian God. There was no effort to promote himself, his ministry or his ideals. It was all to point to the redeeming work of our God. And finally, it had to be life shaping. Calvin wanted first for his heart to be shaped by the Spirit and the Word and then to be able to help his family, friends, congregation and anyone else he encountered meet the risen Christ and be shaped by His word.
This book is aptly titled and I would encourage anyone wanting to know more about the real John Calvin to take a look.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews