Institutes of the Christian Religion: Calvin's Own 'Essentials' Edition

The Institutes of the Christian Religion are Calvin’s single most important work, and one of the key texts to emerge from the Reformation of the sixteenth century. The book accompanied the Reformer throughout his life, growing in size from what was essentially an expanded catechism in 1536 to a full-scale work of biblical theology in 1559/1560.

 

Among the intermediate editions of the Institutes, none deserves to be better known than the first French edition of 1541. Avoiding the technical details and much of the polemics of the final work, the Institutes of 1541 offer a clear and comprehensive account of the work of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in creation, revelation and redemption, in the life of the individual Christian and in the worship and witness of the church.

 

Not doctrine only but its practical use is Calvin’s abiding concern. The author of the Institutes invites us both to know and to live the truth, and thus allow God’s Spirit to transform us.

 

The present translation is newly made from the French edition of 1541 by Robert White. It has been designed and annotated with the needs of a wide readership in mind.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Translator’s Introduction              vii
Outline of the Present Book       xv
Prefatory Letter to Francis I         xvii
Institutes of the Christian Religion (1541 Edition)              
Chapter 1: The Knowledge of God           1
Chapter 2: The Knowledge of Man and Free Will               29
Chapter 3: The Law         109
Chapter 4: Faith, with an Explanation of the Apostles’ Creed       183
Chapter 5: Repentance 295
Chapter 6: Justification by Faith and the Merits of Works               351
Chapter 7: The Similarity and Difference between the Old and New Testaments                429
Chapter 8: The Predestination and Providence of God    463
Chapter 9: Prayer, with an Explanation of Our Lord’s Prayer         517
Chapter 10: The Sacraments       561
Chapter 11: Baptism       579
Chapter 12: The Lord’s Supper   623
Chapter 13: The Five Ceremonies Falsely Called Sacraments        669
Chapter 14: Christian Freedom  707
Chapter 15: The Power of the Church     721
Chapter 16: Civil Government    755
Chapter 17: The Christian Life     785
Appendix: Comparative Table of the 1541 and 1560 Institutes     823
Index of Scripture References   837
Index of Names                873
Index of Principal Subjects           877