It deserves our attention that Christ says that he gave an example; for we are not at liberty to take all his actions, without reserve, as subjects of imitation. The Papists boast that, by Christ’s example, they observe the forty days’ fast, . . . Continue reading →
Calvin Studies
Calvin: Lent Is An Error That Crept Into The Church
For what kind of candour is it that quotes an epistle which scarcely one of the monkish herd would acknowledge to be genuine? Those who have read this silly production know that it speaks only of Lent, and chrism, and tapers, and . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On John 18:36: Christ’s Kingdom Is Spiritual
My kingdom is not of this world. By these words he acknowledges that he is a king, but, so far as was necessary to prove his innocence, he clears himself of the calumny; for he declares, that there is no disagreement between . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: God Descended From Heaven Without Leaving It
The Son of God descended miraculously from heaven, yet without abandoning heaven; was pleased to be conceived miraculously in the Virgin’s womb, to live on the earth, and hang upon the cross, and yet always filled the world as from the beginning. . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Christ Does Not Call His Ministers To Conquer The Church
For as he who marries a wife does not call and invite his friends to the marriage, in order to prostitute the bride to them, or, by giving up his own rights, to allow them to partake with him of the nuptial . . . Continue reading →
Why Did the Geneva Consistory Insist on Biblical Names at Baptism?
Matt Tuininga, a friend and former student, wrote an interesting post at Christian in America in which he tells about the conflict between the consistory and some of the people in Geneva over the question of how the people should name their . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: What the Dying of the PCUSA Really Means
In this episode Dr. Clark answers the question, “What Would Calvin Say About Premillennialism?” Continue reading →
Calvin On The Spirituality Of The Kingdom Of God
My kingdom is not of this world. By these words he acknowledges that he is a king, but, so far as was necessary to prove his innocence, he clears himself of the calumny; for he declares, that there is no disagreement between . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: What Would Calvin Say About Premillennialism?
In this episode Dr. Clark answers the question, “What Would Calvin Say About Premillennialism?” Continue reading →
Calvin Contra Selfishness
In a season where we are obsessed about inconveniences stemming from government shutdowns and market fears, a longer historical perspective with clearer vision is needed. Then, again, since the shutdown began, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is flat and the NASDAQ is . . . Continue reading →
The Weber Thesis Versus What Really Happened
At least four large sources of income fueled Geneva’s new economic engine during this period. First, revenue for Geneva increased dramatically from 1550 to 1570 primarily due to the large number of new citizens (refugees). In two years (1555-1556), Calvinist refugees who were flocking . . . Continue reading →
What Would Calvin Say About Premillennialism?
In 2007, a prominent evangelical (Bible church) pastor suggested that were Calvin alive today he would be premillennial and that true Calvinists should be (pre-trib, Dispensational) premillennialists.1 Some of us were a little surprised about this breakthrough in Calvin studies coming from . . . Continue reading →
The “Calvin As Tyrant” Meme
For a fellow who has been dead since 1564 and for a movement that, socially considered, is little more than a demographic blip (about 600,000 people in North America) Calvin and Calvinism continue to receive a remarkable amount of attention in the . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Christ Is The Mirror Of Our Election
First, if we seek God’s fatherly mercy and kindly heart, we should turn our eyes to Christ, on whom alone God’s Spirit rests [cf. Matt. 3:17]. If we seek salvation, life, and the immortality of the Heavenly Kingdom, then there is no . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On The Judgment Of Charity
It may be asked, how could this be found out, for the election of God is hid, and cannot be known without the special revelation of the Spirit; and as every one is made sure of his own election by the testimony . . . Continue reading →
Calvin Contra Piper
For justification is withdrawn from works, not that no good works may be done, or that what is done may be denied to be good, but that we may not rely upon them, glory in them, or ascribe salvation to them. John . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Jesus Is Our Lawkeeper
For the Lord promises nothing except to perfect keepers of his law, and no one of the kind is to be found. The fact, then, remains that through the law the whole human race is proved subject to God’s curse and wrath, . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: We Are Clothed With Christ’s Righteousness
But we define justification as follows: the sinner, received into communion with Christ, is reconciled to God by his grace, while, cleansed by Christ’s blood, he obtains forgiveness of sins, and clothed with Christ’s righteousness as if it were his own, he . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: What We Need Is The Pastoral Office
For neither the light and heat of the sun, nor any meat and drink, are so necessary to the nourishment and sustenance of the present life, as the apostolical and pastoral office is to the preservation of the Church in the world. . . . Continue reading →
Geneva And The Book
The printing industry was especially important in Geneva during Calvin’s rise to prominence. Robert Estienne printed French editions of the works of Beza, Hotman, Viret, and Calvin from Geneva. Jean Crispin, a groomsman at Beza’s secret marriage published popular devotional material, and a range . . . Continue reading →