Dr. Karin Maag on Bolsec and Servetus

Here is a short excerpt from Dr. Maag's presentation at our forum on John Calvin.




And, for part 2

What is Calvin doing with his hand?

This was a portrait shown at the John Calvin forum by Dr. Maag. She said many people have asked, "What is Calvin doing with his hand?" She gave us the answer. He's pointing to heaven or to God. In a more amusing note Dr. Wittmer said perhaps we could make it a new Christian greeting but then again we have the fish symbols that we put on our cars.

Tomorrow we are celebrating Calvin's birthday at the store. We will be serving cake and if you come in dressed up like Calvin you'll get 25% off your entire order and we'll put your name in a drawing for a collection of books on/by or influenced by Calvin valued at over $350.00. The books were graciously donated by three publishers: Baker Publishing Group, Westminster John Knox and Zondervan.

What Can We Gain From Calvin Today?

Desiring God Ministries asked this question of Mark Talbot, Sam Storms, John Piper, Doug Wilson and Marvin Olasky. All of them are speakers at the Desiring God 2009 National Conference this year called "With Calvin in the Theater of God." Their answers are quite varied but very interesting.

What did they say? In a sentence here it is but you should listen to them. None are longer than three minutes. It will be time well spent.

Talbot: "We can gain an awareness that the best theology comes from ministering to people."

Storms: "We can gain a deep appreciation for the Lord's Supper."

Piper: "We can gain an orientation on the majesty and holiness of God."

Wilson: "We can gain a rock solid, absolute confidence in the Bible."

Olasky: "We can gain an understanding that it's important to write clearly without losing depth."

John Piper on T. H. L. Parker's "Portrait of Calvin"

No one recommends a book like Piper. His excitement is contagious.

John Calvin, Sin and the Goodness of God

Before I actually read Calvin for myself the impression I was given from others was that when he wasn't talking about predestination he was talking about what sinners we all are. Granted, he talked about sin but he had a profound sense of the devastating effects it has in the life of the believer and what an offense it was in the sight of God. But he was a pastor and knew that we could go too far in thinking about our sin and how the enemy could use that to his advantage. I remember the first time I read this passage was to fulfill a reading obligation for my class on Calvin. That night I saw Calvin in a way I had never envisioned--I saw him with a pastor's heart. The quote from Bernard is especially good.

"Those who are really religious experience what sort of punishments and shame, confusion, groaning, displeasure with self, and other emotions that arise out of a lively recognition of sin. Yet we must remember to exercise restraint, lest sorrow engulf us. For nothing more readily happens to fearful consciences than falling into despair. And also by this stratagem, whomever Satan sees overwhelmed by the fear of God he more and more submerges in that deep whirlpool of sorrow that they may never rise again. That fear cannot, indeed, be too great which ends in humility, and does not depart from the hope of pardon. Nevertheless, in accordance with the apostle's injunction the sinner ought always to beware lest, while he worries himself into dissatisfaction weighed down by excessive fear, he become faint [Heb. 12:3]. For in this way we flee from God, who calls us to himself through repentance. On this matter Bernard's admonition is also useful: 'Sorrow for sins is necessary if it be not unremitting. I beg you to turn your steps back sometimes from troubled and anxious remembering of your ways, and to go forth to the tableland of serene remembrance of God's benefits. Let us mingle honey with wormwood that is wholesome bitterness may bring health when it is drunk tempered with sweetness. If you take thought upon yourselves in your humility, take thought likewise upon the Lord in his goodness.'" (Institutes 3.3.15)

Steve Lawson on John Calvin as a Preacher

Paul Helm and Calvin's Definitions

Philosopher Paul Helm has provided a nice summary of Calvin's definitions of important terms as found in the Institutes. He offers first a complete survey of the definitions and then takes a "closer look" at a few of them. True to Calvin, Helm is careful not to leave the discussion as one more thing to "flit in the brain." He concludes his discussion with these two paragraphs:

"There is one final characteristic of definitions that is surprising but which ought not to be. The prominence given to definitions in the Institutes is not merely testimony to the Calvinian love of order. Calvin shows that he thinks we ought to be moved by these definitions, not moved to admiration for the cleverness of the definer, but moved by the divine reality defined. For he notes more than once that an apt definition reveals the ‘force’ of an idea. These realities, once defined, are not meant to be filed away, or argued over – they are not to ‘flit in the brain’ but to move us."

"There is one more thing. A survey of these discussions is in fact a run-down of the main themes of the Reformation – original sin, free will, faith, repentance, justification. For Calvin the Reformation was about the recovering of biblical realities, or their rediscovery, and one main way in which this recovering takes place is in the defining of those realities. It is additionally interesting that the emphasis falls upon anthropological themes rather than the doctrine of God, theology in a narrower sense. In fact apart from the definition given in the course of his discussion of the Trinity, Calvin does not, as far as I can discover, ever approach the reality of God by first searching for a definition of God. (And even his Trinitarian discussion is about the meaning of ‘person’, though here again there might be a definition without using the word, as when he states ‘Father and Son and Spirit are one God, yet the Son is not the Father, nor the Spirit the Son, but that they are differentiated by a peculiar quality’ (Inst. I.13.5) No doubt this disinclination to define ‘God’ is fully consistent with Calvin’s restrained approach to the being of God, testimony to the importance for him of the contrast he draws throughout the Institutes and elsewhere between God ‘as he is in himself’ and God ‘as he is towards us’. He repeatedly disdains the search for what God is as against what he is to us. " (emphasis mine)

John Calvin and Doubt

This week's quotes comes from Calvin's treatment of faith. In part of this chapter he deals with the doubts that plague the mind of the believer. Many today have begun to make a virtue out of doubt. It is one thing to admit to doubts and not shy away from the fact that we have them. But it's another thing to wear it on our sleeves as a badge of honor. To live with doubts with no thought of trying to resolve it would be, I believe, a curious notion for Calvin. As he notes, "Surely, as often as God commends his Word to us, he indirectly rebukes us for our unbelief, for he has no other intention than to uproot perverse doubts from our hearts." (Institutes 3.2.15) I know not every doubt can be classified as "perverse" but I think for Calvin whatever enters our heart that causes us to doubt God dishonors Him and to that extent every doubt is perverse. Calvin is not immune to the realities of life. He says "we cannot imagine any certainty that is not tinged with doubt, or any assurance that is not assailed by some anxiety. On the other hand, we say that believers are in perpetual conflict with their own unbelief." (3.2.17) He knew believers struggled with all sorts of doubts. But he directed believers to hold fast to the Lord during times of doubt (3.2.37).

Doubt. We can't live without it but it doesn't have to become a new fruit of the Spirit.

Calvin's heart as a pastor comes shining through. Commenting on Matthew 8:25-26 he says, "Indeed, while he reproves them for their little faith, he does not cast them out from the ranks of his disciples or count them among unbelievers, but urges them to shake off that fault. Therefore, we repeat what we have already stated: that the root of faith can never be torn from the godly breast, but clings so fast to the innermost parts that, however faith seems to be shaken or to bend this way or that, its light is never so extinguished or snuffed out that it does not at lest lurk as it were beneath the ashes." (3.2.21)

Dr. Lane Tipton on Calvin's view of Justification

John Calvin and the Church

In preparing for our forum this year on John Calvin I've been re-reading portions of The Institutes of the Christian Religion. Each week I want to give a quote that I found especially helpful. I've been amazed at how much Calvin covers that the current church is struggling with. In this case it is people leaving the church because of some gripe they have. Calvin makes it clear that "it is always disastrous to leave the church." (4.1.4 - this is the typical reference system for the Institutes. All it means is book 4, chapter 1, section 4. Often you will see it in roman numerals, IV, i, 4). Calvin reminds us that the Lord is at work in the church "smoothing out wrinkles and cleansing spots." (4.1.17) But here is the thought I want to leave you with:

"Let the following two points, then, stand firm. First, he who voluntarily deserts the outward communion of the church (where the Word of God is preached and the sacraments are administered) is without excuse. Secondly, neither the vices of the few nor the vices of the many in any way prevent us from duly professing our faith there in ceremonies ordained by God. For a godly conscience is not wounded by the unworthiness of another, whether pastor or layman; nor are the sacraments less pure and salutary for a holy and upright man because they are handled by unclean persons." (4.1.19)

I encourage you to read the whole chapter for he has much to say that we can all benefit from. It is a strong word to those who are disgruntled with the church (I'm among the worst.). The answer does not come in abandoning her but in living with all her blemishes knowing the Bride is loved and cared for by her Lord.

Coming Soon from Baker Books - Calvin's Commentaries

I'm expecting any day now Baker's new release of Calvin's Commentaries. This collector's edition will be handsomely bound featuring a 500 year gold emblem on the spine. Also included is a free copy of the The Institutes of the Christian Religion by Calvin (Beveridge version). The 23-volume set has a retail value of $1200.00 but will sell for $190.00. I'm amazed at the number of contemporary commentaries that give tribute to Calvin as a commentator or that continue to interact with him. To give one example Douglas Moo in his commentary on Romans says that while he consulted many commentaries on Romans he selected twelve for particularly careful study. The factors in his selection were: "exegetical excellence, theological sophistication, and representative significance." One of those twelve was Calvin. Moo says he considers these scholars as his "exegetical sparring partners." (p. xix) Calvin's first commentary was on Romans which was published in 1540. Almost 500 years later we're still listening and learning.

Coming Soon from Baker Academic: A Reader's Guide to Calvin's Institutes

Baker Academic will be releasing this June A Reader's Guide to Calvin's Institutes by Anthony Lane. This will be perfect for those who are intimidated by the bulk of the Institutes but would like to become at least somewhat familiar with it. Many will already be familiar with Lane's previously published book The Institutes of Christian Religion edited by Anthony Lane and Hilary Osborne. These are not at all the same. The latter is an abridgement of the Institutes put into contemporary English. The former does not contain any text from the Institutes but rather provides notes to help the reader along. The Institutes are broken up into sections and then notes are given to help the reader focus on particular elements (i.e., "skip footnotes 1-3 but read #4). It is based on the Battles translation. Lane is professor of historical theology and director of research at the London School of Theology (UK). The book be a paperback with 176 pages and sell for $14.99. My thanks to Jim Kinney, editorial director for Baker Academic, for explaining the difference between the two works.

Coming Soon from Westmister John Knox: Calvin: A Brief Guide to His Life and Thought

Westminster John Knox (WJK) is releasing a new title on Calvin this February. Calvin: A Brief Guide to His Life and Thought by Willem Van 'T Spijker, translated by Lyle D. Bierma. Spijker is a leading Calvin scholar and has served as a theological professor at the University of Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. I can't comment on the contents of this book but I can say that I've been reading another book that was translated by Lyle Bierma and the readability is excellent. That one is The Writings of John Calvin by Wulfert De Greef. WJK also publishes another biography on Calvin (John Calvin---A Biography) by T.H.L. Parker which is on my short list to read. His shorter volume, Portrait of Calvin (regrettably out of print), is a great place for beginners to start.

Coming Soon from Crossway: John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor

The books on Calvin are coming strong. Crossway will release John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor by W. Robert Godfrey (president of Westminster Seminary in California and a longtime professor of church history.) The catalog says, "What will surprise the readers of this book, however, is that Calvin did not live primarily to influence future generations. Rather, he considered himself first and foremost a spiritual pilgrim and a minister of the Word in the church of his day. It was from that 'essential' Calvin that all his influence flowed." The book is 192 pages, paperback and sells for $15.99. Look for it this April.

Coming Soon from IVP Academic: John Calvin: A Pilgrim's Life

IVP Academic is releasing a new biography on John Calvin this March. Authored by Herman J. Selderhuis, professor for church history and church polity at the Theological University Apeldoorn (Netherlands) and director of the University's Institute for Reformation Research. Now I know what you're thinking--"OK, it's Calvin's 500th birthday but aren't there enough biographies on the guy already?!" If you're not thinking it, I was. Well, here's what Donald McKim says, "One would think that with all the biographies of John Calvin through the centuries there would be nothing new to say. Think again! Veteran Calvin scholar Herman Selderhuis has followed Calvin himself in going 'back to the sources' and provides a portrait of Calvin drawn exclusively from Calvin's own writings." This is only one of a good handful of recommendations from such notables as Timothy George, Frank A. James and Lyle Bierma. So I will add this to my Calvin reading list. I hope you do to. It will be 304 pages, paperback and sell for $25.00. You can see the table of contents and a couple of excerpts here.

Coming Soon from Eerdmans: Friends of Calvin

This Spring Eerdmans will be releasing Friends of Calvin by Machiel A. van den Berg (translated by Reinder Bruinsma). Since I've been reading about Calvin lately this title interests me quite a bit. The catalog says "We meet his famous Reformer friends, such as Martin Bucer, William Farel, Heinrich Bullinger, Theodore Beza, and John Knox, but also friends whose names are more obscure: his cousin Pierre Robert Olivetan, the first translator of the Bible into French; Rene de France of French Royalty; Laurent de Normandie, the mayor of Nayon who later escaped to Geneva; Pierre Viret, his 'best friend of all'; and Idelette van Buren, his beloved wife during their brief but 'blissful' marriage." It continues, "Peppered with quotations from Calvin's voluminous letters, Friends of Calvin abounds with secret court relationships, love affairs, death threats, poisonings, and narrow midnight escapes from the pursuing authorities--showing a full-blooded and dangerous side of the bookish Reformer's life." It will be a paperback and sell for $20.00, 240 pages with 25 illustrations. Machiel A. van den Berg is a Reformed preacher living in the Netherlands and regularly publishes articles about the history of the Reformation and about Calvin in particular.