Happy Birthday, John.

[jimmyjimmy]

John Calvin gave us much to be thankful for.

He was born 507 years ago today. July, 10th, 1509

 

[TaylorSexton]

I am in the process of reading through W.G.T. Shedd's Dogmatic Theology. He says this about Calvin's Institutes:

"The systematic theology of Calvin's Institutes is exclusively biblical in its constituent elements and substance. Calvin borrows hardly anything from human philosophy, science, or literature. His appeal is made continually to the Scriptures alone. No theologian was ever less influenced by a school of philosophy or by human science and literature, than the Genevan reformer. Dogmatic theology, as he constructed it, is as scriptural a theology as can be found in the ancient or modern church."

—W.G.T. Shedd, Dogmatic Theology (3rd Edition), p. 48

 

[St_Worm2]

"Next to the study of the Scriptures which I earnestly inculcate, I exhort my pupils to peruse Calvin’s Commentaries, which I extol in loftier terms than Helmich himself [a Dutch divine, 1551–1608]; for I affirm that he excels beyond comparison in the interpretation of Scripture, and that his commentaries ought to be more highly valued than all that is handed down to us by the library of the fathers; so that I acknowledge him to have possessed above most others, or rather above all other men, what may be called an eminent spirit of prophecy."

Happy Birthday Jean

—Jacob Arminius

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Time to read through the Institutes. I've started a few times, by never plowed all of the way through them.

 

[High Fidelity]

Time to read through the Institutes. I've started a few times, by never plowed all of the way through them.

Me either. Not really bed time reading, after all

I'm so grateful to have finally found a set of his commentaries this year.

 

[twin1954]

Me either. Not really bed time reading, after all

I'm so grateful to have finally found a set of his commentaries this year.

I believe you can get a full set of his commentaries on E-sword.

I have had his New Testament commentaries for years but his Old Testament commentaries I usually read online.

BTW, I have read his "Institutes" through more than once. I don't agree with him in many things but I admire him for his seeking to stay with the Scriptures.

 

[twin1954]

I am in the process of reading through W.G.T. Shedd's Dogmatic Theology. He says this about Calvin's Institutes:

"The systematic theology of Calvin's Institutes is exclusively biblical in its constituent elements and substance. Calvin borrows hardly anything from human philosophy, science, or literature. His appeal is made continually to the Scriptures alone. No theologian was ever less influenced by a school of philosophy or by human science and literature, than the Genevan reformer. Dogmatic theology, as he constructed it, is as scriptural a theology as can be found in the ancient or modern church."

—W.G.T. Shedd, Dogmatic Theology (3rd Edition), p. 48

Perhaps you should read B.B. Warfield's, a Presbyterian btw, "Calvin and Augustine".

Calvin was greatly influenced by Augustine.

 

[High Fidelity]

I believe you can get a full set of his commentaries on E-sword.

I have had his New Testament commentaries for years but his Old Testament commentaries I usually read online.

BTW, I have read his "Institutes" through more than once. I don't agree with him in many things but I admire him for his seeking to stay with the Scriptures.

I really struggle with e-books and things on a screen. I have attention issues and for some reason I just can't hold my focus properly unless I have a book in my hands in front of me.

I bought his commentary set on e-book for about $7(markedly cheaper than physical!) but it just didn't work out for me.

 

[twin1954]

I really struggle with e-books and things on a screen. I have attention issues and for some reason I just can't hold my focus properly unless I have a book in my hands in front of me.

I bought his commentary set on e-book for about $7(markedly cheaper than physical!) but it just didn't work out for me.

I do have his New Testament commentaries and his "Institutes" in hardback in my library but I don't have his Old Testament commentaries except in digital form. I don't really think enough of him to spend the money for his OT commentaries in hardback.

 

[High Fidelity]

I do have his commentaries and his "Institutes" in hardback in my library but I don't have his Old Testament commentaries except in digital form. I don't really think enough of him to spend the money for his OT commentaries in hardback.

Fair enough

Sadly most of my newer book buys are sat in boxes because I've run out of space

 

[twin1954]

Fair enough

Sadly most of my newer book buys are sat in boxes because I've run out of space

About half of my library is now in boxes because we just sold our house and moved into an apartment. A small apartment. I had a full wood-shop in my garage and all my other tools, everything you would ever need to do handyman work including concrete and masonry, and had to get rid of it.

 

[High Fidelity]

About half of my library is now in boxes because we just sold our house and moved into an apartment. A small apartment. I had a full wood-shop in my garage and all my other tools, everything you would ever need to do handyman work including concrete and masonry, and had to get rid of it.

Sorry to hear that. Space is a premium that most people take for granted and few people truly appreciate.

 

[MechPebbles]

Me either. Not really bed time reading, after all

Strange you should say that. I read through the entire Institutes in bed after a hard day's work. I would read a couple of pages before sheer exhaustion made me fall asleep. Took me 2 years.

 

[MechPebbles]

BTW, I have read his "Institutes" through more than once. I don't agree with him in many things but I admire him for his seeking to stay with the Scriptures.

What I don't like about Institutes is that Calvin would constantly condemn his opponents without stating their theological stand which he opposed. I like the way modern scholars carefully quote the works of other scholars before commenting on them.