Editor's Introduction
Abbreviations
Book III: How We Obtain the Grace of Christ
The Benefits That Come to Us and the Fruits That Follow from That Grace
Chapter 6: The Life of a Christian
First, the Arguments That Scripture Uses to Encourage Us to That Life
Chapter 7: The Sum of the Christian Life, in Which We Discuss the Denial of Ourselves
Chapter 8: Bearing the Cross
An Aspect of Self-Denial
Chapter 9: Meditation on the Future Life
Chapter 10: How We Must Use the Present Life and Its Means of Support
General Index
Scripture Index
“How can believers offer themselves to God as living sacrifices? Every Christian on the road to the heavenly city needs a faithful fellow traveler with whom to discuss the ups and downs of the sacrificial Christian life. John Calvin is one such companion from the past. In this freshly translated excerpt from his Institutes, the cream of classic Reformed orthodoxy, Calvin discusses how Christians can live all of life to the glory of God as living sacrifices, traversing fruitful topics such self-denial, submission to God, divine sovereignty, affliction, cross bearing, and meditation on heaven. Take up and read this thoroughly experiential treatment of practical Christianity!”
Joel R. Beeke, Chancellor and Professor of Homiletics and Systematic Theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; Pastor, Heritage Reformed Congregation, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“This new translation of a classic portion from John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion brings his lucid and engaging prose to life. It is a breath of fresh air for twenty-first-century readers.”
Karin Maag, Director, H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies
“On the Christian Life is the first installment of a much-needed new translation of Calvin’s Institutes by Raymond Blacketer, under the editorship of Anthony Lane. The translation evidences close attention to the language and content of Calvin’s text and includes an apparatus superior to previous modern translations. This section of the translation—Calvin’s chapters on the Christian life—has long been a theological classic in and of itself. This well-wrought translation should bring renewed attention to this important work.”
Richard A. Muller, P. J. Zondervan Professor of Historical Theology Emeritus, Calvin Theological Seminary; Scholar in Residence for Reformation and Post-Reformation Studies, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
“Many might think that John Calvin is a dry intellectual who is remote from their experience as struggling Christians today. This picture is far from reality, as this fresh translation of a wonderful Christian classic reveals. I highly recommend this work!”
Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California
