Commentary on the Psalms

by John Calvin, David C. Searle (Editor)

One-quarter the size of Calvin's original work, this abridgement is perfect for busy persons who would never access Calvin's commentaries otherwise. Rich in practical and pastoral wisdom, a wonderful help to one's study of the Psalms.

Genres: Theology

659 pages, Hardcover

First published January 3, 2010

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

[Matt Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just know, this is an abridged commentary. Do you not read it thinking you were about to dive into something deep. If that’s what you want stick to the institutes however, if you want a generalized idea of what Calvin taught his people, then this is a fantastic volume. Yes it does cover the general ideas of each of the songs. There are quite a few keywords that are examined. But it is also a reminder that Calvin was a man of his time. He will sometimes go off on tangents attacking the, Roman Catholic Church and the Anabaptist, as well as other movements that were going on 400 years ago it is a fantastic volume and I highly recommend it but those warnings need to be made .

[Seth Mcdevitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not finished this completely, but I have used it to teach roughly fifty psalms, and I can say it is an excellent resource. It is plenty thorough, even considering it is the abridged version. I cannot imagine what the unabridged version is like. Great resource on the psalms.

[Dan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very edifying devotional material. Compared several times in various places to the unabridged work and I believe the editor did a good job.

[Becky Pliego · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the books I not only like but really love. Fantastic.