Calvin's Institutes

I have started a dozen times. . .

This is something that I would love to do in community, but there are no takers for that type of thing at my church.

 

I read through the Battles/McNeil version just this past year.

I started a thread to encourage others to read it over a year but it petered out.
I read faster than I planned.

Rob

 

Justin Taylor's article: Why and How to Read Calvin’s Institutes

Here's the reading plan I wrote about:

"Read Calvin's Institutes in a Year" [LINK]

Rob

 

That's a good one! Really gave me a good laugh!

 

I've read The Institutes about three times all the way through. Being that I'm not a Calvinist nor Reformed, they don't appeal to me much. Usually I find my way into his commentaries whilst working on sermons or teaching. It is important to read the The Institutes, particularly if you are a Calvinist.

One of the first questions I have for Calvinists when they get all hot and bothered in a debate is whether they've read The Institutes. Usually they haven't, and too often I catch them lying about it.

The McNeill and Battles translation is on my shelf and works fine for me. I've also got the Latin and French versions in a Logos edition which is helpful to compare translations.

Great question for this forum btw.

 

We should consider that the brightness of the Divine countenance, which even an apostle declares to be inaccessible,(1 Timothy 6:16,) is a kind of labyrinth, — a labyrinth to us inextricable, if the Word do not serve us as a thread to guide our path; and that it is better
to limp in the way, than run with the greatest swiftness out of it.
Hence the Psalmist, after repeatedly declaring (Psalm 93, 96, 97, 99, etc.) that superstition should be banished from the world in order that pure religion may flourish, introduces God as reigning; meaning by the term, not the power which he possesses and which he exerts in the government of
universal nature, but the doctrine by which he maintains his due supremacy: because error never can be eradicated from the heart of man until the true knowledge of God has been implanted in it.

psalm97;
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.

9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

psalm96;
Psalm 96King James Version (KJV)

96 O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.

2 Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.

9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously

Psalm 93King James Version (KJV)

93 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

 

I've read most of it. We're currently studying it in a Facebook group I belong to.

 

Yes, and yes to your choice of which version to read!

Amazing that he could put together such a work devoid of a computer and any modern study tools!